RealGM

"What have I learned about these guys, now that I'm here, after playing them for 17 seasons? Not much," Thomas smiles. "Everything is as advertised. We have an incredible lineup.

"We have a guy who might win the most valuable player award," Thomas said pointing at centre fielder Vernon Wells

Blue Jays' backup outfielder Matt Stairs, of Frederiction, N.B., will be presented with a Detroit Tigers American League championship ring.

"The Tigers told me I was getting one, which was nice. It's my first," said Stairs, who also reached the playoffs with the 1995 Boston Red Sox and the 2000 Oakland A's.

"Honestly, not as much as you think," Halladay said when asked what being the ace means. "I think more than anything you're expected to be a stopper (of a losing streak), be able to pitch in a big series. But as far as I'm concerned, it's not something I put a ton of stock in.

Roy Halladay, today's starter, wasn't quite as put out as Johnson when asked about his interest in it. "Afraid not," he laughed after being asked if he was a fan. "I'll be asleep."

Halladay arrived in Michigan with his formidable game face already on and brushing away talk about the "real" start to the season.

Called on to step up to the karaoke mike, members of this year's ball club make their electric and eclectic selections

Hockey, meaning the NHL, was big-league to us, but the NHL was a niche sport across North America. (Still is, but that's another story.) The NFL was, and still remains, a pipedream for a few and the NBA was on no one's radar. The odd horse and rider/driver from Woodbine and Greenwood would go down and make a splash in bigger ponds, and George Knudson had won a few golf tournaments, but that was about it. Toronto wasn't really a big-time player until the Blue Jays arrived.

National Post baseball reporters John Lott and Jeremy Sandler discuss nine of the biggest issues facing the Blue Jays as the open their season today in Detroit against the Tigers - the defending American League champions.

Burnett and Chacin will follow Halladay in Detroit as the series wraps up Wednesday and Thursday. Toronto's rotation becomes a question mark from there, with Tomo Ohka and Josh Towers rounding out the staff. Ohka battled injuries the past two seasons while Towers is trying to rebound from an awful 2006, and no one is sure what to expect from them.

Seemingly rejuvenated Josh Towers will pitch in Sunday's game, after which the Jays will fly to Toronto for their home opener on April 9 against the Kansas City Royals. Burnett will get the starting assignment for that game.

Cloudy with sunny periods. Wind west 30 km/h gusting to 50. High 12. UV index 4 or moderate.