Yes...I've given Doc the highest moniker I can. Feel free to use "Doctastic" to describe something that is consistently out of this world. Other than this, I have run out of things to use to desribe Roy Halladay. He is an awesomeness all unto himself. Much like Johnny Mac.
I'm not the only one feeling the love for Doc...Scott Carson is, too.
My fave Roy quotes from the past week all come courtesy of Lyle Overbay:
"Day in and day out, everybody that gets on first base says he's the best ... The Yankees, the Red Sox, they're like 'It's not fair.' I'm glad I'm on his side, not the other side."
"I don't think he's had his best," Overbay said. "These last couple of ones he has, but even before that. ... He hasn't had his stuff yet, and he's still able to dominate. It's scary, because he can dominate. With the bases loaded and one out, he just stepped it up another notch. It's scary what he can do."
"We've got Doc [Halladay] over here that we've got to get into the Cy Young [Award]," Overbay said, suppressing a smile. "So that's what it's all about. We've got to represent and take [Greinke] down."
'Nough said.
As for the game last night, Casey wasn't his sharpest at points, but he still made it through. Adam Lind...I'm so glad you're here. Not just 'cause you won the game for us runs wise last night, but just because you are a joy to watch.
Speaking of joys to watch...seeing Dirk Hayhurst and Casey air-guitaring to "Teenage Wasteland" this weekend was awesome. Plus from the TV booths behind homeplate they look eerily twinish, especially 'cause Casey wasn't sporting high socks during BP this weekend. Still, too funny.
Here's hoping Tallet can pull out the win tonight. I think he can. Let's get a win streak going!
Enjoy...
JaysGirl5
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My Letter to the Rogers Centre
I was lucky enough to be with you when you turned 20 this past weekend. It was a memorable experience. It saddens me that just over 15,000 turned up for Friday night’s game (which was exactly 20 years since the Jays’ first official game in you), but everyone there had a grand time.
Anyone who is a Jays fan has mentioned something about your big day leading up to it, so I will try to keep this short.
You are my favourite place. I still flash back to the first time I visited you every time I see the field. Who wouldn’t remember the neon green AstroTurf surrounded by blue seats. Sure, you have FieldTurf now and it’s a little darker, but it’s still beautiful. You’ve also had a couple facelifts over the years, but honey you look fantastic! I haven’t been to many other fields where pro baseball is played, but I don’t know if there are any that exude as much home team pride as you do. It’s a feeling I get every time I’m there and maybe it is just me, but I don’t think so.
I know you’re name has changed and I have no problem calling you Rogers Centre because it is an homage to the man who very well might have saved MLB baseball in Canada. For that I, and every Jays fan in Canada (whether they realise what exactly Ted Rogers did when he bought the team or not), should feel proud to call you by your new name. After all…other than the Jays, Canada only has 1 minor league team that is affiliated with MLB (Vancouver’s Canadians, Single-A for the As.)
I’ll admit though, in my heart of hearts…you’ve always had a different name. DreamDome. Because that’s what you are. Whether it’s rock star dreams, athletics dreams, fan dreams of seeing their favourite rock star or athlete…you’ve made them come true. At the time you were built you were an engineering and construction dream. There are other parks that have retractable roofs now, but you were the first. And it doesn’t matter how many times someone may have seen your top slide back; it never gets old.
I can't imagine the day when you are no more and I feel deep empathy for those who have had to say goodbye to the park they grew up in (Tigers' Stadium, Candlestick, etc.). You are the only place I ever want to call home of the Jays.
I consider myself lucky to have spent the time with you that I have. Mostly baseball, but a few concerts along the way. Most memorable would have to be Roy Halladay’s 22 season win and his 100 career victory, Vernon Wells’ walkoff against Mariano Rivera, throwing out the first pitch against the Yankees (even though we lost), walking on the field for the first time for work.
I love you Rogers Centre, SkyDome, DreamDome…whatever you want to be called. I smile every time I see you, or even see the CN tower from my balcony because I know you’re right beside it. Thank you for being where baseball dreams (and dreams in general) come true every year for a small-town Canadian girl and everyone else whose dreams have come true in you.
Love always,
JaysGirl5
Anyone who is a Jays fan has mentioned something about your big day leading up to it, so I will try to keep this short.
You are my favourite place. I still flash back to the first time I visited you every time I see the field. Who wouldn’t remember the neon green AstroTurf surrounded by blue seats. Sure, you have FieldTurf now and it’s a little darker, but it’s still beautiful. You’ve also had a couple facelifts over the years, but honey you look fantastic! I haven’t been to many other fields where pro baseball is played, but I don’t know if there are any that exude as much home team pride as you do. It’s a feeling I get every time I’m there and maybe it is just me, but I don’t think so.
I know you’re name has changed and I have no problem calling you Rogers Centre because it is an homage to the man who very well might have saved MLB baseball in Canada. For that I, and every Jays fan in Canada (whether they realise what exactly Ted Rogers did when he bought the team or not), should feel proud to call you by your new name. After all…other than the Jays, Canada only has 1 minor league team that is affiliated with MLB (Vancouver’s Canadians, Single-A for the As.)
I’ll admit though, in my heart of hearts…you’ve always had a different name. DreamDome. Because that’s what you are. Whether it’s rock star dreams, athletics dreams, fan dreams of seeing their favourite rock star or athlete…you’ve made them come true. At the time you were built you were an engineering and construction dream. There are other parks that have retractable roofs now, but you were the first. And it doesn’t matter how many times someone may have seen your top slide back; it never gets old.
I can't imagine the day when you are no more and I feel deep empathy for those who have had to say goodbye to the park they grew up in (Tigers' Stadium, Candlestick, etc.). You are the only place I ever want to call home of the Jays.
I consider myself lucky to have spent the time with you that I have. Mostly baseball, but a few concerts along the way. Most memorable would have to be Roy Halladay’s 22 season win and his 100 career victory, Vernon Wells’ walkoff against Mariano Rivera, throwing out the first pitch against the Yankees (even though we lost), walking on the field for the first time for work.
I love you Rogers Centre, SkyDome, DreamDome…whatever you want to be called. I smile every time I see you, or even see the CN tower from my balcony because I know you’re right beside it. Thank you for being where baseball dreams (and dreams in general) come true every year for a small-town Canadian girl and everyone else whose dreams have come true in you.
Love always,
JaysGirl5
Monday, June 1, 2009
A Fresh Start
Two months have officially gone by in the '09 baseball season.
The Jays stand 1.5 games back of first place and 1 game back in the Wild Card...not too shabby for a team a lot of people thought would end up 4th in the division. (I realise there's still 4 months left, but I'm being optimistic!)
Things are lookin' good in Blue Jays land...
Sure, yesterday's loss wasn't so much fun. But good pitching will always beat good hitting and it was about time for Lester to start being the pitcher he is again. We still won the series and ended the losing streak. I'd call that a good weekend.
As for being happy the Red Sox are gone, I am. I will say though it was very heart warming to see Kevin Youkilis (mainly) and a lot of other Sox clapping along with a fan in the stands as he was calling out their names. The Sox were doing their pre-batting practice stretching and it was actually pretty awesome to see.
Day off today, and then Doc heads to the mound against the Angels. I always hope my Jays win (of course), but it would be great to put a nice winning streak together before heading back out on the road next week to play in Texas. At least it's not another interleague road trip. We've been swept enough in NL parks this season.
And on the girlie side of being a baseball fan, I agree with Jennifer Rolnik, except for me it remains a tie. I also agree with Joe Torre that Manny should not play in the All-Star game. As much as I love that the fans get a say in the starting roster, I've always thought the players/managers should have more say who the starting 9 is and the fans get to vote on filling out the rest of the lineup. 'Cause really...how can fans of teams in smaller markets compete with fans in larger markets to get their deserving player in the starting 9? That's right, they really almost can't.
Not completely sure how I feel about Cito putting Johnny Mac in late in the game yesterday. Not that I don't love to see Mac play. I do. It was even awesome to see him playing catch with Janssen before the game yesterday and to stick the gear on and catch Janssen's bullpen session.
But, by putting Mac in late...are you admitting defeat because you took Wells and Scutaro out? So, you'll only use Mac as a pinch runner or give him some playing time when it doesn't mean anything? I'm not saying replace Scutaro with Mac all the time or anything, but this is the only situation that I haven't been impressed with Cito's ability to get everyone some playing time. Sure, Mac's bat is not the greatest to begin with. But I never expect anything of him at the plate now (except his best effort, which he would always give anyway) because how can you expect the guy to hit when he hasn't seen in-game pitching in a week? I would be very sad to see the Mactasticness leave Toronto, but it's not like he's doing much from the bench anyway. And this is why I don't want Cito's job...
Enjoy the off day today and seeing the Doc pitch tomorrow.
Go Jays!
JaysGirl5
P.S. I can add Paul Beeston to my list of people I've almost run into in the media area...and add another two notches in the J.P. Riccardi column. One of these days there is going to be a collision. It will be interesting to see who I actually do end up running into.
The Jays stand 1.5 games back of first place and 1 game back in the Wild Card...not too shabby for a team a lot of people thought would end up 4th in the division. (I realise there's still 4 months left, but I'm being optimistic!)
Things are lookin' good in Blue Jays land...
Sure, yesterday's loss wasn't so much fun. But good pitching will always beat good hitting and it was about time for Lester to start being the pitcher he is again. We still won the series and ended the losing streak. I'd call that a good weekend.
As for being happy the Red Sox are gone, I am. I will say though it was very heart warming to see Kevin Youkilis (mainly) and a lot of other Sox clapping along with a fan in the stands as he was calling out their names. The Sox were doing their pre-batting practice stretching and it was actually pretty awesome to see.
Day off today, and then Doc heads to the mound against the Angels. I always hope my Jays win (of course), but it would be great to put a nice winning streak together before heading back out on the road next week to play in Texas. At least it's not another interleague road trip. We've been swept enough in NL parks this season.
And on the girlie side of being a baseball fan, I agree with Jennifer Rolnik, except for me it remains a tie. I also agree with Joe Torre that Manny should not play in the All-Star game. As much as I love that the fans get a say in the starting roster, I've always thought the players/managers should have more say who the starting 9 is and the fans get to vote on filling out the rest of the lineup. 'Cause really...how can fans of teams in smaller markets compete with fans in larger markets to get their deserving player in the starting 9? That's right, they really almost can't.
Not completely sure how I feel about Cito putting Johnny Mac in late in the game yesterday. Not that I don't love to see Mac play. I do. It was even awesome to see him playing catch with Janssen before the game yesterday and to stick the gear on and catch Janssen's bullpen session.
But, by putting Mac in late...are you admitting defeat because you took Wells and Scutaro out? So, you'll only use Mac as a pinch runner or give him some playing time when it doesn't mean anything? I'm not saying replace Scutaro with Mac all the time or anything, but this is the only situation that I haven't been impressed with Cito's ability to get everyone some playing time. Sure, Mac's bat is not the greatest to begin with. But I never expect anything of him at the plate now (except his best effort, which he would always give anyway) because how can you expect the guy to hit when he hasn't seen in-game pitching in a week? I would be very sad to see the Mactasticness leave Toronto, but it's not like he's doing much from the bench anyway. And this is why I don't want Cito's job...
Enjoy the off day today and seeing the Doc pitch tomorrow.
Go Jays!
JaysGirl5
P.S. I can add Paul Beeston to my list of people I've almost run into in the media area...and add another two notches in the J.P. Riccardi column. One of these days there is going to be a collision. It will be interesting to see who I actually do end up running into.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The End of the World As We Know It
...and I feel fine.
This, May 26th...is not the end of the season.
Yes, we're in the midst of a 7 game losing streak. No, this is the not the worst streak we've seen in the last 5 years. *cough* 9 games *cough*.
If you need to take solace, take it in the fact that even with the bad record this past week, we're only 1 1/2 out of first place.
I will point out...it always seems the bats are a little funky for a day or two after facing Wakefield and we get swept A LOT in NL parks. Bart Given agrees with me...at least about the NL parks.
As always, I'm just glad I get to watch them play.
JaysGirl5
This, May 26th...is not the end of the season.
Yes, we're in the midst of a 7 game losing streak. No, this is the not the worst streak we've seen in the last 5 years. *cough* 9 games *cough*.
If you need to take solace, take it in the fact that even with the bad record this past week, we're only 1 1/2 out of first place.
I will point out...it always seems the bats are a little funky for a day or two after facing Wakefield and we get swept A LOT in NL parks. Bart Given agrees with me...at least about the NL parks.
As always, I'm just glad I get to watch them play.
JaysGirl5
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Pre-game ramble
Just a few quick thoughts before the pitching showdown of the season so far gets underway tonight...
- It's nice to see Al Leiter back around the Dome, even if he's here broadcasting for the Yankees. Odd fact...he was traded for Burnett (apparently.)
- King Carlos is only 27 homeruns away from 500. With his hip acting up this season, who knows how many chances he's going to get at the plate. I'm pretty sure there's not a player I will want to root for more to reach that # than him, even if he won't be doing in any where near Toronto.
- Isn't it nice to not have to depend on one player to carry the offence, or even the rotation anymore? As much as I loved King Carlos growing up, I'm not sad to see that era go.
And, if you'll excuse me as I step up onto my soap box quickly...
Jays fans aren't stupid. We know it's still only a month and a half in to the season. We realise that the Jays' schedule to this point might not have been the hardest. But who cares? When was the last time that any of the big teams in TO were this much fun to watch?
I get a little scared to wonder sometimes just what it will take for people to think the Jays are the real thing. Making it to the playoffs? Making it to the Series? Winning the whole thing? Because I'm sure even if they did win the whole caboodle, there would be sports fans in the Toronto area that would try to downplay it and equate it to a fluke. I'm sad for those people and I don't know if I can call them sports fans, not really.
In these hard economic times (and even in good ones) I understand wanting to get bang for your buck if you make the trek to see your team play. That's fine and good. So why are the Jays still only averaging in the mid-20,000 in attendance? WAKE UP Toronto fans! If you keep sitting on your asses for the Jays (or any team in Toronto) to prove themselves the real deal to you, you'll miss everything worth watching. And what happens if it does end? You'll say you knew it would and you'll be glad you didn't make the effort to go out and see the Jays play. You'll gloat that the team did exactly as you said they would. Not because you were right, just because you were too lazy to care. (Excuse my sarcasm, but thank you Leafs. Your years of cuplessness have taught those who bleed you how not to give a crap. Congrats. What an accomplishment.)
For those of us who make the effort to be there to enjoy the Jays play, we'll be sad to see this ride end, if it does. Do I think playing the Yanks, Sox and Rays could be very telling if the Jays can keep this up? Yes. Am I optimistic and believe they will play well? Absolutely! Will I be sad if things start going not so well at any point this season? Of course I will, I bleed Jays turquoisy-blue. But if it comes to an end...what a ride it will have been. No true Jays fan or baseball fan for that matter could ever regret watching the emergence of Adam Lind, the glimpse of the Travis Snider's bright future, Doc's yearly awesomeness, Aaron Hill's return and hitting sickness at the plate, and all the other amazing things that have happened so far this season other than the Jays win-loss record.
I'm hangin' my Jays hat on hope this season. Hope that they can keep this up; hope that I'll see my team get the attention it deserves; hope that sports fans around Toronto will actually start to care again before it's too late; hope that by the end of the season I might not be the only die-hard Jays fan I know. Sure, hope might not be the sturdiest hat hook, but I'll take my chances. And if my hat should fall, I'm more than willing to pick it up, dust it off and hang it right back up again.
Enjoy the game ladies and gents. It will be a good one.
JaysGirl5
P.S. GO DOC!
P.P.S. Wouldn't it be awesome if the Jays still had the chilli races, and if tomorrow night AJ ran it in? Yeah I thought so, too.
P.P.P.S. I love my job.
- It's nice to see Al Leiter back around the Dome, even if he's here broadcasting for the Yankees. Odd fact...he was traded for Burnett (apparently.)
- King Carlos is only 27 homeruns away from 500. With his hip acting up this season, who knows how many chances he's going to get at the plate. I'm pretty sure there's not a player I will want to root for more to reach that # than him, even if he won't be doing in any where near Toronto.
- Isn't it nice to not have to depend on one player to carry the offence, or even the rotation anymore? As much as I loved King Carlos growing up, I'm not sad to see that era go.
And, if you'll excuse me as I step up onto my soap box quickly...
Jays fans aren't stupid. We know it's still only a month and a half in to the season. We realise that the Jays' schedule to this point might not have been the hardest. But who cares? When was the last time that any of the big teams in TO were this much fun to watch?
I get a little scared to wonder sometimes just what it will take for people to think the Jays are the real thing. Making it to the playoffs? Making it to the Series? Winning the whole thing? Because I'm sure even if they did win the whole caboodle, there would be sports fans in the Toronto area that would try to downplay it and equate it to a fluke. I'm sad for those people and I don't know if I can call them sports fans, not really.
In these hard economic times (and even in good ones) I understand wanting to get bang for your buck if you make the trek to see your team play. That's fine and good. So why are the Jays still only averaging in the mid-20,000 in attendance? WAKE UP Toronto fans! If you keep sitting on your asses for the Jays (or any team in Toronto) to prove themselves the real deal to you, you'll miss everything worth watching. And what happens if it does end? You'll say you knew it would and you'll be glad you didn't make the effort to go out and see the Jays play. You'll gloat that the team did exactly as you said they would. Not because you were right, just because you were too lazy to care. (Excuse my sarcasm, but thank you Leafs. Your years of cuplessness have taught those who bleed you how not to give a crap. Congrats. What an accomplishment.)
For those of us who make the effort to be there to enjoy the Jays play, we'll be sad to see this ride end, if it does. Do I think playing the Yanks, Sox and Rays could be very telling if the Jays can keep this up? Yes. Am I optimistic and believe they will play well? Absolutely! Will I be sad if things start going not so well at any point this season? Of course I will, I bleed Jays turquoisy-blue. But if it comes to an end...what a ride it will have been. No true Jays fan or baseball fan for that matter could ever regret watching the emergence of Adam Lind, the glimpse of the Travis Snider's bright future, Doc's yearly awesomeness, Aaron Hill's return and hitting sickness at the plate, and all the other amazing things that have happened so far this season other than the Jays win-loss record.
I'm hangin' my Jays hat on hope this season. Hope that they can keep this up; hope that I'll see my team get the attention it deserves; hope that sports fans around Toronto will actually start to care again before it's too late; hope that by the end of the season I might not be the only die-hard Jays fan I know. Sure, hope might not be the sturdiest hat hook, but I'll take my chances. And if my hat should fall, I'm more than willing to pick it up, dust it off and hang it right back up again.
Enjoy the game ladies and gents. It will be a good one.
JaysGirl5
P.S. GO DOC!
P.P.S. Wouldn't it be awesome if the Jays still had the chilli races, and if tomorrow night AJ ran it in? Yeah I thought so, too.
P.P.P.S. I love my job.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)