"Flames then frost" here in New Hampshire

RHP Chad Jenkins has a shot at joining the Blue Jays next week when a need for a fifth starter arises. Here at Double-A New Hampshire, the only candidates are Jenkins, Drew Hutchison and Brett Cecil. In this video, Jenkins talks about his most recent start against New Britain. Jenkins pitches tonight against the Binghamton Mets ... RHPs Clint Everts and Yohan Pino were sent to New Hampshire from Triple-A Las Vegas, and RHP Fernando Hernandez was placed on the disabled list ... Nobody sums up the weather here like Justin Jackson: "Flames then frost the next day," tweeted @JaxChillinOne ... Fisher Cats now have four No. 1 draft picks on the active roster: Jackson, Everts, Jenkins and Cecil. Jackson's .400 average ranks fourth in the Eastern League. However, this is a weak at-bat from a homer-hungry JJax.

Fisher Cats starting pitcher Chad Jenkins delivers a fastball at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Kevin Littlefield/Staff

Jason Marquis talks about his daughter's recovery

Big leaguer Jason Marquis split the plate in half for eight innings, making a final tuneup for New Britain before rejoining the Twins next week at Yankee Stadium. Marquis gave up two runs, including a solo homer by Koby Clemens, to beat New Hampshire, 5-3, on opening night at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. The 104-game winner fanned seven Fisher Cats without issuing a walk. Following the game, he talked about 7-year-old daughter Reese's recovery from a bicycle accident and how she is likely to make a full recovery from internal injuries and surgery. Great news. 

Fisher Cats Workout Day and Bonus DVD

Brett Cecil will join the Fisher Cats in Reading, Pa., and start Monday's game in a rematch of the 2011 Northern Division playoffs. "Let's face it. He's probably not going to be real happy about having to come back to the minors. This is a good place to get your stuff together. I'm confident he'll get his game together and everything will be fine," said Fisher Cats pitching coach Tom Signore, who coached Cecil for part of last season at Las Vegas.

Koby Clemens is built like a house and generates a lot of pop with a short-to-the-ball swing ... Dude hits bullets during BP ... "Lot of Dunkin Donuts up here, which is a plus," said Drew Hutchison ... I watched LHP Aaron Loup throw a side session today and his slider was absolutely ridiculous ... Brad Glenn has big-league power and may win a complimentary night at the Hilton Garden Inn by homering off the hotel beyond left-center field this season ... Cool event tonight for Fisher Cats season ticket holders, who met the 2012 players and fan favorite/Twitter hero Justin Jackson ... In this clip, Brian Jeroloman works the video camera and takes a, um, "artsy" closeup of Drew Hutchison during a photo shoot for the New Hampshire Union Leader ... Here is the second half of the wicked awesome interview with Hutchison and Mike McDade on Media Day:

Fisher Cats Media Day Fun

Drew Hutchison will start Thursday's opener at Trenton, followed by Chad Jenkins and Deck McGuire in the rotation. In two sentences, Hutch succinctly talked about his thoughts on being a top Toronto prospect. "My responsibility is to go there and give everything I can to help the team win that day," he said. "If you work had and that's your approach, none of the other stuff matters."

Other compelling notes: Mike McDade had to unfollow teammate Justin Jackson on Twitter. "I couldn't even look at other people's stuff. It was just him," McDade said. Hutchison added, "The feed was getting clogged." Koby Clemens crushed his first interview session, even dropping "oppo-taco" and talking about being a leader in the clubhouse. I already like this kid, who, yes, was almost immediately asked about his dad. "People talk about the pressures of my last name, but I always say I'm going to be Koby Clemens. I'm going to be Koby. My dad's always said that. I'm just like anybody else that's trying to make it in this game."

The Rocket's oldest son had all the right answers, even when asked about the negative side of the Clemens name. "I really don't look at negatives if anybody brings them up. I've got a lot more positives coming back from having my dad being who he is," Clemens told Marc Thaler of the New Hampshire Union Leader ... Here's our low-key interview with Hutchison and McDade, who discuss @JaxChillinOne and other random issues as we chat inside the visiting clubhouse: 

Blue Jays and Phillies in Dunedin

Here at spring training with the Blue Jays, all eyes are on Sergio Santos, whose fastball and slider are enough to close out games, and now he's refining a changeup. I just love that photo! Today we're at the Jays-Phillies game in Dunedin, watching Ricky Romero throw two scoreless and catching up with Brett Lawrie in pregame. Jose Bautista's setup, load and timing of swing is a thing of beauty. What is Robinzon Diaz doing right now? 

Kevin Littlefield/Staff photographer

Noah Syndergaard throwing "downhill bullets"

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Spent the day at Blue Jays minor-league camp, catching with old friends and getting a chance to watch Noah Syndergaard throw some lightning bolts. The big Texan is every bit of 6-foot-5 and stands tall, maximizing downward trajectory. While standing behind catcher Santiago Nessy, I got a sense of what it might feel like trying to hit Syndergaard. The term "throwing downhill" comes to mind as his fastball vapor-trails from a 3/4 arm slot (maybe a bit higher) and into the glove. If this kid starts commanding his changeup, it's over. Noah, still only 19 years old, says the changeup is currently his second-best pitch. Interview here ... Sal Fasano: "He's the best pure thrower we have, hitting 97, 98. Mechanics are getting better and better. He has a chance to be something special," Sal Fasano said. "The key is having a workable delivery that he can repeat over and over again." My guess is the Blue Jays will assign Syndergaard to Single-A Dunedin, and if he dominates, they'll give him a taste of Double-A in July. Who is heading north to New Hampshire? It's still too early to say, but catcher A.J. Jimenez is currently penciled in as the Fisher Cats catcher. Middle infielder Ryan Goins is likely headed to New Hampshire, along with power-hitting outfielder Brad Glenn ... Alan Farina threw his first bullpen (20 pitches) since Tommy John surgery and was encouraged. Farina begins the year on the 60-day DL and hopes to be throwing at 100 percent by July. 

Random Brad Emaus update

Forgive me if Brad Emaus seemed a bit out of place on a practice field at Red Sox spring training, in the afternoon, grinding it out while big leaguers were done for the day -- already fishing or golfing. After all, Emaus was the opening day shortstop for the Mets last season. Didn't quite work out, though. Today he's looking for a minor-league infield job with the Sox ... "Brad's a good offensive player," Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said. "For whatever reason, he's was running out of opportunity. We got him into camp, and we'll get a chance to know him better this spring. We're hopeful he can help us, more likely, at the minor-league level to start. He's a guy that's always hit. We'll see if that translates to Boston."

Red Sox minor leaguer Brad Emaus takes infield in Fort Myers, Fla. Kevin Littlefield/Staff photographer

More on Emaus and ex-Blue Jays Jesse Carlson in my baseball column for the New Hampshire Union Leader. Cherington on Carlson: "He had one really good year in Toronto (in 2008). He's mostly a matchup-lefty. Low arm angle and good slider. He gives lefties fits when he's going well."

Blue Jays and Pirates Notes

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Bling in Bradenton! That was the pregame theme as members of the 2011 Fisher Cats got their first look at the Eastern League championship ring before today's game against the Pirates. Fisher Cats team photographer Kevin Littlefield, who was given a ring for all his hard work through the years, showed it off following batting practice ... "It was awesome. I can't even describe it with words, when you see the symbol of all the hard work," said Travis d'Arnaud, who played against his older brother, Pirates infielder Chase.

Travis Snider drove in three runs, and catcher Jeff Mathis made a "web gem" (John Farrell's words) in the fifth inning, pouncing on a well-placed bunt by Alex Presley ... Anthony Gose put on a display of speed and athleticism, scoring from second base on a squib grounder to the right side during Toronto's 8-5 win. Hard to fathom, I know. Gose said he just kept going on the Snider chopper, and, luckily for him, Pirates were caught sleeping ... I asked Gose after the game, "Were trying to show off your speed or what?" He replied, "Gotta do something!"

Sam Fuld and "insanely gifted athletes"

The Legend continues. It was great to catch up with New Hampshire native Sam Fuld in Port Charlotte, Fla., yesterday. The man dropped great insight on the game and money quotes, as usual: "I learned a lot (last year), but, above all, I learned this game is really, really hard. I always knew that, of course, but to play at the highest level over the course of 162 games takes a ton of mental strength. Each, you're pitted against insanely gifted athletes -- and that takes a toll on you after a while." My two favorite shots from the afternoon: 

Kevin Littlefield/Staff photographer

Kevin Littlefield/Staff photographer

Just another New Hampshire angle ...

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- This is big for The 603: Minnesota Twins pitcher Terry Doyle finished his Wednesday workout at the team's spring-training complex and received some great news from pitching coach Rick Anderson: “You’re starting against the Red Sox.”

Doyle, a Salem (N.H.) native, will be the first visiting big leaguer to take the mound at JetBlue Park. Boston’s official opener of the Grapefruit League will be televised Sunday on NESN at 1:30 p.m.


The big righty went 7-5 (3.24 ERA) and threw a pair of complete games for Double-A Birmingham last season. Doyle, 26, made a big impression on the Twins during the Arizona Fall League. They scooped him up during baseball's winter meetings in the Rule 5 Draft ... In other news, Lars Anderson is still a fascinating guy to talk with:

Watch out for Jesse's curve

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Former Blue Jays reliever Jesse Carlson is once again throwing pain-free after spending all of last season recovering from rotator cuff surgery. He signed a split contract with the Red Sox and has a good shot at winning a bullpen job.

“I know what I can do when I’m healthy. I think here with the Red Sox I’ll actually be used how I should be used,” Carlson said. "There (with Toronto), it didn’t matter if we were winning, losing. If we were up 10 or down 10, it was kind of like, ‘Let’s put Carlson in.’ That’s fine. I’m not going to complain. I’m there to pitch. I did everything I could to help the team. I just think, being that we have so many good guys in the (Boston) bullpen, I think each guy will have specific roles. I think my role will be to get left-handers out.”

The slender Carlson is loaded with tattoos on his upper body, including a "good vs. evil theme" on his arms. In 2009, he was involved with a bench-clearing brawl at Yankee Stadium that started after Jorge Posada gave him a forearm shiver while crossing home plate.

Spring Training Day 3: Familiar faces

On every road trip, I always seem to find someone from New Hampshire, and try to mention them in a story, but yesterday took the cake. Just some of the folks from The 603: fans David T. Segal and son Benjamin of Bow, Nicole Pappas of Nashua, Nick Mourgenous and family from Dover, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington of Meriden, Red Sox minor-league coach Ralph Truel of Wolfeboro, Red Sox psychology coach Bob Tewksbury of Concord, WTPL Radio crew of Concord, and I'll even include ex-Fisher Cats Jesse Carlson and Brad Emaus. 

Back in Blue Video Podcast VIII

These guys totally cracked me up this week, wearing eyeblack stickers and having fun with some random stuff I sent them. Been meaning to give them a shoutout here in the Gray Matter Swag District. Love the passion of these guys and how they swagged up at 10:45.

Spring Training first stop: Fort Myers

The coolest thing about JetBlue Park is how it looks and feels like the 100-year-old Fenway version in Boston -- and today it was 87 degrees. Hello from Fort Myers, Fla., where the Red Sox unveiled a $78 million player development complex and ballpark, funded with tourist taxes. I'm loving the $5 tickets for a lawn spot beyond right field, and an interesting Green Monster with seats in the middle of it. 

The new Pesky Pole at JetBlue Park is already Fenway-esque.

Everyone here is happy, except for Josh Beckett, who apparently hasn't turned the page on last year's Beer and Chicken Controvery, a symbol of the epic September collapse. Beckett told WEEI today that someone in the clubhouse was a snitch and made up those reports of Beckett and others playing video games and crushing KFC during the late innings at Fenway Park.


"Somebody made that stuff up, just like somebody made up that we were doing stuff," Beckett said in the interview. "This is stupid. I don't understand what the big deal is. Somebody was trying to save their own ass, and it probably cost a lot of people their asses. The snitching [expletive], that's [expletive]. It's not good."


I caught up with ex-Blue Jays reliever Jesse Carlson, who'll be pitching in Thursday's "B game" against the Twins. The lefty threw live batting practice today and looked terrific. He said his shoulder is back at 100 percent, and he's looking make a big impact in Boston's bullpen.


Bobby Valentine is beginning to grow on me. Seventy percent of voters in a poll (right panel) believe Bobby V is a "blowhard" and won't work in Boston. He keeps asking everyone questions and is trying to learn something new about the Red Sox every moment of the day.

Fisher Cats aren't going anywhere

I believe the Fisher Cats and Blue Jays will re-up for another two years on their player development contract, keeping Toronto's Double-A team in New Hampshire through at least 2014.

That doesn't jive with the game plan in Ottawa, where city leaders are attempting to land an Eastern League franchise, preferably the Jays' affiliate, as early as 2013. One problem: there is no EL team owner willing to move to Ottawa. League president Joe McEachern has no franchise application on his desk, no lease agreement, and absolutely no reason to believe the Blue Jays are moving their Double-A team to Ottawa.

The Fisher Cats will remain in New Hampshire whether they are aligned with the Blue Jays, Twins, Rays or another team. Many fans around here are hoping the Fisher Cats eventually become an affiliate of the Red Sox, who are signed to play in Portland, Maine, through 2014. Ottawa is a long way from landing a team but the city is sure creating a buzz, as reported in my baseball column in today's New Hampshire Sunday News.

“The people of Ottawa are trying to position themselves for consideration to have an Eastern League franchise,” McEachern said. “There’s still an awful lot of work to be done for them to host a team, not the least of which is finding an owner of (an affiliated) team to move there.”

The Fisher Cats and Blue Jays have agreed to a player development contract through 2012. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say they'll extend the PDC for another two years with an announcement this spring or summer. Fisher Cats team president Rick Brenner directed any questions about affiliations to the league office.

“The Blue Jays have a great relationship with New Hampshire. The only way the Blue Jays would ever leave New Hampshire – and nobody, absolutely nobody has talked with Toronto about this happening – would be if another team agreed to come (to New Hampshire). It would have to be a win-win situation for everyone," McEachern said.

Charlie Wilson, Toronto's director of minor league operations, has told me the Blue Jays want to stay in Manchester as long as possible, saying the club's relationship with NH is "amazing."

Analytics and anacondas

I like glancing at Blogger analytics and learning about my audience. Since Gray Matter was launched in October, we've had 46,278 visitors from Canada and 39,334 from the United States. Only 146 readers have checked in from Japan, which is strange considering I'm big in Japan, literally. How do people get here? Besides Twitter and Facebook? Well, drunkjaysfans.com has sent 5,584 readers and bluebirdbanter.com 463. Thank you ... And some of the random Web searches and keywords people have used to find the site:

"Tim Thomas moustache" (119 searches. Seriously)

"Drew Hutchison scouting report" (78). 

"Yu Darvish decision" (76. Too soon?)

"Mark Sobolewski melanoma" (25)

"Vince Wilfork wife" (10 searches. No, really)

"Ricky Romero Rima Fakih breakup" (9)

"Jake Marisnick prospect" (8)

"Anacondas hunt alligator" (1)

"Redcoats from the Revolutionary War" (1)

"Kevin Gray swag" (1)

Proving Ricky Romero is a great sport

Here's a special sports front that was made for Ricky Romero after the Celtics defeated the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. Though never published, it was part of an inside joke as teammates and the media began ganging up Ricky and love for the Lakers. He actually did wear that Celtics No. 11 shirt (Glen "Big Baby" Davis) during batting practice one day, the result of losing a bet. 

And here is the postgame video of Ricky answering questions while his Lakers are getting crushed in Game 7. Watch the end of the video to see how the Fisher Cats decorated his locker. Brian Jeroloman was a big part of this:

Lineup card from a 2009 game in which Romero took on the Binghamton Mets:

Headlines you'll see from Spring Training

Storylines to watch for at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin:

Media buzz: new closer Sergio Santos. This time he's at big-league camp in Dunedin.

All eyes on: Kyle Drabek. Could be the X Factor to Toronto's rotation.

Rising star: Travis d'Arnaud is creating a nice catching problem for the Jays.

Breaking out: OF Colby Rasmus and 3B Brett Lawrie.

Friendly competition: Eric Thames and Travis Snider in left field.

Protection needed: Jose Bautista's 2011 season was even more impressive when considering his lack of protection. Adam Lind needs a bounce-back season in the five-hole.

Intriguing prospect: Moises Sierra. Earned a spot on the 40-man after a championship Double-A season. Sweet tools.

The view from J.P. Arencibia's crib at Clearwater Beach this spring.
Photo by the mayor of the K2 Swag District. 

Tony Plush wasn't invited on this trip

World Series champion Chris Carpenter caught this lunker, a peacock bass, on a recent trip to Brazil with fellow Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. The All-Star excursion included elite angler Skeet Reese and former Blue Jays reliever B.J. Ryan. They returned home with tales of anacondas and alligators.

Photo courtesy of Chris Carpenter

Weak Monday Notebook

Jambo. Here's a stream of consciousness-like blog, which isn't very good because I have a screaming headache ... Former Blue Jays farmhand Scott Campbell, who played in the MLB Futures Game during a terrific 2008 season, is coaching with New Zealand U-18 baseball ... Dominic Rich had 30 doubles to lead the 2004 Fisher Cats. Last I heard, he was a power lifter ... Fisher Cats lefty Frank Gailey popped the question to the lovely Christina Dougherty -- she said yes! -- and Gailey was soon traded to the Phillies. Congrats on the engagement and trade! That's good news for Gailey, a Philly native ... Carlos Quentin is ready to break down, while Travis Snider and Eric Thames are ready to blossom ... JaxChillinOne reached 1,500 followers for his 23rd birthday ... Kathy Anderson's episode 8 is another gem. "The Mets invest to blow some saves." ... See those sunglasses in the above photo? They were given to me after laser eye surgery and lasted about two weeks ... I applied for my passport. I really want to visit Toronto next summer and have some kind of party with all the Blue Jays fans that have been so kind while following my blog and Twitter account ... Finally, the Monte Carlo scene from Training Day:                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJOZpn8Moh4