Suckage in other T-towns

Well, that sure didn’t end well.

When the Jays won the first game in Tampa, it felt like their fortunes might have turned, at least a little when playing at The Trop.

Yeah, not so much.

Then, there was Texas. It wasn’t pretty. Our offense started to look good, especially Colby Rasmus who seems to be coming around (yay!). On Friday and Saturday, it felt like the guys just couldn’t seem to catch a break and have one or two of the hard hit balls drop.

Sunday dawned with what looked like a decent chance for the Jays to avoid being swept. Shaking off what I’m sure was a disheartening loss the day before, the team seemed prepared to leave the Lone Star State on a winning note.  Then, the bottom fell out of the pitching.

I’m a firm believe that over the course of a season, hitting, pitching and defense will ebb and flow. They’ll be peaks and valleys, but the key is to keep either from being too great; in other words, consistency. Over 162 games, it’s irresponsible to believe that a pitcher, batter or defense isn’t going to have a bad game. What you can hope/plan for is for them not to have a bad game at the same time, and prepare for the other aspects of the game to support the one that’s sucking.

We saw that at the start of the season as the pitching carried the lack of offense. Now, the tide is turning back to other way. I don’t think anyone who has watched Morrow since he came to Toronto would have believed Friday was possible. But, anything’s possible especially in baseball.

Sometimes there are holes that are too deep to get out of in a particular game, even with the support of great pitching, hitting or defense. That’s what we saw Friday and the later innings on Sunday. Saturday was the abnormal game of the Texas series as the pitching was somewhat there. Alvarez wasn’t on his "A" game, but he was keeping the Jays in the game until being ejected on a bad call. I think the fact that the Jays kept it close for so long and the bullpen left so many Rangers stranded in the later innings shows the team’s resilience. Same with pulling to within 6 runs by the end of the game on Sunday.

Resilience is a strong factor for this Jays team. In part, I think it’s because they know they’re young and might still experience some growing pains. It’s also because they know how tough their division is. Luckily, we’re early enough in the season when resilience is still relevant and can be a silver lining to losing. There comes a point though, possibly as early as the All-Star Break, where cheering for the resilience of a team in frequent close/tough loses isn’t as comforting any more, even for us die-hards.

The team needs to shake it off and leave it that other time zone where it belongs. They’ve got a touch stretch against Baltimore and Boston this week. Congrats to Adam Jones for signing his contract today; well-deserved. He might play against us, but I’ve always enjoyed watching him play.

Real quick, something else the team needs to shake off is the latest additions to the Jays & umpires saga. Lots, and I mean LOTS, has been said/written/tweeted/blogged about this particular season story so far. All I’ll say is the guys need to take a deep breath and suck it up. I know it’s not easy, especially when in the heat of the moment, but it’ll go a long way to bringing back a professional rep with umpires, instead of the possibly uncomplimentary one the team has now.

Enjoy the week to come Jays' fans. I’ll be at the Dome 5/6 games this week. Excited doesn’t cover it.

JaysGirl5

P.S. Total ROCK ON to JP Arrencibia for becoming to the first Jays’ catcher to be name AL Player of the Week. He had a rockin’ couple of games at the plate last week, and truly deserved the honour. Go JPArriba!

One down, five to go…minus six days.

We are officially a whole month and six days removed from that Holy day known as Opening. And, as usual, I don’t think anyone would have been able to predict what has and hasn’t gone on in that time. (A healthy Pujols  needing  a month to hit a homerun? Really?) But such is the glory and beauty of baseball, as many, many lifelong lovers and observers will tell you.

From this blog’s beginning, I’ve been hesitant when dealing with expectations or potential, mainly because baseball is played by human beings. We’re not perfect, we don’t perform as expected or up to any perceived potential all the time.

Over a six month season, averages and histories may win out; things may level out after a while. Do I think the Orioles are going to win the AL East this year? Probably not, but there’s no real way to tell. There is never a way to tell what is going to happen on any given day of the baseball season, let alone multiple months from now.

It’s been interesting so far this season to see the reaction to the Jays. Our offense and the re-vamped bullpen were supposed to be the highlights that  help support our rotation as they learned and succeeded on the job. At least, that’s what it looked like on paper, right? Well, looks good on paper hardly ever looks good in person.

Over the first 32 games this season, the general impression I’ve gotten from a loud part of the Jays’ fan base is that Lind needs to be gone all together; Bautista has lost “it”; our bullpen is going to give someone a heart attack; Arencibia’s just a placeholder; and, Encarnacion is awesome. (As a side, I’ve leaned towards that last one since EE came to town.)

By no means do I think those opinions are indicative of what the whole fan base thinks, but they are by far the loudest impressions out there from fans about the state of the franchise and the possibility of playoffs in 2012 for the hometown team. Somehow, the main thing that seems to get lost here is that even if the more negative statements above have even a shred of truth, we’re still not out of the playoff hunt; no team has yet to run away with our or any other division. We’re not the only team that’s struggling one way or another, or the only team with a big bat that has yet to be sizeable this season.

The proverbial sky has not and is not fallen/ing. To a man I’m sure the Jays probably haven’t performed the way they would have liked to this point, but all hope for the post-season is not lost. We are still in the running; we still have the chance to challenge the top spot(s) in the AL East.

You know the old adage “You can’t win the division in April, but you can lose it”? There’s a reason the saying has stuck around.

With that in mind Jays fans, take heart. Maybe the team hasn’t performed to expectation or their “potential”, but they’re still finding ways to win. Do I think Lind, Bautista and Arencibia are going to start hitting? Yes, they’re too good not to. But I also know it might not necessarily be what we’ve come to expect from past performance, either good or bad. Great part of baseball – tomorrow is a new day, and you never know what can happen.

Enjoy the ride fellow fans, as I have a feeling it’s going to be pretty crazy.

JaysGirl5

Doubleheader on Day One

So, I think all Jays could agree that we got much more than we bargained for on Opening Day this year. Make that about 7 innings more.

Our boys in blue set a new record for longest Opening Day game ever (go boys!). Plus, JP proved that missing a sign doesn't always lead to disaster.

I think this not only builds off the great spring the Jays had, but also goes back to their extra inning record from last season and the sense that they weren't giving up easily in all those games. At no point did there seem to be any sense of rushing or pressing. The guys just put their heads down and went to work, and what a wonderful job they did.

Honest, awesomest Rock Ons to...
- the bullpen (I think things are going to be okay there this year...)
- JP for bringin' a new level to his defensive skills from last season
- Farrell and co. for making some great moves tonight.

Enjoy Good Friday or just Friday in general. At first I was a little sad for the tease of today's game followed by an off day, but a 16 inning, gritty game I think will satisfy me 'til Sat.

I think. JaysGirl5

P.S. As for the "new" unis - they looked amazing on TV today. But for the most part it just seemed like the team's been wearing them all along, especially the blue hats. I know they wore black last season, but seeing the blue back where it should be today kinda pushed those old unis out of my mind.

Cards' Game:

A return to roots while helping others to fly...

Manager Matt Fortuna (left) is helped into the Cardinals' new jersey 

by team owner Drew Brady (right) at the team's news conference Feb. 1, 2012. 

Photo courtesy Jason Nason.

Hamilton, ON - March, 2012 – The sports community in Hamilton is vast and varied. With a strong history of football and hockey, many would be surprised to learn that the city’s second oldest sports franchise is a baseball team. From May to August, the Hamilton Cardinals tour Ontario as members of the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL).

            During the Cardinals’ fifty-four year history, there has been a playing hiatus, and ownership and name changes. The most recent name switch came Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, as team owner Drew Brady announced the team’s return to its roots as the Cardinals. “The entire Hamilton Rep Program are [sic] called the Cardinals. I felt that it was time to align ourselves with the rest of the city,” says Brady. “The timing was right to become `one’ with the rest of the programs and create a seamless transition from Tyke to Senior IBL baseball.” Gone is the Thunderbird blue the team wore since 2005. When the home season opens on May 13 this year, fans will see Hamilton’s IBL team dotting the field in red once more.

           Something that has stayed during Brady’s time in the owner’s seat is the team’s dedication to the community. The team works with charitable organizations in Hamilton and gives them a chance to enjoy the city’s highest level of baseball.

“Our players are also active in the local schools working with a `Stay in School Program’ to help kids make good choices about their education and athletic choices,” tells Brady of how the team further supports the city they represent.

“The Hamilton Cardinals also play a role in the development of baseball starting at the grass roots,” continues Brady, “and now offering a senior level of baseball for these athletes to aspire to!” It’s a sentiment shared by second-year manager Matt Fortuna.

First joining the Cardinals shortly before turning 18, Fortuna is well aware of the role the team plays in Hamilton’s baseball community. Playing with the Cardinals’ junior team as a catcher, he got his first taste of the IBL as an in-season call-up during the 1996 season. When asked about the club’s place in the Hamilton baseball world, Fortuna replies “… we represent an opportunity and an end. Kids who play baseball can aspire to be a part of our organization.” He hopes those aspirations “will inspire kids to keep playing and learning about a sport that, when played at a high level, is strategic and beautiful.”

After stints with four IBL teams in total, Fortuna returned to Hamilton to finish his playing career and transition to the manager’s office for the 2011 season. Citing four main reasons for the switch, Fortuna believes his experience as a catcher and his desire to learn played important stepping stones. “As I got older, I was able to pass (on the nuances of the game) to other players and my strength became my mind rather than my ability. When I was no longer able to play at a level at which I felt comfortable, I transitioned into managing,” explains Fortuna.  “I felt I could make a positive contribution to the team and the broader baseball community in Hamilton.”

Entering Bernie Arbour Stadium (a hidden gem at the corner of Upper Kenilworth and Mohawk Road), it’s easy to see people enjoying being part of the team. From pre-game meetings on the concourse, the volunteers, to Brady greeting fans with his trusty dog by his side; everyone is committed to the club’s success. “I decided to become a team owner when the current ownership at the time was failing, and I felt that the club would not survive unless somebody stepped up to purchase it ,” says Brady. “I love baseball, and did not want the city of Hamilton to lose their IBL franchise!”

            Still the team faces the same yearly challenge - consistent support from the community it’s proud to be a part of.  Brady points to the need of “the city, local businesses and investors, and the average fan `at large’ to embrace the ball team, support the team by attending games, and also supporting the various causes that the ball club engages in.”

            As Opening Day at Bernie Arbour looms, the Cardinals get ready for the new season. Another year of baseball to pay tribute to their past, work towards their future and to continue helping players and the Hamilton community develop and grow.  

Hello Spring!

Short, but sweet update about the wonderfulness of Spring Training. I'm heading there tomorrow night and I have been looking forward to this trip since before last season ended. 

For as magical as Opening Day always is, there's something almost mystical about Spring Training, even if you've been before. To try and describe it only detracts from it. I will say if you've never been, try to go. You won't regret it.

I'll wish you all well from sunny Florida. Keep counting down to April 9th. It's not too far now, ball fans.
JaysGirl5                                                                                    

P.S. Small trip highlight - getting to watch the Jays play Team Canada.