2019 may give Toronto Blue Jays fans a nice slice of the future with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and others shuffling in from Buffalo.
The transition might be a bit too rough for Blue Jays fans still pondering the recent past to back-to-back ALCS appearances.
Charlie Montoyo is the new Toronto manager replacing John Gibbons. The release of Gibbons seemed as mutual as a managerial firing can get. Montoyo comes from the Tampa Bay organisation. The idea of an occasional 4-man outfield is a symbol of new leadership in Toronto.
There will be enough contenders for left field led by Teoscar Hernandez and includes a few infielders. Kevin Pillar will be in centre field with Randal Grichuk in right field.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is the logical shortstop but Freddy Galvis will handle SS while Gurriel will take over at 2nd base. Justin Smoak will handle first base. Perennial DH Kendrys Morales was traded to Oakland yesterday, a move to increase roster flexibility. 2nd and 3rd base will have a few people going back and forth, including Brandon Drury, Devon Travis (injured), and some guy named Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The latter won’t start on the Opening Day roster but he is only 20.
The Jays have suffered in the leadoff spot, hoping for Grichuk, Travis (injured), Billy McKinney, or anyone to excel at the top.
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Russell Martin and Troy Tulowitzki will not be physically in Toronto but their salaries are still there. The Blue Jays ate most of Martin’s remaining salary in the trade with Los Angeles. Tulo’s money will be an albatross for some time.
The Jays non-tendered Yangervis Solarte, who became a free agent, lost SP Marco Estrada, and traded INF Aledmys Diaz to Houston for P Trent Thornton. Toronto signed starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker to a 1-year deal and acquired starting left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard from San Diego.
Canadian John Axford, who was traded by Toronto to Los Angeles at the trade deadline, is back with the Blue Jays, but currently rehabbing.
Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez will anchor the rotation with Shoemaker and Richard. Ken Giles is the closer. Danny Jansen will be the starting catcher.
This season, you can enjoy all your favourite ballpark classics for $5 or less! Which items are you grabbing? pic.twitter.com/2sXIR5RnfJ
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 19, 2019
The Dugout Deals is a nice gesture. The sections for the deals are in 137, 239, and 536. If you aren't familiar with Rogers Centre, the sections are in and around the left field fair pole. 137 is in left-centre; 239 is around the left-field pole; and 536 is far down the left-field line but on the foul side of the pole.
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Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez will handle play-by-play with Pat Tabler providing analysis on Rogers Sportsnet and Rogers Sportsnet One. Jamie Campbell and Joe Siddall will provide takes from the studio.
Ben Wagner and Mike Wilner will handle play-by-play on the radio games with the flagship Sportsnet 590 The FAN (Toronto) and the Sportsnet Radio Network, which includes Sportsnet 960 The FAN (Calgary) and Sportsnet 650 (Vancouver). Scott MacArthur will host Blue Jays Talk after the games. The press release does not list a radio colour analyst; Siddall was the last regular analyst before replacing Gregg Zaun on the TV side in 2018.
You might have forgotten all of that since Rogers showed the opposing team feed for 8 of the 10 games from Florida. We rip on Rogers being cheap but this is low even for them. Rogers didn't even cover the Blue Jays game with the Canada Jr. team.
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We noted the absence of the Toronto Blue Jays on ESPN last year. The channel reportedly will have the Jays on twice (at least) in 2019. The guaranteed game will be April 9 with the Blue Jays in Boston. Don't expect Toronto to be mentioned much since the game is the Boston home opener and the banner ceremony for the 2018 World Series champions.
Toronto will open at home against Detroit. The opener is at 3:37 pm today with starting times for the next 3 days at 7:07 pm; 3:07 pm; and 1:07 pm. The homestand continues April 1-3 with Baltimore in town at 7:07 pm; 7:07 pm; and 4:07 pm. The first road trip is a short distance in Cleveland April 4-7 at 6:10 pm; 7:10 pm; 4:10 pm; and 1:10 pm.
The free MLB Extra Innings preview should cover those home games. The home team feed might be the only option for some, so keep that first week in mind.
photo credit: @BlueJays
Twitter capture: @BlueJays
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