More Opinion
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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Doug Harrison
Taylor Green working his way back to the big leagues
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Taylor Green of Comox, B.C., will be digging in a little deeper at the plate after learning on Thursday that the team, after cutting him late in spring training, looked elsewhere while seeking a replacement for injured first baseman Mat Gamel, writes CBCSports.ca senior writer Doug Harrison.
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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Doug Harrison
Q&A: Michael Saunders on his new hitting approach
Tired of "getting his ass kicked" at the plate, Seattle Mariners outfielder Michael Saunders hired a private hitting instructor over the winter for the first time in his career. After overhauling his approach, the Victoria native saw immediate results in spring training but is off to a slow start in the regular season, writes CBCSports.ca senior writer Doug Harrison.
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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Doug Harrison
MLB Roundtable: Fantasy season preview
The 2012 major league season opens this week in Tokyo, meaning poolies have drafted or will this week in search of the hidden gem. Who's a must-have in Round 1? Who's a steal in the late rounds? Four CBCSports.ca fantasy experts offer their viewpoints in this season's first installment of the MLB Roundtable.
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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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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Kevin Glew
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.
Baseball Contributors
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