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| Hey, maybe their good fortune will rub off on the Jays today... |
Sunday, May 26 , 2019 | 1:07 pm
Rogers Centre | Raptorland, ON
PREAMBLE:
Oh, there's a ballgame today? 90% of Toronto wouldn't even notice. Blue Jays, who?
Marcus Stroman takes the ball today as the Jays look to avoid getting swept by the Padres.
NOTES:
Well... I had some content here involving Chris Paddack, but he's scratched... so... Go Raptors?
I like the "firearm tightness" typo.#BlueJays place Tim Mayza on IL with firearm tightness — something to do with ulnar nerve — and promote Jacob Waguespack from Buffalo. Justin Shafer was summoned “just in case” but has not been activated.— John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) May 26, 2019
BLUE JAYS HISTORY:
Today's one-time Jay of the Day is ... Frank Catalanotto!
Years as a Jay: 2003-2006
Stats as a Jay: .299/.365/.445 with 29 HR and 200 RBI in 1783 PAs (466 games)
- 10th round pick of the Tigers in 1992 and came up as a second baseman in 1997
- Did not get regular playing time with the Tigers, frequently appearing as a PH while also playing sporadically at 1B, 2B, 3B
- Traded to the Rangers as part of a eight-player blockbuster that also involved Coco Cordero, Justin Thompson, Bill Haselman and a minor leaguer in exchange for Juan Gonzalez, Gregg Zaun and Danny Patterson
- Not long after joining the Rangers, he had a club-record 13 straight plate appearances where he safely reached base (10 hits and 3 walks)
- Fifth in batting average (.330) in 2001
- After the 2002 season, the Rangers did not offer a contract, and the Blue Jays scooped him up
- Primarily an outfielder with the Jays, a position he started taking up during the 2001 season
- Set a Jays record by going 6 for 6 on May 1, 2004
- After his four years with the Jays, he went back to the Rangers for two years then wrapped up his career with one-year stints with Milwaukee and the Mets
- Currently in his first year as head coach of the New York Institute of Technology college baseball team -- took them to the East Coast Conference tournament in his first season with a 32-14 record after the program had endured 11 straight losing seasons
- More about Catalanotto in his current managing post: Link here
- Wouldn't Cat look great in the leadoff spot right now, batting in front of Vlad Jr.?
LINEUPS:
This is your "time to start winning now that the Raptors are off for a few days" game threat.
