The big news out of the AL East today is that longtime Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek will announce his retirement later this week. The 15-year veteran will retire with two World Series rings, three All-Star Game selections and 193 home runs. Here are some notes on his former division rivals…
- Nick Johnson told Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com that the success of his 2012 season will come down to health. The Orioles signed Johnson to a minor league contract, but the first baseman didn't draw much interest this offseason. "There weren't a lot of teams giving me an opportunity," he said.
- Andy Pettitte visited Yankees camp and told reporters, including MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, that he doesn't plan on making a comeback. Pettitte said he's "loving life" away from the ballpark and enjoying time with his family.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports asked Joey Votto about his interest in playing for the Blue Jays and didn't sense much enthusiasm from the Etobicoke, Ontario native (Twitter link). Votto, who is under contract with the Reds through 2013, recently said he prefers to keep contract talks private.
LOL The awkward moment when Votto gets asked about Playing for the Blue Jays xD
He misheard, he thought they asked him what he’d think about playing for the leafs
There is a semi pro baseball team called the Toronto Maple leafs in Toronto. Admission is free, its very chilled there. The only mlb Guy that came from that leauge was pete orr xD
Thats a good idea, the leafs should also have free admission until they can put a real hockey team on the ice.
You’re a Blue Jay fan?
You know it, got to support the only team in TO that knows what its doin’
You chirp the Leafs , yet they have started the same thing they’ve started on the blue jays , a complete rebuild with youth. Jays havent made the playoffs for 19 years , Leafs 7 years. Not exactly much to brag about.
The NHL playoffs are a joke. 16 teams is overkill
Baseball has a 162 games to separate the good teams that deserve to play for the world series, NHL has 82.
So NHL uses the playoffs to separate the teams.
different approaches, however baseball has the ability to play 162 games, nhl can’t do that for various reasons.
Hardly a joke I would say. In fact it makes downright perfect sense from the sport and business sides of the game
Difference is that the Jays hjave been at it with AA for three years and are lightyears ahead of Burke’s 7 year (and counting) rebuild. Some should have told Burke to correctly do a rebuild, you DON’T trade your first two round picks in back to back years. Plus, there is way more opportunity to get into the NHL playoffs that MLB.
Fact.
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7 year rebuild? This is his 4th year and the leafs have improved point wise each and every year. The roster is one of the youngest in the NHL. You can disagree with how hes rebuilding , but facts remain they have improved each and every year and he has aquired young promising talent. Just like the Jays.
This is year 4 of a 5 year plan. We are still struggling to make the playoffs. How can you not be worried? The Jays, under 3 years of Anthopolous, have gone form top 5 worst to top 5 best farm system. People are taking note.
And there is no point in comparing playoff appearance. Under the MLB format, the Leafs would really never have chance. the Bruins will run that division for a long time. Even the Sens are looking promising. Under the NHL format, the Jays would make it every year
Even the Sens are looking promising
pffft *facepalm
hindsight hero
AA is doing a MUCH better job than Burke. I see a real future with the Jays. The Leafs are struggling to make top 8. It’s alarming
Whoops, that was supposed to go to N_RG
Jays haven’t made the playoffs in 20 years
You saying you don’t like the leafs but love what the Jays have done is plain hypocritical.
I’m not a huge leafs/hockey fan, but I hate the Jays fans who put down leaf fans just because.
Jays fans don’t have much to brag about lately, and both are taking the youth approach. Plenty of similarities.
Why am i hypocritical? You’re the one to claim that you dont follow hockey. So who’s talking out of their ___?
Jays are succeding in their plans.
Leafs, not so much.
Also, never claimed to be a Leafs fan.
there are some similarities, especially when it comes to finding alternate avenues for amateur talent. but i think burke also has a touch of baltimore orioles in him. he makes too many “win now” type moves with a roster that really isnt anywhere close. i think his signings of komisarek, beauchemin, lyles, the kessel trade, etc. were ill advised moves for a team that was close to the bottom of the league. the result is that you get a somewhat patchwork style team that lacks identity, consistent talent, and any appearance of a long term plan.
komisarek was brutal no denying that, but lylss and beuchamin (which he turned in to gardiner and lupol) were both solid signings I think..
Leafs are still the second youngest team in the league. The reality is that they have no secondary scoring and tyler bozak is their first line center. and then there’s the goaltending..
Burke should have known better and kept a veteran goalie on staff. JS Gigere would have been a good move
Big time Leafs fan here. You speak THE TRUTH
Its really too bad that TSN (Toronto Sports Network) focuses way too much on the Laughs and not enough on the Jays, Canada’a only baseball team (and Toronto’s only good franchise)
TSN is bitter that they can’t broadcast anymore Jays games.
Fact.
I very much agree with you. I’m a leafs, jays, and raptors fan and it IRRITATES me that in August, they can talk about hockey for ten minutes before they get to Jays highlights. Thats why i prefer The Score for highlights
The Leafs plan is to sneak into the playoffs with youth and then see what happens. Burke is trying to obtain players that can help in that regard. Most of the time though, the players he counts on let him down, after showing potential the previous year, example Reimer.
The Jays had Ash and Riccardi leading the team for 15 years, where their philosophy was throw money at names and hope they win. The result was they were spinning their wheels in futility with proven names, because they had nothing around them.
AA is building a team with potential all stars at each position that are young and form a solid foundation. Once they mature, then key pieces are added, enabling them to enter the playoffs to win it all, not like the Leafs, who just want to slip in for appearance sake.
The Leafs are a cash cow, selling out every game with a waiting list for tickets, regardless if they are first or last. The Jays have to win to create excitement and once that happens, 4 million a year attendance will be the norm again in Toronto, keeping the team at the top of the Al east for many years, since the youth are locked up for six years, with more top prospects in the pipeline.
Didn’t Paul Quantrill play there for a few years? I remember a Blue Jays reliever going there…
EDIT: Oooooohh. Read your message wrong.
Paul Spoljaric
Andy just had to drop off a “package” for his buddies in pinstripes.
He should have given it to Nick Johnson to heal some injuries, but Johnson will get injured just lifting up the package.
Nick Johnson…the Joel Zumaya of position players…
Can we say that Joel Zumaya is the Darren Dreifort of relievers then?
zumayas arm is like greg odens knees
if we combine zumayas knees and odens arms we would have 1 healthy athlete
Nick Johnson, the Eric Chávez of the firstbasemen.
I remember when Johnson played for the O’s a few years ago. I think his name was David Segui at the time.
Nick Johnson…the Joel Zumaya of position players…
Etobicoke isn’t even a city… it was amalgamated into Toronto over 10 years ago…
Come on now. Just say he’s from Toronto.
If I weren’t doing a detox I would drink to your use of the word amalgamated. Well done sir!
Pettitte is happy now that he can take whatever he want’s without any pesky people asking embarrassing questions.
Joey Votto is and will remain a Red.. Get over it you Canadians!
Where is there an outcry of Canadians in this topic saying he is going to be a Blue Jay? Chill out you homer.
I’m willing to bet they don’t fork up the money to resign him when his deals up. And they probably shouldn’t.
Everybody thought the same “aboot” Pujols and the Cardinals… and to paraphrase an spanish phrase popular in hispanoamerica “poderoso señor es Don Dinero” (“powerful lord is Mister Money”)
I love how they are reading in to Votto’s comments..
What is he supposed to say after his team just traded away pieces and spent money to build a winner around him?
Oh yah Toronto? Can’t WAIT to go play there and get out of here. C’mon, Joey’s a class act and wouldn’t disrespect the reds like that.
Note* I’m not saying if he does/does not want to play in Toronto, I’m just saying its silly to ask him while he’s still under contract.
It is not at all surprising that Votto showed no enthusiasm when asked about joining the Blue Jays. He is presently under contract to the Reds for two more years. He is not going to say or do anything right now to disrespect the Reds’ fanbase or to alienate himself from them (which is exactly what would happen if he indicated that he can’t wait to leave via free agency in two years).
Ridiculous—If he says “yes” the Cinci fans would go crazy. Is JPM really that thick?
Yes, Votto is under contract for 12 and 13, but he could have said what many others say. Yeah, Cincy is a nice town, but I want to be paid like a superstar. If Cincy doesn’t give it to me and I hit free agency, I will go to the team that throws 250M at me for ten years. If it is Toronto, fine, I can live with that, but the bottom line is show me the money and who cares which team gives it to me. That is the mentality now in 2012 and why should Votto be any different? lol.