Game Thread: MLB Opening Day!!! Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays

Mar 26, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(43) runs to home plate after he gave up a hit during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Today is rather massive as all four of the Toronto Blue Jay full season minor league franchises announce their rosters.  Personally, I’ve been refreshing my twitter feed constantly since Saturday morning, looking for any sort of tidbits.  My family really likes me right now.

Oh ya, there’s also a few real baseball games as well.  Including our beloved Blue Jays taking on the ex-DEVIL Rays of Tampa Bay.  Real, honest to goodness baseball!!  Someone tell my wife I’ll see her in six months.

Details:

TV: MLB.TV, Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Radio: Sportsnet 590 THE FAN

Toronto Blue Jays Lineup:

Jose Reyes – SS
Melky Cabrera – LF
Jose Bautista – RF
Edwin Encarnacion – 1B
Dioner Navarro – DH
Brett Lawrie – 3B
Colby Rasmus – CF
Maicer Izturis – 2B
Josh Thole – C

R.A. Dickey – P

Tampa Bay Rays Lineup:

David DeJesus –  LF
Wil Myers – RF
Ben Zobrist – 2B
Evan Longoria – 3B
James Loney – 1B
Desmond Jennings – CF
Matt Joyce – DH
Jose Molina – C
Yunel Escobar – SS

David Price – P

Jays Droppings:

After hinting during spring that Adam Lind would not necessarily be a platoon player despite his ugly .253 wOBA versus lefties, it’s David f’n Price, so cooler heads have prevailed.  We’re also spared watching Ryan Goins flail away against the right Price.  That being said, in an admittedly tiny sample size, Goins isn’t much worse against southpaws than his replacement Maicer Izturis.  And the defense, remember the defense.

Josh Thole starts behind the dish.  I know he’s Dickey’s personal caddie, but why then call up a right-handed hitting catcher to replace the DL’d Casey Janssen?

For those wondering, it’s 13 degrees and sunny in Vancouver today.  Think I may bbq during the game.  May even crack a lunchtime beer.

Heard on Connected:

“It’s about giving the guy a chance, keeping the body lubricated”

Words for wisdom from Greg Zaun on Adam Lind.  Of course, completely forgetting that Lind is absolutely useless against left-handed pitching…….

but, ummmm, just give him a chance!!  It’s not like it’s a proper major league game or anything