My buddy Eddie Michels in Dunedin, who reports for a number of news services, says that Outfielder Scott Podsednik is recovering from his bout with Plantar Facialis, a painful foot malady.  

There were a few story lines around yesterday's win that I could have featured in the headline.  I went with the Jays win despite the "future of the franchise" riding the pine.  Adam Lind; Aaron Hill and Travis Snider have all been struggling and John Farrell elected to give them some down time.  I could have gone with how the West Coast trip has been the ruin of many a young teams dream but I didn't.  These west coast trips are tough and a 2-4 record shows that.  There is also a redemption angle, after blowing a lead on Monday the Jays capitalize on Seattle blowing a lead yesterday.  Chris Ray, really, in a one run game? 

It was (more than) 20 years ago today ....

(That Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play? No, no, different tune ...)

Two decades plus one year ago, Cal Ripken Jr. started a streak. Not The Streak, mind you -- that was already underway -- but  in April, 1990, Iron Cal began an unprecedented 95-game streak in which he was Errorless Cal. Another  streak,  for  consecutive totalerrorless chances (431) by a shortstop., ran parallell, so it was no fluke.

Bet you didn't know that. Which leads to two related Question(s) of the Day ...

That was quite a game last night.  From Bob Davidson to Brett Cecil to Yunel Escobar to Travis Snider to Edwin Encarnacion and missed opportunities there was a lot that happened in this game.  And unfortunately the end result was not good. 

Another win for the good guys yesterday but it wasn't a totally good news day.  Jesse Litsch and Marc Rzepczynski were good and very good respectively while Travis Snider had the one big hit the Jays needed.

On the not so good side Yunel Escobar is being examined to see if he has a concussion after a collision at third base.

Elsewhere there must be panic in the streets of Boston as the Sawx drop to 0-5.  On the streets of Tampa, whose team is in the same predicament, there might be a slight note of concern.

 

Twitter - it's a thing. In fact, a big thing. Let's check in on the state of Toronto baseball on Twitter

We've looked at the team's hitting and pitching and defense the last two days. Today we give our overall impressions of what the Jays will be like in 2011.

Yesterday was hitters, today it's pitching and defense. Tomorrow? You'll have to wait and see (I predict it's our annual concession stand preview, but I've been wrong before.)

No matter what anyone else does, Seattle Mariner rookie Tom Wilhelmsen should run away with AL Comeback Player of the Year.

What? A rookie can't win that award! Yeah, that's probably true, but it shouldn't detract from your enjoyment of this classic story from former Torontonian Geoff Baker for the Seattle Times.

Do you really know baseball? Think you can out-Vegas Vegas? Throw your predictions down below and maybe you, too, could join the ranks of past winners Jdog and electric carrot. Try to get them in before Friday so you don't have any additional info, but I'm putting this up kinda late so I might still accept them after the deadline.

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. 

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 ...

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

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

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