The Jays have two games today, an A and B game. The B game will have started at 10:00 eastern and has a number of our A batters:

Bautista 3B Hill 2B Lind DH Wells CF Overbay 1B Buck C Lubanski RF Gonzalez SS Gathright LF

B game stats aren't counted in the player's spring training stats, which in this case is too bad. 

The A game is at 1:00 eastern and will be on MLB.tv (there was just a twit from the Jays saying Sportsnet East will show today's game), the lineup for that one:

Hoffpauir 3B Emaus 2B Reed RF Ruiz 1B Dopirak DH Snider LF Aguila CF Molina C Pastornicky SS.

I'm looking forward to geting a chance to see Pastornicky play. I don't know who Aguila is, there was a Chris Aguila that played outfield for the Marlins from 2004 to 2006 and who was with the Mets in 2008. I guess that could be him. He'd be 31 now and clearly not a prospect of any sort.

Pitching in the A game will be Marc Rzepczynski, Brett Cecil, Casey Janssen and Jeremy Accardo.

The Jays made a couple of roster moves, sending Ray (formerly Reidier) Gonzalez to Vegas and Jesus  Merchan to the minor league camp. Jordan Bautista twits that Jesse Carlson has a sore knee and will test it on Wednesday, throwing off a mound.

There is nothing new on the Adeinis (or Adeiny) Hechevarria signing. The Jays won't announce his signing (or say anything about him) until he passes a physical.

More photos » Rob Carr - AP

6 days ago: Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, left, congratulates Moises Sierra, right, after he scored against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game, Monday, March 8, 2010, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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No game today, my bantering bretheren and sistren. 

• So far, young cuban lefty Arnoldis Chapman looks to be worthy of his hype.  Of course, no one really doubted his stuff. 
• The Jays reassigned top-10 pitching prospects Chad Jenkins and Zach Stewart to minor league camp today.  Both pitchers looked pretty sharp, albeit in very limited action, with the Jays.  I'm guessing that Jenkins gets assigned to high-A Dunedin to start the season (though the Jays might be conservative and start him at Lansing) and that Stewart joins Las Vegas as part of their rotation. 
• Dustin McGowan threw 2 simulated innings today.  So far it sounds like everything went well.  I still don't see him breaking camp with the rotation, he'd really have to move quickly.  My guess is that if things continue to progress, the Jays will keep him on the DL to start the season but have him almost immediately begin a rehab assignment and hope he is perhaps ready to go, barring any setbacks, by May 1st? 
• Things are really clicking so far for Ricky Romero this spring.  Everyone seems to be noticing Romero's confidence, work ethic, and impressive stuff thusfar.  It would be a big deal for Romero to simply avoid taking a step back in his sophomore season, but I'm starting to think he can actually improve this year. 
• Brian Tallet really wants to start this season.  All signs so far point to him getting his wish. 
• The Drunks, responding to rumours that have been reported around here as well that the Chicago Cubs are interested in Jason Frasor, are very interested in the North Side's bevy of young shortstops.  Frasor is, of course, a Second City native. 
• The Tao of Stieb really does not want to hear about how the Jays are playing well in meaningless games.  Fair enough. 
• Cito seems to like Mike McCoy.  I myself would like to see McCoy make the team. 

What else should we be talking about today?  Today's title, by the way, is from a song called "Goodbye Midnight" by the Spring Standards, which I thought appropriate.  If you like actual country music played by actual people as opposed to airbrushed pickup truck salesmen, definitely check them out. 

More photos » Eric Gay - AP

9 days ago: Philadelphia Phillies' Placido Polanco rips a base hit past Toronto Blue Jays' Brad Emaus during the third inning of a spring training baseball game, Friday, March 5, 2010, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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G'morning. We still have a couple of spots left in our fantasy baseball league so send me a note, if you would like to join in. If you are looking to start your own league, somewhere on the page there is a link to CBSSports.com that would save you half price from their usual fee. Or click here:

http://baseball.cbssports.com/splash/baseball/spln/mgmt/offer/a?ttag=fbbc10_on_all_sbnat_os_iab_0007

Jays play the damn Yankees today. Shaun Marcum is to start. Other pitchers that will see action: Willie Collazo, Zach Jackson, Rommie (?) Lewis, Robert Ray, Steven Register, Merkin Valdez and Zech Zinicola. The game will be on the FAN 590 and on MLB Audio. It is also on MLB.TV, that's what happens when you play the Yankees. Today's lineup:

Bautista 3B

Hill 2B

Lind DH

Wells CF

Overbay 1B

Reed RF

Gonzalez SS

Snider LF

Molina C

Cuban SS on the wish list of a number of us Jay fans, Adeiny Hechevarria has been cleared to sign with any MLB team by the 'Office of Foreign Assets Control'. The other Cuban on our wish list, Jose Ruiz, has changed agents, so it might be a bit before he signs.

Jordan Bastian has a profile of JP Arencibia, including this bit on his health troubles:

Since birth, Arencibia has had a problematic kidney condition that remained asymptomatic until last year. He suffered from a ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, which is a blockage in a tube between the kidney and bladder. During last season, Arencibia had a liter of fluid that was blocked and his weight increased to 220 pounds.

It reached the point where Arencibia was at risk of needing to have his right kidney removed -- something he wanted to avoid if possible. In September, the catcher underwent a surgery to remove the blockage, saving the kidney, but ultimately losing some of the organ's function. After the operation, Arencibia said his weight dropped to 193 pounds.

He also mentions JP's vision troubles:

"Every doctor I talked to said, 'Wow, you're playing with that vision?'" Arencibia said. "So that was my indicator."

Robert MacLeod, in the Globe, writes about pitching coach Bruce Walton. He refused to become a scab back when the owners locked out the players, in 1995, so my respect for him has taken a big step up.

Jeremy Sandler writes about Alex Anthopoulos in the National Post, there was even a shot at JP:

"I think for the first time really since the middle of last off-season ... there's a clear direction and a path about where we're going," says Anthopoulos.

The Star has a story titled "Red Sox impressed already by Scutaro". We all knew they'd like him.

John Lott in the National Post writes about Jeremy Accardo's less than fun 2009. Gotta hope better for him this year but there are a lot of arm trying for a spot in the pen.

.Ken Fidlin, in the Sun, writes about Jose Bautista's quick start to spring and another one noting Brad Mills start yesterday in the B game, saying he could play himself into the rotation battle. 

And, also in the Sun, Bob Elliot talks to some of the Canadian major leaguers about Canada's Gold Medal hockey win.

Edwin Encarnacion was to play, today, but his wrist is still 'tender'. If this was a novel, we would call this foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a literary devise where  the writer plants the seeds for bad news to come. Course I'm no doctor but his wrist surgery was near the start of the off-season. Wouldn't you think he should be healed up by now?

I'm wondering what the backup plan is at third? This is a team with roughly 75 major league ready pitching arms, but we are as thin as tissue paper in most of the position spots (which is kind of interesting since many of our position players seem to be made of tissue paper). I guess what would happen is that Bautista would move to third. After that I'd like Snider to go into right, Lind in left and Ruiz or Dopirak DHing. But I don't think Cito would do that.

It is possible that McCoy would play third and the outfield would stay as planned. McCoy though doesn't seem to have the sort of bat that you'd want in a corner spot, but then Bautista doesn't either and he's our RFer. I don't suppose the Jays would let Wallace play third for the year? 

My worry? They put Bautista at third and use Joey Gathright in RF. 

We really need Encarnacion to play and hit well. With a lineup that includes Buck, Gonzalez and has Bautista leading off, everyone else needs to have a good year for us not to have a crappy offense. 

The press release:

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have claimed RHP CASEY FIEN off waivers from the Boston Red Sox.

FIEN, 26, was recently claimed on waivers by Boston on March 1 from Detroit. In nine games for the Tigers last season he posted a 0-1 record with a 7.94 ERA in 11.1 innings. The 6-2, 195 lb. right-hander spent the majority of the 2009 season with Toledo of the International League (AAA), posting a 3.41 ERA in 42 relief appearances, adding 66 strikeouts in 58 innings. In four minor league seasons the Santa Rosa, California native has recorded a 14-6 record with a 3.04 ERA in 153 contests.

To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP SCOTT RICHMOND was placed on the 60-day disabled list with right shoulder impingement. 

Me Back:

I didn't realize that Richmond's shoulder was that bad that he should go on the 60-day DL. Fien has a 3.04 ERA in 153 games in relief in the minors. He has struck out 9.7/9 innings in the minors. He got into 9 games with the Tigers last year, pitching 11.1 innings, striking out 9 with a 7.94 ERA.

Looks like he throws two fastballs two seem and four seam as well as a slider. Looks like our bullpen picture just got a little muddier.

More photos » Darren Calabrese - AP

You can't tell from this angle, but this is the down on his luck, former Jay pitcher Pat Hentgen, now a member of the grounds crew chalking the lines at Dunedin Stadium.(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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All the writers are complaining about how cold it is in Florida. Having suffered through a particularly cold Canadian winter, I can't tell you how sorry I feel for them. Because I don't. 

Today's batting order, from Jordan Bastian:

1. Mike McCoy, 2B
2. Jeremy Reed, CF
3. Brian Dopirak, DH
4. Randy Ruiz, 1B
5. Chris Lubanski, RF
6. Jarrett Hoffpauir, 3B
7. Jose Molina, C
8. Travis Snider, LF
9. John McDonald, SS

Pitching: Marc Rzepczynski

Apparently there is someone that Cito will bat below Moonraker, Johnny Mac gets no respect. There is a question for you, who would you say is the better hitter, Mac or Jose Molina? Nice to see McCoy at the top of the order, I hope he gets a good long look this spring. And I'm already cheering all out for Chris Lubanski, someone has to platoon with Bautista, you would hope.

Brett Cecil will not be pitching today, he cut his thump and will be pushed back a couple of days. 

The Globe (and everyone else, this is the story of the day) talks about how Ricky Romero would like to be the opening day starter. On yesterday's game:

The left-hander threw 29 pitches (17 for strikes) over his two innings of work and surrendered just two hits - including a solo home shot to Brent Dlugach.

Other than that fat fastball down the centre of the plate, Romero appeared solid, moving the ball around the plate and also using his curve and slider to good effect.

But the story also includes this line:

Brian Tallet, if he doesn't wind up in the bullpen, is another option for a top-of-the-rotation guy.

You know, I like Tallet and thought he did a pretty decent job last year, considering he came straight out of the bullpen into the starting rotation, without having time to get his arm stretched out for longer appearances. He did well until he wore down, having pitched far more innings than he ever had before in a major league season. But if he's our opening day starter, it is going to be a very long season..

The National Post has a story about Vernon Wells wanting to cut down on his swing from last season.

This spring, he says, he is focusing not on power but consistency: hitting the ball up the middle and in the outfield gaps. With a consistent swing, the power will return, he said.

"It's just about trying to undo all the bad habits I formed last year in my swing. That's what I've been working on every day, just getting back to driving the ball up the middle and having a more consistent swing over the whole season."

I can imagine a guy would be pressing in the middle of a bad year. All we can do is hope this year goes better.

More photos » Darren Calabrese - AP

This is spring training, one guy throwing, Brandon Morrow, 3 guys watching. And the player's association refuses to call itself a union. If that's not union work I don't know what is.(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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It's March and spring training games start tomorrow. I'm hoping that tomorrow's game is on MLB Audio, it would be good to listen to the game but MLB.com doesn't have the spring games listed yet. I also hope that Sportsnet will show us the odd spring game, if only to get their new play-by-play man, Buck Martinez, some practice, but their schedule, up to the 13th, has 3 New York Yankee games and 2 Boston Red Sox games but no Jay games.

Jays have announced their batting order for tomorrow: Bautista 3B, Hill 2B, Lind DH, Wells CF, Overbay 1B, Buck C, Reed RF, Gonzalez SS and Snider LF. So most of their 'regulars' (or their likely regulars) except for Encarnacion. I am hoping that Reed or Lubanski show really well this spring and force Cito into using one of them as a platoon partner in RF for Jose. Ricky Romero, Dana Eveland and Josh Roenicke are each to pitch 2 innings tomorrow.

More after the Jump.

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More photos » Eric Gay - AP

Toronto Blue Jays' Scott Richmond poses with a home-made gold medal to celebrate Canada's hockey win over the United States.(AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Not wanting to take attention away from Hugo's review of Dirk's book (read the review, order the book) but couldn't pass up posting this picture. 

Jays announced starting pitchers for the first few spring games:

March 3: Ricky Romero. Dana Eveland and Josh Roenicke will also pitch. 

March 4: Marc Rzepcyznski. Brett Cecil and Kyle Drabek will pitch too. 

March 5: Brandon Morrow.

Brad Mills will start a 'B' game on the 5th.