jaysblue

Friday and Saturday are expensive because it's the Home Opener and since Saturday is a bobblehead giveaway day. I'm not a big fan of the Home Opener as well anymore especially at my age. It's mostly casual fans, the dome is packed full of people, lineups for concessions and washrooms and getting out of the downtown core by public transit or Uber will be a nightmare.

Tapia will be like Fred Lewis with the bat though better defensively.

Aubrey Huff for sure haha.

Most MLB players are Conservative leaning but regardless of political association or vax status, a lot of American and Latin American ballplayers probably prefer playing in the US after seeing the tight restrictions in Canada over the past year. Regular lockdowns, mandates, fear mongering everyday by the mainstream media & government up here doesn't make it a very enticing place to play, let alone dealing with the cold weather and higher taxes. Like you said, I'm sure many other players have the same concerns whether vaxxed or not. It's a lot easier playing for a US based team and only maybe crossing the border once or twice a year to play in Toronto versus crossing the border multiple times throughout a season. Factor in the environment in the US versus the environment here in Canada during the pandemic, most athletes would prefer playing in the States and I don't blame them. Long term who knows the consequences these vax mandates have on the Blue Jays targeting free agents or players in trades. Even which high school or college players to target in the June draft! The Jays already had to overpay to bring talent north of the border and I'm sure all these developments over the last year didn't make things easier.

Yup exactly. I don't know why people on here thought the vax mandate was a huge advantage for the Jays when in reality and behind the scenes, it wasn't. The vax mandates for sure prevented the front office from signing or trading for certain players/pitchers but at the end of the day we won't know who it was unless something gets leaked by the FO. Regardless, the Jays still had a solid offseason, though would kind of suck knowing they could have acquired better talent if it weren't for the mandates. Hopefully moving forward this isn't an issue. Most importantly, I would hate the Jays being restricted at the trade deadline from adding a top bat or arm because of a vax mandate still in place.

Yup Jim, it applies to both sides for sure. An unvaxxed American player though can always go back to the US and doesn't require any quarantine etc. Though Canadian border measures would have to change for that to happen in order to have that American player playing at the Rogers Centre. As for a Canadian player, yes then they wouldn't be able to play in the US unless they had a certain special visa or green card where they can cross the border. So overall, if Federal mandates are eased on both sides, it would make things a lot easier.

Taking a neutral stance here. So many people on here loving how the Jays will have a huge home field advantage when American teams are up here failed to realize that these Federal vaccine mandates still have a negative impact on this organization as Shapiro this offseason probably was limited in terms of which players he could sign and trade for. Now granted, majority of players in the MLB seem to be vaccinated, but I'm sure they were interested in some players who remained unvaccinated. What happens at the trade deadline? What happens if there is a certain player or pitcher that the Jays could acquire but can't because of the Federal vaccine mandates? I'm just saying as a baseball fan and a fan of this organization, that would suck knowing that the Jays missed out on getting a certain player or pitcher that could have put them over the top at the trade deadline because of the Federal mandates. Hopefully this isn't a long term thing and that in the next couple of months, all of this is over.

Do the Rockies still have Eric Young Jr?

He was a beast for Cleveland out of the bullpen in 2016!

Only in fantasy leagues that don't count .OBP as a category

Grichuk will hit 40 + HR's with a sub. 300 OPB.

Anthony Rizzo knew what he was talking about. They knew the mandates would be lifted before the season. Everything in New York is pretty much back to normal.

The 2022 team is better positioned moving forward for the next 4 to 5 years than the 2015 team was, as we saw the Jays only made the postseason for two seasons (2015 and 2016). In 2017, injuries and age caught up to some of their big stars and the rebuild began. The window for the 2015 was very short and we saw that. AA went all in during the offseason and even at the trade deadline in 2015. As for the 2022 team, they have a big window still as long as they can retain their young core players and everyone stays healthy. In a postseason series, which team would perform better? I give a slight edge to the 2015 team because of their bullpen. Osuna, Sanchez, Cecil, Hendriks, Hawkins were all lights out. Rotation wise, Price wasn't that good, but Estrada and Stroman were rock solid when called upon. I give the 2022 team lineup the slight advantage on paper.

CFL season starts soon haha

He could end up proving to be a Fenway product now...

Yeah Votto could be a deadline acquisition. I'm sure if the Jays are in the thick of things, they'll add another big bat or arm if they could. Hopefully they never go out and add Brad Hand ever again haha.

When you're facing tough righties in the postseason, will make somewhat of a difference. I agree, doesn't make sense using the DH slot on only a DH type player. A utility guy who bats left or a switch hitter and who could play all around would be nice. Jurickson Profar would be a nice fit and someone who has some untapped potential.

Votto or Schwarber as a DH would be a nice fit. Jays need a left handed bat in the middle of their lineup or near the top. They're too heavily right handed. Their only left-handed bat is Biggio.

Yeah the lineup is pretty awful. They need to keep Manaea and Montas or else that rotation is in shambles. They need to add some stopgap guys to their lineup and hope they get lucky with two or three guys.

Outside of the Astros, it's still a pretty weak division. Pitching wise I think they'll be fine and they will add some bullpen pieces. They need some bodies to play infield. They have Eric Thames though haha. I could see the A's targeting some free agents on the cheap who could have bounceback seasons. They could scratch out 85-90 wins if they get lucky with some guys.

Any professional sports team shouldn't do that. You don't treat your franchise players like that. Pretty bush league if you ask me. Nothing wrong with the Browns looking for an upgrade at QB, but they shouldn't be out in the open like it was. Now they weren't able to get Watson, it completely backfires since you have a disgruntled Mayfield who likely won't give a 100% and now demanding a trade. The right way to go about it like how the Raptors traded DeRozan for Leonard. Masai never went out in the media and made it known that the Raptors were openly exploring for an upgrade over DeRozan. He made the trade without DeRozan knowing anything. Imagine if it got out the Raps were open to trading for Leonard by dangling DeRozan and the trade never happens? You for sure would have a pissed off DeRozan demanding a trade after as well.

NYC likely will drop those mandates before Opening Day, so he'll be able to play home games. The city already scrapped their vaccine passport system and even masks mandates as well. A lot of these Democrat states are scrapping everything because the Midterms approaching this fall. Canada is a different story however. I could see the Federal Government dropping mandates maybe at some point in May/June since a lot of countries now, even the UK removed all restrictions to enter. So at some point, Canada will have to follow.

As well, would like to add as a baseball fan in general, if I go to the Rogers Centre and pay to see a Yankees/Red Sox game or any team for that matter, I want to watch their best players compete. I understand the advantage the Jays would have against some of these teams if their best players aren't playing in a 3 game set against them. At the end of the day as a baseball fan, I want to see the best players on the field at all times whenever possible.

Taking a neutral stance here and hope it doesn't come off as too political. Most people I know who got COVID were double or triple vaxxed. Some of my family members who are triple jabbed caught and spread COVID amongst each other. The vaccine doesn't prevent the spread of COVID so a lot of these policies in place don't make much sense. Again, I couldn't care if people or players are vaxxed or unvaxxed and I'm not taking a side on either. It's their own personal choice. But from what we have seen this past winter, anyone can catch and spread COVID. An athlete like Aaron Judge, who is healthy and in fantastic shape is at zero risk essentially. Like is he a threat or danger to all the other players on the field and in the clubhouse? How about those vaxxed players who after the game go out to bars and for dinner, etc.? Aren't they interacting amongst unvaxxed individuals outside of the ballpark? Again, not taking a pro stance for either side, but these policies just don't make sense.

Would welcome back Josh Donaldson in a heartbeat.