Cyborg

Red Sox Joe Kelly ® 1. Mookie Betts ® RF 2. Dustin Pedroia ® 2B 3. Xander Bogaerts ® SS 4. David Ortiz (L) DH 5. Hanley Ramirez ® 1B 6. Travis Shaw (L) 3B 7. Brock Holt (L) LF 8. Ryan Hanigan ® C 9. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF Blue Jays Marcus Stroman ® 1. Kevin Pillar ® CF 2. Josh Donaldson ® DH 3. Jose Bautista ® RF 4. Edwin Encarnacion ® 1B 5. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS 6. Michael Saunders (L) LF 7. Russell Martin ® C 8. Ryan Goins (L) 2B 9. Darwin Barney ® 3B Game Notes: There are home-opening series and then there are “Holy Crap” home-opening series. The Toronto Blue Jays‘ 2016 domestic debut is definitely worthy of the latter characterization, even without a showing from the most prominent ex-Jay in the Majors. The Blue Birds (2-2) will get the Rogers Centre party started by hosting the Boston Red Sox (1-1) for a three-game set beginning Friday night. This series was supposed to be all about the return of former Toronto ace David Price, but a rainout on Thursday night pushed back everybody in Boston’s rotation. Still, anybody who didn’t pick the Jays to win the American League East likely selected the Sox, thanks largely to their off-season signing of the best free-agent starter available. An off-day Thursday means Marcus Stroman, in addition to getting the ball on opening day versus the Rays, will also toe the rubber in the Jays’ first home contest. The ‘Stro Show’ was throwing darts in Tampa Bay, going eight-plus innings to pick up his first W. As you may have heard by now, Stroman doesn’t exactly suffer from a competitive-spirit deficiency and with his old buddy Price watching from the other dugout, he’ll be all kinds of fired up for this assignment. Designated hitter David Ortiz is retiring from MLB at season’s end and appears intent on going out with a bang. Ortiz smacked a pair of dingers in Boston’s two-game, abbreviated series in Cleveland. Even at age 40, the franchise face remains a dangerous man at the dish. While the dominant off-season storyline in Boston was the inking of Price to a seven-year, $217-million contract and the sacrifice of some top-level prospects to get high-end closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres, there was already an interesting mix on the roster. Hanley Ramirez, who—along with Pablo Sandoval—had a miserable Red Sox debut last season, is looking for a fresh start at a new position. After appearing lost in left field, Ramirez was moved to first base and the early returns have been decent. Sandoval, meanwhile, lost his starting job at third to Travis Shaw in spring training. Shaw is just one of a handful of promising up-and-comers in the Boston lineup, though right fielder Mookie Betts and shortstop Xander Bogaerts have already arrived as big-time contributors. Without having to face Price, the Jays could feast on the 3-4-5 guys in the Sox rotation. Joe Kelly went 8-0 in his final nine starts of 2015 and Boston desperately needs him to carry over that success. Rick Porcello also showed signs of life near the end of the season, while knuckleballer Steven Wright is just trying to take advantage of a shot in the rotation as lefty Eduardo Rodriguez recovers from a knee injury. If these three don’t have the right stuff this weekend, Toronto could tee off.

Sleeping.

He had a 93 when he reached back. Pretty concerning.

If you really want something at the ballpark as a treat, just get an icecap. Everything else is 300% more than it should be.

Lol

Kopitar for GD

Ya he should have went top 3 IMO.

Asked my GF about his comments. She thinks it was pretty bad, but she already has a prejudice against Gibby and hates him.

Damn Ryan is a lot to give up for one spot.

He had to see what he was like under pressure, duh. He wanted to see if he couldn't handle pressure like Hendriks, or handled it like a man like Miguel Castro.

On that note did anyone notice Fernandez's lower half looked like 2 times larger yesterday?

ftfy

Youre too high on Appel.

Gibby fired. More likely: - Something about new dirt - Storen DL - Donaldson DL (cries at the thought)

Wow Price was only throwing 90.8.

You know what Im offering.

Grant is insufferable.

Also JD and JB are the type of hitter where the difference between runner at 1B or 2B shrinks. This is because of their low 1B, high 2B, HR, and BB profile. Runnner at 1B or 2B really only makes a difference on a single. Exact same outcome on a walk or HR and close to same on a 2B (if youre counting on scoring from 2nd on a single then its the same as scoring from first on a double).

- The total chance of unsuccessful is greater than extra-successful (IIRC) - Pillar is pretty much a league average hitter, and when you factor in low K rate, he is actually probably an above average hitter in the situation - Pitchers wouldn't make much of a difference at all, both numbers would go down

John Gibbons: http://tricycle.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/tumblr_ncloajG6Xo1qdlh1io1_400.gif

That would be an exceedingly-successful bunt. Not unsuccessful.

0% Floyd

Even if Storen, Cecil, and Chavez were unavailable, there was no reason to take Floyd out. He had BABIP sinlges and 3 Ks.

Runners at the corners with 0 out and JD and JB due up >>>> Runner at 2B and one out with JD and JB due up.

Your dumn.