Blue Jays reliever Howell looking forward to “rowdy” Rogers Centre crowd
DUNEDIN, Fla. — J.P. Howell is looking forward to sitting in the home bullpen at Rogers Centre for a change.
The new Blue Jays left-hander, who spent six seasons playing for the division rival Tampa Bay Rays from 2006-2012, spent his fair share of time in the visitor’s bullpen, located within shouting distance of the right-field stands at the Toronto stadium.
“It’s tough being an opponent in there, the fans are pretty cutthroat,” Howell said on Wednesday after his first official workout with his new team. “They do their research there.
“They say some personal things, they know Google, they check it out, they definitely do. It’s interesting going there, I don’t even want to say it’s a hockey vibe but it’s a rowdy vibe.”