Jays Jots: James Paxton, Jose Bautista, J.P. Ricciardi

After a very, very good Super Bowl comes some Jays related matter, and the great news that it’s all baseball from this point forward!

For what it’s worth, Winston Abreu, signed by the Jays to a minor league contract in December, is the only member of the Jays organization currently playing in the Caribbean Series in Puerto Rico, where he plays for the Dominican Republic. He didn’t allow a hit and struck out 2 in his first appearance, before he gave up 4 hits and 4 earned runs (including 1 home run) with no strikeouts over his last 2 outings (1 inning).

Onto the links:

The Blue Jays That Got Away – National Post
Jeremy Sandler of the National Post gives a great update on where 2009 Blue Jays draft picks James Paxton and Jake Eliopoulos are now. Canadians Paxton and Eliopoulos, selected by the Jays with their 37th and 68th overall selections respectively, both chose not to sign relatively lucrative deals with the Jays that year and both players remain unsigned by a Major League team. As compensation for being unable to sign Paxton and Eliopoulos, the Jays managed to draft and sign promising right-hander Noah Syndergaard and infielder Kellen Sweeney (#24 on our Top 50 prospects list) in 2010.

Delgado Eyes Comeback and Shot At 500 Home Runs – Toronto Star
A look at former Blue Jay Carlos Delgado’s efforts to make a Major League comeback, as well as a quick reflection on his time in Toronto.

It’s Just About That Time – The Tao of Stieb
The Ack echoes the sentiment of many Jays fans that are unbelievably excited for the Jays’ upcoming season and how we just miss the game of baseball right now, period.

Are the Rays Overlooking the Jays and O’s? – DRaysBay
DRaysBay wonders if Alex Anthopoulos is getting too much credit for the Jays’ organizational turnaround and whether or not J.P. Ricciardi will get any credit. Regardless of that question, though, DRaysBay offers moderate season previews of the Jays and the Orioles in this post.

Can Bautista Prove ’10 Wasn’t A Fluke? – FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi offers a great look at the skepticism surrounding Jose Bautista’s 2011 season.

Jury Out on Blue Jays’ Off-Season Makeover – CBC.ca
Kevin Glew of CBC Sports feels that Alex Anthopoulos should be judged on what he does with the new financial flexibility going forward after the Vernon Wells trade.

A.L. East Previews: Blue Jays – CSNNE.com
Speaking of season previews, CSN New England offers a video season preview of the Jays as well as a quick write-up.

Jays Mailbag – Toronto Star
This one is a few days old, but if you haven’t read it already, check out Richard Griffin’s latest mailbag. Topics include Encarnacion back at 3B, the mysterious $5 million in the Vernon Wells trade, a potential infield logjam for the Jays in the near future, and any future Montreal Expos in Cooperstown.

Stoeten Answers Griffin’s Mailbag – Drunk Jays Fans
As always this winter, whenever there has been a new mailbag from Griffin, Stoeten from DJF answers the questions in his own style.

Blue Jays Boss on Why His Car is the Best – The Globe and Mail
An article from back in July 2010 detailing how Jays President and CEO Paul Beeston really loves his 2003 Acura 3.5 RL Sedan, with a great picture too.

– JM

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