John_Havok

The man makes a good point though in that Europe would probably be the MLB's biggest potential market. It wouldnt have near the political kind of barrier that South America, Central america, certain parts of Asia and China would have... It's a very well developed and population concentrated continent that already has a solid and ever-growing baseball presence.

There have been games played in other countries before (Japan, Monterrey, Australia, England, Puerto Rico), just this year there was a series in Mexico City. Next season its already confirmed there will be a series played in South Korea. Anything is possible. one of the regular Blue Jays reporters reported last spring that the Jays playing in London could happen within the next 5 years The plan (according to MLB) is that since the new collective bargaining agreement was signed, they planned on hosting games in London, Paris, Mexico(done), Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Asia(next year - South Korea) during the lifespan of the current collective bargaining agreement.

Via The Score: Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman is interested in staying with the team on a long-term deal. "Of course," Chapman said when asked if he's open to an extension, according to Sports Illustrated's Mitch Bannon. The pending free agent added there's mutual interest to get a deal done but that a new contract isn't his priority at the moment. "I know that both parties want to make something happen," Chapman said. "But right now, I'm focused on baseball and focused on winning. And if they want to talk, it's gotta be with Scott (Boras)." Boras, Chapman's agent, has a reputation for ensuring his clients test the open market. He was responsible for landing four different pacts worth at least $150 million last offseason. "I trust that (Boras') process works, and he knows what he's doing," the 30-year-old said. "I think it's something that we'll look back at after the end of this season, and then we'll really start to sit down." Chapman, a three-time Gold Glover, is off to a sensational start to the 2023 campaign, slashing .352/.436/.615 with five homers and an MLB-leading 17 doubles entering Sunday's action. He could be the top third baseman available in free agency after the Padres extended Manny Machado in February.

Don’t look now but Brandon Belt is up to a 118 wRC+ against RHP

Haven’t seen him so don’t know if that’s true…but let’s say it is and he actively tried to bulk up. I don’t understand why a guy with already monster power would think the solution to improving swing decisions and contact is more muscle

All we know is what the goal to improve on was, which was swing decisions and contact. How he was trying to go about that and what he was doing to try and improve …we don’t know.

Just looked at their opening month schedule…it was pretty soft overall, maybe not so surprising they got off to such a good start. 7 x Cinci (5-2) 3 x Boston before they did anything good (3-0) 3 x Houston (1-2) 4 x Cardinals (2-2) 3 x White Sox (2-1) 3 x Rockies (3-0) 3 x Dodgers (1-2) 3 x Nationals (2-1) Then they just went 0-6 against Tampa and Toronto. Looks like the only team they might have surprised was Boston, but that was the second series of the season when Boston was 2-1. That said, the fact they’ve beat all those bottom dwellers probably indicates they won’t be a bottom dweller themselves, but maybe closer to the middle of the pack. It should also be said there’s only 6 teams in the NL with a positive run differential, and that list includes the Pirates. NL looking very weak overall aside from Atlanta and the Dodgers. Not sure yet what to make of the Cubs. They’re underperforming their run differential by quite a bit.

Last 7 games… 9 runs for, 44 runs against. Crashing down to earth nicely.

Kiermaier bomb….nada.

Have they given any kind of indication if the game will get played? Looks like it’s raining pretty good

Kikuchi is a guy you’d probably feel like trading if needed to open a spot, but there’s no real need to do that. There’s always an injury that will open a spot on its own if Tiedemann proves he ready

Yep. Probably giving him today since they also have tomorrow off. 3 day rest and be ready for Philly

Laughably bad. Only 3 out 4 called strikes were actually right

May 7 Bichette - 1 Point Chapman - 1 Point Varsho - 2 Points Springer - 2 Points - Stangstag Jansen - 3 Points Belt - 4 Points - Jonn, JohnHavok Kiermaier - 4 Points Merrifield - 5 Points - Dylan Espinal - 6 Points Off the bench: 10 Points- Abomination

I’ll take Vlad unless I’ve over picked him so far this week, in which case I’ll take Springer

Kinda hard to walk that one back, lol

Go back further. Look at all the Baltimore struggles from like 2000 to 2015. Yes, this time they managed to finally draft a bunch of hits all at around the same time. But it’s been 20+ years of pretty much gutter ball. When you draft 11th, 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 1st in a 5 year stretch, you better have some talent to show for it. Compare the Jays over that same stretch, who drafted 12th, 11th, 5th, 19th, and 23rd. Still need to hit on the picks of course, but I can tell which brand of baseball I’d rather watch in that 5 year period

Blue jays as a team only have 9 AB total against Oviedo, Vlad has the only hit. Hope they can work him, the jays tend to struggle against unfamiliar pitching.this guy is basically 4 seam, slider, curve, with the slider being the pitch he throws the most and does mix in a very occasional changeup to lefties.

Looks like lately they are averaging about every 5th game he DHs, and he’s played 4 straight at 1b. Prior to his last DH day, he played 5 straight at 1b. Also worth noting he hasn’t missed an inning yet this season. Hasn’t even been taken out for a pinch runner. If a 4 or 5 game rotation at DH keeps him in the lineup 100% like that, it’s the right thing

He’s probably got it tattooed on his ass.

It’s obviously a good thing, but when they’ve had to put up with nearly 20 straight years of terrible…. sprinkled with maybe 4 years of being .500 or better…. And now this season, is that really a recipe you’d want to follow? That kind of cycle is not something I’d ever want the Jays to go through just to get a 3-5 year window.

Yep, but on days when you’re not throwing a QS, can’t let in 8 either.

Varsho Merrifield double steal incoming

Whit is determined to destroy his uniform tonight

Looks like thats as close as it gets. Safe by my eyes