Toronto Blue Jays

One upon a time the 50 home run mark was a milestone for only the very best power hitters in baseball.

The feat has only been accomplished 42 times in baseball history by 26 different men.

Recent history has sadly diminished this feat.  Between 1995 and 2007, the feat was accomplished 23 times (four times each by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa).

Despite the intervention of the steroid era, baseball fans should still remember the significance of the 50 home run club. 

On September 23rd, Jose Bautista hit his 50th home run of the 2010 season. 

Jose Bautista used to be a problem for the home team, when that team was the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But now that he has found his stride, or rather his bat, in Toronto, it's now his opponents that are wondering if they have a problem.

He's looking at 50 or more home runs this year. This seems like a "high water mark," at least for now, but even if he regresses to say, 30 to 35, he will still be a dangerous long ball hitter.

Via Jim Salisbury on Twitter:

"I just spoke to Scott Boras. He is Jayson Werth‘s new representative."

At the trading deadline in 2004, Jim Duquette, the general manager of New York's most beloved team, the New York Mets, acquired right-hander Kris Benson from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In exchange, the Mets sent Ty Wigginton, minor league right-hander Matt Peterson, and infielder Jose Bautista to the Pirates.

Early Friday morning The GM's Perspective reported that the Vancouver Canadians were set to become the newest member of the Toronto Blue Jays family.

I mentioned to a friend in an email this new partnership between the Canadians and Jays brings together two hotbeds of baseball and situates them under one umbrella.

It's not everyday a new affiliate comes to town, sort of.

According to News1130, the Vancouver Canadians have negotiated a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to become their newest affiliate.

Unfortunately, details are scarce at this point, but the announcement is set for Friday, September 17, 2010.

Last year, I thoroughly enjoyed laughing at the expense of starting pitcher A.J. Burnett, who was all over the map in his first season with the New York Yankees after the team signed the then-31-year-old to a five-year, $82 million contract.

He had his fair share of solid outings, as his 4.03 ERA suggested, but he would also toss in a terrible start here and there; he allowed five runs or more eight times in 2009.

There would only be one reason why I would sit down to watch a Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays game in the middle of September when both teams are completely out of it.

I wanted to watch the debut of top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek for the Blue Jays.

The Toronto Blue Jays have clearly proven they can slug with anyone in baseball in 2010. They are first in the American League in home runs (225), first in total bases (2,225), and fourth in OPS (.766).

While those are great number, it takes a combination of offense, defense, and pitching to win baseball games. If they Blue Jays are going to get back to the top of the AL East anytime soon, they are going to need some starting pitching.

The Blue Jays top pitching prospect has gotten the call. Kyle Drabek will start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Acquired in the Roy Halladay trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, Drabek was one of three players the Blue Jays received in return.