The Devil Wears Tampa Pt. 2?

So...The Jays are off to Tampa. Their record against the Rays this year is...3-3. Not surprising, considering the Rays are a team the Jays "should" beat, but usually end up being even with.

However, since almost getting swept in 4 games in NY, the Jays have gone 7-3. Their pitching has been stellar, their defense consistent, and finally, FINALLY the offense has shown some life. Sure, over the weekend in Chicago it seemed to go take a kip, getting up a little on Sunday afternoon. But it's nice to see what this lineup can do...and it gives me high hopes for next year when they have a full season to gel together.

It was also nice for Shaun Marcum to get a win after pitching a stellar game. How many incredibly pitched games by Shaun this year has he not gotten the credit for because the offense couldn't score a run while he was on the bump. Imagine what his record could be...

To celebrate Shaun's success a little more...in the AL, he's 14th with a 3.67 ERA, 6th with a .244 opponent avg., and 10th with a 1.11 WHIP. Go Shaun Go. I think his emergence as a quality starter is one of the brightest silver linings to all the injuries.

Speaking of starters...Chacin is down in Triple-A for more rehab. I guess Chacin really doesn't smell like victory after all...at least not right now. AJ is set to make his first rehab start. It's up in the air how many he'll make, but I would like to see him go at least 2. Three might be overkill, but the guy hasn't pitched in a month...2 seems like a nice round number, especially because he's making his first start in the Gulf Coast League.

I've decided to not read the comments Josh Towers made about his team after Friday night's game. Partially, 'cause I don't like hearing team members bash each other. And partially from what I've heard, there are times I agree. Still, take care of it internally. Don't air dirty laundry in public. Just sayin'...

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It's the Rays/Jays showdown pt.3 for the season. Dustin "Chops" McGowan looks to win 3 starts in a row for the first time in his career. Going up against Andy Sonnanstine (1-6), it might not be the hardest matchup Chops has faced. But don't think I'm counting out the Rays. Like I said before...sometimes the Devil really does wear Tampa.

Enjoy the game!
JaysGirl5

The True Meaning

A part of this post was originally part of my last post, but I decided to make it a stand-alone.

Disclaimer: I may get a little ranty again. I can't promise anything. I've always thought about this, and I kinda feel like sharing. Also, I realise this might now just apply to Toronto, but it's the only city/area I can talk about.

Maybe sports fans in Toronto have become so conditioned to losing thanks to the Leafs, that they're too sceptical to support anything that might be better than mediocre. Maybe they've become so cynical to winning that they can't innocently support it. That now instead of being supportive, they sit back and wait. They hold out their support to see how the team will actually do. When they win, they're all over it. They walk the walk and talk the talk of someone who's been a fan from the start. But as soon as the team falters a little or stops winning/being impressive, they're gone. Their support completely forgotten, and in most cases they'll start talking about how all along they alone knew that the team wasn't going to do any good.

I realise I just described bandwaggoners. I don't consider them fans, but sadly without them...fan bases in Toronto might realistically be ever so tiny.

It's possible things weren't like this 40 years ago when the Leafs weren't so far removed from a Stanley Cup win. I don't know. I've only ever lived in a Toronto sports world where the Leafs dissapoint every year, and that gloom seems to become a cloud over any other sports success no matter how good. In this instance, and only in this one instance, I absolutely loathe that Canada is hockey country, and that my favourite team and I live in Leaf country.

This is not to say that I don't cheer for other Toronto teams to win. I think it sucks when they lose, and rocks when they win. But I do my best not to bandwaggon. I pay attention to sports, I love them, but everyone knows plain and clear the Jays are my passion, followed by sports in general. I don't really like hockey, but have enough Canadian pride that I want a Canadian team to win. I have enough Torontonian sports pride to want a Toronto team to win when there isn't another Canadian team. I don't think that's bandwaggonning, just being a hometown/country sports fan.

It's great to win, but in the end if you love a sport and/or a team, shouldn't you just love to watch them...no matter how painless or painful? Maybe I'm a naive sports fan. Maybe having become a Jays die-hard during their *ahem* not so good seasons after the World Series has conditioned me to love my team no matter what. I realise being a die-hard Jays fan and baseball fan in general first and foremost makes me a minority in Canada. I'm okay with that. I came to terms with that a long time ago. Personally I think I'm incredibly spoiled to love a team that won the championship twice early in both of our lives, and I that I fell in love with them not because they won, but indifferent to it*.

I just think...if you're a fan, you're a fan. Bandwaggoning, no. Questioning and being critical of your team, yes. Saying you're a fan, but never enjoying, embracing or celebrating your team even in the bad times, no.

At the end of the game, day, and season...having a smile on your face and in your heart because you just got to watch your favourite sport/team play win or lose, championship or not, yes.

That is the true meaning of being a fan.

JaysGirl5


*Note: To clear up, I am the biggest sports fan in my family and didn't really start enjoying following major league sports until my teens, after my Jays die-hardedness had started. So that really meant that being under 10 when the Jays won the World Series and no one else in my family following sports, I wasn't really aware. Frankly, I fell in love with being in Rogers Centre (SkyDome) in '93 and watching Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado and Shawn Green play in the mid-'90s. Yes, I'm defending being a Jays die-hard. I really didn't become one because of the World Series. At the time, I didn't really know it was going on. I just really loved watching them play, win or lose.

And on the 8th Day...

I will be honest. Lately I have been finding it hard to blog the Jays. Yes, I'm incredbily happy that the lineup they wanted to have coming out of Spring Training is back, minus BJ Ryan. Other than that, well...

I'm not going to say this season was a loss or is lost yet, but I don't think it's gone any way anyone thought it would, even once they got everyone back. Well, except for maybe the fans who say they're fans, but just talk bad about the team no matter what happens. (Someone will have to show me the definition of "fan" that includes people like that.)

These past 7 games against the Yankees and the RSox have been a little tough to watch/listen to, but watch/listen I have. I still get itchy if I'm not watching/listening to the game, but there hasn't been much to say about the team that hasn't already been said, you know?

Except this...

I realise the season is a marathon, not a sprint, and a sign of a good team is how they hang in when things don't go as planned. In that measure, I think the Jays did admirably.

The injuries the Jays suffered this year aren't little ones like pulled hamstrings, to paraphrase Gregg Zaun on JaysConnected. They've been major, resulting in 5 surgeries and over 500 man-games lost (at least). Not to mention, not having anywhere near the team that was built to compete everyday.

In 162 games, it's bound to happen that the everyday squad an organization puts together can't be on the field everyday. Whether it's because a player becomes day-to-day, needs a day off, or has a small injury. That understandable. That's expected, but not what the Jays have suffered. Yes, everyone suffers injuries, but how many other teams this season haven't been able to put their everyday squad on the field until after the all-star break? Some will mention the Yankees. Yes, their starting rotation was decimated by injuries. Sure, they're on their 3rd or 4th 1st baseman. But they got their team back together a lot sooner than the Jays. It's not close to what the Jays suffered.

I'm not trying to downplay the contributions of the guys who filled in for the Jays. Casey Janssen, Jeremy Accardo (balk aside), Shaun Marcum, Adam Lind, and Matt Stairs had break out contributions for the Jays and did way more than was expected of them before the injuries. Not to mention the great contributions of dependable guys like John McDonald and Howie Clark.

But at the end of the day (or the season), there's still a reason the everyday lineup is the everyday lineup. And the truth of the matter is, we have yet to see what this everyday lineup can do.


To prevent myself from blogging forever, here's my best attempt to condense my point.

I get the arguments people are making that the Jays should just call it quits or they're not good enough to win, but I don't agree. We haven't been able to see this team* in action. I don't understand how the Jays can have been expected to make great leaps and bounds in at least the Wild Card in 10 games since getting their everyday squad back, when other teams haven't been able to do it all season with pretty much their every day team.

Is it because: they spend more money now; they're always compared to the Yankees and RSox; for whatever reason, people* in/around Toronto don't want them to succeed?

Who knows. I sure don't, and it's frustrating as hell.

End of rant. There's more I wish to say, but I think this gets my point across.
JaysGirl5



Notes: When I say team, I mean the everyday lineup the Jays originally designed. When I say people, I also GREATLY include the Toronto media that covers the Jays.

1 Down, 1 Up, 1 Back...1 Real Fake Marriage?

It's 7:43pm, the Jays are down 4-1 in the top of the 2nd. Aaron Hill just hit an infield single. Yes, Hill is in the game. Needless to say, a large majority of the rest of this post is false. However, I leave it for 2 reasons: 1) To remind myself never to believe anything Jays related until it's released by the Jays, and 2) 'Cause the joke about a fake marriage is kinda funny. So read on...if you want.


Looks like the soreness won out. The National Post, Toronto Star, and now Sportsnet.ca are reporting that Aaron Hill will indeed be starting the 2nd half on the DL. The move is retroactive to the 8th, so he's eligible to come off on the 22nd. I realise the Jays haven't release anything officially on this yet, but I think it's only a matter of time. More than likly by game-time tonight, it'll be up on the website. Get better Hilly.

So...it appears with Hill going on the DL, Russ Adams gets his chance with the big club again. Personally, I hope he does a lot better than last season, but nothing's really going to lose Aaron his job at second. If anything, Russ could prove he's either a really good backup or something that could maybe be offered in a future trade. I think Johhny Mac and Howie Clark have proven themselves as excellent utility guys...so I don't know if Russ would take one of their spots. Only time will tell, but good luck Russ Adams. My mom will be happy you're back.

Lyle Overbay also makes his return to the lineup this weekend. More than likely it's going to be tonight, but you never know. As glad as I am that Lyle and Reed are back, it does mean getting to see Matt Stairs on the field a little less. I know this will make him happy, as he's said many times he'd rather be on the bench and everyone healthy, than playing because of injuries.

Lastly...It would seem the fake wedding teamates threw for Aaron Hill and Russ Adams sometime in '05 actually did unite something for real: their careers. Since the momentous, catered (apparently) occasion...the two good friends haven't been able to be successful for that long together on the field.

Hill and Adams were looked to be the double play combo for the Jays for the next couple of years. Russ starts having fielding problems at short, leading to confidence problems, and eventually problems at the plate. He goes down to Triple A. Aaron meanwhile continues to get better at second, but with Russ's departure, is flip flopped back between short and second. Russ is moved to second in the minors, and eventually works his way back to Toronto. So now it's still tag team Hill and Adams up the middle, but the positions are reversed. Russ continutes to have problems at second, and is eventually sent down pretty much for good. Hill is moved back over to second base where, up until his DL stint, he was making plays, turning heads, and marking his Gold Glove territory left, right, backhand, deep in the hole, and centre.

Needless to say...their marriage has been anything but smooth. At least with Russ coming up, it won't be a long distance relationship for awhile.

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Doc goes for #11 against Tim Wakefield for Boston. This season against the Knucleballer, Clayton leads the team with a .333 AVG. in 9 at-bats. Vernon Wells is next at .275, followed by Johnny Mac with .263. The Jays might have caught a break against Boston as David Ortiz might not be playing tonight. He has to get an MRI done on his knee. It's up in the air if he'll play in the series, probably depending on the results. I'm not saying I like guys being injured, but I'll take all the breaks I can get when we play the RSox.

Enjoy the beginning of what should be an interesting (hopefully great for the Jays) 8 game road trip.
Until tomorrow,
JaysGirl5


Note: I've always thought the fake wedding story hilariously awesome, and always wanted a chance to talk about it in a blog. Hence, the possibly going a little overboard with the joke.

Say It Ain't So(re)!

This little tidbit from Scott Carson's latest doesn't shock me, saddens me a little, but doesn't shock me...

"That's why the whispers that Aaron Hill will be put on the DL to start the second half with a sore knee just makes you shake your head."

Sportnet first mentioned the sore knee in the wrap-up article about the Jays win over the Indians on Sunday. I mentioned it in My Pre-"All-Star Break" Break.

One of the greatest things about being a diehard is that when you watch them every game (or almost every game)...you learn their idiosyncracies. As I've now found out, it can also be a sucky thing 'cause you can tell when something's not on (i.e. Hilly's knee.) Here's hoping he can avoid his first DL trip, but I have to wonder what's caused the soreness.

However, in happy Hill news, I have to agree with Jays beat writer Jordan Bastian with this prediction:

"Toronto second baseman Aaron Hill didn't garner much attention in terms of All-Star votes, but his steady glove work has turned heads throughout the first half. When the season's all said and done, the young infielder will have a Gold Glove Award to add to his mantel."

Keep your fingers crossed.
JaysGirl5

Ri"Ohs Canada"

So, okay...I didn't watch the All-Star game last night. I wanted to, but considering the game actually didn't start until almost 9pm, and I had midnight movie plans...it just didn't happen.

Rock on to Ichiro for getting the first ever inside-the-parker in All-Star history. I'm really not that surprised it was him who did it first.

I did get to see some of the pre-game ceremony with Willie Mays. Very classy...and I loved that he was throwing balls into the stands while being driven around. Imagine growing up watching him, then catching a ball he threw out. How cool would that be.

I'll admit that although I respect Willie Mays, I don't revere him because I never saw him play. But it got me thinking about who my Willie Mays is, or my Mickey Mantle...my Babe Ruth. You know, the player that is more than just a player, more than a memory, more than an athlete you enjoy watching. The player that for inexplicable and intricate reasons is so wrapped up in your love of the game, that it's somehow gotten bigger than you and them.

It doesn't take me long to come up with the answer, a very short list. Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay, Joe Carter; in that order. I won't bore you with the details, but those three players for me are bigger than the game especially King Carlos. Joe Carter will forever be the strongest memory I have of my first major league baseball game.

My roomate recently asked me why I didn't get the players to sign the bat I have displayed in my room. It's one of the silver bats the Jays gave out at the '05 home opener to commemorate King Carlos blasting 4 homeruns in a game in his last season with the Jays. I'm saving it. I might be saving it in vain...but alas, I'm still saving it in hopes that one day I can get Carlos to sign it. I got his autograph on his last day in Toronto...and it meant a lot to me.

Anyhoo...inumerable "Rock On"s to Alexis Rios. I got so tired of the announcers talking about how no one knew who he was during the homerun derby because he plays in Canada. You know what? So what. Jays fans know him, love him and appreciate him. I get really tired some times of the media surrounding baseball (usually coming from the States) making it seem like playing in Canada is a bad thing, a negative, a con. Personally, I think it's a bonus, a positive, a pro. Where else would you get people screaming for hockey highlights during the World Juniors at a baseball game. As much as I begrudge my countrypeople sometimes for their hockey obsession, we still approach baseball with a hockey mentality. Where else to you get that?

So, congratulations Alexis Rios on your coming out party. People know who you are now, and Jays fans still love you. You represented us incredibly. I can't say as you're my fave Jay, but I've always been impressed how you quietly go about your business. Never overly flashy in the field, nice compact easy swing. But I appreciate you all the same.

How cool would it have been had Matt Holliday and Alexis squared off in the final round of the derby. The two guys from teams that aren't that well covered outside their markets. And, who when they were announced, most people scratched their heads and asked "who?". I'm not sure how long ago, but I've been hearing about Matt Holliday for a few years, and was always impressed. I always thought it was weird since he played in Colorado (kinda far from Ontario), but I always knew who he was.

Anyhoo...that's it for today. Enjoy the rare Wednesday offday. I can't wait for the Jays to get back into action tomorrow, and I'm betting Lyle Overbay is thinking along the same lines.

Until tomorrow,
JaysGirl5

Continuance of the Mactasticness

Just an observation...

How many bloop/clutch hits has John McDonald had for the Jays this season...especially with the bases loaded?

Just sayin'...
Love you Johnny Mac!
JaysGirl5

My Pre-"All Star Break" Break

So...I decided to take a little time off this week to recoup, but now I'm back.

And so is the highly effective Josh Towers. I didn't get a chance to watch the first part of the game today, but when I turned it on in the 6th inning to learn Josh had a no-hitter, I was pleasantly surprised. It shows he's getting back to his '05 self.

It's too bad that the Jays couldn't sweep the Tribe to be at .500 for the break, and that Shaun Marcum had such a bad outing. It's much the same thing as Casey Janssen's bad outing in June. It was bound to happen sometime. Personally, and I don't think I'm alone here, I prefer it was yesterday instead of his next start against Boston or later in the 2nd half. I think the win today is a great way for the Jays to head into the break, as well as having won their last 2 series.

Welcome back Reed Johnson! How you have been missed. I'm sure any Jays fan knows the numerous reasons why it's great to have him back (especially if you watched Friday's game.) Click here to watch Reed greatfully and gracefully receive his post-game Gatorade shower.

As happy as I am to have Reed "Scrappy" Johnson back...I will say a fond farewell to Adam Lind. His defense greatly improved, and barring no more injuries, we'll see him again in September. Curtis Thigpen's fate is going to be much the same (more than likely) when Lyle Overbay comes back in Boston after the break. Both guys are just too good in their development and too young to not be playing everyday, or almost everyday.

"Rock On"s...

• Matt Stairs for your triple on Friday;
• Casey Janssen for your beautiful cartwheel on Friday night;
• Travis Snider (Jays #1 pick last year) for hitting for the cycle for the Lansing Lugnuts;
• Roberto Alomar for being at the game today;
• Jeremy Accardo for striking out Jhonny Peralta with the bases loaded to end the top of the 9th; and
• Reed Johnson for saving Jeremy Accardo's ass on Friday night with an amazing Reed-like grab.

Congrats to Alex Rios for being asked to participate in the homerun derby tomorrow night.

Two things before I part for the evening...

Aaron Hill sat out today with a sore knee. When I went to last game in the Rockies series, Aaron was on 2nd and was shaking out his right knee quite a bit. I realise that was 2 weeks ago, but I still hope the break will be enough rest for the soreness. I don't know if the two things were related...I just thought it odd.

As per J.P. Riccardi's comments about AJ Burnett, I get the point he was trying to make. I think it was very classy of AJ to stand up and say he's not offended and understand's where JP's coming from. When something bad happens to your body, like an injury or illness, you're always kind of hyper-sensitive to signs of it happening again. I know I am. I'm not AJ Burnett, but I wouldn't be surprised if he does have that a little bit especially considering his livelihood and career depend on him being healthy and his body performing to the best of its abilities. It's a fine line before crossing over to the "player-cried-pain" area, but I'm all for erring on the side of caution.

I think the biggest thing that bothers me about the situation with AJ back on the DL is all the people coming out and screaming about how the Jays shouldn't have let him pitch so much. When Doc went down AJ stepped up and became the ace of the staff. He pitched incredibly for the team, and at the time no one said anyting. Nothing about that it wasn't a good idea. Nothing about being cautious because of his history of injuries. Maybe privately people questioned, but there was nothing in the media about it that I read. Then he lands on the DL the first time, and everyone and their brother start saying the Jays shouldn't have let him pitch so much, blah, blah, blah.

To those who thought it was great AJ pitched the way he did, then say he shouldn't have...
You can't have your cake and eat it, too. But I guess hindsight can be 20/20.

Enjoy the All-Star break.
If you're a HP fan, enjoy the movie release.
Talk to you soon,
JaysGirl5

Whoever Said Big Guys Can't Run...

...Well, they just might be right.

Troy Glaus getting thrown out at 2nd last night on Frank Thomas' deep fly ball to centre wasn't pretty. I was really surprised that he was running, but that doesn't mean I don't agree with it.

Yes, Troy was running from 1st to 2nd. Yes, he's a big guy with a bone spur and not the healthiest legs. But, he forced the throw. Sure, he got out. What if he had been safe? He would have been in scoring position in a game the Jays were trailing 2-1 in the late innings. At some point, and I think they might be getting there soon (considering Alexis stole a base last night), the Jays are going to have to start forcing the issue instead of relying on the homerun. As Gibbons said on the Jays website,

'"Troy's a smart player," said Toronto manager John Gibbons, defending Glaus' decision to run. "I didn't mind that. It's a big ballpark and it took a perfect throw, and that's what they got. He was just trying to make something happen. We weren't scoring."

He's right. It takes a perfect throw to get him out, and that one time there just happened to be one. Not every throw is perfect, nor is every tag. Forcing the other team to make the plays and putting pressure on them that way is a way to score runs and win games. The rest of the AL has been applying that philosophy against the Jays this year, it's about time they start pushing back.

For me, it's in the same family as striking out swinging and striking out with the bat on your shoulder. Yeah, they show up the same in the box score, but you can't put the ball in play with the bat on your shoulder. That's not to say you should swing at everything when you're up there, but why not take a hack when you think you're gonna get a good pitch? There is a point where you can be too selective. It's that fine balance of "agressive/patient" the Jays displayed on Monday, but lacked last night.

My point? You never know what will happen when you put the ball in play or when you force the defense to make a play.

Dustin "Chops" McGowan performed kinda like I expected him to last Friday. He went from really bad (against LA), to incredible (against Colorado), to okay (against Seattle). Like Doc Halladay once said, 1 out of 5 starts you're not going to have your best stuff. Okay, that's cool. I'm still waiting for Dustin to be a little more consistent. If he can minimalize the "really bad" and "okay" outings, and average somewhere in between "incredible" and "okay"...Well, I think that's all I'd ever ask for, and really...what I expect from him now.


Refreshing...
"I was getting kind of antsy, because you're at the ballpark, where these guys are getting ready to go to battle and you're kind of like, 'Good luck. I'm worthless right now.'" -- Overbay

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Chops goes for win #5 today against Joe Kennedy. The Jays scored 4 in the top of the 1st on a bases loaded walk by Hill, a double by Stairs, and a sac fly by Zaun. McGowan went 3 up-3 down in the bottom of the 1st. So far...so good.

Enjoy the game, although it's not on TV.
Thank god the Jays are home again this weekend. Four 10pm games in 5 days is a lot.
JaysGirl5

Sinking Ship Pt. 2?

I know I'm a little late commenting on this, but...

Shea Hillenbrand has again parted ways with a team after not getting enough playing time. At some point, wouldn't you start thinking that maybe you just might be overestimating your own ability, or not doing what's best for the team?

Maybe the messages in the Jays' Clubhouse last year before he was traded were more the thinking he perscribes to all the time, instead of a reaction to a certain situation? We'll never know, but a little part of me is more inclined to believe the former.

Still, when I walk around Rogers Centre and see pictures of him up, I take solace in the fact that him leaving Toronto got us Jeremy Accardo . The Angels got nothin'. Sorry Anaheim.

JaysGirl5

July, Oh My.

I decided to take the Canada Day Weekend off to relax. Let's just say the Jays being swept in Seattle didn't help with that effort.

For the first time all season, I found myself able to get up and walk away from watching the game...just 'cause. I didn't have anything to do, I just...didn't feel like watching it anymore. They seemed lifeless, and in those small moments where they showed life...they still fell flat.

I will forever love my Jays, but I don't disagree with Scott Carson 100%.

Where do you put the blame this season? It's not as easy as pinning it to John Gibbons or J.P. Riccardi. Are they blameless? Maybe, maybe not. I'm going to explore this issue with the off day on Thursday.

Congrats to Alex(is)* Rios for making the All-Star team again this year, and if all goes well...he'll acutally get to play. I think, though, even if he doesn't...the fact that he's not coming off a staph infection is still a leg up from last year. No pun intended.

Do my man Doc a favour, and vote him in to the All-Star team. Head on over to any MLB site and vote in the "Final Candidate Vote". Yes, his team's played pretty crappy...but I think considering that, him missing 3 wks, and being 9-3...he deserves to be there.

Yes, Seattle was hard to watch. However, how nice it is for Mike Hargrove to go out a winning manager, with his team getting the sweep. Regardless of what some people in the media are saying, I'm taking Mike Hargrove at his word ("lack of passion) for the reason he's retiring. Classy all the way.

As nice as it is that the Jays won last night and the bats came alive again, I'm getting a little tired of it. They were agressive in the good way last night, and patient when they needed to be. For some reason, they can't seem to keep this mentality or game plan going for that long, or in consecutive games. It's frustrating.

Oh, AJ Burnett going on the DL again in frustrating, too. Some times I get the feeling that guys with a lot of talent and *potential* (gah!) aren't always destined to reach it or be able to use all of it....either because they just can't harness it...or their bodies just weren't meant to take it.

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Jesse Litsch gets the start tonight in place of AJ Brunett. Joe Blanton is on the mound for the As. Here's hoping the Jays can prove me wrong, and have the "agressive/patient" approach to the plate as a whole team again tonight.

JaysGirl5


*Note: I realise he goes by Alex now, but for whatever reason (probably from when he first came up and impressed me), Alex Rios will forever be Alexis.