TORONTO — The last time the Toronto Blue Jays had a real home opener, Brandon Drury, Freddy Galvis and Justin Smoak were in the lineup. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette were at triple-A. The Blue Jays lost for the first of what would be 95 times.
Three years later, the Blue Jays are one of baseball’s most talented teams. Guerrero Jr. and Bichette have emerged as stars and expectations are as high as they’ve been in years.
When players talk about expectations for this team, it’s clear playoffs are the starting point, not the end goal.
“It’s just excitement,” Bichette said Thursday at Rogers Centre. “Everybody knows the talent we have and the things we’re capable of. We’re going to do everything we can to accomplish a World Series. It’s exciting to get started.”
And for Bichette and most of his teammates, experiencing opening day in Toronto will be something new. The team spent all of 2020 in Buffalo due to the COVID-19 pandemic then began the 2021 season in Dunedin, Fla., before moving to Buffalo and finally to Toronto, where they spent the last two months of the season only to miss the playoffs on the season’s final day.
“I’m so happy for our players and for our fans,” GM Ross Atkins said. “There’s 20-plus (players) that haven’t experienced that here in Toronto. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces, to feel the energy in this stadium, and to see the excitement on fans’ faces. It’s something you can feel physically, that level of energy and intensity.”
It’s an exciting time, but as the Blue Jays and visiting Texas Rangers worked out in preparation for Friday’s opener, some questions lingered as well. For instance: how far away is Nate Pearson, what’s the status of pitching coach Pete Walker and are any talks ongoing with the Blue Jays’ young stars?
Pearson (mononucleosis) was officially placed on the injured list Thursday, but Atkins said he’s feeling better while indicating the right-hander could resume baseball activities before long. In the meantime, the Blue Jays have 10 relievers to help cover them off and Ross Stripling is positioned to make a spot start sometime this month as well.
Walker, who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence last month, was on the field at Rogers Centre Thursday, working out with the team as usual. According to Atkins, that won’t change until the legal situation develops further.
“Pete came to me very early in that process, came to Charlie, addressed the team,” Atkins said. “It’s still a legal process, so I’m limited in how much I can comment on that. … Once we have clarity on the legal process, we’ll look to make a decision if there’s things we need to do.”
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As for the team’s offence, manager Charlie Montoyo hinted he’s settled on an opening day lineup without revealing specifics. As spring training came to an end, the Blue Jays played with different lineups, batting Guerrero Jr. third, where he spent most of last year, as well as second.
For the time being, Montoyo isn’t saying how he’ll line things up for the opener against Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and the Rangers.
Perhaps more important to the long-term structure of the team is the status of extension talks between the club and its emergent young stars. Bichette said there have been some discussions about a potential deal while indicating that his focus is now on the field.
“We’ve had conversations,” Bichette said. “I think right now we’re focused on the season and accomplishing what we think we’re capable of. Right now, we’re not talking.”
Asked whether the team is open to extension talks in-season, Atkins left the possibility open.
“Every situation is unique,” the GM said. “Every situation we’ll handle individually. So glad those players are here and any way that we can find a way to keep this group together longer, we’re always thinking about.”
Both Guerrero Jr. and Bichette are four years away from free agency now, so the Blue Jays have time on their side.
Where small market teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates must rush to lock up the likes of Wander Franco and Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Blue Jays have spent big lately, signing three players to $100 million deals since the beginning of 2021 despite limited revenues.
Signing Guerrero Jr. or Bichette would likely require even greater commitments, but this franchise now operates more like a big-market team, so landing players at the top of the market is again a possibility.
Where those talks lead is hard to say, but for now this team is undeniably talented. With a powerful lineup and a deep starting rotation they’re arguably the best team in baseball’s deepest division.
Outside expectations are high, as you’d expect, but as Bichette told the assembled media Thursday afternoon, the players themselves see things similarly. After the way last year ended, they won’t be satisfied with another near-miss.
“I think we’ve expected a lot more out of ourselves than any of you guys have in the past,” he said. “For us, I think it’s more of, it’s about time. But like I said we’ve got to go out there and do it.”
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
