Tip of the Tower Podcast: Toronto Blue Jays 2018 season preview
It is opening day for the Toronto Blue Jays so David Morassutti, Austin Owens and Richard Lee-Sam welcome Tyler Partridge back to preview the 2018 season, look at what to expect and give their predictions.
There is no better time for baseball fans than opening day and the Toronto Blue Jays kick off their 2018 season with a four-game series against the New York Yankees.
For us, at Tip of the Tower, we have put together a special edition of the podcast previewing the 2018 season, with David, Austin, Richard and Tyler giving their official predictions for the season.
(0:00-16:20) Apparently, Richard could be missing so the podcast starts without him as they look back at the walk-off home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the impact that it has going forward.
Did Montreal miss a chance to showcase their ability to support an MLB team or was this just a blip on the radar? At least the home run salvaged what could have been a rough low-scoring game.
What does the future hold for Guerrero Jr.? Is he worthy of getting a look at some point this season? The guys debate that idea and how he might stack up in the past, considering how other teams have approached the development of their top prospects.
(16:20-34:55) Teoscar Hernandez had a strong spring training, but was it enough to earn him a spot on the roster? It certainly is worth considering, especially with the value he has given to them since being acquired for Francisco Liriano.
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Another idea they debate is if Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette get called up, how does the team fit in them into the lineup? It does not help with some of the tough signings they have made.
Also, was Danny Espinosa trying to eliminate some competition when the bat slipped from his hands? Considering who was in the vicinity, it was probably innocent but it would have been a great conspiracy theory.
Is the Yankees lineup as dangerous as people are making it out to be? Tyler doesn’t believe so.
(34:55-1:13:10) The trio breaks down the starting rotation and what each pitcher brings to the table, and why Jaime Garcia could be a value pickup given how his spring has gone.
J.A. Happ will be in charge of ending a home opener losing streak that started back in 2012. The last pitcher to win a home opener was Ricky Romero and there were some interesting contributions from that game.
Next, the guys predict their opening day lineup and discuss why they chose to order it the way they did. They also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the lineup.
Richard then calls in to prove that he is alive! He provides his opening day lineup with a couple of interesting decision and his reasoning behind it.
(1:13:10-end) Who should the Blue Jays be concerned with on the mound this season? The guys give their thoughts on who could be in for a tough season, but they also give their prediction on who is their bounce-back candidate.
How many wins will the team have in 2018? The guys give their official prediction, with Richard being the most optimistic with his choice. They also discuss what could be the biggest issue the Blue Jays will have to overcome this season.
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