intentional wok

Maybe 'belittling'? Regardless, anyone who has worked in an all-male environment will have met the one dude who becomes accepted as the butt of every joke. It's pretty easy to spot. I can absolutely see a short, middle-aged reporter not getting the same base respect from the players that they may give to a woman, an older and more established male reporter, or an ex-ballplayer. Obviously can't prove it but it's pretty reasonable to think Davis' dream career isn't to have beer poured on him on live TV by 25 macho *******s.

No idea if you're trolling or not but I legitimately thought this. No way a short, awkward TV reporter would get any respect from 25 athletes night in and night out. I wouldn't be surprised if Davis just quit not wanting to do it all over again for yet another year.

Possibly, if the Cardinal FO knew what penalty would be coming down. I think I agree with Abom that the picks should have just been eliminated. If this were simply a two-team issue, then fine, reward Houston for St. Louis's crimes. But eliminating the picks would have benefited a lot of teams who would have been waiting behind the Cardinals in the draft. And awarding the picks to Houston actually punishes Houston's AL West rivals.

My girlfriend and I were discussing the other day which of the team's recent playoff series wins is/was the most satisfying as we enter 2017. The 2015 ALDS has obviously become iconic as a cheesy Hollywood script turned into real life. Huge postseason drought ends, team limps out of the gate and gets their backs pressed against the wall in Games 1 and 2, recovers against impressive odds through Games 3 and 4, and caps it off with a win in Game 5 in perhaps the most memorable, oddball, and cathartic inning anyone will ever witness. Bautista immortalizes himself in Toronto sports history at the expense of the Texas Rangers' dignity. The 2016 WC game involved going up against a bitter rival that arguably lucked their way into the postseason. With the better team on paper, the Blue Jays needed to eliminate Baltimore to even justify the season -- especially considering the Blue Jays needed to force this game over the season's final weekend due to poor play through September. Game ends because of a legendary poor decision by an overrated manager and Edwin putting himself right next to Bautista in Toronto sports lore by ripping the Orioles' hearts out. The 2016 ALDS was a rematch against the incredibly salty Texas team from the 2015 ALDS. A running rivalry through the season capped off with huge brawl and suspensions across the board. Certain Rangers players and their fans reveled in Odor punching Bautista on the field, treating it like schoolyard payback for last year's failures. Outside of the obvious bad blood (which both teams controlled), the ALDS itself was relatively drama-free. Both Ranger aces got their asses shown to them in Games 1 and 2 and Texas put the screws to the Jays' ace in Game 3 (while still watching their own mediocre starter get trashed). Desperate reporters and on-edge fans speculated about a similar table-turning as 2015's series, but this time in Texas's favour. Unfortunately for the Rangers' dignity, a surprisingly tight Game 3 ended in yet another Blue Jays triumph via a throwing error by folk hero Rougned Odor. At this point, no retaliation in 2017 will ever look like anything but the sourest of grapes from a franchise trying to take the crown of being perennial choke artists and f*** ups from the 1990s and 2000s Atlanta Braves.

Abom and some others have made a case for Coghlan too. Had a couple of solid years prior to last year's injuries. He can do some passable infield too from what I've heard.

The Legend of Ezequiel sounds almost biblical.

I'm not a big Carrera fan either, but that Tampa HR was indeed clutch af. Even better was his RBI single in the Wild Card game. Without it the season ends that night.

Yeah, I love the second deck infield as well. I think the 100s infield are the best in-the-action seats, though. Way better than the ones behind the plate on TV, which are actually called In the Action Seats IIRC. I hate anything over the home run wall. My friend likes that area though, for some reason, so sometimes I just go with it.

No, why?

Slightly off topic but the best seats IMO are in the 100-level, first-base side. There is more on-field action on the diamond there than in any other location. You can see all the infielders' plays, you can get a good look on fly balls, everything. They're even better than the seats directly behind the plate, which are overrated and cost way, way more. I mean I generally take the nosebleeds or 200s, but on the odd time I splurge or have tickets give to me, first-base 100s have always been the best. Just keep your eyes on the game.

Where you been? He retired last week. No joke.

:( EDIT: Shi with a rare break:

Yeah, this just fuels my suspicion that there are a lot of concerns about Pearce being in the OF (exacerbated by whether or not Bautista can recover a step or continues to decline). I'm on board with either Pagan or Moss at this point. edit: (or Coghlan, as you suggest)

That would have been great for the Blue Jays. It's possible Valbuena liked the prospect of playing in Los Angeles over Toronto, but missing out on a deal that's <8M per year kind of sucks.

I think I love the idea of Holland. Even if he comes back at 70% of his former greatness, he's the second best arm in the pen -- possibly even tied with Osuna.

Sure, but if the lineup looked legitimately good you'd be saying they will contend rather than they could. I'd take the over on 82 as well, but a legit WC contender needs... 88 wins these days? Good lineups don't need several things to break right. If they add some definite solid pieces then yeah, they're a scary WC team. As is, they're praying for a bit of luck. Rotation looks strong though. The Rays will be a bona fide pain in the ass at the least.

I don't know. That's not that good of a lineup.

The Carlos Mencia of the BJMB everyone.

Juan Graterol sounds like what I take with water before I go on a flight.

If BTS's updated topic post is accurate, the Blue Jays have 10-12M left in the 2017 budget, no? Might be worth grabbing one arm, rolling with AJ at backup C, and then hanging onto the remainder to help facilitate the salary of hired help from a mid-season trade. I know people are gagging at the Upton/Zeke/Pompey LF scenario, but it seems like that's what we're looking at for the time being.

I thought the Rays nabbed Tolleson. edit: https://rayscoloredglasses.com/2017/01/17/tampa-bay-rays-finalizing-deal-tolleson/ Seems it's just a matter of making it official.

Are there any RPs on the market that anyone would feel comfortable handing multi-year, semi-expensive deals to?

Smoak for Recker to back up Freddie. Eat a mill or two if you have to. Then grab a legit OF.

Robinzon Diaz, the MVPTBNL Other Blue Jay footnotes: John Thomson Ty Taubenheim John-Ford Griffin Kevin "Shrek" Mench

^^^