Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[keyboard]

Beltran's better years are behind him, I think.

[Doctego]

Beltran's better years are behind him, I think.

Definitely but he can still hit and play solid D, if needed.

[b_illin]

Beltran signed and Gio traded....AA has to feel backed into a corner....hopefully he can resist doing something stupid and be patient.

[two24four]

Beltran signed and Gio traded....AA has to feel backed into a corner....hopefully he can resist doing something stupid and be patient.

Alot of the big baseball reporters are saying he's pretty much in on everything, most think he's going to make some kind of big move soon.

I don't want to see Lind go, but if AA was able to sign Fielder, I would be ok with it if he could then turn around and trade Lind maybe with Snider for a top pitcher.

[two24four]

Jays signed both RP Darren Oliver and SP Aaron Laffey yesterday.

John Farrell had Laffey when he coached in CLE.

[two24four]

Jason Frasor is back.

[nineoneone]

Jason Frasor is back.

horrible move.

[b_illin]

^ not really. He's not cheap but he's a dependable arm and we know he's comfortable in Toronto. By the looks of it, we gave up two low-quality prospects(?) for a known asset...ok in my books.

[two24four]

So it's looking more and more like this is the team who will be starting the season, how does everyone feel about that? will they fight for a wild card spot, be above .500, or below .500?

I hope Iam wrong, but I see this team around .500 or just above.

So if this is the team it will look something like this.

Lind-1B
Johnson-2B
Escobar-SS
Lawrie-3B
Bautista-RF
Rasmus-CF
Davis-LF
JPA-C
Edwin-DH

Bench- Thames, Snider/McCoy, Francisco, Mathis.

Romero
Morrow
Cecil
McGowan
Alvarez

Oliver
Frasor
Villanueva
Janssen
Litsch
Perez
Santos-Closer

[b_illin]

I'm not overly thrilled or excited with that lineup as they will be hard pressed to make the playoffs, but I have confidence that AA will find make some trades during the season that will improve the lineup. I'm ok with going slow and steady and wait til next year, but I'd also be ok with thw right splashy move. (if we could get Fielder for under 4-5yrs i'd be tempted...although that would also mean bumping bautista's salary too I would think)

[two24four]

We have been hearing the wait till next year for awhile now, everyone said 2012 was going to be the year the Jays make their run, now it's 2013, so next year at this time will everyone be saying 2014? Bautsita is not getting any younger, what's to say he does not look at things in a year or two like Halladay did and ask for a trade.

[keyboard]

We have been hearing the wait till next year for awhile now, everyone said 2012 was going to be the year the Jays make their run, now it's 2013, so next year at this time will everyone be saying 2014? Bautsita is not getting any younger, what's to say he does not look at things in a year or two like Halladay did and ask for a trade.It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for Toronto baseball "fans" to turn on the GM again.

[two24four]

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for Toronto baseball "fans" to turn on the GM again.

I love AA, not sure about other people, I think he's the best GM the Jays have had since Gillick.

Hey I hope they have a great season, I never turn my back on this team, been through some rough times since 1993 but have always been a fan. This is the best team they have had in along time with all the young talent they have, but we do keep hearing "next year" alot.

Picking up Fielder for a season or two might just be the move to put them over the top, (along with a SP). I would love to see Fielder take a 2-3 year deal where then if he wants to become a FA again when he's 30-31 and sign a Pujols like contract he can, remember he's just 27.

[secol]

Blue Jays prospect Drew Hutchison has increased his velocity to consistently throw in the low 90s with an ability to top out at 95 MPH, according to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm.

Hutchison is expected to start the year at Double-A New Hampshire but could reach the majors by mid-season. "I saw more velocity from him late in the year," GM Alex Anthopoulos said. ''He was someone that our staff felt strongly about. You look at how young he is and the fact he has such good command, [that] means he probably will continue to move fast."


always good to have more speed

[two24four]

The Jays signed Visquel to a minor league deal. He played his 1st MLB game a year before Lawrie was born :lol:

[two24four]

Jays signed Francisco Cordero to a one year deal. They want him to be Santos' set-up man.

[b_illin]

I wonder if they let Santos set up Cordero? (I've read a few times that Santos might be best served in the 8th inning role for a year or so)

Either way, I like this signing.

[two24four]

I wonder if they let Santos set up Cordero? (I've read a few times that Santos might be best served in the 8th inning role for a year or so)

Either way, I like this signing.

No they have already said Cordero is going to set up Santos.

The pen will be much better (or at least should be) this season with Santos, Cordero, Oliver.

[secol]

cordero's veloctiy was down last year though and combined with moving to the AL east i could see him repeating his stats from 2010

[moans]

Apparently AA's not done with the bullpen. Koji Uehara has rejected a trade to the bluejays. Interesting, considering he couldn't even make the Rangers postseason roster.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/1121195--rangers-reliever-koji-uehara-refuses-trade-to-blue-jays?bn=1
After missing out on the Yu Darvish sweepstakes (http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/mlb/bluejays/article/1104588--griffin-rangers-top-jays-with-51-7m-darvish-bid), the Blue Jays were rejected by Rangers reliever Koji Uehara when the 36-year-old right-handed reliever refused a trade to Toronto

[phaneuf6]

So he'll go to Texas but not to Toronto because he doesn't want to move his family? Weird.

[moans]

So he'll go to Texas but not to Toronto because he doesn't want to move his family? Weird.

Maybe it's the metric system

[keyboard]

Or because of our anthem.

[secol]

i think that was before we got cordero

[b_illin]

Toronto Blue Jays Top 20 Prospects for 2012

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/11/30/2601596/toronto-blue-jays-top-20-prospects-for-2012

[two24four]

By this time next season the Jays might have to make a decision on JPA or D'Arnaud. JPA has all the power in the world, which is great, but he needs to show he can hit abit better then the .220 AVG he had last season. I really like JPA, I hope he can bring his AVG up abit.

I have heard nothing but good things about Hutchison, some think he might end up pitching in the bigs this season at some point.

Hechavarria sounds like he has one of the best SS gloves to come along in along, long time, but his bat seems to be holding him back.

[phaneuf6]

Went to school with Marcus Knecht, cool to see his name there. I've heard from people in baseball that he could be as little as a year away from the Bigs, just needs a window of opportunity to open up for him on the Jays roster.

[two24four]

I wonder if Gose will ever turn into the player they thought he might when they traded for him.

[b_illin]

This year should be very telling if he can be from what I've read.

[two24four]

Two weeks today Blue Jays pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Bautista posted last night on twitter saying he's already down in FLA.

[two24four]

Jays home opener sold out in an hour today.

As someone put on twitter today, it would be nice if all these same people went to more then just the first game of the season like alot of them do. The ones that don't act like fools on opening night that is, those people can stay home.

[keyboard]

Jays home opener sold out in an hour today.

As someone put on twitter today, it would be nice if all these same people went to more then just the first game of the season like alot of them do. The ones that don't act like fools on opening night that is, those people can stay home.If acting like a fool at a baseball game meant staying home the stadium would be emptier than it is on most nights.

And people don't go to games because the stadium sucks and there are advertisements shoved down your throats at every turn. There is absolutely zero baseball feel to a Jays' game thanks to Rogers and the fact it's a concrete toilet bowl. That's why the dome being open is such a big deal; sunshine or the night air is the only real "feel" of baseball fans get.

[b_illin]

If acting like a fool at a baseball game meant staying home the stadium would be emptier than it is on most nights.

And people don't go to games because the stadium sucks and there are advertisements shoved down your throats at every turn. There is absolutely zero baseball feel to a Jays' game thanks to Rogers and the fact it's a concrete toilet bowl. That's why the dome being open is such a big deal; sunshine or the night air is the only real "feel" of baseball fans get.

I agree - it's not a positive fan experience. Beeston said they're working on it but I'm not holding my breath. Also, the concessions are shit. There is really little reason to attend.

[two24four]

I also agree, Jays home games are waaaay better when the lid is open.

Last seasons home opener did not sell out till March 23rd, it took 1 hour today. I wonder if most have some high hopes for this season or do people just want to be at this game? I'm sure playing Boston helps.

[keyboard]

I also agree, Jays home games are waaaay better when the lid is open.

Last seasons home opener did not sell out till March 23rd, it took 1 hour today. I wonder if most have some high hopes for this season or do people just want to be at this game? I'm sure playing Boston helps.Selling out in an hour is definitely a great sign but whenever I get hopes that Toronto will actually become a baseball city I keep remembering Wilner asking every caller when the Jays were in first why they still weren't going to games. Reality is until they are playing for the playoffs the city will never get behind this team until that teams. They should rename the Toronto Blue Jays to the Toronto Bandwagon.

... and you know, I'm actually glad. I hate going to Raptors' games because of the fans, I hate that I can't go to more than one or two Leaf games a year because of the corporate "fans". Really, other than the Jays and Marlies, I either can't afford or can't stand going to games in Toronto. I guess I should try an Argos game or MLS game but for the big 3, Jays' games are the only ones I actually look forward to attending.

[two24four]

If I lived closer to Toronto I would get to way more games then I do. I get to anywhere from 5-10 a season, some seasons less. For us to come though it's at least an hour drive both ways, and that's when traffic is good. Once it took us over two hours and we missed the first four innings, we got stuck on the Gardiner, is was like sitting in a parking lot.

Now I like to go into Oshawa or Whitby and jump on the Go Train and get into Toronto that way.

[two24four]

After catching McGowen the other day Arencibia said he's never seen a picther with the stuff McGowan has ever. Word out of camp (and it's early) is McGowan is almost back to his old self before all the BS he went through over the last few years.

[phaneuf6]

Saw something on TV the other night that the Jays have expressed interest in Vlad and/or Ordonez? Interesting names to say the least.

[two24four]

Saw something on TV the other night that the Jays have expressed interest in Vlad and/or Ordonez? Interesting names to say the least.

Saw that as well, word is they might give one of them a minor league deal and see how they do in the spring.

[nineoneone]

The Blue Jays are dominating grapefruit league. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell much in the grand scheme... But 10 or 11 Wins in a row is still a positive and maybe this progress can transcend into the Regular Season in a few weeks. How sweet it would be if the Jays can go on streaks like this once the show starts.

[HT9]

Has anyone here ever been this excited for the season to start? GO JAYS GO.

[two24four]

I want this team to do great this season, but don't get your hopes up from spring training, many people have done that with players and teams only to see both come back down once the season starts.

I can't wait for the season though, hoping they can at least fight for the 2nd WC spot.

[b_illin]

I want this team to do great this season, but don't get your hopes up from spring training, many people have done that with players and teams only to see both come back down once the season starts.

I can't wait for the season though, hoping they can at least fight for the 2nd WC spot.

This is true, but I have a feeling they will over deliver this year...I feel like these guys are developing a special chemistry. Jose, Lawrie and Romero at the core with JP and others just adding to the overall chemistry. Hope I'm right!!!

[two24four]

I think for the Jays to make the playoffs this season they will have to at least finish 2nd in the AL East. Because I think one of the WC spots will be going to which ever one of TEX or LA does not win the AL West.

[two24four]

I did not get to watch all the game today but it was nice to watch some Blue Jays baseball this afternoon. Not far now.

EE looked really good.

[two24four]

Snider was sent down today. Might be time to trade him.

[two24four]

Gose won't be with the Jays this season, but I look forward to watching him some day. He had 4 SB today. He stole 2nd, 3rd and home all in one inning.

[nineoneone]

HOME OPENER! GO JAYS !!

SHould be playoff like atmosphere in the Roger Dome tonight. The Red Sox will be an angry team looking to play spoiler. Boston really should have won last night but the Sox Bullpen imploded again and is downright atrocious right now.
Speaking of closing out games, the Jays (Santos) should have closed out a game in Cleveland but couldn't do it. They blew 25 games last year and they better not come close to that number this year.

[phaneuf6]

Not too impressed with Santos so far.

[keyboard]

Not too impressed with Santos so far.
While giving up a lead off double and then throwing a wild pitch weren't great, why wasn't Gonzalez walked? Also, I'm sorry, but if you've got the arm that Bautista does, you cannot two hop it to the catcher from just outside the infield. And let's not forget the Jays' offense being baffled by Atchison for two innings.

A real cluster fuck of a finish against a team you can't afford to give away wins to.

[nineoneone]

Santos looked real good today. He was put in a tough spot with 2 RISP, a 3-1 ball game and he took care of good hitters in Youkilis and Ortiz to get his 1st save.

-Romero was efficient, lots of low pitch innings.
-Lawrie is arguably the fastest jay to run down the 1st base line i can remember. That kid is all hustle and heart.
-Bautista will turn things around. His attitude and mechanics are too great not to.
-JP Arencibia is making Aaron Hill's low .200 average look good right now. I guess as long as JP brings the power numbers, it won't matter but its still early.

[phaneuf6]

Dude it's 6 games in, let's discuss averages and "turning things around" in a couple months.

[b_illin]

I thought they were fair observations.

[phaneuf6]

JP Arencibia is .220 hitter. He's hitting .105 in 19 ABs this year so far. Give him a chance to at least enlarge the sample size a bit first before criticizing it. Two of his hits have also been game winning hits as well, let's not forget that if we're analyzing him.

Bautista has seen a lot of tough pitches. Remember now this year he's proven and teams aren't going to give him a lot to hit. Let him figure it out first, again only 20 ABs and 5 games in.

[b_illin]

Sure, but 919 wasn't being negative or dramatic...he certainly wasn't wrong. (he even said himself it is still early Re: JP)

[keyboard]

I really don't think Bautista does well this year. With that said I think the team does better as a whole.

[two24four]

JP will never hit for AVG, but he will put up nice HR and RBI numbers.

Love the way EE has started at the plate.

Davis is a beast once he gets on base.

[keyboard]

I wonder who made the call to steal home with the bases loaded, 2 outs, and Bautista at the plate. Real bizarre.

[two24four]

Farrell siad after the game that it was a "major base running mistake" by Lawrie.

[nineoneone]

The Blue Jays turned a triple play in the 3rd... missed it watching playoff hockey. The last time they did that was 1979, (4th time in club history). Kyle Drabek on the mound who pitched a 3rd good game. (5.1 IP today but had 5 k's ) GO JAYS.

[two24four]

It's the 1st one since 1992 IMO, we all know Gruber got Sanders in the WS that year.

[nineoneone]

The Jays fought hard for this win coming back from a 5-0 deficit. You gotta take advantage of Texas when they don`t have Hamilton and Beltre in the lineup and they did just that. Nice walk-off for Lawrie!!

[two24four]

It was a nice win, but yet another blown save for this team.

I would like to see Lawrie moved up to leadoff, EE bat 4th, Escobar 5th, Lind 6th.

[nineoneone]

It was a nice win, but yet another blown save for this team.
Santos on the DL is a big reason for that. Francisco is only the set-up guy.

[two24four]

Santos on the DL is a big reason for that. Francisco is only the set-up guy.

But this is why they got Francisco if Santos went down. Francisco also has over 300 saves so it's not new to him.

This team blew a league high 25 saves last season, they already have 6 or 7 this season.

[phaneuf6]

The 8/9th inning guys this year have been brutal.

Escobar should be batting 9th. The guy's a DP machine and a rally killer.

[two24four]

Escobar is not a leadoff hitter that is for sure. I would put him in the middle.

I see they have Johnson leadoff today with Escobar 2nd.

[phaneuf6]

Escobar is not a leadoff hitter that is for sure. I would put him in the middle.

I see they have Johnson leadoff today with Escobar 2nd.

Heading down to the game shortly. Hoping it's not one of the games there's no alcohol being served at.. although it'd save me a small fortune if it was. Go Jays Go.

[b_illin]

All I could think of while watching Lawrie jump into the fray at home plate after his homer was Kendry Morales ankle breaking.

[keyboard]

Santos on the DL is a big reason for that.He was blowing saves when he was healthy, too.

[nineoneone]

He was blowing saves when he was healthy, too.
This is true but he has converted on his last 2 save opportunities. Santos has good stuff. He really hasn`t had a chance to get into the groove this season. He also missed time off because he had a new baby and missed 2 or 3 games.


But this is why they got Francisco if Santos went down. They signed him to work the 8th. Sure, Francisco Cordero has 300 saves but he is not effective or reliable to collect 3 outs over 1 innings anymore. He needs to be relegated to a specialty role, facing 1 or 2 batters max. Hes old and does not have the pedigree of a Mariano Rivera. I guess hes an alright fill in guy but i would not have high expectations for him.


Heading down to the game shortly. Hoping it's not one of the games there's no alcohol being served at.. although it'd save me a small fortune if it was. Go Jays Go.
haha, you might be out of luck because it was `school day` (which im sure you were aware of) at the Ball Park today . How much does a cold one cost these days? I think it was $8 or $9 two seasons ago. And good call on moving Escobar away from leadoff!!

[nineoneone]

All I could think of while watching Lawrie jump into the fray at home plate after his homer was Kendry Morales ankle breaking.

Yeah, i think the same thing everytime Ovechkin celebrates a goal.

Another good win for the Jays today. Edwin Encarnacion has been unreal so far. He was ranked 3rd overall in yahoo leagues a few days ago only behind Kemp and Hamilton. Edwin usually gets off to a slow start but obviously not this year. Speaking of slow starts, Bautista had a very similar start in April the year he hit 50+ HR`s.. ...

[keyboard]

I was going to go today because I like afternoon games but realized it was School Day and said "fuck that".

[phaneuf6]

Good crowd at the game, although I'm leaning towards keyboard's "fuck that" attitude towards School Day.

Romero was good in patches, had that one bad (6th?) inning but otherwise he wasn't bad. Edwin has been great to start the year.

God damn though, they'd get better crowds if they lowered the prices at that place. 9.75 for a tallboy of Bud, crazy.

[keyboard]

God damn though, they'd get better crowds if they lowered the prices at that place. 9.75 for a tallboy of Bud, crazy.

I don't think beer prices are the problem. Actually, those ridiculous beer prices might be the only thing that keep families coming to the games. You decrease those prices you get more beer drinking dumbasses.

[b_illin]

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/572112683.jpg?key=640478&Expires=1336062472&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIYVGSUJFNRFZBBTA&Signature=L-9tY9tJF61iQofM1mNa12Zxtb-zF-ttbPgnoOiCvf-H3uiCVVBcw0H~4S8lnMvLFAm~aC3Asmjt3nOuCIKMsnlDQYtfr jyVMIAHFWCA1PcLDetmwyrZe4UOsAcuj2pMumjgKKVBuH-syP4Ugjo-7VsYy0WnOQoV7OZGWaeXfXc_


ANAHEIM-The Blue Jays, following a successful homestand, with four wins in six games against the Mariners and the powerful Rangers, flew to California following Wednesday's 11-5 win vs. Texas to begin a 10-game, 11-day road trip to Anaheim, Oakland and Minnesota.
The Jays' offence is starting to click behind its new breakout star, Edwin Encarnacion, while the starting pitching continues to be solid, going deep into games, day-in and day-out.
It was a major chest-thumping step up for the club to bounce back with two straight wins vs. the Rangers after the impressive Japanese rookie Yu Darvish had dazzled them in the series opener on Monday. The Rangers remain confident. The Jays are the ones that needed the boost. It was a happy flight to the West Coast for the Jays following the game.
Upon arrival, there was an interesting juxtaposition of duelling celebrations with the Angels and with the Jays later on Wednesday night.
While Ricky Romero and 10 of his Jays teammates gathered at Casa Romero, the home of his parents, for a home-cooked meal from Ricky's mom twitpic.com/9gmcyz (http://t.co/D3gbgnU7) in a nice bonding experience, at the same time the Angels and their fans were being re-energized at the Big A by a no-hitter being spun against the Twins by ace righthander Jered Weaver.
The Angels definitely needed the timely boost in morale provided by the 9-0 Weaver no-no, even though Albert Pujols continued his longball drought. The good news, a small blessing at best, is that Pujols hit three line drives and it looks like he's getting closer to finding the seats in fair territory. Tough to see that as light at the end of the tunnel when the Pujols tunnel cost 10-years and $240 million. Nevertheless, the no-hitter was the focus du jour.
As for the Jays celebration, it's just another example of the genuine closeness of this Jays roster that is remarkable when I consider some of the other 25-players, 25-cabs clubhouse mentalities that I have witnessed in my 40 seasons of being around major-league baseball on a professional basis, since '73.
The Romero family makes this team-meal thing a tradition, even whipping up tasty Mexican treats for the boys whenever they visit their son in Dunedin for a week or two during spring training. But what makes the photo that @RickyRo24 himself tweeted, what makes it special are small details like the serious-looking 21-year-old starter Drew Hutchison, with the team for two weeks, but invited along with the others, sitting at the Romero's kitchen table still wearing the tie and jacket that he had worn on the flight from Toronto earlier in the day. That's a show of respect by Hutchison and that's team-building by the leader of the rotation, Romero.
As for Weaver and the Angels, they have now won three games in a row and are on their first mini-roll of the 2012 season. Don't count them out.
I arrived at my hotel across from the stadium in time to watch the final three innings on TV and, after it was over, the fans that streamed out of the ballpark were all upbeat and celebratory. At the popular Catch restaurant and bar within solid two-iron distance of the ballpark, not one mention was made of the Pujols slump, instead it was all high-fives and smiles, all about the local kid, Weaver, who had signed an extension this winter to stay with Anaheim at a home-team discount. His parents were there in the stands and it was a nice scene, with Jered hugging his mom and dad again and again on the field.
The season is young and the Angels, with Weaver, Dan Haren, C.J. Wilson, Ervin Santana and fifth starter Jerome Williams in their rotation, will still be a factor. The Jays are in tough as they always are when they come to California.

[two24four]

Blue Jays have signed Vladdy to a minor league deal.