Sportnet names Roberto Alomar as best player in Blue Jay history

Yesterday, Sportsnet revealed the final 20 players on their list of the 40 best players in Toronto Blue Jays history. Roberto Alomar topped the list, followed by Dave Stieb, Roy Halladay and Carlos Delgado. Jose Bautista was the highest ranked player still in the majors today at number five.

Among other active Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson was tenth on the list. Surprisingly, Edwin Encarnacion sat at 13, low for a player with 239 home runs in a Blue Jay uniform. If I had a vote (which I did, as Sportsnet let you rank the players on your personal list), Encarnacion would be higher than Donaldson — he spent more time with the Blue Jays and sustained his success over a longer period of time than Donaldson.

The Canadian little league team visited the Blue Jays prior to yesterday’s game, speaking with Aaron Sanchez.

Just in time for his start, the Blue Jays recalled Joe Biagini from triple-A Buffalo and designated T.J. House for assignment. Biagini had spent roughly three weeks in Buffalo being stretched out.

In the start, Biagini struggled, giving up five earned runs in just 3.2 innings pitched. He walked three and struck out four, while allowing nine hits and one home run.

The Blue Jays lost Biagini’s start to the Minnesota Twins 7-2. Despite the poor outing from Genie (Biagini’s nickname for Players Weekend), the Blue Jays combined to strikeout 17 Twins, the first time this season they’ve done so and just the eighth time in franchise history.

The game lowered their average run total to 4.28 runs a game, the lowest mark in the American League.

Today, the Blue Jays stay at the Rogers Centre to face Drew Pomeranz and the Boston Red Sox. The two starters, Marcus Stroman and Pomeranz, have a near identical ERA of 3.18 (Pomeranz) and 3.17 (Stroman). Stroman’s FIP is slightly worse than Pomeranz’s at 3.87.

Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkColley.