gold gloves are completely meaningless.

The Denver Post’s Troy Renck reports that the Indians and first baseman Jason Giambi are closing in on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

The 42-year-old Giambi was considered for the Rockies’ managerial vacancy earlier this winter, but after failing to get that, he said he wanted to keep playing. The Indians should have room for him as a left-handed-hitting DH after losing Travis Hafner to the Yankees.

Serving mostly as a pinch-hitter, Giambi hit .225/.372/.303 with one homer in 89 at-bats for the Rockies last season. He was much better in 2011, batting .260/.355/.603 with 13 homers in 131 at-bats.

If Giambi impresses this spring, the Indians could make him their primary DH against righties, with catcher Carlos Santana occasionally rotating into the spot. Santana and Mike Aviles could share time at DH against lefties.

And they signed Dice-K.

In the aftermath of last week’s State of the Franchise event I received the following tweet about the fate of Windows Restaurant– the once-swinging canteen that sits beyond the outfield fence at Rogers Centre, above the batter’s eye– which as you can see from the updated image above is being worked on in anticipation of the upcoming season.

It was tough to see back on Tuesday night, with the way the stadium was lit, and the event centred around the farthest part of the park from Windows, but it certainly looked to be so.

The restaurant, which in a piece last spring from Chris Toman of BlueJays.com was described as “a three-tiered glass enclosure that offers a clear view of the game from right-centre field, is something that’s currently unoccupied. [Jays' senior VP of business operations Stephen] Brooks believes there’s enough space to make it another fan-friendly spot, and discussions have already taken place on a number of potential projects.”

Those talks must have gone well, as the Jays have indeed been up to something, as Minor Leaguer from Bluebird Banter got a chance to hear Paul Beeston speak this weekend at Bill Humber’s “Baseball Spring Training” course at Seneca College, where the Jays’ president “mentioned that some $250 million in retrofits and renovations will be required in the next decade to modernize the facility,” and specifically singled out the changes to Windows. As the tweet above indicated, in its new incarnation the space will become an be an open porch, accessible to all fans, not just those on the 200 level, and Beeston added that there will be tall tables provided there, for fans to sit and enjoy some food and drink while not missing any of the action.

Granted, it’s probably a little far away to be a significant draw as much more than a novelty, but it’s a huge step in the right direction– as would be anything that’s costing Rogers money and only serves to brighten the fan experience. Now let’s find a place for the Argos to play and we’ll be set!

Okay, I can't cry poor anymore.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/ ... -contract/

An October people would care about?

Indians/Blue Jays ALCS this year?! Could anything be more awesome?!

Another reason I would love to see the Jays have success again... it pisses of you Americans so much.

If they are playoff bound, i wonder if the Canadian flag will fly upside down once again.... that was so classy.

I don't think that United Statesians get anywhere near as upset about the Jays' success as Canadians do about any given hockey team south of the line winning.

In fact, no one gives a shit.

I don't think that United Statesians get anywhere near as upset about the Jays' success as Canadians do about any given hockey team south of the line winning.

As a Leaf fan, I always root for American teams to win the Cup. There is only one team that shall bring the cup back home, and it ain't a bunch of diving nancies from Vancouver.

As a Leaf fan, you haven't been relevant since the 90's.

Make it to the postseason and we'll talk.

Shut the fuck up and drink some Sam Adams, you fuck.