Some Local Jays Info

[yanno]

We know that the Jays have had a very good start in their Spring Training games. There may be at least a partial explanation for this.

1. The Jays have a refurbished ballpark. The Skydome has been renamed the Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays will be playing on a new field surface. Gone are the days of coarse artificial turf. Gone, too, are the related injuries. The team will be playing on a truly artificial "grass" field, which is supplied by FieldTurf, an artificial system where each blade of grass is reproduced in a polyethylene fibre, which more accurately mimics the characteristics of real grass. There is also a new system of video display features located around the ballpark. The bottom line is that the guy who owns the company, Rogers Cable, that owns the Blue Jays, now owns the ballpark too. He has also injected more money into salaries over the next three years to improve the team, tho it can be spent anytime, not necessarily this year.

2. Toronto is a hockey town, and with the NHL season down the drain, and no Leafs in the playoffs, and the Raptors very unlikely to make the NBA playoffs, this is a major opportunity to push the Blue Jays in the city.

3. The key point is that they are going to have to attract fans to the ballpark to see the new facilities, start supporting a team that is trying to improve over the next few years, and put bums in the seats thru the season. It has been stated matter-of-factly on The Fan590 Radio (the Jays radio station) that a good Spring Training run was important to gain some attention and get some momentum going. SO SPRING TRAINING MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT TO THE JAYS THAN TO MANY OTHER TEAMS AND THERE MAY BE SOME PRESSURE ON THE TEAM TO PERFORM WELL.

Okay, I don't know for sure that this is true or a reason to bet the Jays, I just know that I've been doing it a bit for some small amounts, and just for the sake of interest. People will have to draw their own conclusions and look at this Spring Training and the Season as it develops. Just thought I'd throw this out.

Good luck in MLB this year guys!!! :clap:

 

[sharky17]

Ah, this has to be the best time of the year to be a baseball fan. Everybody has a chance for the pennant in spring training - even our Blue Jays. However, I'm not sure how quickly reality is going to set in.......Don't get me wrong - there is nothing I would like to see more than the Jays be able to compete with the money-toting Yanks and Red Sox, and I still want to believe that they can, but there is going to need to be a minor miracle in this starting rotation:
1) Roy Halladay - he's gonna have to eat up a ton of innings, and return to Cy Young form after missing most of the second half last year with a "tired" arm. Gulp.
2) Gustavo Chacin - WTF?? This is our No. 2 guy? This was an impulse decision on somebody's part because this guy had a nice first outing in spring training. Spring Damn Training. Mediocre at "AA", unproven, and now in the two spot. :look:
3) Josh Towers - I like this guy. I think he is going to emerge into a pretty reliable pitcher this year, and I'm looking forward to it. A definite bright spot.
4) Dave Bush - This guy needs to really step it up a notch to stay in the rotation. Unfortunately, I think inconsistency will be story of his season. I hope he proves me wrong.
5) Ted Lilly - He's missed most of spring training with re-emerging tendinitis in his left elbow. Not good news for a guy who usually starts the season like a house on fire. A lot of question marks surrounding his health in my opinion.
On a brighter note, the bullpen should be improved from last year with the addition of Scott Schoenweis and noted improvement in Justin Speier, but I hope this "closer by commitee" B.S. doesn't continue this year - Miguel Bastista is the man for the time being. :thinking:
As for the new Rogers Center - can't wait to check it out. The new field turf should be a much needed face lift for the place.
Baseball is in the air Fellas.......Even though it is still snowing here.......... :cursin: