YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

[Big Shooter]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Meanwhile, Barry Davis has left Sportsnet. No word on whether it was his decision, but given that Sportsnet has spent the last year or so looking for a job for Hazel Mae (her sportscast was dumped for Tim & Sid), and she was tag-teaming with Davis last season, I guess we should have expected one of them to be gone. I like Hazel in that job, though I feel bad for Davis. He seems like a nice guy, even if he wasn't the greatest interviewer.

Maybe he'll end up in Chicago and reunite with Kawasaki? Okay, maybe not -- they've probably got a guy.

Hazel is nice to look at, can they tie the can to her Hubby?!

[Pimento Cheese]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Hazel is nice to look at, can they tie the can to her Hubby?!

I think they're a package deal. They had to lure her back here and he might have been the deal clincher.

I don't mind him as much as I used to. Either he's impoved or I've just gotten used to him.

[Weirfan]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

I like Hazel in that job, though I feel bad for Davis. He seems like a nice guy, even if he wasn't the greatest interviewer.

.

That is being VERY flattering to Barry Davis, definitely won't miss him......but yes seemed like a nice enough fellow

[Big Shooter]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

I think they're a package deal. They had to lure her back here and he might have been the deal clincher.

I don't mind him as much as I used to. Either he's impoved or I've just gotten used to him.

The worst-case-scenario, would be Kevin Barker & Duane Ward doing a broadcast together!

[Big Shooter]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Welcome J.P. Howell to the bullpen!

[Leftygolfer30]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

I think they're a package deal. They had to lure her back here and he might have been the deal clincher.

I don't mind him as much as I used to. Either he's impoved or I've just gotten used to him.

Too bad they don't get rid of them both in a "package" firing.

Hazel knows next to nothing about baseball and Barker only knows about riding the pine.

[Gridiron]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Welcome J.P. Howell to the bullpen!

Wish our bullpen lefty didn't have a fastball that maxed out at 85.

[Leftygolfer30]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Wish our bullpen lefty didn't have a fastball that maxed out at 85.

Hmmm, they said 91 on The Fan today.

[P25]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Hmmm, they said 91 on The Fan today.

Average fastball was 85.3mph last year (85.7 is his career avg). Not too exciting. Hopefully last year was an anomaly, but I also hope this isn't it...

[Big Shooter]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

maybe now that he's single, he can turn it around!

[Arthur Dailey]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Griffin's take on things (edited for brevity). I find little to disagree with. Still disconcerted by the fact that based on revenue, market size and ownership, i believe that the Jays' payroll should be in the top 6 in MLB.

By RICHARD GRIFFIN / Tues., Jan. 31, 2017
It would seem that the final Blue Jays’ roster piece, a left-handed bullpen specialist to replace Brett Cecil and rank ahead of Aaron Loup, is finally in place.

The durable lefty has averaged 64 relief appearances each of the past five seasons and has not been on the disabled list since 2011. In his career facing the Jays’ four AL East opponents, Howell has posted a 5-6 record, with a 4.28 ERA, pitching 117 2/3 innings, allowing 107 hits with 64 walks and 110 strikeouts. His career numbers facing left-handed hitters, which will be his primary purpose, are strong, with opponents hitting .229 and managing a .624 OPS. But his 2016 splits against lefty hitters were not so good, with a .302 average and a .760 OPS against, although he walked just four of the 102 lefthanded batters he faced.

Following the earlier re-signing of free-agent Jose Bautista and the inking of reserve catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the last remaining need was a top left-handed relief specialist.

With the Blue Jays’ brass about finished in terms of 2017 roster building, it’s time to assess the 2017 player payroll damage in the light of day. As background, the Jays’ opening-day payroll in 2016 stood at $136.8M (as per Cot’s Baseball Contracts), and Toronto ended the season ranked 14th in spending among 30 teams.

One of the more interesting roster presences is 23-year-old Cuban free-agent Lourdes Gurriel, listed as an infielder-outfielder.. But he will be fast-tracked to the major leagues, so expect to see him in the majors by June. That being said, left field is Gurriel’s most likely landing spot to begin his major-league career, with second, third and short already ably occupied.

The Jays’ opening-day payroll for 2017, given the current roster and not taking into account possible trades at spring training or additional free-agent signings, should be in the area of $168 million. That would be the highest in Jays’ history, beating out 2014 and will likely be in baseball’s top 12.

That being said, this Jays team on paper is not as good as the one that finished 2016 as a wild-card, which was not as good as the one that finished 2015 as division champions. The Jays will need some pleasant surprises and unexpected overachievers to get back to the playoffs.

[Pimento Cheese]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Too bad they don't get rid of them both in a "package" firing.

Hazel knows next to nothing about baseball and Barker only knows about riding the pine.

She actually knows a lot more than you might expect, if you can ever catch her talking outside her normal work roles. She's baseball-first as a sportscaster and grew up a die-hard Jays fan. The stuff she does at Sportsnet is rather limiting and she's rarely in a position to provide any insights of her own. She might actually make a good host for Baseball Central if Blair ever steps aside. (Well, maybe not if her husband is the co-host. That wouldn't make for great optics.)

She also scores every game, which is one of my favourite baseball activities, so that endears her to me.

But really, if you ever get a chance to chat with her about baseball, I think your opinion will change.

[Arthur Dailey]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

She actually knows a lot more than you might expect,

She also scores every game, which is one of my favourite baseball activities, so that endears her to me.

But really, if you ever get a chance to chat with her about baseball, I think your opinion will change.

Hazel worked for the MLB network and prior to that hosted the Bosox weekly program. Her bona fides in baseball appear to be better than many of the others on both her own and other networks.

Didn't know that she scored games.

[Gridiron]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Too bad they don't get rid of them both in a "package" firing.

Hazel knows next to nothing about baseball and Barker only knows about riding the pine.

With nearly 1600 minor league games (1000+ in AAA) with 6400 plate appearances batting .272, OBP .357 and .838 OPS he must have learned a thing or two, no?

[P25]

Re: YOUR 2017 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

With nearly 1600 minor league games (1000+ in AAA) with 6400 plate appearances batting .272, OBP .357 and .838 OPS he must have learned a thing or two, no?

Surprising. I thought he was a lifer in Winter ball as that's all he ever talks about!! Really though...his voice grates on me. Not a fan. I don't mind Hazel. It's too bad though that Barry is gone. I think every team needs a guy like that on the beat. Very little substance, but the players seemed to enjoy his presence.