Editor's note: The Toronto Blue Jays will play home games in Buffalo in 2020.
Where the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays will play home games seems to be more interesting lately than who will play. Canada (Toronto) and Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) said no.
"Welcome to Sahlen Field in Buffalo for the home opener of the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays."
That isn't happening … yet. Baltimore and Washington. The New York City stadiums. Dr. Deborah Birx has warned 11 cities to take aggressive action in the coronavirus fight: 2 of those 11 cities are Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Cleveland and Columbus, talked about in Internet circles, are also on the list.
The Buffalo NBA team played 16 home games from 1971–1975 at the Maple Leaf Gardens when the team had conflicts at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The Buffalo Bills NFL team played 6 regular season games and 2 preseason games from 2008-2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Sahlen Field in Buffalo is the home of Toronto's AAA franchise Buffalo Bisons.
The Toronto Blue Jays of Buffalo would have had an odd ring but better than Dunedin, Florida during this portion of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Would be curious how @espn folks would feel if this was happening to a team they really like NYY, BOS, etc. @BlueJays only end up on the network once a year because @MLB makes them. Would love a #SNB in #Buffalo, even if @Yankees are involved.https://t.co/3B96ye53BI
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) July 22, 2020
Buffalo isn't ideal. The lights can easily be fixed. Infrastructure could be added or adapted. Sharing is great as a concept but not for MLB teams in a pandemic. The horror of a 60-game road trip can not happen. The 2020 Toronto Blue Jays might gain an advantage psychologically over teams shuffling off to Buffalo. As we noted on Saturday, the Canadian government didn't agree to an exemption to allow the Blue Jays to play in Canada in 2020.
The speculation is that the Blue Jays will stay in Washington for their home opener. Toronto should not be giving away home games to opponents. We saw that mess in 2010 with the G20 summit where the Blue Jays were forced to surrender 3 home games to Philadelphia. We suggested the games go to Montreal. Bud Selig, who worked really hard to force the Expos out of Montréal, said no.
Toronto Blue Jays won't play in Canada for 2020 regular season
Buffalo Bills Toronto series is done
Buffalo Bills Toronto series suspended for 2014
OFFICIAL: Presenting your 2020 #OpeningDay Roster! #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/09jZ2dpWW3
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 23, 2020
Today is Opening Day of the very limited MLB 2020 season. The Toronto Blue Jays have to cram in 60 games in 66 days but today is not one of those days. No doubleheaders because modern MLB does not like doubleheaders, especially the old-fashioned kind. Imagine getting to see 2 games for the price of 1!!!
Will this be the season that Nate Pearson impresses the world? Will having Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio together at the start of the season give the Blue Jays an advantage?
Those 3 players form the vast majority of the infield with newcomer Travis Shaw (Milwaukee) handling 3rd base with Guerrero now playing 1st base. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was the shortstop last year but is now in left field. Randal Grichuk was in right field but will handle centre field. Teoscar Hernandez, Derek Fisher, and others will handle right field. The primary catchers will be Danny Jansen and Reese McGuire. Rowdy Tellez will handle the majority of at-bats as the DH with some 1st base duties to give Guerrero a day off.
Shaw, Biggio, and Tellez provide left-handed hitters in a dominant right-handed hitting lineup.
Kevin Pillar and Kendrys Morales didn't last long in 2019. Pillar is now in Boston and Morales retired. Justin Smoak ended up in Milwaukee.
One small detail for the Blue Jays at designated hitter: MLB has decided that NL teams will incorporate a designated hitter in 2020, so when Toronto visits Washington, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Miami (they don't visit the New York Mets), the Blue Jays can use a designated hitter. There are only 10 games at National League parks on the schedule. While AL teams are used to the designated hitter, we detest this move on behalf of National League fans.
The starting rotation feels brand new. Hyun-jin Ryu (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Tanner Roark (Cincinnati and Oakland) were free agents. Chase Anderson came in a trade with Milwaukee. Shun Yamaguchi came from the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. Matt Shoemaker did pitch for Toronto and was off to a good start (3–0, 1.57 ERA, 5 starts) before a season-ending injury in 2019.
With the very quick 60-game schedule, pitching depth will be crucial. These players could include Trent Thornton, Ryan Borucki, Jacob Waguespack, Anthony Kay, Nate Pearson, and T.J. Zeuch. The bullpen ends with Ken Giles and could include Anthony Bass, Rafael Dolis, Sam Gaviglio, Wilmer Font, Thomas Pannone, Jordan Romano, A.J. Cole, Ryan Dull, Phillippe Aumont, Jackson McClelland, Kirby Snead, and Ty Tice. Or not.
Charlie Montoyo is back for his second season as manager after being with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Toronto Blue Jays won't play in Canada for 2020 regular season
What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020
Toronto Blue Jays would have played New York Yankees as 2020 opponents in Montreal
NHL, MLB, MLS latest sports leagues to suspend their regular season
The 2020 Toronto Blue Jays will start out in St. Petersburg Friday night for a 3-game series and then 2 in Washington. The Nationals help the Blue Jays open their home schedule July 29 somewhere in the United States.
The 6 off days are bunched up. The season starts tomorrow with 10 straight games. Off dates are August 3, 10, 13, and 20 along with September 10 and 14.
The Blue Jays play 20 straight days from August 21-September 9. The intense schedule means the regular season will end on September 27.
Blue Jays will start home games at 6:37 pm except for Sundays, which will start at 3:07 pm. The notable exception is August 31 with a 2:07 pm start. Fans getting to the ballpark will not be a factor.
Your 2020 Blue Jays schedule pic.twitter.com/kNqhsm2WCA
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) July 6, 2020
Rogers Sportsnet will carry all the Toronto Blue Jays games with Rogers Sportsnet One handling games during the NHL playoffs. Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez will call the games with remote analysis from Pat Tabler and Justin Morneau. Ben Wagner and Mike Wilner share the radio play-by-play.
As for U.S. television, we are not expecting ESPN, Fox Sports, or TBS to give any consideration to the Toronto Blue Jays. MLB.TV can give Blue Jays fans in the United States all of their games for $50 (American) though the whole package is $60 (American).
MLB Network is an outlet that may cover a Blue Jays game on occasion.
We will monitor MLB Extra Innings to see if there is a preview or how long said preview will last. The Blue Jays are on the road for the first 5 games.
“We know that in the past you’ve streamed live Toronto Blue Jays games from within Canada in MLB.TV. Starting with the 2020 regular season, live Toronto Blue Jays games will be blacked out on MLB.TV within Canada. Live Blue Jays games will now be available for streaming on Sportsnet NOW.”
MLB.TV sent this in an e-mail to subscribers. For Canadians who are Blue Jays fans but didn't have cable, MLB.TV gave fans a cheaper option very specific for Blue Jays games. The message directs fans to look into Sportsnet NOW, which is the Rogers streaming service. You get other MLB games plus the NHL, NBA, and other sports where Rogers has the rights.
The comparison was presented before the pandemic as $120 (MLB.TV) vs. $249.99 (Sportsnet NOW) though the MLB.TV charge is in American currency while Sportsnet is in Canadian currency.
There is a getaround depending on your patience level and ability to stay off social media.
"If you are an MLB.TV subscriber within an area subject to blackout, the applicable game will be available as an archived game approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game."
If you can wait for the archived game, Canadians can watch the Toronto Blue Jays on a tape-delayed basis. That is a lot to ask for in a true fan.
2020 Toronto Blue Jays spring training schedule
Larry Walker is now the second Canadian in the Baseball Hall of Fame
Wrapping up the 2019 Toronto Blue Jays season
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
All of this is subject to change due to the impact of COVID-19. This is a serious virus that has done considerable damage, more in the United States than in Canada. We aren't concerned about how well the Blue Jays will do in 2020: just get through the season with minimal physical damage. This young team has a core that should be together for several years.
A weak start and the team could almost give up. This is a major drawback to the MLB plan. Go 12-18 in the first 30 games and you have almost no chance to make a comeback.
photo credit @bnicholsonsmith
Twitter capture: @canadian_xing; @bluejays; @bnicholsonsmith
Comments