Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Last Big Move of the Offseason... Sort Of.

eudaimon - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#231811) #

That's interesting. Rotoworld seems to think that the Jays have more faith in Encarnacion's fielding at 3b due to his weight loss. Has anyone seen him field recently? Opening day will be fairly interesting.

Kelekin - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 12:40 PM EDT (#231814) #

This is a smart move. Edwin might be slightly below average to average in most defensive categories, but as far as positional value is concerned, this is a smart move. Get Bautista where he should be, get Edwin out on the field, and most importantly, getting Rivera out of the field (not that our future DH Snider is that much better in the OF unfortunately!)

Jonny German - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 12:45 PM EDT (#231815) #

I like it, tho I hope they're prepared to reverse the decision if EE doesn't maintain acceptable D. Less playing time for Rivera is a good thing. The DH spot may work out okay (tho not as well as if they had signed Manny).

Patterson vs RH: .292/.343/.451 in 2010 (252 PA), .259/.300/.417 career

Podsednik vs RH: .300/.349/.406 in 2010 (445 PA), .283/.344/.391 career

Rivera vs LH: .264/.327/.419 in 2010 (162 PA), .288/.333/.500 career

ComebyDeanChance - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 12:45 PM EDT (#231816) #

One thing that has been obvious at spring training games is that Bautista has zero confidence in throwing the ball to Lind. At a recent game, he lobbed it to first (Lind still missed it). Not that this necessarily had anything to do with the decision.

I suspect that part of the contract negotiations had to do with playing the field rather than third. Griffin speculates that it may also have been part of an attempt to deal Rivera.

Gerry - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 01:03 PM EDT (#231818) #

EE is not a very good 3B (the weight loss is irrelevant, it was EE's throwing that was always his problem).

Rivera is by most accounts a not very good right fielder.

So neither choice is optimal. This obviously has not been in the plans for long as EE has played only a couple of games at 3B. It looks to me like the manager had a look at Rivera in RF and said this won't work, we need a plan B. Then they started to give EE a few starts at 3B and Farrell saw enought to persuade himself that the lesser evil is EE in the infield.

Forkball - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 01:17 PM EDT (#231819) #

I think the move indicates that they feel comfortable with Lawrie at 3B (albeit maybe not in 2011, but 2012 at the latest) and want Bautista to settle into just one position for the long term (which is what I was kind of hoping for during the offseason). And really, for the most part, the long term is the important part this year.

And maybe it says the team has faith in Lind who no longer has a RH platoon possibility. How do you give Lind a rest now? EE at 1b with Johnnie Mac at 3b?

China fan - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 01:19 PM EDT (#231821) #

Doesn't this make Rivera even more difficult to trade? The Jays are basically advertising that Rivera is too defensively weak to play in the outfield, which further damages his trade value, if any. Maybe that was a lost cause anyway....

eudaimon - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 01:24 PM EDT (#231822) #

Looking at Rivera's fielding statistics, they don't seem that bad. In fact, he has some decent looking fielding stats for left-field in 2009. I'm thinking that this move is based on his injury history. With that in mind, it would be a pretty solid move for him to go to full-time DH. I think the guy can still hit, and hopefully this move will keep him healthy enough to do so effectively.

Thomas - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 01:37 PM EDT (#231823) #

With regards to Rivera's trade value, any trade value he may have will be due to his bat. I think most teams will know he won't be horribly exposed in the outfield, but won't be a positive defensive contributor. Plus, if some team wanted to trade for Rivera but had questions about his defense, they may tell AA and maybe the Jays would run him out there for a few days. I don't have much hope for Rivera's trade value anyway. I suppose Rivera now becomes the backup 1B.

John Northey - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 01:37 PM EDT (#231824) #

I suspect a large part has to do with EE getting a serious kick in the pants this offseason when no one would sign him to a deal anywhere near what he'd have gotten in arbitration. If he is focused then suddenly his massive potential could come to the surface in which case putting him at 3B should add a lot of value to the team.

Dave Till - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 02:07 PM EDT (#231826) #

Both Davis and Lawrie did better than expected this spring. I suspect that the Jays' brain trust originally assumed that Davis would need to sit down against certain pitchers or for certain periods - otherwise, they wouldn't have signed Podsednik and Patterson. But Davis has looked really sharp, and the Jays are obviously comfortable with him in CF.

I am assuming that Lawrie will stay down until the service time hump has been gotten over - he could probably use a bit more time playing third in games that matter - but it's now only a matter of when. EE can handle third well enough until Lawrie is ready - as others have said, it's the throwing that's the problem, not the fielding. And Bautista is obviously better suited to right field, so it's a win all around.

The Jays were going there eventually, so they might as well go there now.

Ryan Day - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#231829) #

"The Jays are basically advertising that Rivera is too defensively weak to play in the outfield, which further damages his trade value, if any. "

I don't know if that's a factor. If they played him in RF and he looked awful, everyone would know he was awful, too.

Besides, I think it's less a matter of him being too awful to play the field than it is not being any room for him. I suspect the Jays, or some other teams, could live with him in LF.

Gerry - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#231831) #

EE was so excited by the move he has hit into 3 DP's today.

85bluejay - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 03:19 PM EDT (#231832) #

I think defense is going to be the achilles heel of the Jays this year esp. compared to the other AL east teams. I guess the 3rd base switch means the Jays couldn't find a taker for Rivera or a guy to play 3rd. I was hoping for Alex Gordon/Chris Davis but I guess the price was too high - Also, McCoy & MacDonald seem Redundant, so I am hoping that when the Angels get their guys on DL back and likely have to move Wood, the Jays are able to acquire him cheaply & use him instead of McCoy on the bench - a power bat on the bench,good defensive player and maybe Murphy can work on his swing during the season - I think it's worth a flyer if the price is right - McCoy can get everyday bats in AAA & prepare to replace MacDonald next yr.

gabrielthursday - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#231834) #

@Forkball I'd imagine it would be Bautista at 3rd, Encarnacion at 1st.

Gerry - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:01 PM EDT (#231835) #

A less big move is that the Jays have acquired Jayson Nix. What does this mean for McCoy or Patterson?

Gerry - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:04 PM EDT (#231836) #

And Patterson starts the year on the DL.

Richard S.S. - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:06 PM EDT (#231837) #

The new Blue Jays Homepage is announcing the move, with the Greg Chisolm article leading. This will be Toronto's best defensive positioning and perhaps it's healthiest positioning. Although, after watching Rivera this spring, he's been fairly good, no obvious mistakes.

I've always thought E.E. was an average or better defensive 3B, with a big bat. Isn't this the first off-season, in the last few years, that E.E. stayed healthy? Chances are good E.E. is with us next year too, more likely a D.H. (to back up 1B and 3B).

Jose Bautista is a big upgrade on Rivera in RF. Edwin Encarnacion for Bautista is a wash (I believe Edwin will have a big year with the bat). Juan Rivera will have a better year, offensively, as D.H. (and Backup), staying healthier longer. With the demands of RF being less than the demands of 3B, Jose Bautista will stay healthier.

As for Brett Lawrie, baring injuries,don't expect the kid here prior to the All Star Break. He's not that good defensively as yet. The more reps, defensively, Lawrie can get, the better.

I watched the Detroit - New York game on Yes Network on the phone earlier. The broadcast staff rates the Jays more of a problem than most other pundits.

Jonny German - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:19 PM EDT (#231839) #

It's not clear to me what Nix does that McCoy doesn't. And if Patterson and Podsednik are both starting the season on the DL, isn't Mastroianni the best backup CF available?

Alex Obal - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:22 PM EDT (#231840) #

Nix can steal bases and hit homers. I'll take him.

Hodgie - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:22 PM EDT (#231841) #

Mastroianni would be fine IF the Jays have already decided he has reached his ceiling, otherwise wouldn't you rather he play everyday in Las Vegas continuing his development instead of riding the bench in Toronto?

dan gordon - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:27 PM EDT (#231842) #

In the last 2 seasons, Nix has 586 AB's and has hit 26 HR's. He can steal a base, too, and isn't immune to taking a walk. Strikes out way too much. Interesting player. Not sure how his defense is at 2B or 3B.

dan gordon - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:37 PM EDT (#231843) #

They've made room for Nix by placing Carlson on the 60 day DL. Biceps problem in the left shoulder. Presumably tendonitis.

85bluejay - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 04:59 PM EDT (#231844) #

Like the Nix pick up - nice power/speed combo - hope that McCoy goes down when 1 of the outfielders return

Paul D - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 05:07 PM EDT (#231845) #

Virtually every player hits better when playing the field than when DH'ing. I would not expect Rivera to be any different.

christaylor - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 05:29 PM EDT (#231846) #

That's a really strong statement -- many of players SAY this, but I doubt there's statistical evidence to support it.

If there is evidence, please point me in the right direction.

Alex Obal - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 05:59 PM EDT (#231848) #

My intuition has always been that the causality is backwards - they don't hit worse because they're DHing, they're DHing because they hit worse (injury, age, etc.) But I'd love to be pointed toward the studies...

Jonny German - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 06:17 PM EDT (#231850) #

Nix has speed, but not Speed. He's never stolen more than 24 bases in a season (and in the last 3 seasons topped out at 12), and has done with just an average rate of success.

He has power, sure, but not Power and last time I checked that wasn't something the Jays were lacking. Perspective: those heralded "26 homers in the last 2 years" went along with an IsoP of .177. On the 2010 Jays that mark would rate 11th, including behind such un-noted sluggers as Lyle Overbay and Johnny Mac.

The only time he's had a good offensive season above High-A was 2008... and that was as a 25-year-old in a league- and park- inflated half season.

Not feeling it. Dude is too old to be living off his 1st-round draft pedigree.

Paul D - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 06:41 PM EDT (#231851) #

I think it's either in the Book or on the Book blog, but I can't find the study right now.

Alex Obal - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 06:45 PM EDT (#231852) #

I think of it this way: McCoy is a versatile replacement level hitter. Nix is a less versatile replacement level hitter who can take you deep. In the long run I'd probably rather have McCoy's versatility and wheels, but in the long run the correct answer is neither, and to start Game 7 of the World Series I want Nix.

Kelekin - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 06:58 PM EDT (#231853) #

To start Game 7 of the world series I want neither.

I'm not even sure how to pan this move, it's just...okay. Whatever. He'll be on the team for a week or two while Patterson recovers.

How long until Diaz and Mastro arrive to be our bench guys?

Alex Obal - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 07:05 PM EDT (#231854) #

I mean Game 7 is today. Encarnacion is injured. "Neither" means John McDonald, Jose Molina, Juan Rivera or a pitcher. But I agree - better replacements seem inevitable.

greenfrog - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#231855) #

Farrell is citing EE's weight loss and improved mobility and footwork as reasons for the move. I think the Jays made the move for a combination of reasons, including the ones mentioned out the outset of the thread. Also, the Jays might be anticipating trading EE around the deadline (if and when Lawrie is ready), and figure that a 3B will be more valuable as a trade commodity.

I like the move, if only because I think (perhaps irrationally) that Bautista will be happier and more productive as the everyday RF, which is where he's likely going to play in the long term.

Ryan Day - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 08:27 PM EDT (#231857) #

Patterson isn't supposed to be out long - the DL move was described as precautionary - so he's probably back a week or so into the regular season. Nix is perfectly adequate to pick up the 5-10 ABs Patterson might get. (possibly less, since McCoy can fill in at CF, while Johnny Mac will get most of the IF chances.

This is just a minor shuffle of the 25th roster spot, and everything will probably be back to normal in two weeks.

Mike Green - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 09:23 PM EDT (#231858) #

Paul D is right. Here is some discussion on the point from the Book Blog:

http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/paradox_of_the_dh_adjustment/

Ron - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 09:58 PM EDT (#231860) #

I�m a little bit surprised that the home opener is already sold out. Hopefully the scalper�s demands aren�t too high because I currently don�t have tickets. I�m new to living in Toronto so what�s a good place to eat around the Skydome?

ZekeBella - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#231861) #

Hooters on John St - good wings and breasts! Gretzky's at 99 Blue Jay Way if you want to keep in the sports theme. Both are 2-3 blocks north of stadium. Just make sure you don't buy a ticket behind 1st base if EE is throwing to Lind.

greenfrog - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 11:10 PM EDT (#231862) #

Ron, just make sure you get there early (I hate desperately haggling with scalpers at the eleventh hour). Pay a bit extra, get some decent seats, and go have an enjoyable pre-game dinner. I've never been to Gretzky's, but it seems like a good option (comfortable, with a good sports vibe).

Gerry - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 11:11 PM EDT (#231863) #

When I was in Florida I heard that Jay's ticket sales for 2011, as compared to last season, are up, and it sounded from the tone they are up more than just a little.

ayjackson - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 11:15 PM EDT (#231864) #

The new commercials must have greater effect than some birds in suits in a board room.

rtcaino - Tuesday, March 29 2011 @ 11:17 PM EDT (#231865) #

Hooters on John St - good wings and breasts!

That's in poor taste, they have horrible wings.

greenfrog - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 12:00 AM EDT (#231866) #

The relative merits of Hooters aside, one player I'm looking forward to tracking this year is Tim Collins. Kid has a career minor-league K rate of 13.3 / 9 IP (per Kevin Goldstein of BP). Should be interesting to see how he fares out of the KC 'pen. Let's hope that Escobar keeps the Jays from regretting the Gonzalez/Collins/Pastornicky deal.

Speaking of which, can I just say: how &*($%# hard can it be for Yunel to run hard in every AB? There is nothing that drives me crazier than seeing players dog it (e.g., jogging to first, or turning on the jets too late, turning triples into doubles, doubles into singles, and singles into outs, etc). I hope Farrell has a game plan for curbing his intermittently half-hearted lazy baserunning (yeah, I said it), which seemed to manifest itself again recently in spring training. Unacceptable.

Ron - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 12:06 AM EDT (#231867) #

The food at Hooter's is horrible so I have to scratch that one off the list. I've been to Gretzky's and Real Sports before, but I've never tried the food. I might just bite the bullet and get hot dogs from a local vendor or eat inside the stadium.

After looking at the other team websites, the Jays really need to step up their promotions/marketing gimmicks. They need to get more creative with the giveaways and ticket packages. The A's have $2 tickets for Wednesday games this season. The Ray's have a free Goo Goo Dolls concert. The Phillies are giving away a baseball with a Halladay collectible tin. Outside of the Star season pass, the Jays don't act like a team that has attendance issues. What happened to the all you can eat seats?

VBF - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 12:55 AM EDT (#231868) #

Turkey Hill (whatever that is) is giving away a baseball with a Halladay collectible tin.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea or that it's not doable, but the more giveaways you include, the more sponsors you need to provide for those elements to, at least, cover the cost of those elements. That said, The Rays do a phenomenal job--their promotional calendar resembles a MiLB club more than anything.

The $2 dollar ticket idea seems logical from afar but it can have a devaluing effect on your ticket and as many on here can attest caused more harm than good regarding fans unable to keep things family friendly in the stands a few seasons ago.

The Jays have half priced kids tickets on Jr. Jays Saturdays. A family of four can go to a game for $33 and the kids can run the bases afterwards. You can always do more but I think that's a great start.

smcs - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 02:06 AM EDT (#231869) #

VBF brought it up, but it must be remembered that the AGCO pulled the Rogers Centre liquor license for two Jays games and an Argos game for various violations taking place from 2007 to 2009 at football and baseball games and at concerts. The Toonie Tuesdays invited a certain type of crowd that was full of spirit and of spirits. In 2008, they banned alcohol from the $2 sections, but still were ejecting 100 people a night from those games.

This market has proven time and again that it can get behind a winning team like none other. The best way to improve the attendance would be to win. Have faith, if you build a winner, the fans will come in droves. I think the last two games that I can remember that got great crowds and great atmospheres were Halladay-Burnett in 2009 and Canada-USA in the 2009 WBC.

pooks137 - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 02:08 AM EDT (#231870) #

Let's hope that Escobar keeps the Jays from regretting the Gonzalez/Collins/Pastornicky deal.

As fans, I think it's only natural to want to analyze who won and lost deals between teams in retrospect, particularly when intriguing or sentimental players like Collins are involved (and enigmas like Escobar for that matter).

But for AA and the Jays, there should be no regrets even if Collins turns into an ace setup man in KC and Escobar flops. Smart GMs like AA should always be willing to trade low-valued assets such as veterans like Gonzalez or non-elite prospects like Collins/Pastronicky for highly-valued assets like a starting SS with plus defence and offensive potential like Escobar. Tim Collins' upside is probably Scott Downs, and Downs-type relievers are freely available for the relatively cheap cost of about 4-5$/yr each offseason for anyone willing to pay. The last decade of revolving Jays shortstops in the last decade and the fact A. Gonzalez was signed last year to begin with show that the same cannot be said for shortstops.

Even in Escobar hits again like he did last year, I still would still make this type of trade again every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

I was actually a "JP-sympathizer", but in retrospect now, one of his biggest failings as a GM probably was being too apprehensive to made deadline deals to trade away free-agents-to-be and non-elite prospects for future assets for fear of making a "bad" or not "winning a trade.

Dave Till - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 07:31 AM EDT (#231872) #

<i>I�m new to living in Toronto so what�s a good place to eat around the Skydome?</i>

Get takeout from Burrito Bandidos on Peter Street!

http://www.burritobandidos.com/v2/

sam - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 08:18 AM EDT (#231873) #

Is the corn beef place on Richmond or Adelaide still around. That would be my recommendation if it is.

Jonny German - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 08:56 AM EDT (#231874) #

I'll second Dave Till on the Burrito Bandidos, that's a great spot. Be prepared to line up tho.

I might just bite the bullet and get hot dogs from a local vendor or eat inside the stadium.

While both are no doubt highly unhealthy, the street meat is quite tasty and very cheap while the food inside is just overpriced junk.

Parker - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 09:16 AM EDT (#231875) #

While both are no doubt highly unhealthy, the street meat is quite tasty and very cheap while the food inside is just overpriced junk.

Maybe my tastes aren't as discerning as some, but I had a footlong hot dog and and a pulled pork sandwich at the two games I attended last year, and both were delicious. The atmosphere likely had something to do with it, but I would definitely stop short of calling it junk. Overpriced is certainly debatable.

onecent - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 09:23 AM EDT (#231876) #

I don't think there is anything to like or dislike about either move. Farrell, the coaching staff and talent evaluators have had a month to observe and they obviously felt that Encarnacion 3B, Bautista RF > Bautista 3B, Rivera RF. E5 isn't as bad as people think. People tend to put way too much emphasis on throwing over the other aspects of fielding, likely because it's the most noticable. Fielding involves reading the ball off the bat, reacting, getting to the ball, making a clean exchange and then a strong, accurate throw. E5 is above average at every one of those things, with the exception, of course, of accurate throws. Hopefully, he has improved in that aspect. But errors are not the most important measure of fielding. They are only the easiest measurement. The difference between making a defensive play and not making one (even when there is no error involved) is giving the other team an extra out. The difference between not making a play and making an error on the play is giving the other team an extra base. You don't want to give away extra bases but it's the extra outs that will kill you always.I think that likely Rivera was just really awful in RF during ST and the Jays felt that they were better off with E5 at third, than putting Rivera on the field. As for Nix. If Patterson and Podsednik were healthy and performing, the Jays wouldn't have acquired him. Nix is better than Mastroinni, who has never played above AA.

Mike Green - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 09:28 AM EDT (#231877) #

If you've got a few extra bucks, and want to eat really well during the day, I'd probably try this place and go for a walk afterwards to the ballyard. When is opening day, anyway?:)

Anders - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 09:43 AM EDT (#231878) #

I would second Burrito Banditos. I usually go to Burrito Boys on Adelaide, which I prefer, but both are good. There is (was?) a good Carribean place right beside Burrito Boys as well. Street meat dogs are a quick alternative also. Alice Fazooli's is fine if you want to sit down, there are some other good restaurants at Queen and John...

On a side note, the food at Gretzky's and Hooters is of a type - I don't think one approaches either as an eating destination.

Mick Doherty - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 11:41 AM EDT (#231887) #

Anders, FYI -- the twitter link anchored by the word "acquired" in your lede does not appear to work.

subculture - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 01:57 PM EDT (#231891) #

I live in one of the condo's near the Rogers centre, and can add these spots:

- St. Louis Wings/Ribs on Bremner across from Rogers Centre (same fare as all the other locations but a bit more atmosphere)
- Subways on Front St just west of Blue Jay Way (good for quickie, seating for about 10 I think)
- Pub on Front St just east of Blue Jay way (can't remember the name, Firkin style)
- Canyon Creek chop house Front St east of Simcoe (imo better steak esp prime rib than Keg at lower cost, nicely furbished)

uglyone - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 02:33 PM EDT (#231898) #

not sure where to put this, but MLB.com's baseball tonight had Al Leiter and Mitch Williams picking their CY and ROY winners.

Leiter went with Lester for Cy, and DRABEK for ROY
Williams went with Price for Cy, and ARENCIBIA for ROY

nice to hear.

personally, I think JPA has a helluva shot.

mathesond - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 03:50 PM EDT (#231911) #

"...I think JPA has a helluva shot"

As good a shot as any other rookie :)

(well, any rookie not named Hellickson)

uglyone - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 04:13 PM EDT (#231913) #

damn tough for an SP to win the ROY.

I think there's been ONE Starting Pitcher win the AL ROY in the last 30yrs, and that was Verlander in 2006.

Gerry - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 04:45 PM EDT (#231918) #

There could be one more big move of the off-season. The Jays have until tomorrow, I believe, to decide whether to pick up Aaron Hill's options. Based on his tough 2010, and his injuries in 2010 and 2011, I would guess that the Jays will not pick up the options at this time. If the Jays do not pick up Hill's options they are forfeiting Hill's 2014 season. They can still pick up Hill's 2012 and 2013 options at the end of the season.

Ron - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 05:26 PM EDT (#231921) #

Thanks for all the food suggestions.

Turkey Hill (whatever that is) is giving away a baseball with a Halladay collectible tin.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea or that it's not doable, but the more giveaways you include, the more sponsors you need to provide for those elements to, at least, cover the cost of those elements. That said, The Rays do a phenomenal job--their promotional calendar resembles a MiLB club more than anything.

The $2 dollar ticket idea seems logical from afar but it can have a devaluing effect on your ticket and as many on here can attest caused more harm than good regarding fans unable to keep things family friendly in the stands a few seasons ago.

The Jays have half priced kids tickets on Jr. Jays Saturdays. A family of four can go to a game for $33 and the kids can run the bases afterwards. You can always do more but I think that's a great start.

While I understand you generally need sponsors for giveaways, I wish the Jays were doing more.

I would rank the Jays near the bottom in terms of promotions and fan value.

Here are just some of the promotions/value tickets that caught my eye:

- $30 all you can eat seats for the Astros

- $10 gets you a ticket/hot dog/pop/chip for all Astros home games Mon-Thur

- O�s are giving away a free ticket for your birthday

- Rays have free concerts after select games

- Tigers are giving away a fleece scarf on May 3rd

- Royals have Buck nights where you buy hot dogs/pepsi/peanuts for $1 each. They also let fans run the bases after every Sunday game (no age restriction)

- Twins are giving away a Jim Thome bat for kids on May 29th

- The A�s have free parking on Tuesday�s and free hot dogs on Thursday�s

- Mariners are giving away Coasters on June 19th and a Gutierrez Fly Swatter on May 19th

- The Braves have $5 tickets for Monday games

- The Giants are giving away a World Series banner on April 23rd

Thomas - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 06:12 PM EDT (#231923) #

Ron, it's hard to complain too much about "value tickets" from an organizational that offers the Toronto Star Season's Pass. I'm not aware of a comparable offer by any other major league team and it beats the pants off of a fly swatter, a free (500?) level ticket on your birthday or the Jays giving away a very lame "2010 AL East 4th Place" banner.

Also, the Jays used to allow kids to run the bases after the games on Saturdays and had several series last year that included an option to buy "All You Can Eat" tickets. Both promotions are likely to still exist, but I haven't confirmed.

Ron - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 06:36 PM EDT (#231924) #

Ron, it's hard to complain too much about "value tickets" from an organizational that offers the Toronto Star Season's Pass. I'm not aware of a comparable offer by any other major league team and it beats the pants off of a fly swatter, a free (500?) level ticket on your birthday or the Jays giving away a very lame "2010 AL East 4th Place" banner.

Also, the Jays used to allow kids to run the bases after the games on Saturdays and had several series last year that included an option to buy "All You Can Eat" tickets. Both promotions are likely to still exist, but I haven't confirmed.

The Jays are the only team that offers 80 games for $95.

The only thing that is really going to cause a spike in attendance over a sustained period is winning but I would like to see the Jays improve their marketing.

dan gordon - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 06:51 PM EDT (#231925) #

Interesting new rule change just announced for mlb teams this year. Effective tomorrow, teams can place a major league player on the newly created 7-day DL and call up a player to take his place if the player has suffered a concussion. The 7-day DL is available only for players who have suffered a concussion. The idea is that a mild concussion usually takes about 5-7 days to recover from, and they want to avoid teams trying to use a player who should rest for a few days after a mild concussion. Part of the growing awareness of concussions in sport.

Mike Green - Wednesday, March 30 2011 @ 06:58 PM EDT (#231926) #

Good. Of course, it's a lot easier for baseball to do this than it is for hockey to seriously address the issue.

Anders - Thursday, March 31 2011 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#231957) #

The Starpass is weird, they stopped selling it in December/January this year after an early-March cutoff last year. I don't know if it's because they sold out, or what, but still, annoying...

Thomas - Thursday, March 31 2011 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#231960) #

I heard it was because they sold out, but I can't be sure. One would hope that they have a limit of Star Passes per person, to avoid scalpers buying up a significant percentage of the available passes. Of course, scalpers can get around that fairly easily through the help of friends and family, but I'm not sure there's any way to address the problem beyond that.

Smithers - Thursday, March 31 2011 @ 09:09 PM EDT (#231963) #

Haven't seen anyone talking about this yet but found it interesting. It seems dear old friend Robbie Alomar is returning to the Blue Jays as a special assistant to the organization, whatever that will entitle. Surely it can't hurt in reestablishing the pipeline to the Caribbean.