Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Fort Myers [is where the Jays would be if they weren’t playing a home game today]! A breezy two-and-a-half hour bus ride down the Gulf Coast from the Blue Jays’ home in Dunedin and you’re there! Can you imagine??? [You’ll have to — the Jays are in Dunedin].
Actually, though, I almost can’t imagine what’s about to transpire on the field of Hammond Stadium [because it sure isn’t a Twins-Jays game], as legit stars — and noted “baseball rats” — Troy Tulowitzki and Josh Donaldson have made the trip [is what I’d say if this was actually an away game]. So that’s something! [Except how… y’know… it’s not].
Tulo’s something else, it turns out:
John Gibbons on Troy Tulowitzki #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/nd8mtwRUcx
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) March 8, 2016
Hey, and maybe Michael Saunders will continue his big start to camp. Or Darrell Ceciliani will make another play in centre that makes me wonder if it’s my useless ass out there.
Ahh, spring!
Scuttlebutt
Great stuff from Josh Howsam of BP Toronto — formerly Blue Jays Plus — as he looks at the… er… great stuff Ross Atkins has done since becoming the Jays’ GM, particularly in terms of depth. The club now has backups with experience as big league regulars at just about every spot on the diamond — something Alex Anthopoulos’s stars-and-scrubs-y team building philosophy (and refusal to include incentives in contracts) never really allowed for.
One of those depth pieces is, of course, Gavin Floyd, who the Jays gave a big league contract to (for some reason) and is making his second start of the spring. Let’s… uh… let’s see how that goes. As well as his 2.70 ERA 13.1 innings last September, with just 11 hits and four walks for 55 batters faced, one hopes! (Just don’t, y’know, look at the strikeouts or HR/FB rate).
Toronto Blue Jays
RHP Gavin Floyd
Minnesota Twins
RHP Tyler Duffey
i’m uncharacteristically giddy about this season.
Can’t listen today, but happy to check in periodically for updates!
And for all the hand wringing about how spring training stats are meaningless (and I know that they are) — I’m just gonna keep on stroking my maple boner over Michael Saunders, thank you very much!
Tulo leading off!!
Just returned from Spring Training last night.
I had a wonderful time, and I really hope they don’t leave Dunedin – what an absolutely funky little town that place is. However, that stadium definitely needs a few upgrades to bring it out of the stone-age.
Looking forward to returning next year with my son in tow.
Going next week — any tips? Restaurants, etc.?
can’t wait!!!!
Parking is free in Downtown Dunedin – walking to the stadium is easy.
Loved Casa Tina’s (Mexican) in Downtown Dunedin. You will find lots of funky restaurants and bars along Main Street.
Walking back downtown after the game along Douglas Ave.? Keep your eyes peeled for a white Porsche 911 Turbo with Florida plate “BOR20″… I’m not saying it IS Josh Donaldson, but I’m not saying it’s not.
(It totally is. Nice dude.)
Thanks mate! This is a big bucket list trip for me. Taking my old man, just the two of us. Can. Not. Wait!
Was it doing a burn out at every red light? If not, it probably wasn’t Dosh.
It was him. Check my Twitter for the photo. We had a brief chat as he was stopped in traffic.
If he could’ve done burn outs, he would’ve I’m sure!
Great pic! I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled.
Saunders knee just beat out a DP!!
….and the bases are loaded for Josh..(YES?!!) Thole! (Oh…..)
So Darwin Barney (signed to a MLB contract) has options, I’ve been told. Which will be important whenever Travis returns, if one assumes the Jays will not carry 2 backup infielders on the bench.
So my question is, does Gavin Floyd? (Have options, that is.) Just wondering.
ADDED: Never mind, I found out myself. Turns out, no.
http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/pages/blue-jays-option-and-outright-status
This has been another edition of “Steve-O Answers His Own Dumb Question.”
Don’t know for sure, but his first season in MLB was 2004 so I would say my best guess is no.
Oops – didn’t see your edit..
Yeah, I forgot about the BBB page that lists all player options statuses.
I have been saying that I think he’s a candidate for the old sneak-through-waivers-in-April routine. Starter depth and all that.
Though at this point I wonder if it’s just asking too much to expect him to be stretched out as a starter and log those kinds of innings. Maybe 60-70 relief innings is a safer bet. How has he looked today?
Not watching today, so I can’t say, but he could get sneaked through waivers if it comes to that.
I do think the more likely outcome is that he ends up in the bullpen, if he shows the Jays enough.
If he doesn’t, maybe they try to seank him down and if someone grabs him, so be it – he wasn’t pitching well enough to make the team anyway, in that scenario.
Quick comment about the depth….obviously love the pitching depth that was brought in. Was just thinking about Chavez’s potential role on the team and he’s almost 7th or 8th in the pecking order…..previous years this has been the Matt Boyd’s, Sean Nolin’s, Todd Redmond’s, and Chad Jenkins of the world….him/Hutch/Floyd and even Sanchez have considerable more track record and upside. Liking the Chavez trade more and more as I picture roster scenarios…
Sidenote, a lot of the MLB-caliber depth behind the starters very likely won’t stick around if they don’t make camp out of spring. I don’t see a lot of the veteran guys sticking around Buffalo too long. Roberto Hernandez, Aardsmaa, Dom Brown, Junior Lake, etc…Does make for increased competition in camp in a win-now mode which is outstanding.
I like J Lake as the 4th OF over Zeke, but that’s just me.
Nego loves the Jays pitching depth that was brought in
Where the sam hill is Max Pentecost
Still rehabing I think, not sure.
On the bright side, he moved up a spot to 9th on the MLB’s top 10 catching prospects list!
Maybe if he keeps getting injured he’ll move up to #1 at some point.
Wait, you mean that’s not how it works?
Joey Bats hitting lefty for a reason. Makes sense, actually.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-jose-bautista-takes-left-handed-batting-practice/
Ah, there ya go. I was actually wondering if it was something like this. I know it didn’t start this spring — he did it in batting practice sometimes last year. (I recently re-watched the AL East clincher and there’s a shot of him taking left-handed batting practice prior to that game.)
But did Jose look as coordinated (and manly) as these fellows ??
Hmm Rafael Soriano has yet to pitch in spring training I wonder if he will get waived.
Soriano has had visa issues and has yet to arrive in camp.
So is this today’s threat too?
Promising report on Estrada’s back ?? Fingers crossed.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-marco-estrada-make-spring-debut-next-week/
read somewhere Estrada is one the mend….great news.
Feeling….optimistic, eff-word get me to April already!!
Also, while I’m here….did this community go somewhere else or….? Did I miss the boat (which I never got off)?
Yes.
http://bluejaysinthehouse.blogspot.ca/