Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Jose Bautista and Ricky Romero Achieve Banner Status

Jose Bautista and Ricky Romero Achieve Banner Status

Jose Bautista signed a $65 million contract today but the biggest news of the day for him was his elevation to the Batter's Box Banner. Ricky Romero joins him in a tribute to the club leaders of the hitters and the pitchers.

We hope you enjoy it.

We know it took us a long time to change but the process is not as easy as it looks. First the pictures are ours, or in this case, #2JBrumfield's. Our previous pictures had been taken by the photographer previously known as Named For Hank. So our first challenge was to get suitable pictures of sufficient quality, and in the right perspective, to be included in the banner. #2JB upgraded his camera equipment last season and we have been treated to his great pictures here over the past year.

Then the pictures had to be formatted into a particular format that #2JB had to learn while we had lives to live, and baseball issues to focus on, but we made sure we were ready for opening day.

Thanks to those of you who sent in your own versions but we did have a plan, that took a while to come together, and as I said above, the formatting was a challenge.

So a big well done is due to #2JBrumfield and now we know how to do it so we can update the banner if any players deserve to ascend to our lofty heights.

Posted by Gerry on Thursday, February 17 2011 @ 10:15 PM EST.

Jose Bautista and Ricky Romero Achieve Banner Status | 24 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

ayjackson - Thursday, February 17 2011 @ 10:33 PM EST (#230524) #

Love the retro-80's Latin feel to the banner-Jays!

braden - Thursday, February 17 2011 @ 10:36 PM EST (#230525) #

I wonder what odds you could have received if you proposed in 2008 that the next Da Box banner would feature Romero and Bautista.

Excellent work, gentlemen.

John Northey - Thursday, February 17 2011 @ 11:21 PM EST (#230527) #

Heck, in 2008 who'd have thought that Romero & Bautista would be the only Jays with a contract for 2015? That only they and Lind would be locked in for 2014, with Rajai Davis (option) and Hechavarria mixed in for 2013? That someone would take Wells contract off their hands?

I gotta say, AA has not let grass grow under his feet - lucky the Jays use the fake stuff.

Mylegacy - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 12:21 AM EST (#230528) #

I like the banner - even though it looks like Romero is trying to bean Jose as he rounds the bases.

The big picture of Bautista rounding the bases is now my computer wallpaper. Really looking forward to the 26th when the first game is on the Fan 590. Baseball's back, baseball's back, baseball's back! Play Ball!

92-93 - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 03:58 AM EST (#230530) #

Excellent work, and logistically the 2 best choices. Was this the planned banner before the extension too, or did it just come together really quickly?

ComebyDeanChance - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 04:42 AM EST (#230531) #

I miss Roy, but I like this banner! Thanks and good work, and here's to hoping that by 2014 there'll be too many heads to fit.

greenfrog - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 07:44 AM EST (#230532) #

Nice work. It's easy to imagine Bautista coolly rounding second or third after another massive home run. And the Romero shot reminds me of his near no-hitter last year (did he have more than one?), when he had a great fastball, curveball, change, and pinpoint control.

Funny how some of the best-performing Jays in recent seasons have gone with beards: Doc, Marcum, Bautista. Perhaps we need a reverse-Steinbrenner policy if we're going to dominate in the AL East. Gentlemen, put away those razor blades!

John Northey - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 08:09 AM EST (#230533) #

There were a few debated. Romero was obvious once his extension was signed but I know I didn't know who I wanted up there with him and others had favorites/non-favorites too.

Bautista seemed a high risk choice (free agency or trade), Hill & Lind did poorly last year, while others (Snider, Cecil, JPA, Morrow, ...) generally haven't had enough of a track record to feel safe putting them up there.

There were a few who liked the idea of a historical group up there too, but we like to try to keep reasonably up-to-date, old banner overstaying its welcome notwithstanding.

Luckily the Jays made it easy once Bautista signed on the dotted line, ending all debates that have gone on for awhile. Hopefully we can keep this one for 5+ years :)

Mike Green - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 08:46 AM EST (#230535) #

Great job, guys, and special kudos to #2JB.

There is a picture of Anthopoulos and Bautista together at the press conference in today's print edition of the Globe and Mail. I showed it to my significant other this morning, and she thought that they looked like brothers.

#2JBrumfield - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 09:09 AM EST (#230538) #

I'm sorry we couldn't have a big press conference for the banner unveiling but there were just too many obstacles to overcome. As soon as Mick said no to flying in from Texas, when Gerry didn't want to bring along the Guinness, when Alex didn't want to spring for the pretzels, nachos or timbits, when Anders didn't want to provide the female dancers, when Thomas refused to bring along the fireworks, when Bono and The Edge both told me they couldn't make it out in time to perform "Beautiful Day" because of their elaborate setup and when Magpie didn't want to make another pie chart (the clincher!), we scrapped the idea! Also, I didn't get the media invites to our favourite female sports personalities on time. ;D

On a serious note, I think John summed it up perfectly. We did have one banner with Romero and V-Dub that was almost ready to go until his surprising trade to the Angels. As a fan of the powder blue jerseys and original logo, I'm glad this was incorporated into the banner as a nod to the Jays past and I think the blue behind the Batter's Box logo really makes it pop. I miss the old banner but I'm happy with the way this one turned out and I hope Bauxite Nation is too.

The old banner was way overdue to be replaced but I had no problem with it staying on during last season because it was a nice way to pay tribute to Roy Halladay. Thanks to Joe Drew for getting all the kinks ironed out and getting this online. Thanks for the kinds words so far!

electric carrot - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 09:44 AM EST (#230540) #

This banner makes me like the deal even more. Not sure if the money or the years are going to work out -- but I like Jose -- and now he's ours.

Mick Doherty - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 09:51 AM EST (#230541) #

This was my original recommended lead story for this thread:

Dear Roy,
Here at Batter's Box, Jays fans will always miss and respect you. But we realize that you've been gone for more than a year now, so it's finally time for us to move on. We like the lefty ace and the cleanup hitter to represent our best chance to wine one a them rings you picked up last year, as we move forward.
Respectfully and with brotherly love,
Box Nation

mathesond - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 09:58 AM EST (#230542) #

" We like the lefty ace and the cleanup hitter to represent our best chance to wine one a them rings you picked up last year, as we move forward"

Er, what ring did Halladay win last year?

Mick Doherty - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 12:24 PM EST (#230557) #

Division Championship. Yeah, it's not THE ring, but still ...

JB21 - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 04:01 PM EST (#230563) #

Bought my Home Opener tickets today... it's feeling "springy" out... am definitely in a baseball mood! Youtube brought me to think link... which I thought I'd share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koSaDcTNNVk

Dewey - Friday, February 18 2011 @ 07:37 PM EST (#230569) #

Very nice banner, guys. Clean, simple, good photos. I like it.

brent - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 08:47 AM EST (#230605) #

Thank you for finally changing the banner. Tribute or not, I hated to see a player who wasn't with the Jays anymore (and wanted out) be the only one on it.

James W - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 10:21 AM EST (#230607) #

Aaron Hill was also on the old banner.

ayjackson - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 10:28 AM EST (#230608) #

Aaron Hill was also on the old banner

This demotion is a clear message to Aaron that his level of performance from last year will not be tolerated.

CeeBee - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 11:14 AM EST (#230611) #

Awesome new banner. Thanks guys :)

Dewey - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 11:53 AM EST (#230613) #

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Da Box�s grammarian-grouches (we are legion) are dismayed, however, that the offending �whomever� still exists on these pages. Does Joe the ComputerGuy not deal with text, too? Inexcusable. Tut and such.

ayjackson - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 12:59 PM EST (#230615) #

The passive voice confuses.

bpoz - Sunday, February 20 2011 @ 01:25 PM EST (#230618) #

I like the new banner. But I never looked at it that much anyway.

Mylegacy, I am glad you are ready for the 2011 baseball season. I look forward to enjoying it with all the Bauxites.

Powder Blues - Monday, February 21 2011 @ 02:54 AM EST (#230631) #

I'm glad my moniker is well represented by the 54 HR man! Excellent work to all.

Jose Bautista and Ricky Romero Achieve Banner Status | 24 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.