The Toronto Blue Jays general manager confirmed as much Wednesday during a doubleheader loss in Baltimore, saying September call-up Russ Adams will be the team's everyday shortstop in 2005.
Gomez and the retired Bordick were brought on board over the last two seasons to back up starter Chris Woodward.
"His head is in the right place and he works hard," Ricciardi said of Adams, who boasts a three-game hitting streak entering Thursday's final game of a four-game series at Camden Yards.
Russ Adams, right, and Eric Crozier have shown well for the Blue Jays in September. (AP Photo)
Adams, 24, is showing signs of being a clutch hitter in the big leagues. With Toronto trailing 6-5 in Game 1 on Wednesday, Adams connected for a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth inning off Orioles reliever Jason Grimsley.
In the nightcap, the natural second baseman went 1-for-3 with a walk to bump his average to .306 in 19 games with the Blue Jays. Adams also has four homers and 10 runs batted in after going deep five times in 122 games for the triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs this season.
"We have one of the best farm directors in Dickie Scott," said Ricciardi, who lists another bat and pitching as the Blue Jays' off-season needs. "A lot of guys who have come here over the last few years have hit the ground running."
Adams, the Jays' first pick in the 2002 amateur draft out of the University of North Carolina, has hit safely in 13 of 19 games with Toronto, including six multi-hit efforts.
He can also run, despite the fact he hasn't stolen a base as the Blue Jays' leadoff man. The left-handed hitter swiped 45 bases in his final year with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.
The knock on Adams coming out of college was his defensive play. Some scouts said he had average range and a below average arm, while others said Adams reminded them of smooth-fielding Chicago Cubs shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.
Jays' third-base coach Brian Butterfield, who has worked with Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and other budding infielders during his 20 years in baseball, said he's astounded by Adams' progress in such a short time.
"With some young guys, you know it's going to take a lot of time just because they're so raw," Butterfield told the Toronto Sun. "With [Adams], he's come so fast with little incremental things. All it's going to need is a steady dose of repetition and the confidence will grow. He's a great athlete."
But Adams could be in tough with Baltimore starter Matt Riley (2-4) on Thursday.
Not only is he hitting a lowly .111 against major-league left-handers, Riley has been a Jays killer in his young career.
Riley beat the Jays last September at the SkyDome in Toronto for his first big-league win and beat them again in Toronto in April. His next victory didn't come until last Saturday against the Detroit Tigers.
An Orioles win would give them their best record (11-8) against the Blue Jays since 1996.
Toronto (65-92) is trying to escape the American League East basement - they trail fourth-place Tampa Bay by 2 ½ games - but is 27-52 on the road this season.
Former Oriole Josh Towers (9-7), who has beaten his old team twice this season, is looking for his first 10-win season in the majors.
Toronto closes out the season with a three-game series against the AL-leading New York Yankees (99-59) this weekend at SkyDome.
