2016 Toronto Blue Jays (est 2016)

[rpriske]

So... new OOTP... new Blue Jays dynasty.

Let's start with owner goals...

Achieve a winning record. (OK)
Upgrade at 2B (If Travis comes back healthy, does that count?)
Sign Brett Cecil to an extension. (Cecil? Not Joey or EE. Telling...)
Reach the World Series in the next 5 seasons.

[rpriske]

Wow, do they ever like Brett Cecil. Not only are they asking me to extend him, but he is the closer with Osuna and Storen as set-up men.


Here is what we have to start things off:

Rotation

Marcus Stroman
J.A. Happ
Jesse Chavez (3rd?)
Marco Estrada
R.A. Dickey

Bullpen

Brett Cecil (C)

Roberto Osuna
Drew Storen

Randy Choate
Drew Hutchinson
Aaron Sanchez
Steve Delabar

Line-up

Edwin Encarnacion - DH (lead-off ?)
Kevin Pillar - CF
Josh Donaldson - 3B
Jose Bautista - RF
Chris Colabello - 1B
Michael Saunders - LF
Troy Tulowitzki - SS
Russell Martin - C
Ryan Goins / Darwin Barney - 2B

Bench

Josh Thole - C
Justin Smoak - 1B
Ezequiel Carrera - OF

[rpriske]

We kicked off by diverging from reality right away.

We announced that Jose Bautista has signed a contract extension.

It is a 4-year deal (though the final year is a team option) that averages out to $26.5M per year (slightly back-loaded.)

I opened negotiations with Encarnacion but he seems to want the same contract, and I want to see him to a little less.

I am also talking to an unexpected free agent...

[rpriske]

Hmmmm....

The Preseason Predictions are out and they have the Blue Jays as the best overall team in the AL with a record of 95-67.

They also have Jose Bautista as the #1 hitter, with Edwin Encarnacion as #2. (Maybe I should reconsider his demands)

Oddly, they also have R.A. Dickey as the #10 pitcher. (Felix Hernandez is #1)

Cleveland and Seattle lead the other divisions with New York and Detroit as Wild Cards.

In the NL they have Washington, Chicago and San Francisco winning the divisions with Los Angeles and Cincinnati as Wild Cards.

Top Hitter: Bryce Harper, Top Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg

[rpriske]

April 3rd, 2016

What an Opening Day!

Marcus Stroman and Chris Archer were locked in an incredible pitcher's duel. There was no scoring until the 8th when Josh Donaldson hit a solo home run, but the Rays matched the feat in the bottom of the inning.

That was it until the 13th when Michael Saunders hit a 2-run blast to give Toronto the 3-1 win.

WP - Steve Delabar (1-0)
Save - Brett Cecil (1)
LP - Xavier Cedeno (0-1)

Record - 1-0

[rpriske]

April 4th, 2016

The Rays dominated the Jays today, beating them 7-1.

WP - Jake Odorizzi (1-0)
LP - J.A. Happ (0-1)

Record - 1-1

[rpriske]

April 5th, 2016

The game got away from the Jays at the end, with Drew Storen having a rough outing. The Rays won 7-3.

Josh Donaldson and Michael Saunders hit home runs.

WP - Matt Moore (1-0)
LP - Jesse Chavez (0-1)

Record - 1-2

[rpriske]

Here is the big announcement!

The Blue Jays have signed Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel to a one-year, $10.33M contract!

Gurriel was a 3B in Cuba, but he is willing to take on the challenge of playing 2B.


THEN.... a BIG trade.... but is it the right idea?

To NATIONALS

Ezequiel Carrera

To BLUE JAYS

Jonathan Papelbon

Will he be a clubhouse problem?

Steve Delabar is sent to AAA.

[rpriske]

April 6th, 2016

Both starters were gone early but this was a long one, before Evan Longoria pushed James Loney across for the 7-6 Tampa win in 13 innings.

Chris Colabello hit his 1st homer of the season.

Of note: Jose Bautista has yet to record a hit.

WP - Marc Andriese (1-0)
LP - Drew Hutchinson (0-1)

Record - 1-3

[rpriske]

April 8th, 2016

Marco Estrada struck out 10 Red Sox in 8 innings... but still came out on the wrong end of a 3-1 loss.

Jose Bautista finally got a hit and an RBI, but the team as a whole (other than Josh Donaldson) just isn't hitting.

WP - Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0)
Save - Craig Kimbrel (1)
LP - Marco Estrada (0-1)

Record - 1-4

[rpriske]

April 9th, 2016

Troy Tulowitzki's first homer of the year was the boost the Jays needed as they downed David Price and the Red Sox 9-3.

WP - Marcus Stroman (1-0)
LP - David Price (0-1)

Record - 2-4

[rpriske]

April 10th, 2016

Sigh. Jays won. Crash. Replay. Jays won. Crash. Replay. Jays lost. No crash.

Does OOTP hate the Blue Jays?

WP - Steven Wright (1-0)
Save - Craig Kimbrel (2)
LP - Jesse Chavez (0-2)

Record - 2-5

[rpriske]

Players of the Week: Franklin Guttierrez, Mariners & Adam Duvall, Reds

The Jays start at #25 on the Weekly Power Rankings.

[rpriske]

April 12th, 2016

Aaron Sanchez bounced back nicely from his one inning season debut to lead the Jays to a 9-4 win over the Yankees.

Edwin Encarnacion and Russell Martin both recorded their first home runs of the year.

WP - Aaron Sanchez (1-0)
LP - Nate Eovaldi (0-2)

Record - 3-5

[rpriske]

April 13th, 2016

Yulieski Gurriel picked a good time to connect with his first major league home run... in the 14th inning for a 3-2 walk-off win over the Yankees!

J.A. Happ pitched a great game, though he was long gone by the time the decisions was rendered.

Justin Smoak's second homer of the season accounted for the other two runs.

WP - Brett Cecil (1-0)
LP - Chasen Shreve (0-1)

Record - 4-5

[rpriske]

Edwin Encarnacion has signed a 4-year extension worth $24.8M per year.

The fans are happy and the Jays are committed to this core of players.

[rpriske]

April 14th, 2016

Josh Donaldson's home run was cold comfort as the Jays fell to the Yankees 6-2.

WP - Luis Severino (1-1)
LP - Marcus Stroman (1-1)

Record - 4-6

[rpriske]

April 15th, 2016

Too many squandered chances and too much sloppy play led to a 6-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Edwin Encarnacion hit his 2nd home run of the year.

WP - David Price (1-1)
LP - Marco Estrada (0-2)

Record - 4-7

[rpriske]

April 16th, 2016

Jesse Chavez blanked the Red Sox through 8 innings before they tied it up in the 9th. A 12th inning RBI double by Jose Bautista did the trick, though, giving the Jays a 2-1 win.

WP - Roberto Osuna (1-0)
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (1)
LP - Carson Smith (1-2)

Record - 5-7

[rpriske]

A.J. Pierzynski of the Braves collected his 2000th hit in a game vs the Marlins.