6:30 PM Eastern
Getting set for the last ‘cast of the Grapefruit League season, this one of the internettic variety, with the Reds visiting here in Dunedin, but there’s bigger news than the Jesse Litsch-Aaron Harang match-up, or the fact that Gregg Zaun is back in the line-up catching or that Marco Scutaro is hitting ahead of him or that Shannon Stewart is in left, batting second, against a righty: The roster has been set!
John Gibbons announced this afternoon, and J.P. Ricciardi confirmed, the names of 25 guys who will be on the roster come Opening Day, Monday in The Bronx. Stunningly, the names A.J. Burnett and Shaun Marcum are on that list.
OK, it’s not that stunningly. Turns out that ESPN report about Burnett and Shaun was just one of those humourous misunderstandings, which is probably why I couldn’t find it this evening. When we were all scrumming J.P. Monday night in Sarasota to get the latest on Scott Rolen’s finger surgery, the G.M. mentioned that Burnett and Marcum wouldn’t accompany the team to Philadelphia for those last two pre-season games Friday night and Saturday. The ESPN reporter (none of us knew who he was) heard J.P. say they weren’t going to be “coming north to Philly” and must have assumed that the fingernail thing and last year’s Marcum knee surgery were going to hold them back, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
So, onto the roster thing. No big surprises, nothing you haven’t heard on the FAN or read here over the past couple of days. Ricciardi told the assemblage back on Sunday that he was going to shape the bullpen in a way that would have the Jays not lose any players. Since Randy Wells would have to be offered back to the Cubs if he didn’t make the team (being a Rule Fiver and all), we all kinda knew he was a go, and when the Jays recalled Buck Coats from minor-league camp on a permanent basis on Monday night, the rumours started flying that he was going to be the guy to get Rolen’s spot, and so he is.
I should note that I didn’t actually speak to Gibby or J.P. about the roster today, since I made the mistake of coming up to the broadcast booth to set up my equipment in advance of the webcast instead of running down to the field to see what was up (I didn’t get here until 4:00 – dropping off one of the Argentinean cousins at the airport – won’t do that again, she can walk next time!) . When I went to talk to J.P., he wouldn’t tell me anything because I’d been upstairs during the scrum – that’s fine with me, I have been sending back too much J.P. tape lately anyway.
So you don’t have to piece together the rest of the roster, here it is, in all its glory:
Pitchers (12 – what can I tell you):
Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch, Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs, Brandon League, Jason Frasor, Brian Tallet, Brian Wolfe, Randy Wells
Catchers (2): Gregg Zaun, Rod Barajas
Infielders (6): Lyle Overbay, Aaron Hill, David Eckstein, Marco Scutaro, John McDonald, Frank Thomas (I guess this is where you put him)
Outfielders (5): Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Matt Stairs, Shannon Stewart, Buck Coats
Disabled list (3): Casey Janssen (60-day), Scott Rolen (15-day), B.J. Ryan (15-day)
And there you have it, in living colour, your 2008 Toronto Blue Jays (Opening Day variety, no guarantees expressed or implied). Of course, if someone gets hurt or traded before Monday, it could all change.
I (and the rest of the assemblage) got a chance to talk to Coats and Randy Wells before the game, and both were, obviously, very happy to have been given the good news. Wells was more effusive than Coats, but Buck is a very quiet guy by nature. It’ll be Wells’ first-ever big-league experience, and Buck spent a couple of months up with the Cubs and Reds last season, but he agreed that Opening Day at Yankee Stadium is a whole different animal. You can hear the comments that both made on the FAN590 tonight, after the Raptors game.
And you can hear the Jays-Reds game tonight on mlb.com – it’s a webcast, so no live blog, and with Alan Ashby and his lovely wife Kathryn on the road back to Philly to meet the Jays on Friday, it’s just Jerry and me. Jerry just leaned over to me and said that he’ll do the first inning (as well he should), and that I’ll take over the play-by-play duties and webcast until I drop – or until I have to go down to the clubhouse and get tape. It’s a very nice gesture on his part, seeing as it’s my last chance to do play-by-play until next spring – I just hope all you listeners’ ears can handle it!
I’ll check back in when it’s all over.
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Hey Mike, two quick questions:
1 – With Randy Wells making the team, does that mean Vernon’s jersey will have to read “V Wells” again?
b – How long before they give you the chance at play-by-play on the flagship?
MW: 1 – Probably not. It’s not too hard to tell the difference – one’s on the mound (or sitting in the bullpen a lot), the other – not so much.
b – I have no idea if that will ever happen. I’m happy doing what I’m doing right now, and Jerry and Alan do a great job. Of course I’d love to do play-by-play, though, who wouldn’t?
- TylerHey Mike,
Any update on Benitez’s work visa status? Also, assuming a starter in the rotation goes on the DL for an extended period of time, who has first dibs to take over?
MW: So far, still no news on Benitez. First dibs on the rotation probably go to Josh Banks or David Purcey, or whoever is hot in AA or AAA (that’s how Litsch got the call). Maybe Randy Wells.
- Eric HMike, the team sounds like a winner to me.
For luck, I know you say “Break-a-leg” to an actor, but what do you say to a sportscaster….”Snap-a-vocal chord…”
Good luck with your play-by-play.
- DJJAYwow Litsch cruising right along through 4. Hard to tell for me as i have no audio or video just the live boxscore.
What’s his scouting report check out at?
MW: Works quick, throws strikes, pitches to contact, good new sinker, unafraid.
- ChrisIts was great hearing you talk about the 1982 home opener you were at when you were age 12. Great work tonight it would be great hearing you more on the radio.
- Rory HerschMike is officially excited. 400+ feet from the Big Hurt to dead centre.
- AriWhat a suberb outing from Jessie-not bad for a 5th starter.
- gerryHi Mike,
How come there’s a feeling in Toronto as if The Jays picked the wrong Left Fielder? If this doesn’t work out do you think JP can admit he made a mistake and try to fix it? The left field situation was handled poorly through out the winter into spring training. It has that Thompson, Zambrano smell to it for some reason. If not, I hope Ted Rogers steps in and does. Fans, who would you want in the World Series playing Johnson or Stewart? What a strangle hold contract JP gave a one demensional DH that hits when it doesn’t count. Probably caused Johnson to be released. If you need an explanation Mike, no problem just ask. Wow, FT just hit a home run. We’ll know in April.
MW: You’re out of your tree if you’re comparing Shannon Stewart to John Thomson and Victor Zambrano. The feeling that the Jays picked the wrong left fielder comes from fans who admire grit, hustle and the “dirtbag” style that Reed Johnson plays, as opposed to the fact that Stewart is just a very good hitter. And, by the way, it doesn’t matter who the fans want playing in the World Series. If the Jays had a team of 25 Reed Johnsons or the Leafs had a team of 20 Brad Smiths, they’d give you absolutely everything they had for every second of every game, but they’d never even sniff the playoffs.
- brunoVery nice blog Mike. What is up with Brian Tallet? I’ve never liked the guy, after he blew that game last year I could never forgive him.
MW: Yeah, that’s tough. One bad outing and you hate him forever, huh? The other 47 games, where righties hit .194/.289/.266 against him didn’t count, I guess. I don’t think many teams, if any, have a better 11th pitcher.
- Brandon in TorontoHey, Mike:
Just wondering what the situation is with Scott Downs this spring? I can’t recall seeing his name in a box score for quite some time, yet I haven’t heard anything about any problems, and I see he’s on the final roster.
Anything to be concerned about?
MW: Nope, he’s scheduled to pitch tomorrow.
- NormJust wondering Mike if you’ll be referring to Mr. Randy David Wells as “R-Dub”…
MW: I doubt that very much. I never refer to Vernon as V-Dub, I really hate how uninventive nicknames have become.
- johnny wasMike
My point is in regards to Zambrano/Thompson is that its almost JP is trying what he did last year in the rotation this year in left field. A La Cheap. While he should never tendered a contract for Johnson in the winter and TRY to trade for a Jason Bay type who can play defence and offence so we can compete. Instead we got this which smells. Anybody can see.
- brunoQuestion Mike.
BJ Ryan and Rolen are both on the 15 day DL. Is that retroactive to their first game against the Yankees or to a date in spring training?
MW: Rolen’s will be retroactive to day after the last game he played, which is March 22nd. Ryan will be backdated too, but I don’t know to when, because you can’t backdate all the way to his last game, which was March 17th, I don’t think.
- ChrisUninventive? Say it ain’t so, M-Dub!
MW: Geesh
- TylerAny word on who the red sox are gonna have out there for the jays home opener?
Will I get to see Dice-k live?
MW: No idea.
- ChrisHey Mike,
Whats your impressions on Marcum this spring Training ???
Is he working on any new pitches ??? Has his extra muscle added any extra speed onto his pitches ???
MW: He has been working on a sinker all spring, so that he’s not as fly-ball happy as he was last year, and he says it’s been working really well for him. I haven’t seen a gun, so I don’t know that he’s throwing any harder because of the added bulk (mostly in the lower body), but he’s not going to overpower people with his fastball. That change-up, though, oh, that change-up.
- DaveBucholz will pitch the home opener as of today. Could change of course but he’s scheduled.
MW: With them having so much time and having already started the regular season, I’ll believe it when I see it!
- Chris JonesWith Toronto hosting the a first round grouping in the WBC, do you see Roy Halliday, Vernon Wells and possibly Aaron Hill playing for Team USA.
The Rogers Centre will be electric when Team Canada plays!!!
MW: I see Halladay for sure, but Vernon only if he rebounds and has a season in ’08 like he did in ’06. I’d love to see Hill on that U.S. team, but Chase Utley, at least, is ahead of him, and if Dustin Pedroia has a year like he did last season, he’d probably be there, too.
And I hope the Rogers Centre will be electric for the Team Canada games, but, you know, there might be a Leaf game those days.
- JohnAny chance that John Macdonald may be the Opening Day shortstop with Roy Halladay pitching?
MW: Nope.
- Ericwhy don’t you apply to do play by play for television? jamie campbell may even be worse than chuck swrirsky if that’s possible?
- JamieIf you go with the philosophy of JP and have these kind of players that go from station to station (literally with a stolen base here and there) then yoiu have what you have. Paying big money for ‘big name players’ and trying to fit your young players may see a good team but Toronto is not going to compete with Boston and New York. Perhaps building a team with exciting youth might be undertaining and we could be satisified but to say Toronto will compete with New York and Boston is not it. And as far as competing for the wild club they have a little chance but that is all.
MW: I think most Blue Jays fans would be thrilled with an undertaining team that competes for the wild club.
- Vic MacLellan