Before every Major League Baseball All-Star Game, a prospects game is held. Referred to as The All-Star Futures Game, which is a Team USA vs. Team World friendly, it features the best young talent from teams' minor-systems. Representing the Toronto Blue Jays this year was none other than top prospect Anthony Gose.
The NHL season is quickly approaching and it's at this time of the year when general managers have to decide what to do before the next season begins. Will the Toronto Maple Leafs chase Roberto Luongo? Should they let their young prospects grow or fast-track them into the big-leagues?
The Toronto Blue Jays have had an up-and-down first half of their 2012 season, which has seen the bats of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion dazzle while ace Ricky Romero has struggled mightily. Here are our individual mid-term report cards for each of the Jays' hitters through 83 games.
Steve Nash has finally chosen a home for next year, and it's with the Los Angeles Lakers. It was an exciting couple of weeks but now that the NBA All-Star has made his decision, and the dust as settled, let's look back and see who really won and who really lost in what I call the "Steve Nash Saga."
He’s received King-like treatment from Toronto over this past week but no response from Steve Nash has had Raptors fans (like myself) worried that the home bread Canadian wants no part in returning home. He’s been urged by Wayne Gretzky, given a boatload of cash and even witnessed Bryan Colangelo pull a chess-playing move by signing Fields to a lucrative deal. All of this to make room for Nash.
It’s funny how it works. You can be the worst team in your division and still be in the running for playoff contention as the baseball season approaches its midway mark. After ousting the Kansas City Royals 6-3 Tuesday night, the A.L. East basement-dwelling Blue Jays sit just two games back of the Los Angeles Angels.
The Toronto Raptors are that much closer to landing Steve Nash after signing Landry Fields to a three-year-deal worth $20 million. The Raptors reached a verbal agreement with Fields Tuesday afternoon, although they won’t be able to sign him until July 11, the first day NBA players can sign new contracts.
How sweet would it be to see the future hall-of-fame Canadian suit up for the league’s only Canadian team? It might make the Raptors relevant on a grand stage for the first time since they lead the Atlantic in 2006, passing the Boston Celtics in the standings en route to a playoff appearance. This would be the Raptors second future hall-of-fame signing since Hakeem Olajuwon- yes, that guy- was traded to the Raptors in 2011, where he ended his career.
The Toronto Blue Jays might have a strong case for trading Edwin Encarnacion. Arguably the Jays' best overall hitter, he will be a free agent next year, and can be a good piece of bait for a team that could use a few good prospects in the pitching department.
For the second consecutive year, Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista will start the All-Star Game for the American League, receiving 4,971,155 votes. The former Silver Slugger leads the league in homeruns (26), is second is second in RBI (63) and is fourth in runs scored (56). Bautista is the lone Blue Jay heading to the All-Star game, for third time in three years.
