Bluebird Banter Mar 25, 2023
Nate Pearson optioned to Buffalo
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Jays made some roster moves. The surprising one to me is that Nate Pearson has been optioned to Buffalo. He wasn’t the only one, also optioned: •RHP Thomas Hatch •RHP Zach Thompson •RHP Trent Thornton And a handful of players have been reassigned: •RHP Luke Bard •C Stevie Berman •C Rob Brantly •RHP Junior Fernández •RHP Bowden Francis I was hoping for a full season of Pearson in the bullpen. So now it is likely that Zack Pop or Mitch White will be making the team. White would have to show he’s healthy....
Bluebird Banter Mar 25, 2023
Jays release Jay Jackson
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Jays have released reliever Jay Jackson. Today was the deadline to either put him on the roster or release him. He couldn’t have had a better spring, pitching 9.1 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 walks with 13 strikeouts and no earned runs (2 unearned). But Nate Pearson, Zack Pop and Mitch White have all had nice springs too, and there is only one open spot. I think someone will grab Jackson. It is too bad, he would be a handy guy to have in Buffalo waiting for the chance that will likely come along before too long. But I would rather...
Bluebird Banter Mar 25, 2023
Beyond the 2023 Top 40: Top Five Older Prospects
A couple holdovers and a couple graduates from last year Before finishing up with the top of the list Monday, first a little detour. As outlined at the beginning of the series, eligibility for the BBB Top 40 Toronto Blue Jays prospect list is based not just on the traditional criteria of rookie eligibility, but also on an age cutoff. 2023 must be no more than a player’s age-26 season, that is, a player must be 25 or under on June 30, 2023. 2023: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2022: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8...
Bluebird Banter Mar 24, 2023
Alek Manoah named Opening Day Starter
Photo by Elsa/ Let’s gooooo I’m in the final stretch of my pending nuptials but need a little brain break, so here’s your Friday news. Opening Day is less than a week away, and we now know who will be throwing out the first (game) pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays: Alek Manoah is the #BlueJays’ Opening Day starter, John Schneider announces.“He was thrilled. You could see him light up immediately. He gave us a big hug — both me and Pete — in his tank top. It was great.”— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 24, 2023 If you’d like more Manoah in...
Bluebird Banter Mar 24, 2023
2023 Know Your Enemy: Baltimore Orioles
Photo by Mitchell Layton/ Orioles @ Blue Jays: May 19 -21Blue Jays @ Orioles: June 13-15Orioles @ Blue Jays: July 31, August 1-3Blue Jays @ Orioles: August 22-24 The Baltimore Orioles surprised a lot of people last year, myself included, and went 83-79. That was a huge upgrade from their disastrous 2021 season where they went 52-110. They got there with a big season from their relief corps, plus some solid, middle of the pack starting pitching and offensive production. Notable Departures Rougned Odor, 2BJesús Aguilar, 1BRobinson Chirinos, CJordan Lyles,...
Bluebird Banter Mar 24, 2023
Happy Birthday: Dustin McGowan and Dirk Hayhurst
Photo by A Marlin/ Two of my favourites have birthdays today. Dustin McGowan turns 41 today. Dustin was a first-round pick back in 2000, 33rd overall. Although not the Blue Jays' first first-round pick, we had the number 18 pick that year, and we chose Miguel Negron, an outfielder who never made the majors, having a career line of .263/.326/.358 in 1019 minor league games. Dustin was a supplemental pick for the loss of free agent Graeme Lloyd. Dustin was doing well, in the minors, until needing Tommy John surgery early in the 2003 season. He was called up to the Blue...
Bluebird Banter Mar 24, 2023
2023 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 5-8
Four international signees from 2016-19 The penultimate section of the top 2023 Toronto Blue Jays prospects is bookended by a pair of infielders on either ends of the year-to-year consistency spectrum, a pitcher who shot through the system and a breakout outfielder. 2023: Full List and Index | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2022: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 8. Otto Lopez, utility, age 24 (DOB: 9/30/1998),...
Bluebird Banter Mar 23, 2023
Spring GameThread: Jays @ Twins
The Jays go to Fort Myers to play the Twins today. It is on MLB.tv and Sportsnet. Yusei Kikuchi's ERA this spring: 1.38 @Sportsnet @FAN590, https://t.co/LCxIWKC6ij pic.twitter.com/pxJO9pY07h— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 23, 2023 Twins: 1 DH Byron Buxton 2 SS Carlos Correa 3 C Christian Vazquez 4 LF Kyle Garlick 5 2B Nick Gordon 6 1B Tyler White 7 CF Mark Contreras 8 RF Ryan LaMarre 9 3B Elliot Soto We are glad you are here and hope you feel welcome. As a reminder, we have rules. Mostly it’s “don’t be terrible,” but these days, it’s also,...
Bluebird Banter Mar 23, 2023
2023 Know Your Enemy: AL Central
Photo by Quinn Harris/ Every league needs a worst division We wrap up our division by division look around the league, wrapping up with the AL Central. The final four previews will focus on each individual team in the AL East. Cleveland Guardians 2022: 92-70, First Place Blue Jays @ Guardians - August 7-10Guardians @ Blue Jays - August 25-27 Playing their first season as the Guardians last year, they brought the AL Central title back to Cleveland for the first time since 2018. They took the Yankees to 5 games in the ALDS once they made the playoffs, but couldn’t come...
Bluebird Banter Mar 22, 2023
Spring GameThread: Orioles @ Blue Jays
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via The Orioles are coming to Dunedin to play the Jays. Like all the others in Dunedin, this one is on Sportsnet, This lineup @Sportsnet @FAN590, https://t.co/LCxIWKC6ij pic.twitter.com/NwCexpMmqb— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 22, 2023 Last Spring game against the Blue Jays! pic.twitter.com/jNcMI4k20M— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 22, 2023 We are glad you are here and hope you feel welcome. As a reminder, we have rules. Mostly it’s “don’t be terrible,” but these days, it’s also, “please...
Bluebird Banter Mar 22, 2023
2023 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 9-12
Two 2022 draftees and two signees from different corners of the world Moving into the heart of the Toronto Blue Jays farm system, this next section of the Top 40 features a mix of pitchers and position players, newcomers and holdovers, and who likely start at four different levels in 2023. 2023: Full List and Index | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2022: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 12. Cade Doughty, IF, age 22 in...
Bluebird Banter Mar 22, 2023
2023 Know Your Enemy: AL West Preview
Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Can the defending World Series champs win their division again? The American League West has belonged to the Astros for years now, with the exception of the short 2020 season where the Athletics sprinted to a division title. But outside of that aberration of a season, the AL West has been the Astros’ since their first World Series title in 2017. Houston Astros 2022: 106-56, First Place, World Series Champions Blue Jays @ Astros - April 17-19Astros @ Blue Jays - June 5-8 The Astros won their second World Series in six years in...
Bluebird Banter Mar 21, 2023
2023 Know Your Enemy: NL East
Photo by Todd Kirkland/ Braves look for their sixth straight division title Today is surprisingly just the second off day of the spring for the Jays. To fill the need for baseball content (aside from tonight’s World Baseball Classic finale), here is the preview for the National League East. Atlanta Braves (2022: 101-61, First Place via tiebreaker) Braves @ Blue Jays May 12-14 The Braves won their fifth consecutive division title in 2022, although they took this one in a tie with the Mets but took the tiebreaker with 10-9 head to head victory. Unlike when they won...
Bluebird Banter Mar 20, 2023
GameThread: Jays @ Tigers
Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/ The Jays make the trip to Lakeland, Florida to play the Tigers today. The game is on MLB.tv (as I write this I don’t know if Sportsnet is going to pick this one up) with the Tigers broadcast team. It's Gaus day...and it's on TV! @Sportsnet @FAN590, https://t.co/LCxIWKC6ij pic.twitter.com/bmnQ7qmYEN— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 20, 2023 Ring in the first day of spring with us on @BallySportsDET today! pic.twitter.com/Fz1p0YwDCd— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 20, 2023 We are glad you are here and hope you feel...
Bluebird Banter Mar 20, 2023
2023 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 13-16
A fast moving reliever and three position players with very different risk/upside profiles Moving towards the heart of the Toronto Blue Jays system, this section (and the next spot beyond) feature a group of position players with similar overall value, but very divergent risk and upside profiles. We’ve gone back on forth on ordering them, and it really comes down more to the eye of the beholder. The point to underline here is that while 12th is 20% higher than 15th on the list, it doesn’t represent a significant difference in value. 2023: Full List and Index | 13-16 | 17-20...
