My trip to spring training is done and now that I am back at home I thought I would try and summarize what I have seen and add to my scouting reports on some players.

I also have more video to share of Aaron Sanchez and Deck McGuire.

With the season kicking off in a few days, let's ask and answer a few questions about how the Jays offense will perform in 2011.

According to Gregor Chisolm, the Jays have announced Edwin Encarnacion as the opening day starter at third base. Jose Bautista is back to Right Field, and Juan Rivera will DH, at least to start the year.

Update: Also, almost immediately invalidating my headline, the Jays have acquired Jayson Nix from the Indians for cash considerations. Corey Patterson to the DL. Nix is terrible, but plays/has played 2nd, 3rd and corner outfield. 

I've written the Yankees preview for Batter's Box every year since 2005, the first year we started doing team/dkvision previews here on Canada's Baseball Leader. And every year, I pick them to win the division and usually to win the World Series.

And why not? Every year since 1993, except for an aberrant third place disappointment in 2008, the Pinstriped Wonders have finished either first or second, and have made the playoffs every year but '08 since 1995. In that relatively short time,  they've appeared in seven World Series and have won six titles. (Pretty good, even by NYY standards!) So why should this year be any different?

Why? Because, unlike past years, the Yankee pitching suu-uuucks. Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies might prove to hurt the Yankees more than the Rangers, and could ultimately decide the fate of three 2010 playoff teams -- the Yanks, Rangers and Phils -- in the coming season.

It hurts me to write this. And I hope I am wrong -- way wrong. But to start with the big news, to avoid burying the lead, let's be up front with it ... the 2011 Yankees are a team that looks like it could well finish ...

Last year the Red Sox endured a multitude of injuries and won 89 games anyway. Now, one should be careful when predicting a bounce-back after an injury-plagued year, because the thing about injuries is that they come back, but the nature of the 2010 Sox' specific ailments is such that I don't expect much recurrence. And by adding a couple of superstars to an already potent and now-healthy line-up, the Sox have assembled an absolutely fantastic team.

Here's a potentially fun discussion point based on a Web factoid. According to today's update from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ...

Today's Date in Baseball History: March 28, 1976 - Media sources report a potential blockbuster between the Mets and Dodgers involving two future Hall of Famers. The deal would send Tom Seaver to LA in exchange for Don Sutton. Mets fans respond negatively and perhaps influence the deal. The trade is called off and Seaver will remain in New York until 1977 when he is sent to Cincinnati.

Oddly, I have no recollection of this rumor from the time -- then again, I was only nine! Sutton (155 wins at the time, 169 more yet to come) for Seaver (178 wins at the time, 132 more yet to come)? It would have made the earlier-in-the-decade "$100,000 Bobby Swap" (Bonds for Murcer) pale in comparison!

So, given that, what are the biggest trades -- that never happened -- that you remember hearing about?

For me, it's easy ...

Day three in Dunedin was an inter-squad day.  Two games were on offer, Las Vegas vs New Hampshire and Dunedin vs Lansing.  There was a Syndergaard sighting; another home run by a hot hitter; some hot hitting by a big dollar player; and some surprising base running.

Check the link below for video of Syndergaard.

Today was day two of my trip to minor league spring training.  On this day the AAA and AA teams played the Phillies.  I saw a two home run day, a solo home run, and in general good hitting by a number of Blue Jay prospects.

I also have some video of Mike McDade doubling to the wall from the right side (McDade is a switch hitter).

A few big names have left, the payroll has been drastically reduced, but this is still a very, very strong club.

The defending American League champions hail from the smallest division in the majors.  The Texas Rangers won the West  in 2010 with 90 victories to finish nine games ahead of Oakland and ten games clear of the Los Angeles Angels.  Texas was led by American League MVP Josh Hamilton and Rookie of the Year, closer Neftali Feliz.  Seattle, despite the acquisition of Cliff Lee, clinched the basement with just 61 wins and was bad enough to convince Ken Griffey Junior to hang  up the cleats for good.  However, Felix Hernandez managed to win the AL Cy Young Award in spite of a 13-12 record and Ichiro Suzuki managed to reach the 200-hit plateau for a tenth straight season, which he did at the Dome in late September.   Let's see what these four teams have got to offer in 2011.

Neftali Feliz is hugged by catcher Bengie Molina after winning the ALCS.

On my first day in Dunedin there were three lower level games being played.  The Dunedin squad and the Lansing squad played their Philadelphia equivalents.  The GCL level team played the Long Island Storm, a semi-pro or senior team of some sort.

Please let me know your playing time forecasts for the Jays.

http://www.tangotiger.net/survey/

Now, I don't claim to be an expert on the Baltimore Orioles, but I should warn you that I've been watching Homicide: Life on the Street on DVD and I'm almost at the end of Season 4.

Brandon Morrow will not make his scheduled April 2 start against the Minnesota Twins at the Dome.  The Globe & Mail says the 26 year-old Morrow is going on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.  BlueJays.com describes the injury as inflammation in the flexor muscle of his right elbow.  Thanks to Bauxite China fan for the heads up! 

Brandon Morrow in action against the St. Louis Cardinals at the Dome June 24. 

While the Jays principle opponents in interleague play this year will come from the NL Central (Reds, Cards, Astros), the team will square off against two NL East foes this year – the Phillies and the Braves. It seems apropos to take a look at the whole division now, not the least because we are doing divisional previews.

We (Dave and Anders) are in agreement about the following order of finish, and PECOTA agrees, so therefore it must happen.