Longest, Most Exciting Season Opener Ever: Blue Jays Beat Indians 7-4 in 16 Innings

Thursday provided some much-need action for baseball fans everywhere. Even in Canada.

The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians kicked off their 2012 seasons at Progressive Field in exciting fashion when the Jays rallied to force extras with a three-run ninth to tie it up at four runs a piece. The game then lasted another seven innings, a record of 16 total. Too bad they stop selling beer after the seventh inning.

Our favorite Blue Jay, J.P. Arencibia, was on an unfortunate 0-for-6, three strikeout roll before connecting off Indians reliever Jairo Asencio in the 16th, resulting in the game-winning three-run shot. He caught all 16 innings, so his quads must be pretty sore. He probably needs a rub down.

Of course, it just wouldn't feel right unless Jose Bautista went yard, too. There goes no. 1 of at least 50 this season.

[ESPN]

Jose Bautista is About to Be Filthy Rich

Just a few days after opening their Spring Training camp in Dunedin, Florida, the Toronto Blue Jays have reached an agreement with Jose Bautista worth $65 million over five years.

The 30-year-old slugger, who was eligible for arbitration, led the majors with 54 home runs last season while batting .260 with 124 RBI.

Bautista's hearing was postponed Monday at the request of both parties with a Friday deadline to reach an agreement. While the hard-hitting outfielder/third baseman had asked for $10.5 million in arbitration, the Blue Jays were only willing to offer $7.6 million. Clearly, negotiations were in order.

Bautista started most of last season in right field, but played 45 games at third base, where is expected to play during the 2011 season... WHICH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! YAY!

[Ottawa Citizen]

Jose Bautista Launches No. 50, 51, 52

On a historic day for Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners, Jose Bautista had to go and steal the thunder at the Rogers Centre, not to mention spoil an outstanding pitching performance by an American League Cy Young candidate.

That's just how he rolls.

The Toronto Blue Jays slugger crushed a 2-1 fastball over the left field wall off Mariners ace Felix Hernandez for his 50th home run of the season. This not only gave his team a 1-0 lead, but proved to be the only run of what turned out to be quite a pitcher's duel.

While King Feliz allowed just two hits and a run throughout his complete game, the Mariners couldn't manage to string anything together off Shawn Hill and four Toronto relievers.

Jose Bautista is an Animal

Jose Bautista homered not once, but twice in his team's 3-2 win over the New York Yankees Monday night.

Count 'em: that's a big league-leading 40 bombs on the year for the Toronto Blue Jays slugger.

This game was pretty intense to begin with. In the sixth inning, both benches and bullpens cleared after Yankees rookie Ivan Nova, making his first ever big league start, fired a pitch just over the head of catcher Francisco Cervelli.

Enjoy Tonight's 2010 MLB All-Star Game

The MLB All-Star game is still an exhibition, but it means more than any other All-Star game in any other sport. The winning league of tonight's 8pm ET game on FOX will gain home field advantage in the World Series. Kind of a big deal, as it has been since the game ended horribly in a 7-7 tie in 2002 at Miller Park.

Some changes to this year's contest include the adoption of the designated hitter, regardless of what league's ballpark is holding the event. This means pitchers won't have to worry about injuring themselves on a whiff and one more National League slugger gets a shot at making the roster.

Pirates Sweep Astros on the Road

That's right. The Pittsburgh Pirates have something to prove: that they're a decent team.

Jose Bautista drove in three runs to aid the Pirates in a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros, rallying to a 5-4 victory Wednesday night.

After opening last season with six straight losses, the club is 3-0 for the first time since 2003, completing its first three-game sweep in Houston since 1991. This is special because the Pirates lost 18 of their first 23 games last year - their 14th straight losing season.

Tom Gorzelanny (1-0) allowed seven hits and three runs with four strikeouts in five innings for the win. Carlos Lee's RBI single to center field in the first put the Astros ahead 1-0 before Bautista's run-scoring double in the second tied it at 1.

Castillo Gets $1.9 Million From Pirates

The last arbitration-eligible Pittsburgh Pirate, second baseman Jose Castillo, agreed Wednesday to a $1.9 million, one-year contract with plate appearance incentives.

Castillo hit .253 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 2006, struggling though the last month of the season when he went 8-for-73 (.110) with two RBI and two extra-base hits after Sept. 1st.

Because of that slump, he will be battling Jose Bautista for a starting infielder's job during spring training. The backup third baseman hit .235 with 16 homers and 54 RBI in 117 games with the Bucs last season.

[MLB]