Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH aka Happy New Year post!

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

After the Holiday Gratitude

Yes, it's that time of the week again. What are you grateful for?

I'm grateful that today I saw two people who had been my closest friends when I was in my 20s but haven't seen for at least a year. We got together for our traditional mahjongg game and it was so much fun. One lives in Europe and only comes over every couple of years and I have really missed him.

Also grateful that I get to spend New Year's Eve with a man who I deeply love who had been out of my life for almost 15 years. I'm looking forward to ringing in the year with him and having him around since he now lives very close to me. Also that night I will see another friend I haven't seen for many years. The holidays are great for seeing absent friends.

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH aka Merry Xmas post!

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

After the Hump Day Gratitude

Ok, so I missed yesterday. I didn't want to turn on my computer when I came home Tuesday night, telling myself I'd do the post in the morning. And then I forgot.

This week I am grateful that my first boyfriend, who has been such a huge financial help to me this year, came through again with a 6 month membership at my local Y. I'm loving being back in the pool and my shoulders are getting better. I can swim a little now, which I am also grateful for.

I am grateful for all the money that came my way this year from all of you. You're the best.

It's my dad's birthday today and I'm grateful he is still with us, that he got through this very stressful year. I'm grateful that he'll finally get a move-in date in a month. I'm grateful that soon he'll be where my mom is and I won't have to worry about him travelling to see her in bad weather. And I am grateful that we as a family weathered this very tough year.

What are you grateful for?

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

Hump Day Gratitude

Another off-season Wednesday, another gratitude post. But this one is Jays-related!

I am grateful that I got to see Tulo play for my team. To watch him play short was like watching ballet. I am grateful that he was part of that miracle 2015 team. #teamofdensity And I'm grateful that he's been cut loose to find a chance to continue his career on his terms.

What are you grateful for?

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

Hump Day Gratitude

A little late today but that's what I'm grateful for! I'm grateful that I had such a good time last night combined with some solutions to problems that I was busy when I came home and didn't think about the post. Also grateful that I've remembered to post it now!

What are you grateful for?

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

Hump Day Gratitude

What are you grateful for?

Yesterday was the birthday of a very special man in my life and I'm so grateful to know him and be inspired by him. Also grateful to be part of Music Toronto in a small way - I love those people and they treat me so well. Grateful to be in a warm place rather than on the street like the poor woman I passed going home. And of course, grateful to all of you for making this the great place that it is.

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

Hump Day Gratitude

Time for another gratitude post. What am I grateful for?

I am grateful for all of you who want to use my Amazon affiliate link, which allows me to get cool stuff I couldn't justify spending cash on right now but adds to my life. Also grateful that you're happy to have me remind you about the links. So here they are:

Amazon.ca (JITH link)
Amazon.com (my business link)

Happy shopping! May Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales bring you the items you need/desire.

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

Let's Predict the Offseason!

With a manager in place and a coaching staff starting to take shape, one of the Jays’ major offseason projects is almost complete. The roster work, however, has barely started, with a couple of no-brainer option decisions (yes to Smoak, no to Solarte) constituting the only real major league moves. With some clear strengths and weaknesses to the roster, management is in a position to have a busy offseason, and I suspect they’ll be extremely active on the trade front.

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

Gratitude post

So let's do weekly gratitude for the off-season.

Today I am grateful for all the gifts I have received in the last few days. I am grateful that I have learned to graciously accept the giving that other people wanted to bestow. Don't know why this is so hard for people but I'm grateful I don't resist anymore and just enjoy the pleasure of receiving.

Saturday Night Spanish Guitar aka WTFJITH

Hello All,

It's time once again to break out your best (or worst) music choices to share with the class.

The offseason timelines and dates to remember

 

Now that the 2018 baseball season is officially over, it's time to look at the timelines and decisions going forward, to the frenzy of hope called spring training.
 Here are some of the dates to look at, going forward.

October 31,2018
This is the deadline for players with opt out clauses.
 Eg. Kerhaw, Price

November 2,2018
Deadline for the clubs to pick up or decline a player option
After Smoak's option was picked up for 2019, the only player left for the Jays to decide on, is Solarte, who has an option for 5.5 million in 2019 and an another in 2020 for 8 million. the buyout for both years is 750,000. Do they pay for both or just the 2018? Dunno for sure. After a hot start in 2018, Solarte cooled off to the point of where I don't think the option will be picked up. Unless there are extenuating circumstances. ( i.e. Trade, Tulo's health, etc )

This is also the deadline for teams to negotiate exclusively with their current free agents. It's also the deadline to give those free agents Qualifying Offers valued at 17.9 Million. Most of the players who were due to be FA's have been traded away with the exception of Marco Estrada. He made 13 million last year and unlikely to receive a QO.

November 6-8, 2018
General Managers meeting in Carlsbad,CA. Not much happens at this meeting as far as trades go but you never know.

November 12, 2018
This is the deadline for players to reject or accept the Qualifying Offers, if they received them. This deadline will mean jack shit to the Jays, as they have already announced that they won't be players for the big time FA's. Nor should they be.

November 20, 2018
Deadline to set the 40 man roster ahead of the rule 5 draft.  This could use a post all by itself so I'll leave it for now

November 30,2018
Deadline to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players. Jays players due for arbitration Stroman ( 2018- 6.5 Million ),Pillar-3.25 M, Grichuk-2.8 M,Sanchez 2.7M,Travis 1.45 M and Tepera- 574 thousand ( It's his first arb year )

December 9-13, 2018
Winter meetings in Lost Wages.This was usually where the trades mostly happen but with FA's being signed later and later, there haven't been as many big splashes as in years past.

December 13, 2018
On the last day of the winter meetings the Rule 5 Draft takes place. I doubt the Jays will be picking up any players but they may lose someone who wasn't protected on the 40 man roster. ( Pompey?)

January 11, 2019
Arbitration exchange day when players and management submit salary numbers for the arbitration hearings held in February. Usually they will negotiate a contract before the hearing but not always *cough* .

Please note: All of this was sourced and stolen from other sites. I'm not that smart to remember all this.
Timeline-MLBTR
Jays Contracts-Cot's
Jays contract details-Cot's
Jays current 40 man roster- MLB

2018 World Series -Game 5

Massholia is unbearable.

2018 World Series - Games 3 & 4

Again, presented without comment.

So the Manager Search is over

And it's Rays bench coach Charlie Montoyo! At least according to Shi. You can read about him in this MLB Trade Rumours post here.

Discuss!

2018 World Series - Games 1 & 2

Presented without comment.

Gratitude post

Yup, we haven't done one of these in a while.

I'm grateful that I still am able to cast a vote, something that has been taken from many people. I'm grateful for the caring and sharing this community does. And I'm grateful that the World Series features...

Fuck it, I can only take it so far.

2018 NLCS Games 6 & 7

2018 ALCS Game 5

This could be the final game of the ALCS. The Red Sox have a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Astros Here are tonight's starting lineups

We've got a series to win! #DoDamage pic.twitter.com/gInTIw4dTg

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 18, 2018

Game 5. Let's do this thing.#NeverSettle pic.twitter.com/Qyq8yzAnek

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 18, 2018

I'm rooting for a good baseball game tonight as I don't really want either team to win.Enjoy the game everyone.

2018 NLCS Game 5 ALCS Game 4

Here we go again!

2018 NLCS Game 4 ALCS Game 3

Game 4 in LA with the Brewers looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Dodgers.But first, the Red Sox and Astros resume the ALCS in Houston. Here are the lineups below.

Game 3. Keuchel on the bump. Go time.#NeverSettle pic.twitter.com/UyNPFrcbTH

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 16, 2018

For the series lead. #DoDamage pic.twitter.com/RWZBXEULUR

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 16, 2018

Tonight's GM. 4 Dodger lineup vs. Brewers:
Taylor LF
Turner 3B
Freese 1B
Machado SS
Dozier 2B
Hernández CF
Puig RF
Barnes C
Hill P #LADetermined | #NLCS pic.twitter.com/xeNvIe1AMM

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 16, 2018

Orlando Arcia and the #Brewers are using this lineup for game 4 of the #NLCS. #OurCrewOurOctober pic.twitter.com/FE9wDfX0IM

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 16, 2018

2018 NLCS Game 2 ALCS Game 1

Have at it!

2018 NLCS Game 1

Yeah, it's early for a game thread but figured we could use something new.

This is a post about Nothing:

Because the geniuses who run MLB have moronically decided to halt their playoff season for two full days just to see who can get rusty.

noth·ing

ˈnəTHiNG/

pronoun

1. 1.

   not anything; no single thing.

   "I said nothing"

   synonyms:

   not a thing, not anything, nil, zero, naught/nought;

1703 × 1152

Real smart, Manfred.

NLCS should be starting tomorrow.  Or, in the words of Stoeten, "Dumb".

Discuss.

2018 NLDS 4, ALDS 3

Have at it!

2018 ALDS Game 2

Have at it!

2018 NLDS 2, ALDS 1

Have at it!

2018 NLDS Game 1

Have at it!

2018 AL Wild Card Game Thread

Hmmm, I got distracted, and just noticed the game thread wasn't up. So I'm a slapping this one up.
I'd love to add a bunch of witty words of wisdom but what would Wally wail about?

ten weekly random thoughts: week 26 September 24-30

The 2018 MLB season is officially over. The Blue Jays head into the off-season with lots of uncertainty, the biggest being who will be the next manager (I will analyze that a bit this week). The health of some of their players will also be a big concern (Aaron Sanchez had surgery on his ailing finger and missed his final start, Troy Tulowitzki missed the entire season with double heel surgery). The best trade the Blue Jays made by far was acquiring Ken Giles, who has been lights out, converting all 14 saves for Toronto. He is the only pitcher in the MLB not to have a blown save. Here are 10 random thoughts from week 26 of the MLB.

Game #162 Toronto Blue Jays (73-89) @ Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) - game recap

Jake Bauers was 3-3 with 2RBI and 2 runs scored as the Rays beat the Blue Jays 9-4

Here we are, the final game of the 2018 MLB season. Russell Martin was the unofficial manager, filling out the lineup cards and handling the duties that John Gibbons would normally do. The Blue Jays were looking to give Gibbons a final series win before he rides off into the sunset.. The soon-to-be-ex-Blue Jays manager will almost certainly find employment elsewhere, hopefully in a better situation. Here is a today's game recap.

#162 - Toronto Blue Jays (73-88) at Tampa Bay Rays (89-72)

Sunday, September 30, 2018 | 3:10 pm

Trop's House of Horrors |Tampa, FL

Sam Gaviglio (3-9, 5.19, 1.43) vs. Ryne Stanek (2-3, 3.08, 1.10)

PREAMBLE:

Well, this is it.  The final game of the 2018 season for the Toronto Blue Jays, and the final 'official' managing game as a Jay for John Gibbons, though he's allowing Russell Martin to pull the strings for today's game.

Russell has filled out an interesting lineup card for the game - see lineups at the bottom of game thread.  McKinney batting 3rd?  Pillar leading off?  Sure, why not.

Sam Gaviglio takes the mound as he looks to avoid going to 10 losses for the season, and he'll face Ryne Stanek, who's starting a bullpenning game against the Jays for what seems like the 38th time this season.

Game #161 Toronto Blue Jays (73-88) @ Tampa Bay Rays (89-72) - game recap

Mallex Smith drove in the game winning run in the 7th as the Rays edged the Blue Jays 4-3

This will unofficially be the last game John Gibbons manages for the Blue Jays as he is handing over the reins to catcher Russell Martin on Sunday. Today was a rematch of last Sunday's epic pitcher's duel between Ryan Borucki and Blake Snell. The Blue Jays were looking to get their skipper a series win to end his time in Toronto. Here is today's game recap.

#161 - Toronto Blue Jays (73-87) at Tampa Bay Rays (88-72)

The Gibby Lean will be missed.

Saturday, September 29, 2018 | 6:10 pm

Trop's House of Horrors | Tampa, FL

Ryan Borucki (4-5, 3.76, 1.31) vs. Blake Snell (21-5, 1.90, 0.96)

PREAMBLE:

The penultimate game of the season is here and essentially the final game for John Gibbons as Blue Jays manager as Russ Martin will handle the duties in tomorrow's finale.

The pitching matchup, again, should be a fun one with budding rotation fixture Ryan Borucki taking on Blake Snell as the latter looks to lock up the Cy Young award.  Snell has won nine consecutive starts with a 1.03 ERA in that span - pretty much the ultimate definition of taking control of his fate for the Cy Young.

Game #160 Toronto Blue Jays (73-87) @ Tampa Bay Rays (88-72) - game recap

Randal Grichuk hit a go-ahead triple in the 7th as the Blue Jays edged the Rays 7-6

We have reached the final weekend of the 2018 season. It will be bittersweet in several ways. This series marks the final one with John Gibbons as manager. The Blue Jays traded away one of the last major pieces from that magical 2015 playoff run as Josh Donaldson became an Indian. JA Happ left July 31st for the Yankees. Likely the only remaining players from 2015 on the team next year will be Russell Martin, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, Justin Smoak, Kevin Pillar, Devon Travis, Ryan Tepera and Troy Tulowitzki. Here's hoping for a three game sweep to send Gibby off on a positive. Here is today's game recap.

#160 - Toronto Blue Jays (72-87) at Tampa Bay Rays (88-71)

Yes, that's the Trop.  Fitting, right?

Friday, September 28, 2018 | 7:10 pm

Trop's House of Horrors | Tampa, FL

Thomas Pannone (4-1, 3.85, 1.12) vs. Tyler Glasnow (1-5, 4.11, 1.01)

PREAMBLE:

It feels like we're seeing Tampa for the 40th time in the past month or so, thanks to the unbalanced schedule.  We've also seen Ryne Stanek and Tyler Glasnow (tonight's starter) about 17 times each by now, too.

In the final series of the 2018 season for the Blue Jays, the team looks to end the season on a good note and send Gibby off into the sunset with a well-deserved 1-year severance contract.  Even though it's against Tampa, a team that practices voodoo on the Jays, anything could happen in this series with neither team having anything to play for.

Thomas Pannone looks to wrap up a fine rookie season in style by taking the ball tonight for the Jays.  He goes up against the big guy, Tyler Glasnow, in a rematch from last Saturday, which Pannone won by a 5-2 score.

Game #159 Houston Astros (100-58) @ Toronto Blue Jays (72-87) - game recap

John Gibbons managed his final game as a Blue Jay and his team gave him a 3-1 victory over the Astros

Here we are. The final home game of the 2018 season. The Blue Jays will finish one or two games below .500, depending on the outcome. Today, the Blue Jays announced that John Gibbons will not return as Blue Jays manager, perhaps the worst kept secret in all of baseball. He will be sorely missed by fans and all of us here at JITH. Sean Reid-Foley started his final game of the season. Here is today's game recap.

#158 - Houston Astros (100-57) at Toronto Blue Jays (71-87)

Wednesday, September 26, 2017 | 4:07 pm

House of Gibbons | Toronto, ON

Chris Devenski (2-2, 4.12, 1.21) vs. Sean Reid-Foley (2-4, 5.40, 1.67)

Game #158 Houston Astros (100-57) @ Toronto Blue Jays (71-87) - game recap

Alex Bregman hit a 1st inning 2-run HR as the Astros knocked off the Blue Jays 4-1

Lots going on today ahead of this one. The Roberto Osuna assault case wrapped up today with him signing a peace bond after his girlfriend decline to return from Mexico to appear. The Blue Jsys also found out a pair of players seasons are over. Aaron Sanchez had surgery on his ailing finger. The team is hoping he'll be able to participate fully in training camp next year. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is also finished after sustaining a grade II hamstring strain in the 1st inning last night running to 1st. This means Yangervis Solarte will see more playing time in the last 5 games. Sam Gaviglio made his final start of the season tonight. He was looking to end an up and down season on a positive. The Blue Jays were also hoping to prevent the Astros from getting win #100 tonight and being in a position to clinch the AL West title. Here is today's game recap.

#158 - Houston Astros (99-57) at Toronto Blue Jays (71-86)

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 | 7:07 pm

Skydome | Toronto, ON

Josh James (1-0, 2.81, 1.00) vs. Sam Gaviglio (3-8, 5.18, 1.42)

Game #157 Houston Astros (99-57) @ Toronto Blue Jays (71-86) - game recap

Jose Altuve was 2-5 with a RBI and a run scored as the Astros defeated the Blue Jays 5-3

The MLB schedule makers saved the best for last for Blue Jays fans. This series has so many intriguing pieces. The Gurriel brothers face off in Toronto. Roberto Osuna pitches in Toronto for the first time since being arrested. Ken Giles faces his old team. Oh yeah and the Blue Jays could affect the outcome of the AL West title. Oakland is currently 4.5 games back. If the Blue Jays sweep Houston and Oakland sweeps Seattle. They could force the Astros to face the Yankees in the wild card game. Here is today's game recap.

no. 157 - Houston Astros (98-57) at Toronto Blue Jays (71-85)

Monday, September 24, 2018 | 7:07 pm

House of Gurriel | Toronto, ON

Dallas Keuchel (11-11, 3.71, 1.29) vs. Marco Estrada (7-13, 5.57, 1.41)

ten weekly random thoughts: week 25 September 17-23

We have arrived at the final week in the MLB schedule. There have been good moments (Kendrys Morales seven game HR streak, the play of Ryan Borucki, Yangervis Solarte becoming just the second player in the live ball era with 5 hits) and they've had bad moments (the pitching, countless errors that shouldn't be made and players not hustling). In 2017, after 156 games, the Blue Jays had a record of 73-83, two wins better than this year. This week, I will finish my analysis of all 9 positions with the two corner outfield positions and the pitchers (split into starters and relievers). Next week, I will analyze a replacement for John Gibbons and look at the free agents available. Here are ten random thoughts from week 25 of the MLB.