Blue Jays in Beast Mode this Spring

(photo courtesy of bleacherreport.com)

The Toronto Blue Jays look primed for a breakout season with a beastly 16-4 record in Grapefruit League, good for 1st place overall. That won't necessarily translate into the season, but no sane baseball critic can see this excellent start as a negative. A level of comfort has to have set in for the Jays; there were few roster spots available heading into Grapefruit League, with most already spoken for. That comfort is now manifesting as swagger. 

(photo courtesy of theglobeandmail.com)

Bubble players like Travis Snider, Kyle Drabek, and the embattled Dustin McGowan have all stepped up, providing management with their favorite problem: too much talent. Health permitting, this is going to be a scary good team, and their depth on the field and in the bullpen should carry them through any potential rough patches. 
MLB be warned: the Blue Jays mean business.

A Subtle Sidney Could Spell Success for Pittsburgh

(photo courtesy of puckdaddy.com via Getty Images)

                     

In the 40 games since Sidney Crosby again went out with concussion symptoms and damaged vertebrae the Pens have surprisingly managed to thrive, sitting handily at 4th in the east. Forgive them if they're not rushing to mess with a good thing. Geno Malkin has been the best player in the NHL, playing with an unconscious James Neal. In the interest of maintaining chemistry, Crosby skated on the THIRD LINE. The result was a 5-2 drubbing of the New York Rangers, who are 1st in the east, in their own building. The Pens are the first team all year to score 5 against New York, and all Crosby had to do was chip in an assist. Kris Letang, who also returned in that game was a +5, a perfect illustration of how Pittsburgh's depth can now truly shine.