The Blue Jays made a series of roster moves Friday.  First, the club lost catcher Brian Jeroloman on waivers to Pittsburgh and also lost recent waiver claim, right-hander Cole Kimball, back to his original club - the Washington Nationals.  Second, the team picked up right-hander Drew Carpenter on waivers from San Diego. Third, the team added catcher Travis d'Arnaud, first baseman Mike McDade, righty Nestor Molina and lefty Evan Crawford to the 40-man roster.

Blue Jays mascot Ace wears the team's new uniform and ball cap.  He may have also been bidding adieu to catcher Brian Jeroloman, claimed on waivers by Pittsburgh Friday.

Here they are!

The new "Logo For Life" and new uniforms for your Toronto Blue Jays in 2012.  Two thumbs up!!

Update @ 3:15pm: New images added!

Two of Major League Baseball's proudest, most tradition-laden teams made big announcements this morning ...

For the ex-Brooklyn Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw won the team's 10th Cy Young Award, joining a list of names including the likes of Koufax (three times), Drysdale, Valenzuela and Hershiser, not to mention two closers, in Mike Marshall and Eric Gagne. Kershaw, frighteningly just 23, finished well ahead of runner-up old friend Roy Halladay. Like Justin Verlander Tuesday, Kershaw's Cy comes in the wake of his winning his league's 2011 Pitcher's Triple Crown.

In other news, the long-suffering Cubs named a new manager today for the 2012 season, opting for Milwaukee hitting coach Dale Sveum after Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux withdrew his candidacy. Sveum was a third-base coach for the Red Sox when new Cubbies GM Theo Epstein held that same post in Boston.

So, today's QOTD .... Were these the "right" choices for the NL and for the Cubs? If not, who shouldawouldacoulda?

MLB owners add two playoffs teams for 2013

With talk of 7,8,9, and 10 year contracts going on for Pujols and the like I got to thinking - do these work out often or do teams really, really, really regret them.

The Blue Jays have claimed right-handed reliever Cole Kimball on waivers from the Washington Nationals.  The 26 year-old made his major league debut with Washington this season but tore the labrum of his shoulder in July.

Cole Kimball posted an ERA of 1.93 and a WHIP of 1.357 in 14 innings with the Nationals in 2011.

Joe Maddon never played major league baseball, spending four years in Angels A-ball catching and hitting in the .260s with almost no power.

Kirk Gibson DID play major league baseball, winning the 1988 NL MVP award and earning two World Series rings, with the 1984 Tigers and 1988 Dodgers.

Now, the two have something specific in common, as each has won their respective league's 2011 Manager of the Year award.

Do you agree? Also, I don't know how to look this up, is Gibson the first former MVP to win a Manager of the Year award?

 

The return of professional baseball in London, Ontario is off to a controversial start.  The London Rippers will begin play in the independent Frontier League in 2012.  The nickname was introduced Tuesday and its likeness to serial killer Jack The Ripper is drawing plenty of criticism.   London City Council has asked the club to reconsider its moniker.

Justin Verlander, as projected yesterday by Da Box's own stalwart soothsayer Gerry (in this thread) is your unanimos AL Cy Young Award winner for 2011. Winning the pitching triple crown will do that for a guy.

Verlander is just the ninth unanimous winner in AL history and the first since then-Twin Johan Santana in 2006; Santana '06 was also the last pitching triple crown winner (wins, ERA and strikeouts). The Detrooit ace takes home the first Tiger Cy since Willie Hernandez in 1984 and is the first Tiger to win the pitching triple criwn since Hal Newhouser in 1945.

So Cy Young Award winner? As the headline mentions, well, duh. But here's a QOTD -- is Cy Verlander also deserving of earning the imminent AL MVP award?

 

 

Today's POTD looks at a close call involving rookie left fielder Eric Thames against the Yankees at the Dome September 18 and a chain reaction of events afterwards.

The perp - Scott Proctor. ;D

Tampa Bay pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, who went undefeated in five consecutive starts against American League East opponents in September as the Rays earned the wild-card playoff berth, was voted the AL winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel, who set a major league record for saves by a first-year pitcher with 46 in tying the Milwaukee Brewers’ John Axford for the National League lead, was elected the NL winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, unanimously.

Read more here on MLB.com ...

The hot stove will warm up some this week.  Both the team owners and general managers hold meetings this week in Milwaukee, I am sure the trade talk will heat up.  I assume major media will be in attendance giving us updates on the latest rumours.

In addition award season starts today with the AL and NL rookies of the year.  JP Arencibia is not expected to win the AL rookie of the year but he might get some votes.

We do also have some Blue Jay news, through Bob Elliott.

Let's start the week off right!  Today's POTD focuses on the Jays last home game of 2011 against the Evil Empire Sunday, September 18.

Brandon Morrow found his form again to blank the Yankees to the tune of eight scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out eight.

Today's POTD features leftover photos from the Angels-Jays series in late September.

Angels catcher Jeff Mathis in right field prior to action September 21 at the Dome.

The Florida Marlins are no more.  The Fish unveiled their new look for the 2012 season as they move into their new ballpark.

Miami Marlins players model the new black, orange, gray and white uniforms they will be wearing next season.  The players in attendance were Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison, Emilio Bonifacio, former Jay John Buck and Omar Infante.