Ultimate

Which is actually fair because the Oilers rights are only regional and they would prefer that fans elsewhere purchase Game Centre or Centre Ice. That is actually smart thinking. Not sure how they can be smart with hockey but idiots when it comes to baseball.

I mean, West, 360 and Sportsnet One. Those are the three channels available standard in Alberta. You could show the Oilers game on one of those channels and the ball game on one of the others.

I am not saying that one preseason game will build a fan base. But having the games consistently available on radio and TV will have a very positive affect.

You would think that with 3 channels, there would be a way to show both.

Thats the way Rogers is thinking but its flawed. Its not about only pissing off some die hards. It should be about building a larger fan base. This would lead to more revenue and maybe a Major League calibre 2bman, 1Bman or bullpen.

I am not sure. I am debating ordering Sportsnet Ontario today to find out. Does anyone know the answer to this?

Over time, if the games are on consistently that will build a fan base. Putting the full games on the lousy sports radio station they own would be smart too. They own the Jays; they should be invested in that. Just stick it on one of three channels, you're already broadcasting it.

I know the majority of you are probably in the GTA or at least Ontario and thus probably could care less. But as a fan in Calgary who was waiting for a game to be on TV. I am pretty pissed off that today's game is not. I think its a real opportunity lost for Rogers. The TV market market nationwide could potentially destroy the markets the Dodgers and Yankees have. With Sportsnet West, 360 and SN1 there is no reason why they couldn't show the Jays and whichever non-playoff Alberta hockey team happens to have a day game. There have been times where they have cut out from a Jays extra innings game to go to Flames Connected(pre game show). I realize that the ratings may not be good in Alberta for baseball but there are ways to build a fan base and ways to alienate one.

Tolleson can certainly cover short. Better than Kawasaki can IMO.

Not selling him short at all, I don't hate the idea of him playing a semi-regular role.

Goins Elite defense at 2B and can back up Reyes at SS. Good value as a defensive replacement. But can keep him in organization if you send him down unlike other options Tolleson Izturis doesn't need a platoon partner the way Kawasaki or Goins would since he is a switch hitter. But Tolleson would give you so much more against lefties than Izturis or any of the other options, so maybe Tolleson could start against lefties anyway. He provides solid defense and good versatility. If he doesn't make the team, good chance he is picked up by another organization. Kawasaki I don't think he has the versatility defensively that the other options have. If he doesn't start I'd let him play in Buffalo Santiago He's an MLB player and has spent the bulk of his career in pitchers park. He might be equivalent to Izturis. If you have the 2 of them on the roster, maybe one of them gives you some production. Travis I think most will agree that if he doesn't win the job, he should be in AAA.

We haven't spent anything on either of these deals.

I envy you guys. Living in Calgary. The closest MLB action is 12 hours away in Seattle. You don't need to waste 200-250 on a Manhattan hotel, Check out airbnb and you can get a condo for less thats better. PM me if you want a discount link.

I don't believe the Canadian exchange rate has moved at all so far this year.

He is a SS in Japan, while he may be a better fit at 2nd its not a stretch to assume that he could fill in at his natural position in case of an injury. His numbers are significantly better than Kawasaki's in Japan, I would think theres a decent chance he could OPS 700-750 at the big league level. Sure there is some risk that he might not, but we would have other alternatives if that happens. He is a left handed hitter, so we would also have the option of platooning him as we have several RH platoon options that could play 2nd.

Same here, he is definitely better at mixing and matching than JF.

You'll note that I don't have DOnaldson DHing for every LH pitcher. Not even close.

You're right, its not the only factor, but it is a very significant one. Kawasaki is gone, even if he did come back he is not good enough defensively to play the left side of the infield. Sure Valencia could be fine at 1B, but why not take the opportunity to rest Donaldson (with his bat in the lineup) and put Valencia where he is best and most comfortable.

I had forgotten about inter-league play. Good point. I still stand by my position that the key guys need a significant number of games at DH. Valencia hasn't played much 1B, sure he can play there (anyone can) but its not a position he is comfortable at. If you have him in the lineup anyway. Why not play him at his natural position (3B) and use that as an opportunity to allow Donaldson to get a day off from the field. Its very unlikely that Bautista, Donaldson and Reyes are all going to hold up for around 150 games in the field each. Trying for that pretty much guarantees a DL stint for 2 out of 3 of them. My plan increases the odds of team health significantly over a plan that calls for Edwin to DH pretty much every day.

THe Jays seem to be focusing their cash on other holes besides DH this offseason despite the fact that we don't have a legit DH. I think is a good plan. I believe they plan to use the DH spot to spell their veterans throughout the year and hopefully keep them healthy. I thought it would be interesting to plan out a full season of DH assignments. Curious what you guys think of my ideas. Assumptions -Jays will face a lefty starter 46 out of 162 games -Josh Thole will be the backup catcher (Navarro traded) -Dickey will make 32 starts (in 13 of those starts the opposing SP will be a LHP) -Russell Martin will start 125 games at catcher, Josh Thole will thus start the remaining 37 23 games Vs RHP - Dickey Starts with Thole catching all -Martin DH's 12 games -Edwin DH's 11 games (with Smoak 1B) 9 games vs LHP - Dickey starts with Martin catching all -Donaldson DH's 4 (with Valencia 3B, Edwin 1B) -Bautista DH's 5 (with Pillar RF, Edwin 1B) 37 games vs LHP non Dickey starts with Martin catching all -Donaldson DH's 19 (with Valencia 3B, Edwin 1B) -Bautista DH's 18 (with Pillar RF, Edwin 1B) 93 games vs RHP non Dickey starts (Thole will catch 14, Martin will catch 79) -Reyes DH's 23 games (with Goins SS) -Martin DH's 7 games -Edwin DH's 63 games (with Smoak 1B) Reasons I would like to have Martin DH half of the games in which he is not catching. I don't know if that is too much or not enough. But I would think it would be doable. -I don't want Thole or Goins to start against a LHP ever -I want our key veterans (Bautista, Donaldson, Reyes) to get at least 1 day off from the field a week -Would want Edwin to get 3 days off from the field a week -Want to give these guys extra time off from the field so that we don't have to take their bats out of the lineup less often. (never in an unrealistic perfect world) and minimize DL time over the season. -Smoak would only start 74 games at 1B but would be a key pinch hitter in the other games -Want to take advantage of Thole's chemistry with Dickey, while still exposing Martin to the knuckle-ball somewhat. In the playoffs Martin would probably catch every game, you wouldn't want him learning it then.

Refresh my memory. What did he say/indicate about not liking Canada?

During the season last year I would have said "no way" to bringing back Colby, partly because I thought he was going to get a big contract and because we had other options for CF. But now I am thinking that if his market value came down far enough I would not be opposed to him returning. If you had Rasmus in CF, you could slide the Pompey/Pillar competition to LF. -The overall outfield defense would be much better than with Melky or most of the other alternatives in LF. -Rasmus would provide us with a much needed Left handed bat. -He had a bad year last year but his numbers weren't as bad as a lot of people think they were. Was still better than league average with an OPS+ of 104 -I think the injuries, lost playing time had some impact on his numbers last year. If he got back to his 2013 level it would be a bargain. -Certainly reasonable to expect him to produce halfway between his 2013 and 2014 levels with an OPS of around .790. Most of the LF options we are considering won't come close to that. -He has been better than Markakis the last 2 years and will cost much less in term and AAV If he would sign a 2 year deal at 7-9 million per year, would you consider it? I know there used to be some rules against resigning one of your own players in which you did not provide with a qualifying offer. I don't believe those rules exist anymore.

That is not even close to what he said. Whoever is tweeting this shouldn't use quotation marks if he isn't actually quoting AA. Never said anything about a Pompey/Pillar platoon. Said he would be okay with Pillar or Pompey in CF if the rest of the offense was strong. I would have to think platooning a young promising switch hitter would not be a consideration. Either he plays every day or he goes to AAA.

He still wasn't very good on the road last season or in his career. THat being said I am okay with giving him a shot, The Skydome could have more of an impact than expected.

Both Bautista and Edwin finished the 2nd grade too.