The Canadian Press – ONLINE EDITION

By: Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

31/03/2011 9:32 PM | Comments: 0

TORONTO – The predictions are in and they’re not pretty.

Sports Illustrated is forecasting that the Toronto Blue Jays will be last in the American League East at 77-85. ESPN weighs in with a prediction of 79-83 and a fourth-place finish. A trio of Yahoo! Sports baseball writers all expect a fourth-place result and sub-.500 record.

It makes for plenty of bulletin board material for a young squad that is itching to become a contender in one of the toughest divisions in baseball.

“We’re a competitive group,” new manager John Farrell said Thursday on the eve of opening day. “We went through six weeks of spring training to come north and win, not to be prepared to be an opponent for someone else.”

Toronto surprised many baseball observers last year by posting an 85-77 mark in a rebuilding campaign, good for fourth place in the division. The Jays have several top prospects and many of their young players seem to be on the cusp of becoming solid major leaguers.

What’s unclear is how long it will take for Toronto to make its long-awaited return to contender status. The team still has a loyal base of fans but many have become discouraged at the long run of mediocrity since the Jays last won the World Series in 1993.

Toronto kicks off its regular season Friday against the Minnesota Twins (Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m. ET) at Rogers Centre. The atmosphere should be electric in what will likely be the lone sellout of the season.

Fans have always packed the downtown stadium for opening day but attendance levels have usually dropped off significantly after that. Taking a run at the contenders in the A.L. East would change that and bring some atmosphere back to the park.

“We’re hopefully in the early stages of regaining that same environment here whether that’s this year or sometime in the future,” Farrell said. “We’re hopeful to change the mindset of a hockey town going back into a baseball town.”

Ricky Romero (14-9 in 2010) will get the start for the Jays against Carl Pavano of the Twins (17-11 last year). With the departure of Shaun Marcum in a trade with Milwaukee in the off-season, Romero will front a new-look rotation that is young but has plenty of potential.

“We’re a tight group and we feel like nothing is going to tear us apart,” Romero said. “We carry that chip on our shoulder right now and we’re going to carry it all year.”

The bullpen also looks different with closer Kevin Gregg and Scott Downs no longer with the team. Frank Francisco is expected to close games when he returns from injury, with Jon Rauch likely getting the ball at crunch time until then.

The Jays relied on the long ball for a good chunk of their offence last season, with home run king Jose Bautista leading the way. General manager Alex Anthopoulos rewarded him with a long-term contract in the off-season so the pressure will be high for another big year. The speedy Rajai Davis replaces Vernon Wells in centre field and Adam Lind will take over from Lyle Overbay at first base. John Buck is also gone, so rookie catcher J.P. Arencibia will get an opportunity behind the plate.

The Toronto lineup should still have some pop but it will be tough to match last year’s major-league leading total of 257 homers.

“We can’t really think of the production that left,” Bautista said. “We just have to go out there and each person individually has to focus on whatever is going to make them productive and successful and hopefully everything gets taken care of.”

Farrell will try to implement more of an up-tempo style that he hopes will keep the opposition guessing. Whether it takes the rebuilding Blue Jays any higher in the A.L. East standings is up in the air.

“We’re still going to have to play to the strengths of our roster,” Farrell said. “We’re not a base-stealing team top to bottom, but I think we can still be more opportunistic than we might have been in the past.”

Notes: Canadian slugger Justin Morneau will start at first base for the Twins. The New Westminster, B.C., native saw limited action in spring training as he worked his way back into form after suffering a concussion last season. … Former Blue Jays second baseman Roberto Alomar was named to the position of special assistant to the organization on Thursday.

Slick-fielding Roberto Alomar won 10 Gold Gloves during his major league career to go along with a .300 batting average, 2,724 hits, 474 stolen bases, 504 doubles and 12 all-star selections. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

The Toronto Blue Jays have named former standout second baseman Roberto Alomar to the position of special assistant to the organization.

Alomar is the first player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay.

The club says Alomar will “bring his passion, expertise and love for the Blue Jays, baseball and Canada to support efforts in both baseball operations as well as in the community.”

General manager Alex Anthopoulos says: “He will be a great addition to our organization in providing our players the finest instruction possible.”

Alomar was selected for induction into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Jan. 5, and will enter the Hall on July 24 in Cooperstown, N.Y., with a Blue Jay cap on his plaque.

A 12-time all-star who helped lead the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, Alomar was picked on 90 per cent of the ballots. Blyleven was listed on 79.7 per cent, just ahead of the 75 per cent needed for election.

Alomar collected 2,724 hits, 210 homers, 1,134 RBIs, 1,508 runs and 474 steals in 2,379 games. The 10-time Gold Glover had a .300 career average over 17 seasons and was named American League Championship Series MVP in 1992.

Smart and acrobatic on the field, Alomar also was guilty in one of the game’s most boorish moments. He spit on umpire John Hirschbeck during a dispute in 1996 and was suspended. They later made up and Hirschbeck supported Alomar’s bid for the Hall.

Alomar came to the Blue Jays in a transformational Dec. 5, 1990 trade with San Diego. The Blue Jays also got Joe Carter in the deal in exchange for Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff.

Alomar instantly became an offensive catalyst for Toronto, gaining a reputation among his teammates as a player who could be counted on to deliver the big hit.

The biggest one of his career came in the ninth inning of Game 4 in the 1992 ALCS, and it turned out to be a pivotal moment in franchise history. Oakland closer Dennis Eckersley ended the eighth by striking out Ed Sprague with two runners on, pointed and shouted at him, and then stared down the Blue Jays dugout.

March 31, 2011 – Pacific Coast League (PCL) Las Vegas 51s

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have named ROBERTO ALOMAR, the first player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay, to the position of Special Assistant to the Organization. In this role, he will bring his passion, expertise and love for the Blue Jays, baseball and Canada to support efforts in both Baseball Operations as well as in the community.

“This is the only place Roberto should be! He is, and will always be, a Blue Jay. The passion and desire to be his best for his team that found him a home in the Hall of Fame, still drives Robbie today. It leaves no doubt in my mind he will be successful in this new role.”

Paul Beeston, President and CEO

“I am very excited to officially join the Toronto Blue Jays again. However, I feel like I have never left. I take great pride in being a Blue Jay and to be able to call both Toronto and Canada my home.”

Roberto Alomar, Special Assistant

“This is a great move for our organization on many levels. The feedback that we received from his work during the instructional camp last fall was tremendous. He will be a great addition to our organization in providing our players the finest instruction possible.”

Alex Anthopoulos, Sr. VP Baseball Operations and General Manager

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

TORONTO (AP)—The Toronto Blue Jays have appointed former star Roberto Alomar to the position of special assistant to the organization.

Alomar recently became the first player inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay.

The team said Thursday that Alomar will be involved with baseball operations and community efforts.

Minnesota Twins infielder Justin Morneau says he is ready to go for his team’s season opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. (J. Meric/Getty Images)

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will be in the lineup on opening day against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Morneau missed the last three months of the season with a concussion and played in just eight spring training games while working his way back. But Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday that he recently spoke to Morneau, and the former AL MVP said he was ready to go.

Gardenhire said he may give Morneau more rest at the start of this season. With Jim Thome on the bench, he has options for Morneau’s cleanup spot when he is not in the lineup.

The Twins open the season on Friday in Toronto. That’s where Morneau was injured on July 7 while trying to break up a double play.

TORONTO — While the Toronto Blue Jays appear to have a promising future, it’s hard to predict when this team will be ready to contend in the American League East.

The Jays won 85 games last season, a 10-game improvement on 2009. They led the major leagues with 257 home runs and relied on a young rotation that was able to overcome the departure of longtime ace Roy Halladay.

It was still only good enough for fourth place in the division behind the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Baltimore Orioles were last, but are hoping to build on their late-season resurgence after Buck Showalter was hired as manager.

This year, the Blue Jays have their own new manager in John Farrell, who spent the four previous seasons as Boston’s pitching coach. He takes over from Cito Gaston, who retired at the end of last season.

Toronto has been mired in a long post-season drought since winning a second straight World Series title back in 1993. There are several big questions marks with the 2011 season about to begin.

Among them: Will the young rotation continue to develop? Is Jose Bautista more than a one-year wonder? Can Aaron Hill and Adam Lind become useful hitters again? Is Lind a first baseman? Is J.P. Arencibia a full-time catcher? Will the team defence be good enough? Will Travis Snider have a breakthrough season? Who replaces Kevin Gregg’s 37 saves? Who replaces Scott Downs in the bullpen?

The Blue Jays’ home run total is a good bet to come down this season. Bautista led the major leagues with 54 homers last year but Vernon Wells (31 homers), Lyle Overbay (20) and John Buck (20) are gone.

While players such as speedy centre-fielder Rajai Davis were acquired in the off-season to create a more balanced offence, there should still be some pop in the lineup.

Bautista is back with a big new contract and even though they struggled last year, Lind and Hill still hit 23 and 26 homers respectively. A slimmed-down Edwin Encarnacion also returns — he hit 21 homers in limited playing time in 2010. Snider, who will be the regular left-fielder, can also go deep if he avoids injury. And while Davis stole 50 bases last year with Oakland, he showed this spring he can hit for extra bases under the guidance of hitting coach Dwayne Murphy.

The win total could also drop in 2011, something that might not be considered a setback for a rebuilding team that continues to acquire and break in young players.

Arencibia will be given his first chance as the regular catcher this season after an MVP campaign in the triple-A Pacific Coast League last season. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said the youngster will be given a full opportunity.

“With young players you know it’s going to take a little bit of time and you have to stick with them for a while,” Anthopoulos said. “You need to stick with them for a certain period of time but if you feel like they get to a point that they’re drowning you just get them out of here to clear their heads.”

Another rookie, right-hander Kyle Drabek, will open the season in the starting rotation after earning pitcher of the year honours in the double-A Eastern League in 2010. The rotation also got younger when Shaun Marcum was traded to Milwaukee for infielder Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., who will start the season at triple-A Las Vegas despite an impressive spring.

Right-handed starter Brandon Morrow, who was having a superb spring after a promising 2010, opens the season on the disabled list due to mild inflammation in the flexor muscle of his right elbow. It`s not considered serious and might cost him only one or two starts.

In the meantime, Drabek moves into Morrow’s No. 2 spot in the rotation behind left-hander Ricky Romero, who will start Friday`s season opener (Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.) against the visiting Minnesota Twins.

Left-hander Brett Cecil goes third in the rotation, ahead of left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes and right-hander Jesse Litsch. Reyes, who was acquired with shortstop Yunel Escobar in a trade last July with Atlanta, is another newcomer to the rotation. He has 41 career major-league appearances.

The revamped bullpen could see some changes early in the season once projected closer Frank Francisco (chest, biceps) and Octavio Dotel (hamstring) return. Right-hander Jon Rauch will serve as the closer while Francisco is out. Joining him in the bullpen are right-handers Jason Frasor, Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen, Carlos Villanueva and left-handers David Purcey and Marc Rzepczynski.

Corey Patterson will be the fourth outfielder and Mike McCoy will serve as a utility player. John McDonald will be the backup infielder while the experienced Jose Molina is expected to handle pitchers like Morrow, Drabek and Reyes.

Outfielder Scott Podsednik, who is signed to a minor-league contract, arrived at camp with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and is still out.

Escobar had an impressive spring training at the plate and plays reasonably well at shortstop. He also knows how to move runners from the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

The right side could be interesting as Hill comes back from a quadriceps injury that cost him a chunk of playing time during spring training. It could limit his range in the early part of the season, even though he was showing rapid improvement as the exhibition season came to a close.

Lind, who has been an outfielder and designated hitter, will get a shot at first base this season. He still needs to learn some of the nuances of the position but could be a good fit if he posts the numbers he put up in 2009. Encarnacion will play third base despite his inconsistent play at the position. He could also back up Lind at first.

Third base could become a focal point if Lawrie gets off to a strong start at Las Vegas. Only 21, Lawrie made a strong impression at spring training before being sent to the minor-league camp. He made a smooth transition to third base after playing second base last season at double-A for the Brewers.

“He’s going to be an outstanding player,” Murphy said. “I like his swing. I think he’s going to be an explosive, powerful hitter.”

One of the ongoing stories of the Blue Jays’ spring training was the quality of the organization’s prospects. Not all will be successful, but several players look like good bets to make an impact down the road.

Prospects like outfielder Eric Thames, first baseman David Cooper, catcher Brian Jeroloman and right-hander Zach Stewart might not be far from the majors. Speedy outfielder Anthony Gose, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and right-handers Henderson Alvarez, Chad Jenkins and Deck McGuire are farther away but give hope for the future.

“When you look at the guys who are the core young players on their way up, this organization is in a very good position,” Farrell said. “It’s a healthy one for sure.”

ANDERSON, Ind. — With a runner on first late in the game, the Philadelphia Phillies were certain to bunt.

But as Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind inched toward home plate to prepare for that attempt, he saw something alarming out of the corner of his eye.

The minor-league pitcher on the mound was attempting a pick-off move. Lind reacted quickly enough to catch the baseball, but he had no play on the runner.

According to the rule book, that’s a balk, and the Phillie was awarded second base.

Clearly, there’s more to playing first base at the major league level than learning to scoop throws out of the dirt.

“I didn’t even know that was a rule,” Lind said. “I had to ask the umpires to explain it after the game. No matter how seasoned you are in this game, there’s always something you haven’t seen before.”

There will no doubt be more learning opportunities along the way, but Lind’s transition from designated hitter/outfielder to full-time first baseman mostly has been a hit this spring.

Just as importantly, the former Highland High School star also has been a hit at the plate.

After tweaking his stance, and clearing his mind, Lind hit .367 with two homers and nine RBIs in 60 at-bats. A couple of other key indicators also are looking up. He struck out just eight times and added seven doubles to go with the homers.

His on-base percentage was a healthy .415 and his slugging percentage a robust .583.

But Lind is most excited by the fact the majority of his doubles were driven into left-center field.

“I’ve gone to the opposite field a lot,” he said. “I think that’s who I am as a hitter. I’m not trying to hit the ball the other way. When my swing’s right, that’s just where it goes.”

Lind also is standing taller in the batter’s box this spring, returning to a stance that more closely resembles the one he used during his days at Highland High School.

That’s helped him see the ball better, but it’s only part of the reason he believes he’s had success.

“This spring training has been a lot easier mentally on me,” he said. “I’m not getting married. I’m not going through a contract negotiation. I’ve just been able to go out and play. I put a finger on the problems from last year, and I’ve worked through them with a lot of hard work.”

He’s also been working hard at first base.

Lind was among the first position players to report to camp in Dunedin, Fla., this spring. He was so committed to learning the position he even showed up during pitchers’ fielding practice to take extra reps around the bag.

He feels good with the way things have gone so far, but he’s cautious about reading too much into a few good innings in the spring.

“I haven’t even played a whole game over there, yet,” he said.

The longest stint Lind’s had so far is seven innings.

He expects to play his first full game at first base Friday when the Blue Jays open the regular season at home against the Minnesota Twins.

The speed of the game has changed significantly for Lind. At first base, he’s involved in almost every infield play. It keeps him on his toes, and it makes the game go by much faster.

“Even when you’re in the outfield, you feel like you’re on an island by yourself,” he said. “Now, I’m out there sweating with everybody else.”

The team around Lind has gotten faster, as well.

First-year manager John Ferrell is taking a more aggressive approach than his predecessor Cito Gaston. The Blue Jays hope to be less reliant on the home run and focus more on bunting and stealing bases.

“We’ve added a lot of speed to the lineup,” Lind said. “It’s really been fun to watch.”

Lind singled out new leadoff man Rajai Davis as a potential breakout star, and he said Ferrell’s gamesmanship might even match Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon — the reigning king of strategy in the American League East.

“It’s nice to have a fresh manager and a young manager who’s energetic,” Lind said.

The whole atmosphere has Lind dreaming big.

He believes the Blue Jays can improve by five wins over last year’s 85-victory campaign.

“We want to prove to the national media we can compete,” he said.

But it won’t be easy. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees appear to be loaded for postseason runs, and the Rays likely also will be among the American League’s top teams.

Toronto feels as though it has made some steps toward that level, but it won’t know for sure until the end of another marathon season.

“We’ll know if we’re headed in the right direction after 162 games,” Lind said.

 

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays hope a strong finish in spring training will help them get off to another quick start in the regular season.

Evan Longoria(notes) homered and B.J. Upton(notes) snapped a seventh-inning tie with a two-run single, helping the defending AL East champions beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Wednesday. The victory enabled Rays to complete their exhibition schedule with a 15-14-2 record after beginning 1-7-1.

The last two times the Rays had a winning record in spring training, Tampa Bay went on to win the division title.

“I just thought we played well,” manager Joe Maddon said, “and that’s all we’re looking for.”

Elliot Johnson(notes) also hit a solo homer for the Rays. Jose Bautista(notes) had a RBI single and Adam Lind(notes) drove in two runs with a third-inning double for the Blue Jays.

Both teams open the regular season at home on Friday night, with Tampa Bay facing the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto getting started against the Minnesota Twins.

In addition to playing better after the slow exhibition start, the Rays head into their opener with just one player—reliever J.P. Howell(notes), who missed all of 2010 after having shoulder surgery—bound for the disabled list. The left-hander is expected to run some time in May.

“It’s great to go into the season healthy,” Maddon said. “That’s one of your biggest goals. … J.P’s making some really good progress also.”

Longoria homered off Blue Jays starter Jo Jo Reyes. Upton scored on the back end of a delayed steal in the third inning, then delivered his winning hit off Marc Rzepczynski(notes) in the seventh.

Toronto scored all three of its runs off Rays starter Jeff Niemann(notes), who allowed three runs and four hits in four innings. The 6-foot-9 right-hander walked one and struck out two while throwing 65 pitches in his final tuneup for Tampa Bay’s fourth game of the season, at home against the Los Angeles Angels.

Reyes allowed two runs on one hit, walked three and struck out six in four innings. Will Ledezma allowed Johnson’s home run, which made it 3-all in the fifth.

Meanwhile, Bautista went 2 for 2 to finish with a .400 batting average (24 for 60) and a team-high 14 RBIs. Toronto’s 16-14 record was the best among AL teams.

Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez(notes) was excused from the finale to attend to a personal matter.

“I found out about it two days ago, so we talked and I said there’s no problem, just take care of everything and come back,” Maddon said. “It’s something that he really had to do today, so I was good with it.”

Ramirez is expected to return before Friday’s opener. The 12-time All-Star, one of Tampa Bay’s two biggest offseason acquisitions, batted .311 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 19 exhibitions.

The Tampa Bay Rays hope a strong finish in spring training will help them get off to another quick start in the regular season.

Evan Longoria homered and B.J. Upton snapped a seventh-inning tie with a two-run single, helping the defending AL East champions beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Wednesday. The victory enabled Rays to complete their exhibition schedule with a 15-14-2 record after beginning 1-7-1.

The last two times the Rays had a winning record in spring training, Tampa Bay went on to win the division title.

“I just thought we played well,” manager Joe Maddon said, “and that’s all we’re looking for.”

Elliot Johnson also hit a solo homer for the Rays. Jose Bautista had a RBI single and Adam Lind drove in two runs with a third-inning double for the Blue Jays.

Both teams open the regular season at home on Friday night, with Tampa Bay facing the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto getting started against the Minnesota Twins.

In addition to playing better after the slow exhibition start, the Rays head into their opener with just one player — reliever J.P. Howell, who missed all of 2010 after having shoulder surgery — bound for the disabled list. The left-hander is expected to run some time in May.

“It’s great to go into the season healthy,” Maddon said. “That’s one of your biggest goals. … J.P’s making some really good progress also.”

Longoria homered off Blue Jays starter Jo Jo Reyes. Upton scored on the back end of a delayed steal in the third inning, then delivered his winning hit off Marc Rzepczynski in the seventh.

Toronto scored all three of its runs off Rays starter Jeff Niemann, who allowed three runs and four hits in four innings. The six-foot-nine right-hander walked one and struck out two while throwing 65 pitches in his final tuneup for Tampa Bay’s fourth game of the season, at home against the Los Angeles Angels.

Reyes allowed two runs on one hit, walked three and struck out six in four innings. Will Ledezma allowed Johnson’s home run, which made it 3-3 in the fifth.

Meanwhile, Bautista went 2 for 2 to finish with a .400 batting average (24 for 60) and a team-high 14 RBIs. Toronto’s 16-14 record was the best among AL teams.

Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez was excused from the finale to attend to a personal matter.

“I found out about it two days ago, so we talked and I said there’s no problem, just take care of everything and come back,” Maddon said. “It’s something that he really had to do today, so I was good with it.”

Ramirez is expected to return before Friday’s opener. The 12-time all-star, one of Tampa Bay’s two biggest off-season acquisitions, batted .311 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 19 exhibitions.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There were lots of smiles during the Toronto Blue Jays’ batting practice at Tropicana Field on Wednesday. After all, the long spring grind was ending at last and everyone was eager for the real games to begin.

But you would have a hard time finding a happier Blue Jay than Aaron Hill. Inadvertently, a nagging injury led him to make a small change in his hitting mechanics, which may have helped trigger a late-spring surge at the plate.

For much of the exhibition season, Hill worried that he might start the year on the disabled list. A quadriceps strain, sustained just before the exhibition season started, curbed his mobility for more than three weeks.

But when he finally started to play, he hit with a vengeance. He played eight spring games, batting .478 with 11 hits in 23 at-bats. Five of his hits were doubles.

“I only need a week,” Hill joked as he prepared to take his cuts before the final Grapefruit League game. “Man, I feel good.”

To help guard the strain in his right quad, Hill decided to minimize his body movement at the plate. In particular, he cut down the back-and-forth movement of his hands that had long been part of his routine.

“I don’t know if that helped or not,” he admitted. But it surely did not hurt.

The Jays are looking for a rebound year from Hill, who batted just .205 with 22 home runs last year after finishing at .286 with 36 homers in 2009.

Last April he spent two weeks on the DL with a hamstring strain. This spring he acknowledged that the hamstring had never quite returned to normal, possibly affecting his swing all season.

Hill can be forgiven for knocking on wood as the Jays prepare for their Friday-night opener against Minnesota. So can four other players who hope their DL stints will be short, as expected.

Starter Brandon Morrow, closer Frank Francisco and reliever Octavio Dotel will have their DL stints backdated to March 22, making them eligible to join the roster as early as next Wednesday. Outfielder Corey Patterson is expected to need more time, having been idle since a Daniel Bard beaning last Friday.

Patterson has not displayed concussion symptoms. When cleared to play, he will likely need a minor-league rehab stint.

The DL assignments make Thursday’s announcement of the opening-day roster a formality. But if the injured players recover more or less on schedule, changes will come quickly.

To fill Patterson’s spot, the Jays picked up infielder-outfielder Jayson Nix in a cash deal with Cleveland on Tuesday.

The 25-man

A look at Toronto’s unofficial opening-day roster after Wednesday’s moves:

Starting pitchers (5)
Brett Cecil, Kyle Drabek, Jesse Litsch, Jo-Jo Reyes, Ricky Romero

Relief pitchers (7)
Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor, Casey Janssen, David Purcey, Jon Rauch, Marc Rzepczynski, Carlos Villanueva

Catchers (2)
J.P. Arencibia, Jose Molina

Infielders (6)
Edwin Encarnacion, Yunel Escobar, Aaron Hill, Adam Lind, Mike McCoy, John McDonald

Outfielders (5)
Jose Bautista, Rajai Davis, Juan Rivera, Travis Snider, Jayson Nix

TORONTO – While the Toronto Blue Jays appear to have a promising future, it’s hard to predict when this team will be ready to contend in the American League East.

The Jays won 85 games last season, a 10-game improvement on 2009. They led the major leagues with 257 home runs and relied on a young rotation that was able to overcome the departure of longtime ace Roy Halladay.

It was still only good enough for fourth place in the division behind the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. The Baltimore Orioles were last, but are hoping to build on their late-season resurgence after Buck Showalter was hired as manager.

This year, the Blue Jays have their own new manager in John Farrell, who spent the four previous seasons as Boston’s pitching coach. He takes over from Cito Gaston, who retired at the end of last season.

Toronto has been mired in a long post-season drought since winning a second straight World Series title back in 1993. There are several big questions marks with the 2011 season about to begin.

Among them: Will the young rotation continue to develop? Is Jose Bautista more than a one-year wonder? Can Aaron Hill and Adam Lind become useful hitters again? Is Lind a first baseman? Is J.P. Arencibia a full-time catcher? Will the team defence be good enough? Will Travis Snider have a breakthrough season? Who replaces Kevin Gregg’s 37 saves? Who replaces Scott Downs in the bullpen?

The Blue Jays’ home run total is a good bet to come down this season. Bautista led the major leagues with 54 homers last year but Vernon Wells (31 homers), Lyle Overbay (20) and John Buck (20) are gone.

While players such as speedy centre-fielder Rajai Davis were acquired in the off-season to create a more balanced offence, there should still be some pop in the lineup.

Bautista is back with a big new contract and even though they struggled last year, Lind and Hill still hit 23 and 26 homers respectively. A slimmed-down Edwin Encarnacion also returns — he hit 21 homers in limited playing time in 2010. Snider, who will be the regular left-fielder, can also go deep if he avoids injury. And while Davis stole 50 bases last year with Oakland, he showed this spring he can hit for extra bases under the guidance of hitting coach Dwayne Murphy.

The win total could also drop in 2011, something that might not be considered a setback for a rebuilding team that continues to acquire and break in young players.

Arencibia will be given his first chance as the regular catcher this season after an MVP campaign in the triple-A Pacific Coast League last season. General manager Alex Anthopoulos said the youngster will be given a full opportunity.

“With young players you know it’s going to take a little bit of time and you have to stick with them for a while,” Anthopoulos said. “You need to stick with them for a certain period of time but if you feel like they get to a point that they’re drowning you just get them out of here to clear their heads.”

Another rookie, right-hander Kyle Drabek, will open the season in the starting rotation after earning pitcher of the year honours in the double-A Eastern League in 2010. The rotation also got younger when Shaun Marcum was traded to Milwaukee for infielder Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., who will start the season at triple-A Las Vegas despite an impressive spring.

Right-handed starter Brandon Morrow, who was having a superb spring after a promising 2010, opens the season on the disabled list due to mild inflammation in the flexor muscle of his right elbow. It`s not considered serious and might cost him only one or two starts.

In the meantime, Drabek moves into Morrow’s No. 2 spot in the rotation behind left-hander Ricky Romero, who will start Friday`s season opener (Rogers Sportsnet, 7 p.m.) against the visiting Minnesota Twins.

Left-hander Brett Cecil goes third in the rotation, ahead of left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes and right-hander Jesse Litsch. Reyes, who was acquired with shortstop Yunel Escobar in a trade last July with Atlanta, is another newcomer to the rotation. He has 41 career major-league appearances.

The revamped bullpen could see some changes early in the season once projected closer Frank Francisco (chest, biceps) and Octavio Dotel (hamstring) return. Right-hander Jon Rauch will serve as the closer while Francisco is out. Joining him in the bullpen are right-handers Jason Frasor, Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen, Carlos Villanueva and left-handers David Purcey and Marc Rzepczynski.

Corey Patterson will be the fourth outfielder and Mike McCoy will serve as a utility player. John McDonald will be the backup infielder while the experienced Jose Molina is expected to handle pitchers like Morrow, Drabek and Reyes.

Outfielder Scott Podsednik, who is signed to a minor-league contract, arrived at camp with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and is still out.

Escobar had an impressive spring training at the plate and plays reasonably well at shortstop. He also knows how to move runners from the No. 2 spot in the lineup.

The right side could be interesting as Hill comes back from a quadriceps injury that cost him a chunk of playing time during spring training. It could limit his range in the early part of the season, even though he was showing rapid improvement as the exhibition season came to a close.

Lind, who has been an outfielder and designated hitter, will get a shot at first base this season. He still needs to learn some of the nuances of the position but could be a good fit if he posts the numbers he put up in 2009. Encarnacion will play third base despite his inconsistent play at the position. He could also back up Lind at first.

Third base could become a focal point if Lawrie gets off to a strong start at Las Vegas. Only 21, Lawrie made a strong impression at spring training before being sent to the minor-league camp. He made a smooth transition to third base after playing second base last season at double-A for the Brewers.

“He’s going to be an outstanding player,” Murphy said. “I like his swing. I think he’s going to be an explosive, powerful hitter.”

One of the ongoing stories of the Blue Jays’ spring training was the quality of the organization’s prospects. Not all will be successful, but several players look like good bets to make an impact down the road.

Prospects like outfielder Eric Thames, first baseman David Cooper, catcher Brian Jeroloman and right-hander Zach Stewart might not be far from the majors. Speedy outfielder Anthony Gose, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria and right-handers Henderson Alvarez, Chad Jenkins and Deck McGuire are farther away but give hope for the future.

“When you look at the guys who are the core young players on their way up, this organization is in a very good position,” Farrell said. “It’s a healthy one for sure.”

By Bradley Woodrum – Editor

Read More: Jeff Niemann (P – TAM), Toronto Blue Jays

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Mar 30, 2011 - With Grapefruit League action ending yesterday, the Rays return to Tampa and Tropicana Field today, taking on division opponent and home run kings, the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays finished the spring with a most unusual 14-14-2 record, winning plenty of games later in the spring after starting out rather cold. Meanwhile, perhaps as a sign of the meaninglessness of Spring Training records, the Blue Jays finished the spring with a dandy 16-13 record, despite expectations they will finish in one of the bottom two slots of the AL East Division.

Jeff Niemann will toe the mound today for the Rays. Neimann was the Rays number four starter last year, but despite Matt Garza’s depature via a trade to the Chicago Cubs, Niemann remains the fourth starter behind the recently promoted Wade Davis.

Opposing Niemann will be Blue Jays pitcher Jo Jo Reyes, entering his sixth appearance of a strong spring.

Meanwhile, the Rays manager Joe Maddon has promised a much different lineup from yesterday’s half minor league squad, assuring fans the Rays top position players will not only take the field today, but play a lion’s share of the game.

First Pitch: 4:05 p.m. ET
Radio: 620 WDAE
TV: MLB.tv

1. Can history repeat? Following a season in which he exploded onto centre stage, leading the majors with 54 home runs, all eyes will be on Jose Bautista to see what he can produce for an encore. The 30-year-old should be entering the season in a good frame of mind, armed with a rich new contract and learning on Tuesday that he will be returning to his preferred position in right field after working out at third base for most of the spring.

2. Time to step up A wrist injury last season put a crimp in the development of Travis Snider, a former first-round draft choice. This spring didn’t get off to a great start either when the 23-year-old was on the shelf with a rib-cage injury. The Blue Jays lost considerable offensive power over the off-season and the team will be relying on Snider to be a consistent masher at the plate to help drive the offence.

3. A tough start The schedule maker certainly didn’t do the Blue Jays any favours, with 20 of their first 31 games away from Toronto and wrapped around two arduous trips. That includes a stop in Texas for a four-game set against the defending American League champion Rangers. Fifteen of those games will also come against three of their AL East rivals: the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.

4. Return to form So much of Toronto’s offensive success this season will rest on the contributions of Aaron Hill and Adam Lind, who were both mostly abysmal at the plate last year. Lind is hoping a move to first base from designated hitter will help boost his production. Hill’s desire to start the season injury-free has hit an early snag, as he’s been bothered by a tight right quadriceps muscle through most of spring training.

5. The starting five It was anticipated that Toronto’s pitching rotation would be the least of their worries but then Brandon Morrow was sidelined with a strained right forearm. The Jays are hoping it’s a minor setback. Ricky Romero appears ready to claim the role as team ace while a healthy Jesse Litsch will be a welcome addition. Rookie Kyle Drabek, Brett Cecil and Jo-Jo Reyes are also in the mix.

6. Behind the plate Another of Toronto’s highly-regarded prospects is J.P. Arencibia, whom the club has earmarked as its new everyday catcher. It’s a chancy proposition given the relative youth and inexperience of the team’s starting pitchers. The 25-year-old has made big strides defensively but his bat, at least at the major-league level, is still a work in progress. The Jays plan to be patient.

7. In the stands In spite of a remarkable year in which the Jays fielded an exciting team that led the majors in home runs, home attendance dropped 13 per cent to 1.6 million from 2009. The club has already announced that the regular-season opener Friday is sold out at Rogers Centre, which seats about 50,000. But nothing less than a pennant drive that lasts deep into the season is likely to maintain that kind of support.

8. A new sheriff in town Laid-back Cito Gaston is gone from the manager’s job. He has been replaced by John Farrell, who promises to loosen things up offensively on a team that last year was reliant on stroking home runs and not much else. So you can expect a little more hit-and-run, a little more first-to-third on balls hit to right field, and a little more leeway for players to try stealing bases.

9. New faces Among the position players the most exciting newcomer is Rajai Davis, who came over in a trade from the Oakland Athletics, and will be pencilled in as the Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter and a replacement for Vernon Wells in centre field. Davis stole 50 bases for the A’s in 2010, giving the Blue Jays a dimension they haven’t had at the top of the order since 1998 when Shannon Stewart swiped 51.

10. That’s a relief A bullpen that appeared devastated by the loss of Kevin Gregg, Scott Downs and Brian Tallet has been shorn up by several free-agent additions, including veterans Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch. Francisco, who will start the season on the disabled list with arm soreness that isn’t considered serious, has been tabbed as the closer. Until his return, Rauch – all 6 foot 11 of him – will handle the chore.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Infielder Jayson Nix has been traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Indians got cash in Tuesday’s deal.

Nix was claimed by Cleveland off waivers from the Chicago White Sox on June 24. He hit .234 with 12 home runs in 78 games for the Indians, splitting time between second base and third base.

The 28-year-old Nix has a career average of .215 with 26 homers and 48 RBI in 218 career games for Colorado Rockies, White Sox and Indians.

Nix came to camp in competition for an infield spot, but hit only .176 and was beaten out of the starting job at third base by Jack Hannahan and lost the utility job to veteran Adam Everett.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Sitting at his locker an hour before the Baltimore Orioles closed out the exhibition season against the Toronto Blue Jays, Derrek Lee was asked if he had gotten enough at-bats to be ready for opening day.

“There’s no choice. We’re playing Tampa Bay on April 1, so I’ll be ready to go,” he replied.

If concrete evidence was needed to prove Lee’s readiness, he supplied it by going 3 for 4 with an RBI in Baltimore’s 7-4 loss Tuesday.

After agreeing to a one-year, $7.25 million contract as a free agent on Jan. 6, Lee didn’t play in an exhibition game until March 19 because of a sore wrist. Then, in his first at-bat, he fouled a ball off his foot.

He ended up playing in only eight games this spring, but the last one was a keeper.

Lee doubled and scored in the first inning, singled in a run in the second and hit a leadoff double in the fourth. He struck out against David Purcey in his final at-bat.

Asked if he had finally found a groove, Lee replied, “Yeah, I’ve been starting to feel a little better the last couple days and it definitely felt good. I’m seeing the ball good.”

Manager Buck Showalter agreed, saying, “That’s probably his best looks at the plate.”

Lee had surgery in November to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury he sustained on opening day last year with the Chicago Cubs.

The cast caused Lee’s wrist to atrophy, which led to soreness in spring training that forced the Orioles to shut him down and later restrict him to hitting soft toss and off a tee. X-rays and a magnetic resonance imaging test didn’t reveal any structural damage, but Lee needed to reduce the inflammation before he could play.

It didn’t exactly make for a fun spring.

“All’s well that ends well,” Lee said. “It was my first surgery, I didn’t know what to expect coming off of it. So it took a little longer, well, actually it didn’t take a little longer — I’m kind of right on schedule from what the doctor told me. I am ready to go for opening day.”

Adam Lind homered for the Blue Jays and Aaron Hill went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Toronto starter Brett Cecil allowed four runs and nine hits in four innings to finish 0-2 with a 5.96 ERA this spring.

“I’m happy where I’m at right now as far as going into the season, regardless of how many runs I gave up,” Cecil said.

After his last start, the left-hander was concerned about an inexplicable loss of velocity. He said his velocity felt better this time, but his command was off.

SARASOTA, Florida — Jose Bautista didn’t see this coming. Neither did anyone else, except the select few privy to management meetings over the past 10 days.

But during that period, the Toronto Blue Jays’ deep thinkers became increasingly convinced that the new, slimmed-down version of Edwin Encarnacion could play a solid third base, allowing Bautista to take his rifle arm back to right field.

So on the penultimate day of spring training, manager John Farrell broke the news to the affected players — including Juan Rivera, who was demoted from right field to designated hitter — then made the formal announcement in his pre-game session with the media.

The late timing of the news was perhaps more surprising than its details.

But Farrell said the Jays wanted to get a good look at Encarnacion playing third base over the past week before making a final decision.

Bautista, the reigning home-run king, was quick to emphasize that he wasn’t unhappy playing third, even after leading the league in outfield assists per nine innings in two straight seasons.

“I’ve always said I think I’m more valuable to our team defence, as we were set up, in right field, and I still believe that,” Bautista said.

Farrell said Encarnacion was the key to the moves. He lost weight over the winter. He’s fully recovered from a wrist problem that bothered him at times last year. And after a season in which he was exiled to the minors for poor play, he had something to prove, Farrell said.

“This has taken place through a lot of conversation, but most importantly it centres around the way Edwin came into camp,” the manager said.

“He reshaped his body. There’s a 13- or 14-pound lighter baseball player that has allowed his mobility and footwork to really advance, or be improved over a year ago. We feel it gives us . . . the best defensive alignment.”

Encarnacion said he’s actually 12 pounds lighter than his official weight, which is listed variously at 230 to 235. After last season, reporting in better shape was a priority, he said. He went home to the Dominican Republic and worked with a personal trainer.

“That’s one of the things I have in my mind after the season,” Encarnacion said. “I went to my country, played in winter ball, and then I started to work. I wanted to lose, like, 10 pounds.”

Encarnacion batted .244 last season, hitting 21 homers in just 332 at-bats.

The Jays signed him two weeks after he became a free agent in December, but for $2.5 million US less than he made last year. He will get $2 million this year, with a $3.5 million club option for next year.

“I am very happy and excited for me and the team that gave me the opportunity to play,” he said Tuesday.

His improved agility and footwork should help alleviate the throwing problems that have plagued him since Encarnacion came to Toronto in a 2009 trade, Farrell said.

When camp opened, Encarnacion was a designated hitter and backup to Adam Lind, who was moved from DH to first base. Lind’s defensive improvement also helped Tuesday’s decisions “to somewhat naturally rise to the surface,” Farrell said.

He insisted Rivera will still play more or less regularly, getting at-bats as the DH and as a fill-in for corner outfielders Travis Snider and Bautista when they need a day off.

Rivera seemed ambivalent about his new role, stressing that he has better concentration when he plays in the field. He played in 124 games for the Angels last year but only three at DH. (He was one for eight.)

But when asked if he was disappointed by Tuesday’s news, he said, “Not really.”

Rivera said he was told he would get a chance to play often in the outfield and that the DH job would rotate among himself, Bautista, Lind, Encarnacion and Snider. In his media scrum, Farrell didn’t go that far.

The announcement renewed speculation that the Jays are looking to trade the 32-year-old Rivera, whom they took in the Vernon Wells trade with the Angels. Some online critics saw the moves as evidence that blue-chip prospect Brett Lawrie, who was moved from second base to third this spring, might soon be promoted from triple-A Las Vegas, shoving Encarnacion into the DH role.

Farrell stressed that Bautista had not lobbied to return to right field. But Bautista agreed the moves make sense.

“Obviously they made the changes because they feel we’re better as a unit defensively with that configuration,” he said. “Like I said when they moved me to third, I’m willing to do whatever the manager and the front office think is the best for the team.”

National Post

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SARASOTA, Fla. (AP)—Sitting at his locker an hour before the Baltimore Orioles closed out the exhibition season against the Toronto Blue Jays, Derrek Lee(notes) was asked if he had gotten enough at-bats to be ready for opening day.

“There’s no choice. We’re playing Tampa Bay on April 1, so I’ll be ready to go,” he replied.

If concrete evidence was needed to prove Lee’s readiness, he supplied it by going 3 for 4 with an RBI in Baltimore’s 7-4 loss Tuesday.

After agreeing to a one-year, $7.25 million contract as a free agent on Jan. 6, Lee didn’t play in an exhibition game until March 19 because of a sore wrist. Then, in his first at-bat, he fouled a ball off his foot.

He ended up playing in only eight games this spring, but the last one was a keeper.

Lee doubled and scored in the first inning, singled in a run in the second and hit a leadoff double in the fourth. He struck out against David Purcey(notes) in his final at-bat.

Asked if he had finally found a groove, Lee replied, “Yeah, I’ve been starting to feel a little better the last couple days and it definitely felt good. I’m seeing the ball good.”

Manager Buck Showalter agreed, saying, “That’s probably his best looks at the plate.”

Lee had surgery in November to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, an injury he sustained on opening day last year with the Chicago Cubs.

The cast caused Lee’s wrist to atrophy, which led to soreness in spring training that forced the Orioles to shut him down and later restrict him to hitting soft toss and off a tee. X-rays and a magnetic resonance imaging test didn’t reveal any structural damage, but Lee needed to reduce the inflammation before he could play.

It didn’t exactly make for a fun spring.

“All’s well that ends well,” Lee said. “It was my first surgery, I didn’t know what to expect coming off of it. So it took a little longer, well, actually it didn’t take a little longer—I’m kind of right on schedule from what the doctor told me. I am ready to go for opening day.”

Adam Lind(notes) homered for the Blue Jays and Aaron Hill(notes) went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Toronto starter Brett Cecil(notes) allowed four runs and nine hits in four innings to finish 0-2 with a 5.96 ERA this spring.

“I’m happy where I’m at right now as far as going into the season, regardless of how many runs I gave up,” Cecil said.

After his last start, the left-hander was concerned about an inexplicable loss of velocity. He said his velocity felt better this time, but his command was off.

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays acquired infielder/outfielder Jayson Nix from the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday for cash considerations.

The 28-year-old hit .224 last season with 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 34 RBIs in 102 games split between the Chicago White Sox and Indians.

In 218 career games, Nix has a .215 average with 28 doubles, 26 homers and 68 RBIs with Colorado, Chicago and Cleveland.

The Dallas native can play second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield.

To make room on the 40-man roster, Toronto placed left-hander Jesse Carlson on the 60-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain.