The game that never was...

It’s easy to wax poetic about Opening Day, or…the makeup game because Opening Day was rained out. There really is nothing like knowing that after weeks of games that don’t mean anything, that it’s time for meaningful baseball again. For one day of the season, every team and every player is perfect.

That’s not to say that to die-hards players and teams aren’t perfect in their own way throughout the season, but at least on opening day they don’t have the baseball world and stats telling them otherwise.

All of the baseball previews I’ve seen have ranked the Jays 3rd in the AL. Nothing new. So what. I think other than roster changes, two of the biggest things to hit this team this season are attitude adjustments.

A lot has been said about Doc speaking out not quite as vaguely as usual. Aaron Hill said it right on Jays Connected/The Season: ’08 Jays this past Sunday…Doc leads by example. He’s not very vocal, so when he does say something, you listen.

I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to see that last year (and even years before) the Jays didn’t always take all their opposition seriously. Sure, the Yanks and Sox they had to beat. Those games are must win every time. What about the other 120ish games you have to play? That’s where the other attitude change comes in.

Scott Rolen got it right* when he said it’s not just about beating the Yankees and the Red Sox, it’s about winning enough games to make it to the post-season.

My take on it…if they happen to be 2 of the teams you have to play a lot to play in October, okay, but you still have to win enough games to get there (somewhere higher than mid-80s). True, as a Jays fan, any time you can stick it to the Yanks and Sox it’s great, but that doesn’t win you the division or the wild card. At the end of the season when other teams are staying warm in the autumn air still playing baseball, memories and gloat-worthy victories don’t really keep you warm.

The Jays have the talent to win the majority of the games they play. Is that being cocky? I don’t think so. Biased? Don’t think that, either. I don’t think every game is going to be a blowout or a sure win (since there really isn’t such a thing), but that doesn’t change the fact that the scale might be slightly tipped their way going in. True, there might be some chinks in the roster, but what team doesn’t have some? But you look around at the lineup and pitching staff, and you know they can do it. (Okay, so that last sentence might be a teensy bit biased. I love my team, so kill me!)

Still, in the end it doesn’t really matter to me what happens. I’m just glad they’re back. I’m looking for Doc to have another great year. It’s kinda cool to see Stew back, even though Reed had to go to Chicago. Shannon was a part of the Fab 5 Jays when I was younger and I have fond memories of watching them play. The Windy City was good to another Fab 5er (Gonzo), so here’s hoping they’ll be great to Reed.
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Doc faces off against Chein-Ming Wang tonight at 7:05. The actual game probably won't start closer to half past, since this is the last Season Opener at the current Yankee Stadium. Reports are that Stairs won't be in the lineup today and might land on the DL. Bad things happen in 3s and Stairsy would be Jay #3 on the 15-Day DL this year (if it happens).

Enjoy the game!
I'm SO Glad the baseball in BACK!
JaysGirl5

*Another quote from JaysConnected this past Sunday. I really do love that show.