4:13 AM EDT, Thu March 28, 2024
Bluebird Banter Mar 21, 2024
2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 17-20

2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 17-20

Today, we look at three early-mid round picks by the Blue Jays from this summer’s draft with significant upside, plus a system veteran who could enter the major league picture this year. 2024: Full List and Index | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2023: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 20. Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, age 22 (DOB: 2/23/2002), grade: 40, 2023: college junior Watts-Brown began his collegiate career with baseball factory...
Bluebird Banter Mar 20, 2024
Jays Trade Espinal To Reds

Jays Trade Espinal To Reds

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports The Blue Jays have traded Santiago Espinal to the Reds for pitcher Chris McElvain. McElvain is a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher who was an 8th-round pick in 2022. Last year, he pitched in Dayton A+ and Daytona A. He pitched in 23 games, 19 starts, and had a 3.75 ERA. In 96 innings, he allowed 85 hits, 9 home runs, 41 walks, and 87 strikeouts. FanGraphs says: McElvain spent his first couple of years at Vanderbilt in the bullpen, then moved to the rotation in his draft year. He has a plus two-plane breaking ball and his fastball...
Bluebird Banter Mar 20, 2024
2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 21-24

2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 21-24

A couple of high level relievers and a couple of Vancouver’s championship regulars Moving into the middle of the Blue Jays’ Top 40, a couple of prospects just on outside last year move in to join a couple who didn’t quite take flight in 2023 and move down. 2024: Full List and Index | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2023: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 24. Hayden Juenger, RHP, age 23 (DOB: 8/9/2000), grade: 35+/40, 2023: 16th Juenger...
Bluebird Banter Mar 19, 2024
Tuesday GameThread: Orioles @ Blue Jays

Tuesday GameThread: Orioles @ Blue Jays

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The Orioles visit Dunedin today. And we get several of the Jays regulars. There are a few bits of news: Jordan Romano has elbow inflammation. He’ll sit out the next three days and then start up again. The MRI shows no damage. Erik Swanson has tightness in his right forearm. Again, no damage was found. He will get a couple of days off. It is that time of spring. Joey Votto is taking BP today, but his ankle is sore. He might also not play for a couple of days. Jose Berrios will be the opening-day starter. The Sun has a story about...
Bluebird Banter Mar 19, 2024
Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Justin Turner

Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Justin Turner

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports John Turner was Prime Minister of Canada for almost 3 months in 1884. Before that, he held several positions in Pierre Trudeau’s and Lester Pearson’s governments and, for a time, dated (and almost married) Princess Margaret. He died in September 2020, which makes it interesting that the Jays signed him to DH. Whoops they signed Justin Turner.......The Jays signed Justin Turner, a 39-year-old right-handed hitting DH (who could play first base or stand at third base and perhaps second in an emergency). He’s making $13 million...
Bluebird Banter Mar 19, 2024
Taco Stand – Strikeout Strap

Taco Stand – Strikeout Strap

TACO STAND – STRIKEOUT STRAP Welcome to the Taco Stand, a tongue-in-cheek look at the Blue Jays, Baseball, and other topics I tangentially connect to the two. In this edition, I counter the idea of returning the Home Run Jacket with an infinitely superior idea: The Strikeout Strap. Sure, kids today are all about positive reinforcement. Like the seminal poet Cyndi Lauper once said, “Vladdies just want to have fun.” Do something good and get a pat on the back. Do something poorly, get a pat on the head. Everyone’s a winner! At least you tried! Well, allow...
Bluebird Banter Mar 19, 2024
2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 25-28

2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 25-28

A quartet of interesting pitchers The run through the Top 40 of the Blue Jays farm system continues with a call to arms. Today’s entry contains one more safe backend or #6 starter, and then a run of three very interesting arms with mid rotation upside but questions to answer. 2024: Full List and Index | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2023: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 28. Pat Gallagher, RHP, age 24 in 2024 (DOB: 6/30/2000), grade: 35, 2023:...
Bluebird Banter Mar 18, 2024
2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 29-32

2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 29-32

A grouping of mostly young hitters looking to get back on track The Top 40 of the Toronto Blue Jays farm system picks up with one more nearer-term pitcher, before moving to some lower level positional players looking to rebound in 2025 for various reasons. 2024: Full List and Index | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40 2023: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 32. Trenton Wallace, LHP, age 25 in 2024 (DOB: 3/31/1999), grade: 35, 2023: unranked Wallace was selected...
Bluebird Banter Mar 18, 2024
Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Erik Swanson

Better Know Your Blue Jays 40-Man: Erik Swanson

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports Erik Swanson is a 29-year-old right-handed reliever. The Blue Jays picked him up in a trade from the Mariners, along with minor leaguer Adam Macko, in exchange for Teoscar Hernandez. I have always hated trading everyday players for relievers, but such is life. Hernandez played 160 games for the M’s, hitting .258/.305/.435 with 26 home runs. Baseball reference has him at a 2.1 WAR last year. Now he’s a Dodger. Macko made 20 starts for the Vancouver Canadians. He had a 4.49 ERA, with 76 hits, 40 walks and 106 strikeouts in 86...
Bluebird Banter Mar 18, 2024
Know Your Enemy: 2024 NL Central

Know Your Enemy: 2024 NL Central

Set Number: SI308 TK1 With no standout team, this will be a division that will be fighting with each other for a division title and the virtually guaranteed spot in the Wild Card Series as the worst division winner. It should be a tight fight all the way through. Milwaukee Brewers 2023 Record: 92-70, swept by the Diamondbacks in the Wild Card Series. 2024 games vs Blue Jays: June 10-12 in Milwaukee. Notable Stars While he’s no longer the perennial MVP candidate, Christian Yelich is still a good player and is the biggest name on this list. Behind Yelich are catcher...

Joey Votto homers on 1st pitch in 1st spring training game with hometown Toronto Blue Jays

Joey Votto sure knows how to make an instant impression, going deep on the first pitch he faced as a member of his hometown Toronto Blue Jays.
Bluebird Banter Mar 17, 2024
Quick Recaps: Jays Win One, Tie One

Quick Recaps: Jays Win One, Tie One

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports Two games, two recaps. Twins 4 Blue Jays 9 The one that was on Sportsnet out of Dunedin. The Jays gave us lots of offence in this one. Pitchers: Yariel Rodriguez: Pitched 2 innings in his first spring game. 1 hit, a home run, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. He looked pretty good. He has little pauses in his windup, keeping the batters from getting their timing. It sounds like he’ll start the season in Buffalo and build up to 5 innings before they consider bringing him to Toronto. Matt White: 3.1 innings, 2 hits, 3 earned, 3 walks, 4...
Bluebird Banter Mar 17, 2024
Sunday GameThread

Sunday GameThread

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports We have split-squad games today. I might miss the first inning of today’s games. We had a night last night, and I have to drive my wife to pick up her car. It is a split-squad game day—two games for the price of one. One is in Clearwater vs the Phillies. This game is on MLB TV, if you want to watch two games simultaneously. Joey Votto is playing in this one. Jose Berrios is the starting pitcher. Today's Lineups BLUE JAYS PHILLIES Ernie Clement - 2B Kyle Schwarber - DH Joey Votto - 1B Trea Turner - SS Alejandro...
Bluebird Banter Mar 16, 2024
Better Know Your Jays 40-Man: George Springer

Better Know Your Jays 40-Man: George Springer

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports George Springer is a 34-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder who moved from center in 2022 to right last year. The move was designed to keep him in the lineup more often, and it worked. I like his defense in right field a lot more than in center field. He’s had three years with the Jays and has three more on his contract. Last year, he hit .258/.327/.405 with 21 home runs and a career-high 20 stolen bases (caught just 5 times). I’d trade those stolen bases for better base running. At times, he seemed to be the poster boy for...
Bluebird Banter Mar 15, 2024
2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 37-40

2024 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Prospects: 37-40

Four promising if risky prospects looking to breakout The Top 40 countdown of the Toronto Blue Jays system kicks off with four low-level lottery ticket prospects added to the farm system within the past couple years, none of whom can legally drink in the United States and one who couldn’t up here either. 2024: Full List and Index | 37-40 2023: Full List and Index | 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | 13-16 | 17-20 | 21-24 | 25-28 | 29-32 | 33-36 | 37-40Beyond the Top 40: Just Missed | Top 5 Older | Pref Lists: Matt | Tom 40. Edward Duran, catcher, age 19/20 (DOB: 8/13/2004), grade: 35, 2023:...

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  • 1 Jordan Romano

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