Hosts: Sonny and Ryan. In our final Major League Baseball preview podcast, Sonny and I assess one of the league’s toughest divisions, the AL East. Can the Boston Red Sox continue their dominance with another World Series berth? Or will Joe Girardi close out Yankee Stadium in style with championship #27? Also, how will the up-and-coming Tampa Bay Rays fare? Because this is the last preview, Sonny and I also sound off on our World Series predictions.

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The start of Spring training in Florida and Arizona has been the talk around water coolers lately. One thing likely going unnoticed is the new Caps certain MLB team will be wearing this season. Not a lot of changes, but some interesting and noteworthy additions have been made.

First off, I am pleased to mention to you again that the Toronto Blue Jays will go retro at home inside the Rogers Centre on Friday nights this year. I feel that this new lid is unique and unmeasurable when it comes to retro caps. This cap is so nice, I have even spotted a few people around town sporting it. Heck, Sportable’s own staff writer Rich purchased his in January.

The Oakland Athletics have added yet another alternate cap to their locker this year, going with a more bold look (above). The cap is a mirror image of the other alternate hat, however, this new one has a white “A’s” with a yellow outline. I like the addition here by the A’s, but I think they should try to switch the design up a bit as they now have four hats that are all the same.

Staying in the American League, the Indians have decided to turn back the clocks this year. On Saturday June 14, the Indians will host the Padres at Progressive Field sporting this new cap and jersey to celebrate the 1970s . You have to love this plain “C”. It’s sharp and crisp to say the least. Not fancy or glamorous by any means but when it comes to sporting a clean image, this hat will do the trick.

Since the Devil Rays became the “Rays”, Tampa Bay decided to axe its look completely and go with something totally new. That changed resulted in new jerseys and a new hat. Kevin from the Sportable staff just received his new Rays hat in the mail and this is what he had to say about it: “I needed a new blue hat and I was lucky enough to stumble upon this one.”

Finally the last change on the hat rack for the 2008 season comes from Philadelphia. The Phillies will sport this new lid on certain occasions with this new alternate throwback jersey. I am a big fan of the red and blue mix that the Phillies are adapting again this year. I’m getting sick and tired of seeing the same old red and white look that has adorned the team for many years now.

All in all, I am really pleased with all of the additions this year. And if you have not had the chance to purchase one of the new 59-50 hats yet, you are missing out. NewEra created the light weight cap to not only help out with player performance, but feel more comfortable than the previous hat. Be sure to pick up your favorite team’s lid. The new season is just weeks away!

More of the Same, Eh? You have to feel for the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ve won 80+ games in four of the last five seasons, but have just a single 2nd place finish to show for it. That’s the story of a team, although solid from top to bottom, is trapped in a division with baseball’s bullies, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Despite announcing Flashback Fridays at Rogers Centre, it’s impossible to expect this team to raise a banner in 2008.

Bats. There’s a couple of new faces on the left side of the infield but besides that, expect more of the same from the Jays. Production by this lineup will start with Vernon Wells, a guy that seems to enjoy alternating between good and bad seasons. Wells followed up a 2006 season of .303-32-106 to post horrendous 2007 numbers of .245-16-80. It appears that he’s been surpassed by Alex Rios, who had another strong season, hitting nearly .300 with 24 jacks and 85 RBIs. If Wells gets back to his 2006 form, those two should be a potent duo in the middle of the lineup. Legendary slugger Frank Thomas returns for another season after a solid first year in Canada. The Big Hurt hit a team-high 26 homers and drove in 95. It should be a treat to see that big bastard don the powder blues. One of the Jays’ biggest offseason moves was trading washed up, roided out slugger Troy Glaus for washed up, roided out slugger in Scott Rolen. Rolen is balding, he’s injury prone, and he only homered eight times last season. Joining Rolen is former Cardinals teammate David Eckstein, who will surely bring scrappiness, fesitiness, hustle, tenacity some stability to the position. Aaron Hill, one of baseball’s most underrated 2nd baseman, returns after a great .291-17-78 campaign.

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The Sportable Staff always loves to hear when a new jersey is being introduced by a professional sports team. Today, we are going to celebrate the Toronto Blue Jays going old school, as well as adding a new away jersey. The change, in my opinion, comes at the perfect time. The Blue Jays look like they could use a boost of confidence. With the old school jersey, Toronto fans can only hope to relive the magic of Joe Carter.

Ever since I was a kid, I loved the old Blue Jays hat with the baby blue uniforms with no buttons down the chest. Finally, after months of pondering, Toronto is bringing it back as part of Flashback Fridays. When the Blue Jays have a home game at the Rogers Centre, they will don the old threads and be the first team since 1991 to weara baby blue uniform at home. St. Louis has worn baby blue uniforms on the road when the opposing team goes retro, but never at home. The Royals will also wear a baby blue jersey, but it will not be a retro thread.

You have to like the old school uniform for multiple reasons. The hat might just be one of the best hats ever created. Also I love how there are no buttons going down the chest. It is a staple of old school tradition. I also love the font the Blue Jays insignia is written in Finally, the Blue Jays will add a new away jersey to their lockers. Take your pick, which one do you like? The old one or the new one? I’m going to have to go with the new jersey because I think the font is a better fit. The bold, straight-forward look appears to fit.

All in all, I must say that the jerseys that the Blue Jays are adding this year are extremely cool. I love when teams go retro and it is nice to see more and more teams making the switch. If you are a fan of the new jerseys, I would head over to the Blue Jays store on their website and purchase one as soon as you can.

As a continuing celebration of the Toronto Blue Jays marketing team, here is the commercial that center fielder Vernon Wells did.  Note to self: Don’t play hide and seek with Vernon Wells.

Yesterday we began our week long run at watching Blue Jays players excel at funny commercials.  Today we present 2003 Cy Young winner Roy Halladay’s acting spot.  Like Troy Glaus breaking into the trot, watch Halladay check the runner before delivering the throw.  Classic.