Blue Jays Morning Brew: Prospects, Podcast, 2016 memories

Toronto Blue Jays news and stories for January 2nd

It’s the first Monday morning of 2017, so as everyone arrives bright-eyed to work and thinks warmly of their holiday credit card bills, here are some Blue Jays stories to get you caught up and feeling fine.

Jays Nest Podcast, Episode 102

The first podcast of 2017 recaps the big stories from the holiday break — Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. There have even been some upgrades to the Jays Nest Podcast Studios (a real place, surely), so you can listen in to the full podcast with improved sound right here at Jays From the Couch.

Shaun Doyle and I go back and forth on the ongoing Bautista reports, and whether that truly is the right move for the Blue Jays with all nostalgia set aside. We also go through some suggestions for New Year’s Resolutions for members of the Toronto Blue Jays, and offer up a few of our own. Don’t listen to my ‘life advice’, but do listen to the show! Subscribe here:

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On a lighter note…

Bruce Arthur put together a list of the funniest athlete quotes, by month, from 2016. The list includes Blue Jays’ reliever Joe Biagini, as you might expect, and many other gems.

“I get nervous ordering food at restaurants,” Biagini said when asked about his nerves prior to a playoff game, “so it’s probably just a general accepted feeling.”

10 great moments

Jenn Smith of BP Toronto compiled a list of 10 great Blue Jays moments from the 2016 season. One that had admittedly slipped my mind was Justin Smoak’s game-winning performance in May against the Texas Rangers. You can watch that and all the others right here. It was one heck of a year.

Knock, Knock

Over at Blue Jay Hunter, Ian Hunter rounded up a comprehensive list of Roberto Osuna and Russell Martin doing their “Knock, Knock” celebration after saves. You can enjoy all of those GIFs right here.

Minor-league chatter

The versatile Aaron Attaway is still searching for his swing in pro ball, but his defensive versatility has given him value in the lower-minors. Last season, Attaway split 51 games between Lansing and Dunedin where he played at second, third, shortstop, and even pitched an inning. Brian Crawford of Jays Prospects spoke with Attaway here.

“You have to change your sights at every spot,” Attaway said. “At second base you have a shorter throw, you have more time, and you’re not crossing the bag on a double play. Third base you need to be ready every pitch. It was a really big adjustment, but in the off-season I try to prepare for every situation and be ready for any moment.”

Next: Compelling reasons for Blue Jays optimism in 2017

Prospect talk

Back at Jays From the Couch, Ryan Mueller looks at what the 2017 season has in store for left-handed pitching prospect Angel Perdomo. The 6-foot-6 strikeout machine spent his entire 2016 season at single-A Lansing where he pitched 127.0 innings, but could be headed up the ladder quickly if he continues to improve his control.

Top Prospect List

Keep an eye out for Jays Journal’s annual top prospect list, which will begin to count down later this month.