It’s always good to see athletes take their profession seriously.  While the Blue Jays don’t play today, J. P. Arencibia still went into work to get some stretching exercises done.

In the process, the catcher also proved to women that it is possible for guys to multitask, also getting his morning coffee in.  While I personally think it’s madness to drink coffee on a day like this, at least it shows Arencibia’s transition to the Canadian lifestyle is almost complete.

Photo credit: @jparencibia9

If you have any tips or information about any of Toronto’s sports teams, please email me at Englishpaul@hotmail.co.uk

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• By paul.taylor
• May 16, 2013
• Comment

One of the many perks of being a professional athlete is advertising deals and free swag.  As such, I’m assuming Blue Jays duo Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista received compensation for modelling some Digmi Nation gear earlier today:

The irony isn’t lost on me that Digmi has the slogan ‘Live your dreams, be yourself’ and then uses sports stars to help influence people to buy their clothes.

Photo credit: @DigmiNation 

If you have any questions, please email me at paul.taylor@bluetoro.ca

You can also follow us on Twitter @bluetoro_ca and like us on Facebook

• By paul.taylor
• March 22, 2013
• Comment

With Blue Jays pitchers and catchers due to report for spring training a week tomorrow, excitment for the most wildly anticipated season in 20 years is gaining momentum.

But have you ever wondered how baseballs are actually made?  No, me neither.  However, this video from the Discovery Channel’s  ‘How its made’ series provides a fascinating insight into a process that’s more of a ’ball ache’* than you’d expect.

* Pun 100% intended.

You’d think the whole proceedure would be more automated wouldn’t you?  Either way, it might make you think twice now about throwing that baseball back onto the field when an opposing player hits a homerun in the SkyDome.

Photo credit: @RhinoBaseball

If you have any questions, email me at paul.taylor@bluetoro.ca

You can also follow us on Twitter @bluetoro_ca and like us on Facebook

• By paul.taylor
• February 5, 2013
• Comment

In a crazy first half of the Blue Jays season that came to end on Sunday there was quite a few highlights, lots of injuries and some raw emotion on display. None of those emotional displays was as memorable as the Brett Lawrie meltdown at the SkyDome when umpire Bill Miller called him out on strikes on two very questionable pitches. That is when Lawrie blew his top, literally. Lawrie freaked out and threw his batting helmet into the ground and it bounced up and it Miller. Lawrie was fined and suspended for his actions.

In a positive twist, since that incident Lawrie has been able to keep his emotions in check at the plate and in the field and the Blue Jays have been cashing in on the field because of it, but now they will get to cash in off the field as well.

The game used helmet that Lawrie was wearing that night was rendered useless when it broke after hitting the ground, so if you are in the Jays Shop and are in the market for a game used souvenir you can buy Lawrie’s helmet. This might seem like a neat souvenir but you really have to love the Jays and Lawrie if you want this item…it will set you back $1000.

Game used souvenirs are great, but $1000 is a steep price for a broken helmet. A quick search of eBay can get you any number of items from sticks to jerseys and helmets for much cheaper.

How much would you pay for Lawrie’s helmet?

• By ben.trattner
• July 10, 2012
• Comment

O Canada!

Since the 2004 departure of the Montreal Expos to Washington, the Toronto Blue Jays have been “Canada’s Team”. Even though not everyone across the country is fond of the Jays, it is still something the organization can claim.

Recent years have seen the team make off-season trips across the country and provide training clinics with alumni and current players to bolster the fan base in the Maritimes and Western Canada. One other way to do this is to release new merchandise. The Jays unveiled a revamped uniform this season that has been a huge hit with the fans and has increased sales (doesn’t hurt that every tween and twenty-something girl in Toronto wants to wear a Brett Lawrie t-shirt).

Now the Jays have released their once a year Canada Day jersey. Keeping the same design as their current uniform, but with the major difference being, it is red! Also, every player will be named Canada on July 1. Hopefully this will confuse the LA Angels and Jose Bautista will see the pitches that were intended for Rajai Davis.

Will you buy a red Jays Canada day jersey? Whose number do you want on the back?

Check out the entire history of the Blue Jays Canada day jerseys at Uni-Watch

Photo: The Score

• By ben.trattner
• June 25, 2012
• Comment
• 3

You know, I was actually starting to feel bad for John Farrell and the Blue Jays players after the recent spate of pitching injuries that they’ve had to contend with.  In particular, Ricky Romero must be feeling even more pressure to perform every time he steps on the mound, especially with Brandon Morrow on the sidelines for 4-6 weeks.

However, after seeing the above picture number 24 tweeted from his hotel room in Miami, I’ve changed my mind.  The lesson, as always Ladies and Gentlemen, never feel sorry for professional athletes!

Photo: Ricky Romero – @RickyRo24

• By paul.taylor
• June 22, 2012
• Comment

Let’s hope Drew Doughty brings the Stanley Cup to a Blue Jays game this summer.

Photo: The Score

• By ed
• June 14, 2012
• Comment

The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking to complete their first sweep versus the Chicago White Sox, in more than twenty two years, tonight, at U.S. Cellular Field.

Not only would John Farrell’s squad achieve a rare feed, they would also win 3 big games against a red hot team that was on fire prior to that series.

However, the task won’t be easy for Henderson Alvarez (3-5 3.75ERA), who has registered a loss in his last 3 decisions. He will be facing White Sox’s ace Jake Peavy (6-1 3.05 ERA), who is remarkable, so far this season.

• By Manny Frag
• June 7, 2012
• Comment

Last night, manager John Farrell decided to tweek his lineup, in order to shake things up, and try to break the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-game losing streak on the road.

The move, which saw Brett Lawrie hitting first and Colby Rasmus in the second spot, paid dividends immediately. The two combined for an incredible 8/10, with Rasmus hitting a career-high 5 hits, and scoring 4 times.

The Jays scored 9 runs against a Chicago White Sox team that has been red hot lately, winning 14 of their last 16 games, prior to that defeat.

For a rare occasion, Ricky Romero didn’t have to be near perfect to be rewarded with his 7th win of the season, which ties the A.L. lead in that department.

Tonight, the new lineup will try to help Brandon Morrow register his 7th win of the season, to match his teammate.

picture : citytv.com

• By Manny Frag
• June 6, 2012
• Comment

We are now in June, and the A.L. East could not be tighter. Only 3 games separate the top team from the bottom team. Every division game is very important, and the Blue Jays will have to win most of these intra-division series, in order to play in the postseason.

Tonight, they open a 3-game series against the emerging Boston Red Sox. After another very tough start, Boston is back over the .500 mark, with a 26-25 record. David Ortiz, Will Middlebrooks, and Ryan Sweeney are all hitting over .300 and Pedroia has an average of .295.

Tonight, the Jays will fave Clay Buchholz, who in spite of a 4-2 record, has a 7.19 ERA. The Jays’ canons will have to pounce on him to give young Henderson Alvarez a cushion. Alvarez has some really interesting stats with a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts, but he hasn’t receive the help of his offence lately, which explains his 3-4 record.

Toronto will be looking for a 4th straight win, after sweeping the Orioles, who are leading the A.L. East. The Jays now sit 2 games back of them, and they are one game ahead of the Red Sox, which explains the importance of that series.

• By Manny Frag
• June 1, 2012
• Comment