Yes, there were some pointed questions. Some very good questions, both about the performance of the team and about the reluctance to spend the money it might take to stay in the American League East hunt with the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Orioles in the short term.

But they weren't questions that caught the Jays' braintrust unawares. It has been wrestling with these issues since the economy started going south months ago. Rather than throw good money after bad, the Jays are taking a purposeful step back, scaling down to a payroll of about $80 million US from about $100 million last season.

"We can't justify a $120-million payroll," Beeston said. "We have to get the thing back to a break-even position. At that point, you can start increasing your revenue and then start increasing your salaries. The two are inextricably tied together. You cannot sustain losses forever."

The trick for the 2009 season is to be able to field a competitive team in Baseball's most competitive division. The Jays plan to promote from within the organization to fill holes, especially on their pitching staff.

"Spending $40 million on Rafael Furcal or $80 million on A.J. Burnett or, whatever Manny Ramirez is going to get, it just wasn't going to work for us. We are going to fill from within and we feel we have a chance to step up again (in 2010)," Beeston said. "At $80 million we will be in the middle of the pack. We can win from there."

One fan wanted to know, and legitimately so, why it wasn't possible to bring in a big bat, such as Jason Giambi, to fill the team's power void, even on a one-year contract.

"We just feel it's going to take at-bats away from Travis Snider and Adam Lind," Ricciardi said. "With the uncertainty on our pitching staff, we feel like it's a chance to get those two guys established."

For many fans, Ricciardi's future with the Jays is a hot-button issue, but Beeston isn't having any of it.

"I hope J.P. is the GM here for years to come," Beeston said. "I think he has the vision, I think he has put together a good team."

Ricciardi's contract runs through 2010, though his fate probably will be in the hands of someone other than Beeston once Beeston settles on the man to replace himself. He says he's working on that, has interviewed some candidates and is planning to interview more, even though he doesn't offer much dispute when the subject of removing the "interim" title from his own job description is broached.

But Ricciardi may have other long-term plans anyway. Commuting from the Boston area is getting old for him.

"I'll be honest," he said. "My two boys are growing up (in Worcester, Mass.) without me. It's a tough thing when I leave the house and they're both crying.

"My No. 1 priority is to be a father. I love being a GM, I love being a part of this team. But in two years, I'll sit back and assess where I am."

If the new boss wants his own man in place, that decision may be taken out of Ricciardi's hands, just as his body of work on the development side is starting to bear some significant fruit. Out of necessity, young pitchers such as Brett Cecil, David Purcey and Ricky Romero each will be given opportunities to show they belong this spring.

Snider's hastened debut last fall was a hit. It remains to be seen if he can sustain his rapid development but there are no indications he can't. And there are others in the pipeline, just waiting their turns.

"It's going to be a shootout in spring training," Ricciardi said. "The only safe bet is Doc as No. 1."