Caleb Thielbar

MLB

Ricky Romero's Struggles Mirror Jays' Poor Start

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 29, 2013

It’s been a rocky beginning for the Toronto Blue Jays, and nowhere is it more obvious than in the ranks of the starting pitchers. It’s already an old story how the Blue Jays’ starters have been pounded in the early innings of ballgames. Maybe help is on the way with former staff ace Ricky Romero....

MLB

Blue Jays Searching For Answers After Reyes Injury

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 17, 2013

It’s still only April, and the Toronto Blue Jays are in trouble. Or are they? No one said winning a World Series was easy, despite all the pre-season hype and oddsmakers who touted the Blue Jays as world champions. Now they have a significant hole to deal with at one of the most important positions...

MLB

What In the World Went Wrong With Roy Halladay?

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 4, 2013

There is no way to sugar-coat it. His first start of 2013 for the Philadelphia Phillies was not one that anyone would ever associate with a player like Roy Halladay (pictured), who could be considered one of the 10 best pitchers of the last 30 years. But there is no denying that stats line. “Rocky”...

MLB

American League East Preview: Jays Lead the Way

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 31, 2013

According to the most recent MLB futures, Toronto is the pre-season pick not only to win the most games in the division, but also to take the American League East, the American League pennant and the World Series. So no pressure, right? Well, at least one other team in the division might have something to...

MLB

American League Central Preview: Midwest Makeovers

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 29, 2013

Of all the divisions in the major leagues, this could be one of the toughest to predict. Many changes have occurred with most of the five teams here, and one of the clubs which overhauled the most will see an immediate payoff in the standings. CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2013 Predicted Wins Over/Under: 80.5 The South...

MLB

American League West Preview: Big Risks, Big Rewards

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 27, 2013

Good things were predicted for both the Angels and the Rangers, but on the final day of the 2012 regular season it was the A’s who stunned everybody. Can an upset happen two seasons in a row in this division? The most recent MLB futures list says “no.” HOUSTON ASTROS 2013 Predicted Wins Over/Under: 59.5...

MLB

Blue Jays: Despite Growth Ricky Romero optioned to Class-A Dunedin

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 27, 2013

The recent signs of progress haven’t been enough. Unfortunately for Ricky Romero, it looks like his time is up. On Tuesday the Toronto Blue Jays made a tough, but ultimately correct choice in replacing Romero as the fifth starter. The organisation is in the process of optioning Romero to Class-A Dunedin to fine tune the...

MLB

National League East Preview: Four Questions, One Answer

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 26, 2013

According to the latest MLB futures, only one team has a chance of catching the Washington Nationals in the standings. The others will be left to ponder their fates and figure out how to get into the race in one of baseball’s most competitive divisions. ATLANTA BRAVES 2013 Predicted Wins Over/Under: 88.5 The good news...

MLB

National League Central Preview: Red Is the Color

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 25, 2013

The Houston Astros have moved to the American League West, so now a new contender must emerge as the doormat of the league. As with the A.L. West, two of these teams figure to dominate this division while the others will likely be on the outside looking in, according to the latest MLB futures. CINCINNATI...

MLB

National League West Preview: Dodging Giant Conundrums

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 24, 2013

Just like last season, teams from the two largest cities in California are expected to feature at the top of the standings. The other three clubs in the division still have some issues to figure out before they can be considered serious contenders, based on recent MLB futures. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 2013 Predicted Wins Over/Under: 81.5...

MLB

Blue Jays Dream Big, But the Bloom May Be Off the Rose

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 18, 2013

It has been a momentous off-season for the Toronto Blue Jays as general manager Alex Anthopoulos made several big moves and raided the prospects cupboard to restock the team with proven veterans. Now, however, it would appear that the heightened expectations may be weighing on the perception of the team. When Anthopoulos essentially rebuilt the...

MLB

Team Canada WBC Preview: Lawrie Injury Hits Hard

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 7, 2013

World Baseball Classic Odds When Team Canada takes the field for its first World Baseball Classic game Friday against Italy, manager Ernie Whitt is well aware that his team isn’t likely to win many 2-1 games. Even though the rotation looks better than it has in the past, it’s still Canada’s clear weakness. In Wednesday’s...

MLB

Marlins Have to Start Again After Lousy 2012 and Mega-Trade

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: February 27, 2013

The Miami Marlins began 2012 with very high hopes: a new $500-million stadium, a new manager in Ozzie Guillen, a new roster of bright and shiny (and expensive) players. For the first couple of months of the season — despite some indiscreet comments made in public by the loose-lipped manager, for which he apologized several...

MLB

Brandon Morrow Ready to Compete in Jays' Rotation

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: February 20, 2013

Saturday will be big for the Blue Jays. It will be the first chance in 2013 for Toronto to face another Major League Baseball club, and it will also be the first opportunity for Brandon Morrow to show he belongs in the outstanding pitching staff. Manager John Gibbons announced Morrow will start against the Detroit...

MLB

Nationals' Strasburg Optimistic As Spring Training Begins

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: February 11, 2013

This is the time of year pro baseball fans long for, especially those who live in snowy climes: major league pitchers and catchers begin showing up at spring training. You can count Washington Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg among those who is happy to be in camp and not having his surgically repaired right elbow as...

MLB

Move to American League Won't Save the Lowly Astros

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: February 5, 2013

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training in the next few days, and already one thing is apparent: the Houston Astros will be an epic fail once again. On Monday, the team pulled the trigger on a five-player deal — its first as a member of the American League — which saw...

MLB

Signings See Red Sox Rebuild In Shadow Of Jays’ Big Moves

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: December 18, 2012

Finishing last in the American League East in 2012 cost Bobby Valentine his job, so the Boston Red Sox ended up making the first high-profile trade of the off-season by moving infielder Mike Aviles to the Toronto Blue Jays for their manager, John Farrell. Since then, the Jays have made a series of deals that...

MLB

Los Angeles Angels Add Josh Hamilton to Stacked Lineup

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: December 13, 2012

With all the money the Los Angeles Dodgers have spent — especially in the past few days — to acquire talent for their roster, it stood to reason that the crosstown Angels would reply in a big way. Now they’ve jumped into the deep end of the pool again with the signing of free-agent outfielder...

MLB

Blue Jays’ Blockbuster Trade Complete; New Manager Inked

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: November 20, 2012

The Toronto Blue Jays’ offseason makeover is becoming more drastic by the day. With a news conference scheduled to introduce a handful of new players picked up in a blockbuster trade with Miami set for Tuesday, the Jays threw another curveball by announcing the signing of their new manager. Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos reintroduced...

MLB

Mets End Relationship with Outfielder Jason Bay

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: November 7, 2012

The Jason Bay era with the New York Mets is officially over. On Wednesday, the club announced they had come to an agreement to terminate the Canadian outfielder’s contract two years early. Terms of the buyout were not disclosed publicly. Bay was due to be paid $16 million in 2013, and the Mets were also...