Recently by Kevin Glew
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MLB
Blue Jays forced to modify draft strategy
Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement restricts team spending on draft picks, so the Blue Jays' strategy of picking top talent now and worrying about cost later requires modification.
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MLB
Kelly Johnson, not Encarnacion, is Jays' early-season MVP
While Edwin Encarnacion has been widely lauded for his efforts during the opening quarter of the baseball season, it's second baseman Kelly Johnson that has quietly been the Toronto Blue Jays' best all-around player, writes CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Fiercely intense Brett Lawrie hurts Jays with temper
Brett Lawrie is a leader and arguably the face of the Toronto Blue Jays. With this type of role comes a responsibility not to hurt his team with his temper. But by tossing his helmet in the direction of umpire Bill Miller on Tuesday night and subsequently handed a four-game suspension by Major League Baseball, Lawrie has done just that.
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MLB
Janssen not the answer to Jays' closing woes
The Blue Jays must address their ninth-inning woes, with opposing batters posting an AL-high .432 slugging percentage against Toronto relievers through May 8. Recalling Ryota Igarashi, whose 97-mile-per-hour fastball has overpowered AAA hitters this season, is an option.
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MLB
Jays' John Farrell to be commended for lineup tinkering
Through the Toronto Blue Jays' first 24 games this season, manager John Farrell used 13 different batting orders. What's next? Swapping leadoff man Yunel Escobar with Brett Lawrie? Such a switch isn't beyond the forward-thinking Farrell, who has coaxed plenty out of the team's slow-starting offence, writes CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Brett Lawrie quiets doubters with sparkling defence
Entering the 2011 baseball season, the book on Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie was that his bat was ready for the big leagues, but his glove wasn't. But his adeptness in the field has proven many pundits wrong, and Lawrie could very well earn a Gold Glove in the near future, writes CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
2012 Blue Jays boast athletic, versatile bench
Rajai Davis's speed provides the Toronto Blue Jays with a momentum-changing weapon off their bench. And unlike last season, manager John Farrell has more at his disposal as the rest of his 2012 non-starters are also athletic and versatile.
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MLB
Santos's shakiness biggest early concern for Jays fans
Sergio Santos's redemptive performance Wednesday should temporarily quiet his naysayers, but the ineptitude of Toronto Blue Jays closers over the years - outside of Tom Henke and Duane Ward - has made the ninth inning a sore spot amongst Rogers Centre faithful, writes CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Season preview: Jays will best Red Sox, miss playoffs
Slugger Jose Bautista continues to be the centrepiece of a Toronto Blue Jays offence that recorded the sixth most runs in the majors in 2011. Full seasons from Brett Lawrie, Kelly Johnson and Colby Rasmus should help in 2012, and the Jays could boast three 20-home run hitters at the bottom of the batting order, writes CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Gose most electrifying of Jays' non-pitching prospects
Colby Rasmus is looking forward to a fresh start in 2012, but the Toronto Blue Jays centre-fielder better not get too complacent. Two of the organization's top prospects - Anthony Gose and Jake Marisnick - are centre-fielders and could challenge Rasmus for playing time as early as 2013.
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MLB
Blue Jays pitching prospects knocking on door
As weak as the back end of the Toronto Blue Jays' starting rotation appears to be, their system is loaded with promising pitching prospects. So much so that 24-year-old Kyle Drabek has almost become a forgotten man this spring.
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MLB
Kyle Drabek focused on managing mental challenges
Too often last season, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell could see anger and frustration on the face of young right-hander Kyle Drabek, one of three prized prospects obtained in the Roy Halladay trade in December 2009. The question is, are Drabek's problems mental or physical?
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MLB
Jays find next Terminator in heavily tattooed Santos
New Toronto Blue Jays closer Sergio Santos has wowed his teammates this spring - and we're not talking about his tattooes - and the club should feel optimistic that it has finally found their next Tom Henke in the hard-throwing right-hander.
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MLB
Blue Jays should pencil Johnson in leadoff spot
If Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell pencilled Kelly Johnson into the leadoff spot and third baseman Brett Lawrie into the cleanup position to start the season, an already formidable offence could become even more potent, writes CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Morrow is key to Jays' overall success in 2012
A lot of questions surround the Toronto Blue Jays' starting pitchers this season but Brandon Morrow finally harnessing his potential would compensate for mediocrity in the bottom of the rotation and could be the key to a wild-card run.
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MLB
Gary Carter beloved in Montreal: former Expos bat boy
Daniel Plamondon's memories of former Montreal Expos catcher Gary Carter are still fresh. The one-time bat boy recalls their brotherly bond and remembers 'The Kid' learning to become a catcher, his love for the Montreal people and following through on a guarantee to a dying, young fan.
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MLB
Blue Jays should continue bargain hunting
With the baseball season fast approaching, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos should continue his bargain hunting and there are still free agents available that would settle for short-term, cut-rate contracts that could enhance the club's rotation and their bench. Starting pitcher Roy Oswalt is one name, according to CBCSports.ca baseball contributor Kevin Glew.
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MLB
McGriff, Raines worthy of Cooperstown
They won't be elected this year, but one ex-Toronto Blue Jay and two former Montreal Expos are worthy of a plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Onetime Jay Fred McGriff and longtime Expos Tim Raines and Larry Walker boast Cooperstown-worthy resumes.
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MLB
Twitter, Darvish and disappointed Blue Jays fans
Kevin Glew weighs in on the Yu Darvish media frenzy that took Twitter by storm on Monday, and the disappoint felt by Blue Jays fans after they realized the reports that Darvish was Toronto-bound were false.
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MLB
Solid work by Anthopoulos at winter meetings
Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos registered another strong performance at this year's winter meetings, securing a closer in Sergios Santos and acquiring backup catcher Jeff Mathis before the week began. And there may be more deals to come, writes CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Blue Jays' winter meetings preview
With the New York Yankees aging, Boston Red Sox in disarray and the potential addition of a wild card spot in 2012, this is the first off-season Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has a legitimate shot at assembling a playoff contender, writes CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew.
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MLB
New CBA a mix of good/bad for Blue Jays fans
Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement, combined with the Toronto Blue Jays' arbitration decisions, will significantly alter the club's roster, draft philosophy and playoff chances in the future, says CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Votto favoured to win 2nd straight Tip O'Neill award
The voting promises to be close for the Tip O'Neill award, presented annually to the top Canadian baseball player, with closer John Axford (46 saves) and Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto (.309 batting average, 29 homers) going head-to-head.
Votto gets the nod, writes CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew, for being the centrepiece of the Reds' offence over 161 games and his defence improved dramatically in 2011.
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MLB
Blue Jays' best/worst free-agent signings
While it seems unlikely the Blue Jays will pursue a big-name free agent this off-season, they have been aggressive in winters past. Who could forget Roger "Cy" Clemens or the bust that was Erik Hanson, writes CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Time for Jays to ink Canadian arms, deal for Beckham
To capitalize on their AL East rivals' vulnerability, the Toronto Blue Jays need to acquire some solid, if not headline-grabbing, talent this off-season.
They should sign Canadian arms Rich Harden and Erik Bedard to incentive-laden deals, and convert the former to a relief pitcher.
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MLB
The Tony La Russa legacy
Tony La Russa, who announced his retirement earlier today, is polarizing to say the least. A complex, intense baseball revolutionary, La Russa has been the most innovative manager in his sport over the past 32 years.
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MLB
Ron Washington's in-game moves baffling
If the Texas Rangers capture the World Series, you can credit the clutch hitting of Mike Napoli and manager Ron Washington's motivational skills. They won't win because of his game strategy, which five games into the Fall Classic continues to baffle.
For example, Washington's decision to start Matt Harrison over Derek Holland in a potential Game 7 would be consistent with a laundry list of questionable decisions that he has made this series.
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MLB
Superior lineup, deeper rotation gives Rangers edge
Starting pitching and offence will likely decide which club hoists the World Series trophy. Armed with a deeper rotation, a more potent offence and the lingering bitterness of their 2010 World Series loss, the Texas Rangers should be able to beat St. Louis, writes CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew.
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MLB
Surly Carpenter a sure thing in playoffs
Feisty right-handed pitcher Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals is simply a guardian of baseball's "old school" who demands that players respect the game. To me, that's admirable.
Even more admirable, however, is that since being low-balled out of Toronto, the former Blue Jay has evolved into one of the best post-season pitchers in modern history.
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MLB
NL Championship Series preview
The National League Championship Series will be a rematch of the 1982 World Series, a showdown that the St. Louis Cardinals won in seven games.
Led by Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, who combined to hit .389 in the NL Division Series against Arizona, the Brewers should be able to score enough runs against the Cardinals, but it's their pitching depth that gives them a slight edge.
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AL Championship Series preview
The celebration in Detroit may be short-lived. As good as Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander has been, it will be interesting to see how the fireballer fares at the hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark in Arlington against a Texas squad that boasts five players that belted 25 or more home runs this season.
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Brewers are Canada's Crew, eh!
On top of boasting an unparalleled Canadian flavour, the free-spirited and unconventional Milwaukee Brewers are more fun to watch than the reserved New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers. And they could be poised for a deep post-season run.
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Romero's emergence, Bautista's power highlight Jays' 2011
Rookie manager John Farrell deserves credit for leading the Blue Jays to a respectable record in baseball's toughest division.
The bottom line is he has the team where it should be and the future looks promising.
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Impending free agent Encarnacion worth investment
In a matter of months, Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion has gone from being run out of town by fans to his former detractors saying Toronto should exercise its $3.5-million US option on the soon-to-be free agent.
Even with his flaws, Encarnacion is worth the modest investment in 2012.
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Adam Loewen: Great story, unclear future
Adam Loewen's arduous road back to the big leagues is the most remarkable story of the Toronto Blue Jays' season.
It's a tale of determination and resilience in the face of adversity, and best of all, it has a happy ending.
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Quantity over quality 'pen plan fails
With 19 games left in the regular-season schedule, and still some uncertainty as to who's the Toronto Blue Jays' top ninth-inning option, this quantity over quality strategy appears to have failed.
Rather than pluck relievers off the scrap heap, general manager Alex Anthopoulos needs to sign a bona fide closer this off-season.
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AL MVP award Bautista's to lose
Despite a second-half swoon, Blue Jays right-fielder Jose Bautista still leads the AL in five key offensive categories: home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base percentage plus slugging percentage (1.089) and walks (108). He also ranks third in runs (95).
Bautista is unquestionably the most valuable player to his team, but the majority of baseball writers aren't likely to agree. I suspect Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees will win this award.
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Take a bow, Alex Anthopoulos
Even when one of his strategies backfires, Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has a backup plan to compensate.
The Jays may not have signed pitcher Tyler Beede, the 21st overall selection at the amateur draft in June, but they did land a lot of exciting young talent that should help them in the future.
- September storylines: Hill done with Jays, McGowan back? The exciting major league debuts of third baseman Brett Lawrie and outfielder Eric Thames, plus the emergence of starting pitcher Ricky Romero as a bona fide ace have created a buzz around the Toronto Blue Jays. These players are reason enough to continue watching the team, but there are several other storylines that are also worth following in the season's final month.
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Memo to Jays: Don't coddle Lawrie
While Blue Jays fans are thankful that young third baseman Brett Lawrie is finally in Toronto, they shouldn't have to watch him languishing in the ninth spot in the batting order. Having him hit behind the likes of Jose Molina and Aaron Hill seems counterproductive.
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Exercise patience with young Rasmus
Devon White, Jose Bautista and Yunel Escobar all came to the Toronto Blue Jays with less-than-stellar reputations and all blossomed into impact big leaguers. There's no reason centre-fielder Colby Rasmus can't do the same.
Keep in mind he's a 24-year-old left-handed hitter in a new league with a new team in a new country that has faced three of the American League's toughest left-handed pitchers.
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Big deals commonplace for Anthopoulos
Acquiring talented centre-fielder Colby Rasmus, a 2005 first round pick with superstar potential, from the St. Louis Cardinals without parting with one of the club's top prospects or core players is another triumph for Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, says CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew.
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Gregarious Beeston deserving of nod from Hall
Paul Beeston, the hard-working Toronto Blue Jays' president and CEO, might be the most respected man in baseball.
And as deserving as former Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick is of his Hall of Fame plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y., Beeston is equally worthy of being honoured.
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Jays should give closer's job to Villanueva
How can the Toronto Blue Jays solve their closer woes and find the next Tom Henke?
Some suggest Jason Frasor, but CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew says the best option is to move reliever-turned starter Carlos Villanueva into the role.
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Blue Jays need 2nd half shakeup
Yogi Berra once said, "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future."
And the quirky Yankees legend is right.
During the pre-season, I predicted that the Toronto Blue Jays would
struggle to finish above .500 in 2011, and their 40-44 record validates
my opinion. What I didn't envision, however, was how they would stumble
to their current state of mediocrity.
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Hill's future with Blue Jays in flux
Considered a rising star and franchise cornerstone upon winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2009, former all-star Aaron Hill's future with the Toronto Blue Jays is no longer certain.
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Jays' Lind swinging back at critics
In March, CBCSports.ca blogger Kevin Glew was asked for his predictions on the 2011 Toronto Blue Jays' season and his boldest prophecy was that Adam Lind would lose his first-base job. It's fair to say Lind has proved him wrong on all accounts.
Lind has worked so tirelessly honing his defensive skills this season that he hurt his back. Offensively, it's also safe to say that Lind has regained his 2009 form.
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Flashy Yunel Escobar a deserving all-star
Yunel Escobar of the Toronto Blue Jays has quietly established himself as one of the best shortstops in the American League and, like teammate Jose Bautista, is worthy of a trip to Major League Baseball's all-star game.
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Jays assume big risks with early draft picks
Similar to their 2010 approach at baseball's amateur draft, the Toronto Blue Jays stockpiled big pitchers and assumed big risks in selecting some players they'll need a big budget to sign by the Aug. 15 deadline.
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Impact lefty, 2nd baseman among Jays' draft needs
With seven of the first 78 picks in this year's annual draft of high schooler and collegians, the Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to uncover the next Roy Halladay or Carlos Delgado when the selection process begins June 6 at 7 p.m. ET.
Based on his short track record, general manager Alex Anthopoulos will select the best prospect available, regardless of position.
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Ricky Romero: Baseball's best-kept secret?
After watching Ricky Romero outduel CC Sabathia for seven innings on Tuesday night, New York Yankees fans are probably wondering just whom this Toronto Blue Jays lefty, with a lethal changeup, is.
And they're not alone. The 26-year-old southpaw is arguably the most underrated pitcher in baseball.
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Will Blue Jays fans right a wrong with Bautista?
On the strength of his bat, leadership and defence, Toronto Blue Jays right-fielder Jose Bautista has evolved into the type of once-in-a-lifetime player that a GM can build a championship team around.
He is, without question, the best player in baseball right now, and it will be a shame if Toronto sports fans don't start heading out to the Rogers Centre in droves to savour and appreciate his talent.
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Jays must drop kid gloves with future ace
Brandon Morrow is destined to be the ace of the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation. But for that to happen, the team has to let him pitch through jams like the one he got himself into in the fourth inning on Monday.
Also, the only way for Morrow to shake his fragile tag and control issues is to prove he can pitch effectively, deep into games.
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Snider belongs with Jays in middle of order
If the Toronto Blue Jays want Travis Snider to hit in the middle of their order, they should give the left-fielder a chance to hit in the middle of their order.
To me, it's that simple.
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Lawrie's play worthy of big-league promotion
Until the past two games, the Toronto Blue Jays have scuffled to score runs, so it's not a stretch to say that third-base prospect Brett Lawrie could jump into the club's lineup and be their second-best hitter (after Jose Bautista). And with infielders Aaron Hill and Jayson Nix on the disabled list, now is an ideal time for the Jays to call up the uber prospect.
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Delgado possesses Hall of Fame credentials
Ex-Toronto Blue Jay Carlos Delgado may not have won an MVP award, but he did capture the Roberto Clemente Award in 2006 for his charitable efforts. Unfortunately being a Hall of Fame guy doesn't guarantee him a plaque in Cooperstown.
But Delgado deserves to be inducted on the strength of his playing record alone
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The good, bad and ugly of the Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays' Jekyll-and-Hyde performance this season has left many fans wondering which team they can expect for the rest of the campaign.
The answer is both.
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In defence of 'E5'
Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion's propensity for errors has earned him the nickname "E5," from Blue Jays fans, and with three defensive gaffes in his first two games at the hot corner this season, he's already hearing it from the Rogers Centre faithful.
The question is, why? Sure, Encarnacion's defence has been less-than-stellar, but he's hardly the first Jay to struggle.
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Blue Jays predictions for 2011
Thanks to a surprising 85-win campaign in 2010, Toronto baseball fans are excited about the Blue Jays - and they should be. What many of them fail to grasp, however, is that general manager Alex Anthopoulos has stockpiled talent for 2013 rather than 2011.
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Litsch, Drabek have edge in Jays' rotation battle
A surplus of good young pitching is a nice problem to have. Unfortunately, with only 12 roster spots available, several capable arms won't break spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays for their regular season opener on April 1 against the visiting Minnesota Twins.
So who will crack the opening day staff and who will start the season riding the buses in AAA Las Vegas or AA New Hampshire?
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Jays lucky Bautista isn't hotheaded like Bell
Up until the details of his five-year, $64-million US deal were hashed out this week, Jose Bautista might have been ready to tell the Toronto Blue Jays to kiss his "purple butt."
The Jays right-fielder/third baseman, who has been mentored by George Bell, the club's previous single-season home run record holder who famously encouraged fans to kiss his "purple butt" after being booed, has taken the high road this off-season when discussing his contract and his role with the club in 2011.
About the Author
Kevin Glew
Regaled with stories about Mickey Mantle by his father when he was growing up, Kevin Glew has always preferred baseball to hockey. His interest in the sport blossomed after he endured a bone-chilling wind on the bench seats down the right-field line at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium on Oct. 5, 1985 to witness the Blue Jays secure their first division title. Over the past decade, Kevin's work has been featured in Baseball Digest, Baseball America and on MLB.com.
Baseball Contributors
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