Time for Teoscar?

With the Blue Jays, who experts suggest have a shot for a wild card spot, having lost the first two games of the season against the Yankees, who many think have a shot at a World Series appearance, many fans are predictably suggesting President/CEO Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins tear everything and begin an immediate …

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Au Revoir, Rusty

At the risk of giving a hint as to my age, I admit that my first baseball hero was Rusty Staub, who passed away in the early hours of Opening Day. Montreal Expos RF Rusty was the first baseball hero for many Canadians.  I learned many baseball lessons through him. After losing only 5 of …

Minor Leaguers and PEDs: Another Look

"I did not knowingly take steroids." So said disgraced Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who woke up a slumbering nation with his fist-raised-at-the-finish-line performance one fall day in 1988, taking gold at the Seoul Olympics in the 100m, vanquishing reigning champion Carl Lewis and setting a world record in the process. Three days later, Johnson was …

Is it Time to Think About Roemon Fields?

Roemon Fields' signing by Blue Jays scout Matt Bishoff at an amateur tournament in British Columbia after going undrafted is one of the great feel-good stories in the organization.  And after a solid second half at AAA Buffalo last year and a sizzling spring training this year, he has to be in the conversation for …

MLB Draft Preview: Logan Gilbert

https://youtu.be/7cx7-qsuXXA Stetson RHP Logan Gilbert has that long, lanky frame (6'6"/210) that teams covet in a Pitcher. With a bowling ball sinking fastball that sits at 95, a curve that's projectable, and a change that shows promise, Gilbert was talked about as one of the top college righties before the season started.  Toss in five …

Vlad and Bo Will be All Right in AA

TSN's Scott Mitchell suggests that top prospects Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Bo Bichette will face challenges at AA this year, after President/CEO Mark Shapiro confirmed the pair will begin their 2018 season there. The rise of the bash twins is quite remarkable.  Both are entering only their third year of pro ball, but are on …

MLB Expects its Minor Leaguers to Work for Peanuts

  As had been expected since last weekend, Congress passed a $1.3 Trillion spending bill in order to keep the U.S. government running.  Snuck into that bill like a late-night burglary was a provision to exempt minor league baseball players from legislation concerning minimum wage and overtime requirements. MiLB has been intensely lobbying Washington for …

Blue Jays Get Bad News About Pannone, Maese

Blue Jays fans received bad news about Pitching prospects Thomas Pannone and Justin Maese yesterday. Southpaw Pannone, acquired in the Joe Smith deal with Cleveland last July, was handed an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test, while Maese, who missed half of last season with shoulder issues, underwent shoulder surgery this week, and is …

Lugnuts, Fisher Cats Renew Affiliation with Blue Jays

The Lansing Lugnuts of the Low A Midwest League announced this week that they have renewed their Player Development Contract with the Blue Jays, extending it to 2020. Earlier this month, the AA Eastern League's New Hampshire Fisher Cats also extended their PDC with the Jays for another two years. What is a Player Development …

Minor League Baseball Implements New Extra-Innings Rule

After experimenting with the international extra-inning tie breaker rule last year in the Complex Leagues, MiLB announced today that the rule will take effect across all of Minor League Baseball this season: Minor League Baseball announces pace-of-play rules for 2018, including starting with a runner on second in extra innings, limited mound visits, pitch clocks: …