[URBAN NOTE] "Toronto Blue Jays’ R.A. Dickey primed for opening night"

[rfmcdonald]

I'm starting to get excited about the Blue Jays' chances. This report from the Toronto Star's Brendan Kennedy is one of a slew suggesting that, this year, the Blue Jays might do really well.

R.A. Dickey pitched off the Rogers Centre mound for the first time on Easter Sunday, describing it as “almost like an out-of-body experience.”

He said he felt “encouraged” by how his knuckleball looked and felt in his new home, calling it “a good sign” for Tuesday’s season opener. “It left me anticipating a very fun night.”

After what has seemed like a marathon off-season for the Blue Jays — who dramatically remodelled their team into overnight contenders — in little more than 24 hours Dickey will at last throw the first pitch of this most highly anticipated season.

“The reason that I’m here is imminent,” Dickey said Monday, sounding like a character from his beloved Star Wars movies.

The biggest piece of the Jays’ all-in overhaul, Dickey will lead a revamped rotation which now includes Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson and J.A. Happ. Brandon Morrow is the lone holdover from last year’s opening-day roster.

In all, the Jays will have 15 new faces in the dugout on Tuesday compared to a season ago, including shortstop Jose Reyes, left fielder Melky Cabrera and second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.

“We’ve got great pitching, but we’ve also got speed, we’ve also got power and we’ve also got a good bullpen. I think it’s nice to not be able to have to drive your stake in the sand about what kind of team you’re going to be because we could win games in multiple ways. That’s exciting and if we can stay healthy we should make some noise.”