And They're Off!

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for joining us this year. Without you, there would be no 25 Man Roster Challenge.

Here are some fast facts from the 8th edition of the Roster Challenge:

• There were 18 ballots submitted before the deadline
• One late ballot that will not be considered
• 4 ballots do not think Joe Biagini makes the cut
• 5 ballots hope the Jays strike Rule V gold again
• 6 ballots are feeling minor league invitee Gavin Floyd
• Aaron Loup is the great divide this year with just over half the ballots selecting him
• All ballots contained 19 identical names

Devon Travis

Troy Tulowitzki

Josh Donaldson

Russell Martin

Melvin Upton

Kevin Pillar

Jose Bautista

Kendrys Morales

Marcus Stroman

Aaron Sanchez

Marco Estrada

Francisco Liriano

J.A. Happ

Roberto Osuna

Jason Grilli

JP Howell

Steve Pearce

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

Darwin Barney

Once again apologies for the length of this post. Each ballot has a team name, their tiebreaker and the remaining 6 players not listed above. Our thoughts or any other interesting details regarding the ballot will be added, as deemed necessary. 

There were only two players selected once. Their names will be bolded. These are the hail mary situations.

Hip Happ Horray’s

16-15

Zeke Carrera

Gavin Floyd

Aaron Loup

Ryan Goins

Joe Smith

Glenn Sparkman

Hands down our favourite ballot this year. The owner made a change with just over an hour to go before the deadline.

OUT Biagini…..IN Rule V guy

The only ballot to give Go Go and his out of options .224/.270/.325 62 OPS+ career hitting self a nod on the opening day roster. This was also the only ballot not to contain the name Justin Smoak. You must take chances to win at this game and Team Hip Happ Horray’s has certainly done just that. Let’s see how it works out.

Jimmy Triggs

16-16

Team Tayls

17-15

Team BJH

13-20

Biagini

Mike Bolsinger

Carerra

Loup

Smith

Justin Smoak

Three ballots the same? Looks like we have ourselves a legit favourite. If it comes down to the tiebreaker, the team's spring training record will loom large.

The Ant Farm

20-13

@1BJW

18-14

Biagini

Bolsinger

Carrera

Bo Schultz

Smith

Smoak

Guess I shouldn’t have answered truthfully when Ant Guy asked me my point of view on this year’s team.

Team Gregor

18-14

Bye Bye Barry

17-14-1

Biagini

Bolsinger

Carerra

Gavin Floyd

Smith

Smoak

We are once again honoured to be joined by the beat reporter for MLB.com this year. You can check out Gregor’s detailed thoughts on the roster by clicking here.

Shout out to team Bye Bye Barry for the fantastic team name and the great company you’re in with selecting this ballot. Gonna miss that midget on the broadcasts. If this ends up being the winning combination of players, the tiebreaker is gonna be epic.

I Like Nuts

17-15-1

Biagini

Bolsinger

Carrera

Loup

Schultz

Smoak

Only ballot not to contain the name Joe Smith on it, if that’s even a real name.

Sigbox

22-11

Bolsinger

Loup

Dalton Pompey

Schultz

Smith

Smoak

Showing Mississauga’s finest some love!

@scottwspicer

10-19

Biagini

Carrera

Smith

Smoak

Schultz

Ryan Tepera

How about a little bit of positivity on the spring training record? This ballot is planning on watching some train wreck type level baseball and quite a few rain outs this spring. 

Over on the PECOTA

14-17

Biagini

Carrera

Loup

Smith

Smoak

Sparkman

Last Row 500’s

15-17-1

Biagini

Bolsinger

Carrera

Smith

Smoak

Sparkman

Jays are my 2^nd favourite team

18-13

Biagini

Carrera

Loup

Smith

Smoak

Sparkman

@AndyMc9293

23-10

Biagini

Carerra

Floyd

Schultz

Smith

Smoak

OkOkBlueJays

18-15

Biagini

Carrera

Floyd

Loup

Smith

Smoak

These 5 ballots are all very close with the final couple of bullpen arms being the difference. 

Harrow Super Stars

18-11

Bolsinger

Carrera

Floyd

Smith

Smoak

Sparkman

Human Rain Delay

18-10

Bolsinger

Carrera

Loup

Smith

Smoak

Tepera

And with that, we are officially a go. Good luck to all the contestants and enjoy monitoring the spring battles for jobs in camp.

Oh, almost forgot. Fuck that Matt Latos guy.