Opening Day for Jays on Tuesday.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by KipperIsGod

Just like most of you guys have more then 1 favorite NHL team. Its not the end of the world is it?

so if they're a favourite, what's with all the drive-by BS?

Great start for the Jays! Had my Halladay jersey on, watched the final innings at the new Costco on their huge big screen TV (did I see the price right? $17,000+ for a TV?!?) Ryan was throwing smoke, glad to see Batista is gone.

[moon]

Good start for the Blue Jays. I was surprised they were able to have that kind of success against Santana.

I have been less enthusiastic about some of the Jays moves this offseason and don't see them as being a threat to the Red Sox and Yankees this year but certainly see how Jays fans are optismistic as this seems to be the closest they have been to having a shot at the play-offs as they ever have been.

I still think the Yankees are much better and that the Red Sox are slightly better and that the Jays have to have too many things go really right for them to beat these two, plus the fact that both Boston and NY will add anythign they need at the trade deadline which is something the Jays will not have the luxury of doing.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by moon

I still think the Yankees are much better and that the Red Sox are slightly better and that the Jays have to have too many things go really right for them to beat these two, plus the fact that both Boston and NY will add anythign they need at the trade deadline which is something the Jays will not have the luxury of doing.

The Jays do have a little bit of dough to play around with. About 5-10 million if I remember correctly. They can go to about 80 million in salary.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

The Jays do have a little bit of dough to play around with. About 5-10 million if I remember correctly. They can go to about 80 million in salary.

The problem there is that the Red Sox and yankees would go to 800 million if they thought that it would give them a better shot at the World Series.

But I do see that the Jays are in a much better overall position to make the play-offs and having more money to work with is one fo the reasons that this year could be different.

[AaronSJ]

Originally Posted by moon

I have been less enthusiastic about some of the Jays moves this offseason and don't see them as being a threat to the Red Sox and Yankees this year

Just curious... which moves didn't you like? Or was it the amount of money they paid?

Obviously, they overpaid for Burnett (lifetime 49-50 record) and Ryan (lifetime 42, now 43, saves) -- but that's just the reality of luring players to Toronto.

If you don't worry about the money, I think they made all the right moves in the offseason.

[moon]

I don't necessarily dislike the moves I just think that they took a lot of risks in choosing the guys. Not so much individual moves but the moves as a whole. Glaus is older and may not get back to where he was, Ryan has had one good year may be a fluke and Burnett has a history of arm trouble.

Not awful decisions it just seems like a lot could go wrong with the pick ups. Mainly I am not as sold as these pick ups being as great as others seem to be.

[AaronSJ]

Originally Posted by moon

Not awful decisions it just seems like a lot could go wrong with the pick ups. Mainly I am not as sold as these pick ups being as great as others seem to be.

That's very fair. As a Jays fan, I'm pretty excited and likely biased. But if the Leafs had made similar moves, I'd be laughing at them! Burnett would be equivalent to the Leafs signing a goalie with a career losing record and a history of injuries to a 5-year deal (like Belfour!). Ryan would be equivalent to overpaying a role player coming off a career year.

There's no salary cap in baseball and Ted Rogers has deep pockets, so I don't get too concerned about how much they spent. But I'd probably look at it differently if I wasn't a fan of the team.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by AaronSJ

Ryan would be equivalent to overpaying a role player coming off a career year.

So he'd be like signing Todd Marchant to a 5 year 18 million dollar contract or whatever that was.

[Jiggy_12]

Jays up 2-0 on a first inning homerun from Troy Glaus.

Good start, go Jays go!

edit: Overbay homers right after. Back to back jacks for the new Jays.

3-0 now.

[kobasew19]

Woot, if you have sports package (for the centre ice) you get all of baseball too...whowouldafunkit :P

[kobasew19]

wow with Burnett out, Towers is our 2nd guy?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by kobasew19

wow with Burnett out, Towers is our 2nd guy?

Lilly was pushed back a day. I think he's starting tomorrow. Just a flip-flop. And I think Chachin would normally be ahead of Towers, if not Lilly as well but they wanted to hold him back to the 5 spot to get him more work after he was at the WBC.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Lilly was pushed back a day. I think he's starting tomorrow. Just a flip-flop. And I think Chachin would normally be ahead of Towers, if not Lilly as well but they wanted to hold him back to the 5 spot to get him more work after he was at the WBC.

Thanks for the clarification.

2nd game, Top of the 3rd... still 3-0 good guys.

[Jiggy_12]

Glaus with a 2-out RBI single, 4-0 Jays.

[kobasew19]

wow 4-4 now...top of the 5th..dunno what happened...

[kobasew19]

5-4 twins...dammit...

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Was the final really 13-4?

I never saw the game today.........what channel was it on? I was so pumped about yesterday, it's hard to see them get thumped like they did. What happened......was Towers horrid or what?

Glad to see Glaus and Overbay go deep. Pretty obvious the Jays have some decent power at the plate this season, hopefully the guys on the mound get get the job done.

[AaronSJ]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

What happened......was Towers horrid or what?

Towers was Towers -- he threw strikes and the Twins hit them. He was victimized by bad defense in the 4th, with Wells and Adams both making horrible throws for errors. Newbie Brian Tallet came on, looked pretty good for an inning, then couldn't find the strike zone. Vinnie Chulk came in and couldn't clean up Tallet's mess. Jason Frasor came in the next inning and couldn't get anyone out.... and by then it was over.

I guess that's what happens when you start your #5 guy in your 2nd game of the season...

[flambers]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't necessarily dislike the moves I just think that they took a lot of risks in choosing the guys. Not so much individual moves but the moves as a whole. Glaus is older and may not get back to where he was, Ryan has had one good year may be a fluke and Burnett has a history of arm trouble.

Not awful decisions it just seems like a lot could go wrong with the pick ups. Mainly I am not as sold as these pick ups being as great as others seem to be.

Interesting feedback, I personally like the moves. Sportsnet on Openning night said BJ Ryan's signing lead allot of the other players to the Jays. As for Glaus I am not sure how he be described as "old" or "older". I believe he turns 30 this year for a Ball player that is pretty young.

They added allot of strength to area's of weakness. Jays needed more capable hitting plus they needed a power bat in the line-up. Jays also needed a Closer and another strong arm in the starting rotation.

Overbay at first
Glaus at 3rd
AJ as the second starter
BJ as the closer
Molina as the Catcher.

I really like the addition of Molina, to bring in a good catcher (Former gold glove winner) is a great move. He will help the pitchers.

[moon]

Might be a little late but JP Riccardi is being interviewed on ESPN radio for all interested Jays fans.