5 Thoughts on the Toronto Blue Jays - Roster Announcement Edition -

So it looks like the Blue Jays will announce their 2015 roster on Tuesday! Here are some of the things that I think we might see!

1.  Rotation Order - I would be insulating if I didn't assume that the average fan didn't already know the 5 guys who will be making up the Blue Jays rotation this year, but the order that they are going to appear in is another thing.  Drew Hutchison looks to get the start in NYC on the 6th.  Makes sense.  Good record against the Yanks, a good step forward for a young kid and I think he'll be up to the challenge.   From there probably RA Dickey on day two in NYC.  What I don't like here is that he has to start a night game in April, but the other option is to start him in Baltimore and he doesn't pitch well there, so I guess this is ok.  Daniel Norris will probably finish out the Yankees series which makes sense as throwing a LHP against a heavy LH hitting line-up.   The team then leaves for Baltimore and the Orioles home opener. Giving Buerhle the ball here works and keeps him from pitching in NYC which is pretty much a burial ground for him.  That leaves Sanchez for game two against the Orioles.   Not bad...I like it.

2.  If there's anyone out there that doesn't think Devon Travis isn't starting the season as the 2nd baseman is fooling themselves.  Gibby was on PTS today and only had good things to say, now i'm not taking this as gospel, but I would think this is a given.  I guess the bigger question is what happens to Travis once Izturis is all fixed up and ready to go?

3. Who makes up the bench on opening day?  Well we heard John Gibbons today say that they will not be taking 3 catchers north so that pretty much means that Thole will be in Buffalo.  Steve Tolleson is out of options and Valencia can actually hit so Super Utility infielder Ryan Goins will also be in Buffalo if they indeed decide to go with a 7 man bullpen, but I think it's going to be an 8 man pen until Saunders is activated off the DL and they send one of the Bullpen guys over the peace bridge.  So...Bench on April 6th.  Navarro, Valencia and Tolleson.  When Saunders is activated Navarro, Valencia, Tolleson and Pillar.

*Only thing I don't like here is that there's no real guy who can cover SS if needed.

4.  So looks as if they Jays will indeed go with an 8 Man pen to start the season more as a way to try to sneak a player back to Buffalo when Saunders comes back.  Anyway here is my Bullpen.

• Brett Cecil
• Aaron Loup
• Marco Estrada
• Miguel Castro
• Roberto Osuna
• Todd Redmond
• Colt Hynes
• Liam Hendriks

Love that there's three LHP in there!  Love that the kids are there, still think it's great to throw guys know one has ever seen before in quick spurts, makes it harder for teams to get a read on them. When it's time for Saunders to come back, I think it's pretty clear that it's Hendriks that they try to sneak back to Buffalo.

5.  So I was planning on using this part to talk about how Justin Smoak was going to win the battle between him and Derick Barton for the 1st base job.  Well low and behold Barton was assigned to minor league camp earlier today and that means that Smoak is coming to the Big Smoke.  Much has been said about Smoak's stellar defence and how it will help out the Left Side of the infield, but I really do think his bat is going to come alive in Toronto.  

Love this time of the year! #cometogether #gojaysgo

5 Quick thoughts on the Blue Jays on Sunday Morning

Here I go!

1.  Looks like Alex Anthopoulos was out 1st hand the other day watching Jonathan Papelbon in a game against the Yankees!  Is there anything to this?   I doubt it unless the Phillies are going to be giving him away for practically nothing.  I'm torn on if it would be a good move or not.  On one hand it would be great to have a little more experience back there, especially with a group that may be very green, but he isn't the same pitcher he was even two years ago!  What the hell!  Trade for him AA

2.  Osuna and Castro both got knocked around for the 1st time this spring yesterday!  It happens...no big deal.  I think it could be really telling how the both react in their next outing however.  Let's see how they handle the pressure.

3. I've really liked watching Kevin Pillar this spring so far!  I wonder how they are able to keep him in regularly during the season once Saunders is back!  I would hate for him to collect rust on the bench all year and not put his skill set to use. 

4.  I was reading that Anthony Gose is considered a Sleeper pick on some Fantasy Baseball websites this year!  I laughed....I will give him that he's had a great spring and he can say that he's made a change to his swing that has helped him get on base alot more, but i'm not buying it!  That swing is terrible and he should be lucky if he can fool the tigers into thinking he should be playing everyday!

5. I have my Fantasy Baseball draft today!  One of my favorite days of the year to be quite honest.  There's something about Fantasy Baseball that crushes all other Fantasy sports for me.  Yeah the season is long, most leagues probably have guys that check out a quarter of the way through the season  and it is a challenge to set line ups everyday, but the #'s that live within baseball make it the ultimate Fantasy Sport.  

I imagine today is also the draft for many other Fantasy Baseball GM's out there, so good luck to them and I hope they enjoy it as much as I do!

*This is a picture my wife took of me last year after the draft as I broke down my picks to her on my draft board.  Gotta love her for humoring me at least.

5 Thoughts on the Toronto Blue Jays - Spring Training

5 Thoughts!!!!  Here they are!

1.  If the Blue Jays don't make the playoffs and Alex Anthopoulos gets fired, how long is it before we all realize that it was a bad move? 

If you think of where the Blue Jays organization is right now compared to where it was when J.P. Ricciardi was fired it's pretty easy to see what kind of job AA has done at not only turning it around, but also turning the organization back into a club that is known for drafting and developing young talent.  

I would just hate to see a re-start with a new administration and almost put the forward progress on pause while a new team tries to determine what it means to be a Blue Jay.......again.  

2.  In the past couple days at Spring Training we've seen Ryan Goins playing some 3rd base, and outfield in addition to SS and 2nd.  Word is that they are trying to make him into a Ben Zobrist type play.  This is a great idea except what makes Ben Zobrist really great is that he can play all those positions and ALSO HIT!

3. Shi Davidi had a great article tonight that covered the Jays new philosophy on how they are going to handle their young pitchers going forward.  I won't confuse you by me trying to summarize it, especially since you can just read it by clicking the link below. 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-taking-new-approach-young-arms/

It's an interesting way to go about things especially when we leave in an age when people are just waiting for reasons to jump all over decisions and point out why they are wrong and how they would have handled it differently.  

4. Who do you think makes it back to the Major Leagues 1st....  Ricky Romero or Johan Santana?  I go with neither!  Actually if either of them make it to the Majors this year then the Jays are pretty much FUK'd! Actually forget I even asked that.....The thought of it actually makes me depressed. 

5. So my over under on when Miguel Castro becomes the Blue Jays closer is May 1st.  Cecil will have a short leash at the start of the year and the guy's arsenal is prototypical closer.  After Cecil he's really is the next guy that would make sense to close. 

  

5 Thoughts on the Toronto Blue Jays - Spring Training Edition

Well it's been about 2 and a half months since I posted anything, but what better time than the day before Spring Training games are about to start.

Lots of stuff has happened since I last found time to write, but more than anything I think most Jays fans were itching to grab onto any minuscule Blue Jays news with the flurry that we were treated to at the start of the year! To summarize in a nut shell what's happened since my last post.  Jays wanted to hire a new President, but didn't.  Know one could figure out what the Jays payroll for 2015 would actually be. Jays did nothing to improve the Bullpen and 2nd base and there was a bit of talk about Clubhouse Chemistry.

So....Anyway spring training games start tomorrow so here are 5 quick thoughts....

1.  Jays signed Dayan Viciedo over the weekend, giving them another guy who may or may not be able to contribute to the Big League team.  Not sure if this pick up would have happened without Michael Saunders getting hurt, but regardless the Jays now have another guy to fill their already crowded bench.  Something is telling me more and more that a deal like this regardless of the "Were going to take the best team north" talk means that Pillar is going to be starting his year in Buffalo. Options left = bad news for Kevin



2.  Jays also signed 2 time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana this past week and there's another SP in the mix for the 5th starter in the Jays rotation.  Good on the Jays for trying to help bolster their Starting rotation, but couple this with the Viciedo signing do they really think the money being paid to these two is better spent in these two places rather than in their bullpen?  I get it...The Bullpen is a real enigma from year to year, but it would be nice to have a few less questions in the bullpen then where we are standing right now.



3. I really really really really really hope that Martin can catch the Knuckle Ball.  The thought of having 3 catchers on the roster on April 6th is just not sitting well with me. I can't see how the Jays are going to keep a decent bench together by having such little versatility. 



4. If Michael Saunders is able to keep himself healthy this year (Yeah I know he already isn't) his attitude and the way he's approaching being a member of the Blue Jays is going to make him a fan favorite in Toronto really quickly.  Brett Lawrie had the opportunity to be something special for the Jays, but something about his persona made it awkward for fans to really connect with him.  Saunders on the other hand has a likability  that if he's able to succeed professionally I think fans will really take to him.



5.  Good on Sportsnet for finding a way to make all of the Jays spring training games available in one way or another for all us Jays Fans!   PVR is already set for Tuesday's opener.  Can't wait!  It's been too long....



Alright....Good Talk.