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Pull up a chair while we talk about all things Blue Jays-related.
Healthy discussion is always encouraged!
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Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Toronto Blue Jays 2019 Season Preview

Opening Day is almost here! Is there anything greater than the optimism that abounds at the beginning of a Major League Baseball season? Thankfully, this long, cold hellscape of ice and snow is beginning to thaw, just in time to enjoy a few cold ones while watching the Blue Jays play.

Okay, let’s be honest: there aren’t a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the 2019 Toronto Blue Jays. Yes, yes, “anything can happen”, “we still have to play the games”, and whatever other platitudes you feel like throwing out there about every team having a chance, but the sad reality is that there’s virtually no chance of a Blue Jays playoff berth this season, and if it wasn’t for the woeful Baltimore Orioles, it’s likely that the Jays would be staring a last-place finish right, straight square in the eyes.

Aside from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s impending callup – set for sometime after his recovery from an oblique strain and when the Blue Jays’ brass decides his defence is up to snuff (which will, in a near-miraculous coincidence, happen within a few days of when the Blue Jays gain another year of control of the 20-year-old wunderkind) – what is there to look forward to ahead of this woebegone season?

That preamble isn’t to say it’s all doom and gloom though! There are a few things on which we should keep our eyes, a couple glimmers of hope for this season and beyond. And maybe – just maybe – a reason or two to head out to the ballpark amid mounting losses. Here are a few of them:

Vladdy
OMG Vladdy. Our baby boy is almost ready. Well, he is ready – has been for awhile! When he’s finally in The Show, just sit back and enjoy the sounds produced (from his bat and from the fans) when he hits dingers.
Stroman posted this on
Instagram today.
Is Strochez back?

Can the Blue Jays’ “aces” regain their form?
With all due respect to reclamation projects Clayton Richard, Matt Shoemaker, and Clay Buchholz, the Blue Jays’ aces, by default more or less, are Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez, both of whom have had their past couple seasons decimated by a combination of injury and ineffectiveness. Is the duo over their respective blister issues? Do the former bestest buds still hate each other? We’ll have to wait and see.

Will any of the next wave of players cement their places on the team?
Danny Jansen. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Rowdy Tellez. Teoscar Hernandez. Dalton Pompey. Billy McKinney. Anthony Alford. Brandon Drury. A slew of young pitchers.

The Blue Jays rebuild is in full effect, as evident by the large number of young, unproven players strewn throughout the lineup. In order for the Jays to compete in the near future, more than one member of that group will have to claim a regular spot based on high-quality play, not based on a lack of better options. They all won’t pan out, but hopefully more than a couple will. The Blue Jays may not play “good” baseball all the time, but it will at least be entertaining to watch them try to acclimate.

Will Bichette get called up?
Wunderkind #2 is middle infielder-in-training Bo Bichette, who was drafted a year after Guerrero was signed. So, based on the Blue Jays manipulating Vladdy’s service time, you shouldn’t hold your breath in regard to Bichette’s callup anytime soon, but it’s at least remotely possible.

In an act of PR desperation, will the Jays sign Jose Bautista?
LOLZ. That would actually be awesome – assuming he’s not taking away playing time from one of the younger guys. But it won’t happen, unless it’s a one-day contract for Joey Bats to retire as a Blue Jay.

Who will the Jays acquire during their third-straight trade-deadline fire sale?
If the past two trade deadlines have been any indication, don’t expect much. That’s not to say Atkins and Shapiro haven’t done well in their previous trades, it’s more so that the days of huge deadline hauls are a thing of the past. Who could they trade? Will there be any market for Justin Smoak or Kendrys Morales? Kevin Pillar? The aforementioned Richard and Buchholz? Ken Giles? Basically anyone signed to one-year deals, like Freddy Galvis or Daniel Hudson? One would assume that any player set for free agency is fair game, and Shapiro and Co. would obviously have to listen if a team asked about players with a year or two of control left (such as Sanchez, Stroman, and Shoemaker).

Well. That’s about it. Enjoy the season everybody!

#Vladdy4Life

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