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.

Today's POTD looks back at the final home game of 2011 for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Los Angeles Angels September 22.

Angels catcher Bobby Wilson gets ready to go to work in the bullpen.

It's the off-season, let's play a game.

"What are the worst professional sports (not necessarily  limited to baseball) uniforms of all time?"

A few opening caveats and nominations ...

Today's POTD deals with the second last home game of the 2011 season for the Blue Jays September 21.

Former Jay Vernon Wells on JaysVision during lineup introductions.

We haven't had a minor league thread in a while, now seems like a good time to get one going.  I received some updates from the instructional league last week and I thought I would share those.  In addition I have a look back at the 2011 season and we will catch up on the AFL.

Last week we found plenty of topics to kick off the first week of the winter, winter being that time of the year when baseball is not played. This week threatens to be a quiet week on the baseball front but who knows? Award season doesn't start until next week so baseball news will have to be generated by the general managers.