 |
Blue Jays exercise option on Encarnacion, decline… |
The Toronto Blue Jays picked up the option on infielder Edwin Encarnacion on Monday while declining reliever Jon Rauch’s 2012 option. The option on Encarnacion is worth $3.5 million US. The 28-year-old Encarnacion appeared in 134 games as a third baseman, first baseman and designated hitter last season. He hit .272 with 36 doubles, 17 home runs and 55 RBIs. Rauch, 33, appeared in 53 games for Toronto last season, posting 5-4 record with 11 saves and a 4.85 earned-run average. Thanks for reading! . Posted in blue-jays-news | Comments Off
|
|
|
Blue Jays pick up Encarnacion’s option |
TORONTO (AP)—The Toronto Blue Jays have picked up their $3.5 million The 28-year-old Encarnacion appeared in 134 games as a third baseman, first Rauch, 33, appeared in 53 games for Toronto last season, posting a 5-4 The moves were announced Monday. Leave your comments on the news below. Posted in blue-jays-news | Comments Off
|
|
|
May masher: Bautista is AL’s best for month |
Blue Jays’ slugging hit .360 with 11 homers, 23 RBIs in 23 gamesThe Canadian Press Posted:Jun 2, 2011 4:59 PM ET Last Updated:Jun 2, 2011 4:59 PM ET
Jose Bautista’s monster May didn’t go unnoticed. The Toronto Blue Jays slugger was voted as the American League’s player of the month on Thursday after batting .360 (31-for-86) with four doubles, 11 home runs and 23 RBIs in 23 games. Despite missing five games due to neck spasms, the outfielder led the AL in home runs for the fifth straight month dating back to July 2010. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to lead a league in home runs (outright or tied) for five consecutive months was Jimmie Foxx, when he led the A.L. in homers from June 1933 to April 1934. Bautista was also the AL player of the month for April. He currently leads the majors with 20 home runs on the season and is tops in on-base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.791). The National League player of the month for May was Cincinnati outfielder Jay Bruce. In 28 games, Bruce had a major league-best 12 home runs and 33 RBIs, while leading the NL in runs scored (23), slugging percentage (.739) and extra-base hits (19). There is the quick update of the day. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Anthopoulos likes power of new Blue Jays |
 New Toronto Blue Jays catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli reached career highs in home runs (26) and runs batted in (68) last season in 453 at-bats with the Los Angeles Angels. (Chris Carlson/Associated Press)
A versatile Mike Napoli and motivated Juan Rivera has Alex Anthopoulos excited about their prospects with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. The second-year general manager discussed his latest off-season acquisitions with Toronto sports radio station the Fan 590 on Monday, three days after trading centre-fielder Vernon Wells and the $86 million US left on his contract to the Los Angeles Angels. Napoli, 29, a reasonable defensive catcher who can also play first base, is headed to salary arbitration. He’s seeking $6.1 million, while the Angels countered at $5.3 million. Napoli reached career highs in home runs (26) and runs batted in (68) last season in 453 at-bats, appearing in 140 games, including 70 at first. “He has always had good power,” Anthopoulos said. “We think getting out of [pitcher-friendly Angels Stadium] and coming into our park [Rogers Centre], the fact that he can catch, the fact he can play first, he can DH, he walks … there’s a lot of value there.” Anthopoulos believes Napoli has a chance to make up the 30 homers lost with the departure of Wells, who has four years left on a seven-year contract. The GM also noted Napoli’s ability to reach base. While his on-base percentage was a career-low .316 in 2010, it was as high as .374 in 2008 and .350 the following season. “It’s nice to have a guy like Napoli that can play all those positions and spell so many players,” Anthopoulos said, adding the power and on-base percentage Napoli brings “is very appealing to us.” Lind to get shot at 1stThere is talk Napoli could start the season as the Blue Jays’ first baseman, but Anthopoulos indicated it’s Adam Lind’s job to lose. The sometimes designated hitter, sometimes outfielder played 11 games late last season at first and management came away believing in the 27-year-old. “Adam’s going to be willing to work at it,” Anthopoulos said. “We would expect him to improve each day. But we’ll have seven weeks [at spring training] to evaluate it.” Jays pitchers and catchers must report to Dunedin, Fla., by Feb. 14, followed by position players five days later. Rivera, 32, is set to earn $5.25 million in the final season of a $12.75-million, three-year deal and is eligible for free agency afterward. He set career-highs of 25 home runs and 88 RBIs while batting .287 in 2009, the only season he has had more than 450 at-bats. He batted .252 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 2010 and has a career average of .280 with 112 home runs and 418 RBIs over 10 seasons. Rivera might end up the Jays’ right-fielder if Jose Bautista shifts from the outfield to third base. “He’s only 32 and he’s in a free agent year,” Anthopoulos said of Rivera. “[He] should be motivated to have a big year for us and has played all three outfield spots in the past. And, as a right-handed hitter, he can hit left-handers well [.264 in 148 at-bats in 2010].” Wells, also 32, leaves Toronto as the club’s all-time leader in at-bats (5,470) and sits second in runs (789), hits (1,529), doubles (339), home runs (223) and RBIs (813). Anthopoulos, who often leaned on Wells when it came to player-related issues, said there would be a large void in the clubhouse with his departure, but looked forward to how the other players would react. “Collectively, they’re all going to have to step up and find their way,” he said. “It’s going to become their team. … They can take on more of a leadership role. It’s part of their development.” As for any free-agent signings or other trades, Anthopoulos said nothing is imminent. “We’re taking a look at some minor league free agents, bench [depth] but as you get closer to spring training teams are more reluctant to trade,” he said. With files from The Canadian Press
What do you guys think about this. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Bautista hammers his way to Hank Aaron Award |
Over the course of the season, Jose Bautista emerged as one of the premier sluggers in baseball, launching a club-record 54 home runs in a historic showing for Toronto. On Sunday he earned some hardware for his efforts, receiving this year's Hank Aaron Award as the top hitter in the American League. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Review: Aaron Hill |
Almost assuredly the most disappointing performance from the 2010 Blue Jays was that of Aaron Hill. No one expected Hill to duplicate his 2009 performance that saw him hit 36 home runs while batting .286 and putting up a powerful .213 isolated power. That outburst at the plate came on the heals of a disappointing and injury filled 2008. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
’97 Mariners appear safe from Blue Jays homer onslaught |
For awhile, I thought the Toronto Blue Jays had a shot at breaking the major-league record for home runs in a season, which happens to be held by the 1997 Seattle Mariners. Barring a tater barrage of huge proportions, it’s not going to happen. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Early outpouring holds to back Rzepczynski |
The Blue Jays used a pair of home runs to inch closer to their franchise record for long balls in one season and survived a late rally by the Yankees en route to a 7-5 victory on Monday night at Rogers Centre. Not a lot else going on in the MLB world today. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Murphy's law for Bautista, Jays? Patience |
Jose Bautista entered Sunday's game against the Orioles with a franchise-record 52 home runs, making him only the 26th player in baseball history with at least 50 homers in a single season. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4: Confirming what we already knew |
The Baltimore Orioles were defeated 5-4 by the Toronto Blue Jays on September 25, 2010 in Toronto thanks to four Blue Jays home runs, including an 11th inning walk-off by Lyle Overbay. That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
TORONTO Jose Bautista hit two home runs and Vernon Wells hit another as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore … |
Bautista, who became the 26th player to hit 50 home runs in a season in Thursday’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners, increased his major-league leading total to 52 and had three runs batted in against the Orioles. Thanks for visiting my blog =). Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Bautista bomb strikes again |
There seems to be no end in sight to the milestone home runs being hit by Jose Bautista or the 2010 Toronto Blue Jays. What are your opinions. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Toronto’s Jose Bautista hits two more homers as Blue Jays beat Orioles 6-4 |
TORONTO – Jose Bautista hit two home runs and Vernon Wells hit another as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Friday night. What do you guys think about this. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Bautista homers twice, Blue Jays beat Orioles 6-4 |
Jose Bautista hit two home runs, increasing his major league-leading total to 52, Vernon Wells also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 Friday night. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Blue Jays’ Bautista clubs 50th homer |
Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista became the 26th major leaguer to hit 50 home runs in a season, reaching the plateau against Seattle starter Felix Hernandez in the first inning of Thursday afternoon’s game in Toronto. That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Mariners’ Lopez smacks three homers in Toronto |
Jose Lopez hit three home runs, Michael Saunders added a two-run drive and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Wednesday. Toronto Blue Jays – Seattle Mariners – Michael Saunders – Sports – Baseball What are your opinions. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Lopez hits 3 homers, Mariners beat Blue Jays 6-3 |
Jose Lopez hit three home runs, Michael Saunders added a two-run drive and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Wednesday night. Not a lot else going on in the MLB world today. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Triad of long balls starts homestand off right |
The Blue Jays launched three home runs on Tuesday night, powering their way to a 5-3 victory over the Mariners in the opener of a three-game set at Rogers Centre. Thanks for reading! . Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Bautista’s big year to means tough decision for Jays |
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista is on the cusp of becoming the 26th major leaguer to hit 50 home runs in one season. What do you guys think about this. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
|
Jose Bautista Sets Blue Jays Record With 48th Home Run |
Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista established a new team record for home runs in a season when he hit his 48th on Friday night at Fenway Park. Feel free to leave your comments below. Posted in blue-jays-news | No Comments »
|
|
Blue Jays right-fielder Jose Bautista leads the majors with 20 home runs on the season and is tops in on-base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.791). (Kathy Kmonicek/Associated Press)
