Last week I wrote a speculative piece on how a potential 26th roster spot would affect the Blue Jays going forward. It was supposed to be the only lock in the new collective bargaining agreement. Well, the union and MLB finally agreed on the framework for a new CBA…and roster sizes are staying exactly the […]
Category: Articles
Artificial Turf Wars Ep. 38: Talking CBAseball
Shi Davidi of Sportsnet stops by to discuss the upcoming Winter Meetings, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the Jays offseason plans as they relate to budget and potential free agent targets. Greg and Josh also discuss Brett Cecil’s departure, Edwin Encarnacion rumours, and then run down the numerous players to whom the Jays have been […]
The Blue Jays Should Be Pursuing Curtis Granderson, Not Jay Bruce
Today, the New York Mets and Yoenis Cespedes agreed to a four-year deal worth $110 million, representing the first major free agent contract to be handed out this winter. While this move certainly seemed likely given the mutual interest expressed by both sides in hammering out a deal, it was shocking because the Mets now still have more […]
Southern Comfort: Assessing the Blue Jays at American Thanksgiving
The Blue Jays are often bought and sold as “Canada’s Team.” That’s completely acceptable; their run of success has given them inroads to capturing the hearts and minds of a whole new generation of baseball fans across the country. Even on the rare occasion that a Blue Jays game gets picked up for an American […]
How the 26th Roster Spot Could Affect the Blue Jays
You’re probably sick of Collective Bargaining Agreement news by this point. “They’re headed toward a lockout,” “they can avoid a lockout maybe…” But, if you skip past all of the saber-rattling and hyperbole, you can actually find some interesting nuggets about what is actually going on in these talks. It seems the MLB is fighting […]
What Should the Blue Jays Do With Roberto Osuna?
Roberto Osuna is going to be a reliever next season, according to Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins. Whether this is good news or not depends on your perspective on him, and young pitchers in general. Not enough is made about how good Osuna is, or rather, how good he would have to be to make […]
Slow Your Roll: The Influence of Pace on Late Game Effectiveness
Recently my friends Nick Dika, Joshua Howsam, and Greg Wisniewski were discussing the third time through the order effect on the season recap episode of the Artificial Turf Wars Podcast. While Nick and I typically keep our conversations to what beer we’re going to order next, and how can we split four pounds of wings […]
On the Screws: The Relationship Between Exit Velocity and Success
It’s an commonly referenced baseball saying. It puts into words a kind of instinctive perception about hitting. The harder you make contact, the better shot you have of getting a hit. It acknowledges something that some traditionalists don’t really want to admit: The hitter can control the amount of effort he puts into contact, but he […]
Who Might the Jays Protect in the Rule 5 Draft?
Friday brings us another one of the milestone dates that litter the MLB off-season as clubs set out to shuffle their organization in preparation for the season ahead. To-wit, it is the day that teams must finalize their 40 man roster in anticipation of the Rule 5 Draft that takes place at the end of […]
An Open Letter to Jose Bautista: Blue Jays Legend
Dear Jose, I write on behalf of an entire generation of Blue Jays fans. I’m part of a group that never saw the World Series banner fly north of the border or got the chance to see Joe touch first, let alone “‘em all”. But it’s not just World Series glory this generation has missed […]









