Yorkshire Blue Jay

I had long since stopped watching Blue Jays Central due to the dinosaur Zaun. The sooner the Don Cherry wannabe is removed from our screens the better. Hell I've even take 'Big and Strong' Tabby in there over Zaun, and try to get Shulman with Buck for more games.

Can you even read? Big mistake trades? Yep you're right Oakland did make a big mistake on the Donaldson one and hmmmm should I mention Arrieta at this point?

It can't be weams even he would know that it was Delmon Young that Bautista was trying to throw out at first. and hitting plus pimping a homer off Garcia is hardly picking a fight. If it is weams - does he still think that Graveman would help us more than the league MVP Donaldson?

What a shock! What exactly did you expect? I find that pointing out to anyone that you feel they are an idiot would hardly ever illicit a gracious response - maybe Bautista or Odor should have tried that instead

The slide was illegal and has been for the duration of about 40 big league games. But that was NOT a dirty slide, he never raised his feet he just didn't stay on the bag. Last year no-one would have batted an eyelid at the slide. Call me a homer if you wish but the Bautista haters are having a ball today and bizarrely some folk are making out that Odor was justified in his actions.

The only horror show on TV this Friday the 13th will likely be Dickey/Thole vs Rangers.

Everyone would prefer them not to happen but they do, even to the best pitchers in the game. I preferred his 7 inning, 3 hit, 5 BB, 1 run performance last night than his 4.1 inning, 10 hit, 1 BB, 6 run start against Oakland recently.

Despite not having his best stuff, he rarely looked to be in any trouble or in any danger of having a bad inning. Going deep with 7 innings when our biggest problem is the bullpen was a huge plus for me.

He's allowed to not have his best stuff every start, as you say the good thing is that in the end he only gave up 3 hits and one run and that run was largely based on Saunders 'attempt' to catch a routine fly ball. We have way bigger concerns than Sanchez starting every 5 days, the bullpen and lack of expected offensive production is costing us wins and Sanchez isn't.

David Price would say if he doesn't like it then pitch better. While its never nice to hear fans boo their own players, what exactly does Cecil expect? Fans went crazy for him with his pitching perormance when he struck out McCann of the Yankees in September last year. Fans simply react to results! Do good things and they will cheer, s*** the bed and they will boo!

Resting Tulo on Friday seems to have produced great initial results, hopefully he can now kick on. Good management by Gibby which seems to have been overlooked on here.

Ruh oh

2 pitches only needed to account for Tulo and Cola with Eddie in scoring position.

He was very helpful and responsive regarding everything Blue Jays from tickets to roof status on twitter. I hope his replacement is similarly helpful.

Absolutely this, enough lighting for grass growth in the dome will be the easiest obstacle to overcome.

Well we have at least tried to look at Tampa's dirt infield and improve upon the problems they have encountered, the dirt infield at the Trop is only 5 inches deep whereas we've gone deeper (to 12 inches) to try to create as normal a dirt infield as is possible. https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/inside-the-blue-jays-switch-to-a-dirt-infield

But given the MLB's US national Fox coverage have the likes of Joe Buck and Harold Reynolds on their first choice playoff commentary team, I can more than cope with Buck and Pat moreso when coupled with Dan Shulman this coming season.

I know you did, I was just giving the quoted date for flex pack holders, who I should imagine, will get theirs sorted first.

The date for flex pack holders tickets is 'early March' according to the MyBluejays portal.

Here's a pic showing the area of the dirt infield http://s23.postimg.org/4xrw99te3/Dift_Infield.jpg

Hi Peter, As my name may suggest being a (recently emigrated) brit, I hope you have a great trip, I have been visiting for games since 2006 but made a greatly timed decision to arrive for good prior to last season. Last year, the 12 'Alomar' bar was open on a first come first served basis even if you had the worst tickets in the stadium, I am unsure whether this will be true next season but the view from the front seats in there is terrific - I believe the only thing you have to do is keep drinking during your stay in there, if you are on your own you may have to ask the kind folks next to you to look after your empty seat though when getting a refill or visiting the toilet. If it is your first trip, a tour of the skydome is a snip at around $15, I got to step on the hallowed turf before it was fully fitted, sit in the dugouts and clubhouse last year. Oh and if you have difficulty buying the tickets via ticketmaster as I invariably did for Blue jays as well as some US NFL games, you should call the club directly as my UK based credit card would often not be recognised by tickemaster.

Nice article on the process for the dirt infield and good to see John Lott writing again https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/inside-the-blue-jays-switch-to-a-dirt-infield

The main issues and expenses with installing grass in Rogers Centre are the drainage required and the air flow within the Skydome when the roof is closed. None of these issues will be addressed by doing a spot trial inside the diamond. Growing grass in indoor stadia is nothing new and is quite easy when the building is designed with this in mind. The main issue we have is trying to retrofit it into an existing building which was designed primarily to host multiple different sports without grass.

I'd be interested in joining too.

Mobile Industrial lighting rigs are used extensively in stadia throughout the world to replicate natural light. The roof will not need any work for grass to grow, flourish and survive. Actually the roof should be allowed to be open more not just an hour or two before and after games. In theory, it should only need to be closed in the summer when there is precipitation.