Hey, these guys lost 111 games last year! This will be a piece of cake! Right?

Last Friday, just in time for the home opener, Ken Rosenthal broke the story that several Jays players were willing to defer salary so that the jays could sign Ubaldo Jimenez. AA and paul Beeston basically confirmed that in interviews. I wondered what impact that freeze had on the off-season. What transactions that we thought the Jays were in on, were they in fact no-where near? I assume AA became aware of his budget shortly after the season ended. As the season was coming to a close he was talking about adding starting pitching. By the winter meetings he was focused internally. But he never made that public, and all winter the fans thought that the Jays were all-in, and could add to the payroll for a playoff push. All off-season the Jays were thought to be waiting on Jimenez and Santana. Were they?

Remember that Rogers appointed a new CEO last year, one who has the reputation of a cost cutter. His arrival could easily have come with a directive, all budgets are frozen until I get to review the operations. I don't remember the exact date but the CEO did not meet with the Jays until early this year.

The affiliates were 2-2 today, highlighted by an extra inning win by Buffalo.  Dwight Smith JR had a monster game against a rehabbing Cole Hamels in the FSL with Dunedin, to go along with a strong start by Daniel Norris.

Dickie Thon hit a grand slam home run to give Lansing a 4-0 lead in the first game of a doubleheader. Later in that game, with the scores tied, Thon made an error that allowed the two winning runs to score. Lansing were shut out of the second game and were swept. Some of the young pitchers had tough days. New Hampshire also had a lead that the bullpen let slip away ruining an excellent start by Austin Bibbens-Dirkx. Buffalo were rained out.

The only win went to Dunedin. JA Happ started and was OK. The hitters exploded for 17 hits.

After a perfect first night the Jays go 2-1 on Friday. Deck McGuire pitched well for New Hampshire and AJ Jimenez had three hits to lead the Fisher Cats to the win. Lansing got good pitching from three prospects plus good hitting from several hitters to win easily. Dunedin lost in extra innings despite excellent pitching by Taylor Cole. Buffalo were rained out.

It’s major league baseball time in Toronto, once again.

Dustin McGowan gets the honour of starting the home opener against the New York Yankees. He faces off against Masahiro Tananka, who will be making his major league debut. Blue Jay legend Roy Halladay will throw the opening pitch.

Winners all round to start the season. Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Matt Boyd all pitched well. Anthony Gose, Matt Tuiasosopo, Kenny Wilson, Ryan Schimpf, Kevin Nolan, AJ Jimenez, Dwight Smith and KC Hobson all had multi hit games.

Lansing played in the cross town showdown against Michigan State, details to come later.

Today is opening day for the minor leaguers. Three of the Jays full season teams start league play today. The Lansing Lugnuts play their annual exhibition game against Michigan State. The full slate is shown below.

The minor league season starts on Thursday but the rosters have been finalized.  Teams are flying in to their cities and ready to meet the media and season ticket holders before the games begin.

Two teams have released their rosters so far.

This is your thread for the Tampa series.  We get a nice surprise to start with, the lineup is not full of lefties.

You have made your 2014 prediction, including the Blue Jays. You have read the Blue Jay round table. Now it is your turn to go on the record and tell us what will happen in 2014.

It is finally time for some Blue Jays baseball, for real. To get you ready for the season the roster answered some questions about the 2014 version of the Jays.

Better late than never, here are the results of the 2013 record prediction contest. 2012's winner rpriske failed to repeat. Last years third place finisher came in third again. The second place finisher was fourth last year while the winner was 18th showing its better to peak than to be consistent.

It's time to go on the record with your predictions for 2014. You should know the drill by now and try and do better than last year.

Over the next few days the rosters of the Blue Jays full-season minor-league affiliates will be released to the public. But for this upcoming season, Lansing has the potential to be a very exciting team to follow.