You're at the game, and the home team is destroying the Tigers. Everyone is having fun, and then you have to be a goon and chuck stuff onto the field. Come on, what are you doing? Really?
That thought entered my mind quite a few times last night when the Jays were up big in the 8th inning and the game was delayed for nearly 10 minutes because fans started heaving beer cups, batteries, golf balls, baseballs, you name it, in the direction of the Tigers players...
The P.A. Announcer (who took a long time to address the crowd) eventually informed everyone at the Rogers Centre if this behaviour continued it would spell a forfeiture of the game for Toronto. And yet a few fans were still tossing debris onto the field. Those fans aren't true fans. They're just dumb...
Another ridiculous thing you see constantly at Jays games are people on their cell phones talking to someone a few sections down, waving frantically to get their attention! What's the deal with that? Do you realize how ridiculous you look? I don't even understand the point in doing it, because it's never as if their "friends" move to sit beside them. Mainly they distract other fans and look like a fool in the process...
And don't even get me started on how much i LOATHE the "wave" at sporting events...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Travis Snider is the real deal!
Believe the hype! Travis Snider will be a force patrolling Left Field for the Blue Jays for many years to come. In 4 stops in the Jays organizational ladder last season, Snider had 25 HR's, 104 RBI in 157 games, including 10 RBI in 22 games with the big club...
Snider followed up a torrid spring raking at a .381 clip with 4 HR's, 10 RBI, by smacking two extra base hits in the opener last night including his first home run of the campaign. As mentioned in a previous post, there is absolutely no way Toronto will continue to have him hit at the bottom of the order if Snider is such a force. Both Adam Lind and Snider will be right in the middle of that lineup, which, if everyone remains healthy, could be fairly potent...
A bonus to Snider's game is his underrated defense. He is an upgrade over Lind in left, and he manages to get to most balls hit his way, and has a pretty good arm. For being a stocky guy, he's able to cover more of the field that would seem to be the case...
There is only one potential road block in Snider's ascent to stardom is his penchant for striking out. Snider struck out quite a lot in AA, and in the brief time in AAA, he did so as well. Obviously, if he piles up the power numbers that he's been doing since being selected with the 14th pick in the 2006 draft, it won't be too much of an issue. However, there is a possibility he might go in prolonged slumps. Then again, for a 21 year old rookie, you can't expect too much...can you??
Snider followed up a torrid spring raking at a .381 clip with 4 HR's, 10 RBI, by smacking two extra base hits in the opener last night including his first home run of the campaign. As mentioned in a previous post, there is absolutely no way Toronto will continue to have him hit at the bottom of the order if Snider is such a force. Both Adam Lind and Snider will be right in the middle of that lineup, which, if everyone remains healthy, could be fairly potent...
A bonus to Snider's game is his underrated defense. He is an upgrade over Lind in left, and he manages to get to most balls hit his way, and has a pretty good arm. For being a stocky guy, he's able to cover more of the field that would seem to be the case...
There is only one potential road block in Snider's ascent to stardom is his penchant for striking out. Snider struck out quite a lot in AA, and in the brief time in AAA, he did so as well. Obviously, if he piles up the power numbers that he's been doing since being selected with the 14th pick in the 2006 draft, it won't be too much of an issue. However, there is a possibility he might go in prolonged slumps. Then again, for a 21 year old rookie, you can't expect too much...can you??
Adam Lind leads Blue Jays offensive onslaught!
What a big statement the Blue Jays made on opening day. Their expected weakness swinging the bats was proven wrong, if only for one contest. Every Blue Jay had at least one hit, pasting Tigers ace Justin Verlander for 8 earned runs in just 3.2 innings of work...
Adam Lind led the charge with 4 hits including a three-run home run, and set a Jays opening day record with six runs driven in. Manager Cito Gaston gave Lind a lot of responsibility hitting fifth behind Vernon Wells, and he didn't disappoint. Lind also drove in a pair with an RBI single in the 1st & plated an additional add-on run in the 8th with a base rap. Since being drafted in the 3rd round out of South Alabama in 2004, Lind has showed this kind of promise on more than one occasion. It's hard to believe that after a rough beginning in '08 which led to his demotion to AAA, Lind thought his major league career could have been over...
Vernon Wells didn't look like he had been suffering any ill effects from his wrist & hamstring injuries that caused him to only suit up for 11 games in the spring. Lyle Overbay, moved down to seven in the order due to a poor showing in the grapefruit league, also swung the bat well, driving in two in the first inning...
If it seems that I've missed someone, I've done it intentionally. Travis Snider is so good he deserves his own post, coming up...
Adam Lind led the charge with 4 hits including a three-run home run, and set a Jays opening day record with six runs driven in. Manager Cito Gaston gave Lind a lot of responsibility hitting fifth behind Vernon Wells, and he didn't disappoint. Lind also drove in a pair with an RBI single in the 1st & plated an additional add-on run in the 8th with a base rap. Since being drafted in the 3rd round out of South Alabama in 2004, Lind has showed this kind of promise on more than one occasion. It's hard to believe that after a rough beginning in '08 which led to his demotion to AAA, Lind thought his major league career could have been over...
Vernon Wells didn't look like he had been suffering any ill effects from his wrist & hamstring injuries that caused him to only suit up for 11 games in the spring. Lyle Overbay, moved down to seven in the order due to a poor showing in the grapefruit league, also swung the bat well, driving in two in the first inning...
If it seems that I've missed someone, I've done it intentionally. Travis Snider is so good he deserves his own post, coming up...
HUGE Blue Jays victory!
What a phenomenal opening day victory for the Jays. There are so many positives to take from the 12-5 drubbing of the Tigers...
Adam Lind set a franchise record with 6 RBI on opening day...
Rookie of the Year candidate Travis Snider had a double & a solo home run...
Every Blue Jay had at least one hit...
Even when Roy Halladay let a few pitches get away from him (which led to a pair of homers, and nearly two more), he still managed to mow down Detroit...
The best bullpen in baseball in '08 continued its fine form...
The only embarrassment were the actions of a few fans causing a delay in the game by throwing objects onto the field...
More on this game, and what to expect going forward tomorrow!
Adam Lind set a franchise record with 6 RBI on opening day...
Rookie of the Year candidate Travis Snider had a double & a solo home run...
Every Blue Jay had at least one hit...
Even when Roy Halladay let a few pitches get away from him (which led to a pair of homers, and nearly two more), he still managed to mow down Detroit...
The best bullpen in baseball in '08 continued its fine form...
The only embarrassment were the actions of a few fans causing a delay in the game by throwing objects onto the field...
More on this game, and what to expect going forward tomorrow!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Opening Day!
The first pitch to the Toronto Blue Jays season is a couple of hours away! The Detroit Tigers pose a quality test for the 4 games series. Last season everyone (including myself) was hyping up the Tigers BIG time. This year, without the pressure, they could very well snatch the AL Central crown from the Chicago White Sox...
Roy Halladay will make his 7th straight opening day start, go up against Justin Verlander...
I'll be going to the first game tonight, and will blog about the big Jays victory later this evening (a win that will put them on pace to finish 162-0!)
Enjoy the game!
Roy Halladay will make his 7th straight opening day start, go up against Justin Verlander...
I'll be going to the first game tonight, and will blog about the big Jays victory later this evening (a win that will put them on pace to finish 162-0!)
Enjoy the game!
The enigmatic Vernon Wells
Vernon "V-Dub" Wells has always put up good numbers. Since being selected with the 5th pick in the 1997 draft, he has been a professional ball player in the truest sense. Yet it's hard to find much sympathy for the 3 time gold glove winner. Maybe it's the 7 year, $126 million contract he signed two seasons ago, or the label that he's not a "clutch" player, not to mention his countless maladies, but Wells' fan fare is slipping with each passing year...
Last season, V-Dub put up very respectable numbers for a guy battling two injuries (broken wrist, hamstring) 20 HR, 78 RBI in just 108 games. One has to wonder that if he can complete a full campaign this year, with the addition of Adam Lind & Travis Snider in Toronto's lineup whether he could post 100+ RBI for only the 2nd time in the last 6 seasons...
It's not not to already be concerned and frustrated with Wells. He's missed a chunk of time in spring training due to problems with his hamstring & wrist (again!) Is another trip to the DL imminent? Or will Wells bash 25-30 homers and drive in 100+ runs? Fans are growing restless and impatient with the same script. In a close ball game, it's expected he'll pop out or whiff. He always "pads" his stats when the game is out of line. For a guy that brings so much to the clubhouse (leadership, offense, great defense), there is an air of mystery behind Wells. He is an all star centre fielder wrapped in an enigma...
Last season, V-Dub put up very respectable numbers for a guy battling two injuries (broken wrist, hamstring) 20 HR, 78 RBI in just 108 games. One has to wonder that if he can complete a full campaign this year, with the addition of Adam Lind & Travis Snider in Toronto's lineup whether he could post 100+ RBI for only the 2nd time in the last 6 seasons...
It's not not to already be concerned and frustrated with Wells. He's missed a chunk of time in spring training due to problems with his hamstring & wrist (again!) Is another trip to the DL imminent? Or will Wells bash 25-30 homers and drive in 100+ runs? Fans are growing restless and impatient with the same script. In a close ball game, it's expected he'll pop out or whiff. He always "pads" his stats when the game is out of line. For a guy that brings so much to the clubhouse (leadership, offense, great defense), there is an air of mystery behind Wells. He is an all star centre fielder wrapped in an enigma...
The Jays Bullpen
As it stacks up now, Manager Cito Gaston is bringing back relatively the exact same bullpen as a year ago. Heading North to the big club are:
RHP Brandon League
RHP Jason Frasor
LHP Scott Downs
LHP Jesse Carlson
RHP Shawn Camp
LHP Brian Tallet
LHP B.J. Ryan
One noticeable omission is RHP Jeremy Accardo. In 2007 he saved 30 games with the Jays, but had his season come to an abrupt end in early May of '08 due to a forearm injury. Because Toronto can send him to AAA without having Accardo clear waivers, he simply got caught up in a numbers game (not to mention a poor showing in the spring.) Accardo is slated to be the closer in AAA Las Vegas.
A couple of concerns and needs for the Jays bullpen are:
The health of closer B.J. Ryan
Brandon League vital to success
The presence of a solid long reliever
Much has been said about B.J. Ryan in the past few years, specifically his loss in velocity this spring. There shouldn't be that much concern. Ryan is a closer who had nothing to play for in the spring. Wins don't matter in the Grapefruit League, so there wasn't an adrenaline rush for the big lefty. Ryan entered some games in the middle of the contest as well, which he's not accustomed do doing. He'll settle in just in time when the games count. Whether he returns to 2006 form might be a bit of a stretch...
Which is why Brandon League is vital to the ball club's success this season. Like Ryan, League lost 8-10 MPH velocity on his pitches two seasons ago after overdeveloping his lat muscle in the offseason. League, however, has persevered and has regained his form. League is destined to be the Jays closer of the future (and not so distant present.) If Ryan falters, LHP Scott Downs will be called upon to close down games, at least initially. League presents the best option because of the heat and because he's a RHP. If 2006 all-star Ryan is fine, then Toronto should explore League in the 8th inning along with Downs. Rolling out lefties in the final two innings is asking for trouble (though it was successful in '08)
If the rotation is in flux throughout the campaign, Toronto will need to utilize an effective long inning reliever. To ensure the bullpen isn't taxed night in and night out, a great long reliever will go very far in the Jays success in '09. Toronto had the fewest innings pitched by relievers last year (425), but that number will surely spike. Having a guy like Brian Tallet shut down those middle innings would be huge. Tallet has done so before, and had decent success. He has brilliant stretches of play, then falters for games at a time. More consistency from Tallet is key. Another option is journeyman Shawn Camp. Save for one awful outing in May vs. the A.L. Champion Tampa Bay Rays, Camp had a decent showing in his first season with the club. He could be trusted to eat up more innings this year. Carlson, back for his first full season in the bigs is another quality option.
RHP Brandon League
RHP Jason Frasor
LHP Scott Downs
LHP Jesse Carlson
RHP Shawn Camp
LHP Brian Tallet
LHP B.J. Ryan
One noticeable omission is RHP Jeremy Accardo. In 2007 he saved 30 games with the Jays, but had his season come to an abrupt end in early May of '08 due to a forearm injury. Because Toronto can send him to AAA without having Accardo clear waivers, he simply got caught up in a numbers game (not to mention a poor showing in the spring.) Accardo is slated to be the closer in AAA Las Vegas.
A couple of concerns and needs for the Jays bullpen are:
The health of closer B.J. Ryan
Brandon League vital to success
The presence of a solid long reliever
Much has been said about B.J. Ryan in the past few years, specifically his loss in velocity this spring. There shouldn't be that much concern. Ryan is a closer who had nothing to play for in the spring. Wins don't matter in the Grapefruit League, so there wasn't an adrenaline rush for the big lefty. Ryan entered some games in the middle of the contest as well, which he's not accustomed do doing. He'll settle in just in time when the games count. Whether he returns to 2006 form might be a bit of a stretch...
Which is why Brandon League is vital to the ball club's success this season. Like Ryan, League lost 8-10 MPH velocity on his pitches two seasons ago after overdeveloping his lat muscle in the offseason. League, however, has persevered and has regained his form. League is destined to be the Jays closer of the future (and not so distant present.) If Ryan falters, LHP Scott Downs will be called upon to close down games, at least initially. League presents the best option because of the heat and because he's a RHP. If 2006 all-star Ryan is fine, then Toronto should explore League in the 8th inning along with Downs. Rolling out lefties in the final two innings is asking for trouble (though it was successful in '08)
If the rotation is in flux throughout the campaign, Toronto will need to utilize an effective long inning reliever. To ensure the bullpen isn't taxed night in and night out, a great long reliever will go very far in the Jays success in '09. Toronto had the fewest innings pitched by relievers last year (425), but that number will surely spike. Having a guy like Brian Tallet shut down those middle innings would be huge. Tallet has done so before, and had decent success. He has brilliant stretches of play, then falters for games at a time. More consistency from Tallet is key. Another option is journeyman Shawn Camp. Save for one awful outing in May vs. the A.L. Champion Tampa Bay Rays, Camp had a decent showing in his first season with the club. He could be trusted to eat up more innings this year. Carlson, back for his first full season in the bigs is another quality option.
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