Discuss!

As we start the new season here in Da Box we need a few fine men or women.  Our writing schedule has us publishing a series thread for the major league Blue Jays, our regular minor league updates, and other thoughts that our writers feel compelled to make public. 

However, several roster members have allowed the real world to interfere with their Box duties and we could use some help.

It's finally Opening Day in Toronto. That means it's time for everyone to make some predictions about how this year's edition of the Jays will fare...

Here are the opening day rosters for the minor league teams.  The big story could be the DL, AJ Jimenez, Sean Nolin, Danny Barnes, Chad Jenkins, John Stilson, Tyler Ybarra and Evan Crawford all start the season on the DL.

My first quick look also notes that:

Marcus walden makes the jump to AA after a half season ion Dunedin.  I liked Walden last year but AA is a big test for his style of pitching.

Alonzo Gonzalez makes the jump to lansing after a brief debut last season.  Gonzalez was a JC selection as was further advanced than the high school pitchers.

Daniel Norris and Roberto Osuna are also starting in Lansing.

Emilio Guerrero beat out a lot of competition to be the shortstop in Lansing.

Chris Hawkins returns to Lansing for a repeat.

 

I have added more comments at the bottom.

As your old pal Named For Hank watches the first night of Realigned Baseball's Non-Stop Battle of Texas, it seems like a good opportunity to update you on the pain and suffering going on in Slaughtergarde, our Fantasy-themed Fantasy League.

Before we get going, did anyone tell Jeff Luhnow that the jersey budget doesn't come out of payroll? No? Well, they're stuck with them now.

As you are aware, the Blue Jays begin their regular season at home this Tuesday night when the Cleveland Indians are in town. If you happen to be in the Vancouver area, the back-to-back Northwest League champion Vancouver Canadians are inviting you to watch the game as they are hosting an Opening Day Bash at Mahony & Sons at 1055 Canada Place, Unit 36, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. You might even win a prize, such as a pair of tickets to see the Jays in Seattle this August.

Otherwise, how are you getting ready for the first game of 81 at the Thunderdome? Do you have a ticket? Will you be watching on TV? Listening on the radio? Checking your cell phone or iPod (that'll be me!)? How are you celebrating the return of the regular season?

This was the scene during last year's home opener. R.A. Dickey will begin the 2013 campaign with his first knuckleball for strike one at 7:07 p.m. Eastern Time.

Two years ago, Mick ran a home run prediction contest. By popular request (one request), it's back!

Dust off your crystal balls, friends. It's prognosticatin' time.

Via Rotoworld it appears Romero has been sent down.  Not yet showing up on the Jays site, but big news if true.

Note: Confirmed via Sportsnet, which is owned by the same people who own the Jays thus I'd put this in 100% official status.

After doing this for the past four years it's becoming increasingly clear that these things fluctuate year to year. Some seasons are just harder to call than others. 2012 was one of those years - in fact, the most difficult in the RPC's history. Let's get to the results.

Opening day for the Jays is next Tuesday.  Opening day for most teams is next Monday.  The Jays have four games left in Florida and two in Philadelphia as they make their way back to Toronto.  The roster is now getting clearer:

Brett Lawrie will start the season on the DL.

The Jays will likely start the season with an 8 man bullpen.  The Jays think it will be easier to get Jeremy Jeffress through waivers a week into the season than it will be just before opening day.

Henry Blanco has made the roster, Josh Thole is headed to Buffalo.

Brad Lincoln has also been optioned to Buffalo, he has been nursing a sore shoulder.

Back in the earliest days of the Cheer Club, we had a thing called the Hall of Dubious Achievements.

Having our "HEY PHIL, EJECT THIS" sign ejected from the Rogers Centre. Irritating the Yankee pitching staff from all the way up in the 500 level so much that they complained to stadium security. Richard Griffin telling me in person how much he disliked an article about him without realizing I had written the article. These things were the very definition of Dubious Achievements. And now I may have out-dubiously achieved all of our exploits.

I didn't set out to create the World's Worst Fantasy Baseball League. But guys... Oh man, have I ever done a bad thing.

The WBC is over, the Dominican Republic are "World Champions" and the Jays will have all of their players in camp within a day or two.  The Jays have eleven days of spring games left before they head north for the Tuesday home opener.  There are few decisions left to be made, basically the backup catcher and the long man in the bullpen.   Otherwise the roster is set, the starting pitchers are known, the batting lineup is 90% set with second base the one unknown.

Spring training, up to this point, has had as its objective to get the players in shape, particularly the pitchers arms.  Players returning from injury need to be tested.  And roles and responsibilities need to be defined.

This year we have what looks to be our strongest opening day rotation, but is that just hype or is it real?

Here’s a thread to discuss all the latest spring training developments from Dunedin and around the majors while we all anxiously await Canada’s opening match in the World Baseball Classic on Friday afternoon.