Review of the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook

Cover of the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook. Credit: Jay BlueToday is the official release date of the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook, which is an exceptional e-book co-authored by three gentlemen with current and past connections to Jays Journal.

Jay Blue, who is one of the hardest working bloggers on the Internet, writes for us here at Jays Journal and is also one of the co-editors of FanSided’s minor league blog Grading on the Curve. Not only that, he publishes his own daily Blue Jays content at his own blog Blue Jays From Away and also writes and podcasts for the Canadian Baseball Network.

Charlie Caskey is another one of our staff writers and is a hard-working man in his own right. In addition to his minor league work here he also writes for the Vancouver Sun and his own blog, which focuses on the Vancouver Canadians, YourVanCs.

Jared MacDonald was one of the founding editors of Jays Journal and set a lofty precedent with his outstanding writing that we are still trying to live up to today. Jared is currently editor-in-chief of JaysProspects.com and also contributes to Bluebird Banter.

The three collaborated to put together what is likely the most comprehensive guide to the Blue Jays’ farm system to date with profiles of more than 250 players. Not only that but they also include a review of the 2013 draft, a guide to each on of the Jays’ affiliates (with everything from everything from club history to driving directions), organizational depth charts and a complete schedule for every minor league team.

Hall of Fame baseball writer Bob Elliott provides an entertaining foreword and John Anderson, who will be pitching for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats this year, provides an insightful essay.

The book is fantastic and the electronic format is handy since you can not only read it on your computer but also bring it with you on your phone or tablet. That way if you happen to catch yourself at a minor league game you have at your fingertips a quick reference on the players you are watching.

Most of the profiles are quite thorough and they cover everyone from Eddy Alcantara to Tyler Ybarra. About the only criticism I could level is that some of the DSL player profiles are a bit on the short side but based on the amount of information that is available on those players, it’s understandable.

At a price of $7.99, it’s money well spent if you are a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays affiliates. Personally I think based on the amount of free content Jay, Charlie and Jared have given Blue Jays fans over the years everyone should purchase it but I’ll leave that decision to you.

You can preview the first 15% of the book free at Smashwords.com.

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Blue Jays From Away is also hosting a launch party at Tallboys Craft Beer House in Toronto on Wednesday April 2nd and would like to invite you to join them to watch the Jays take on the Rays at 7pm. More details about the event can be found on Facebook.