Underachieving continues

Yikes....losing 2 of 3 to the Mariners. It used to be losing 2 of 3 to Tampa was something to wring your hands about, but they are actually contending this year. Once again, the Jays are scuffling along and playing down to the competition.

Please check out the link below (you'll have to copy and paste as the browser that I use does not allow me to make links easily). Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail wrote about the .500 club and the need of GM Riccardi to make some changes because John Gibbons is trying his hardest to get the team on the plus side of the win ledger. However, he just doesn't have the horses to get him there. The pitching is awesome, the batting average is pretty good, and the on-base percentage is 3rd best in the league, and the Jays are stealing bases this year. They just cannot hit in the runners in scoring position. They are 2nd last in the majors this year, just ahead of the lowly (but Jays beating) Mariners.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080611.blair12/GSStory/GlobeSportsBaseball/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

Cheers.

Friday Night Boneheads!

So there we (Holly and I) were on Friday night, at our usual seats, 2nd row, section 519. After 3 innings we decided to move to some a more spacious row that had some room to stretch out! We grabbed a beer and moved up to the 11th row where we had nobody beside us or behind us. After 1 inning, 2 guys came up and sat behind us and the one douchebag just started yelling and screaming at the players. Of course, don't the two of them then pull out a mickey of booze and fill up their pops. Not 5 minutes later, 4 girls come up and join them. The group's age was probably about 22 at the most. Of course the girls come up and proceed to gaggle and screech about how drunk they were! Super, we thought, it is time to check out of here. Especially after douchebag #1 started screaming again.

We went to get another beer but I couldn't purchase 2 at once. Holly had to come to the vendor to get one herself. We also got ID'd as this is a new procedure on Friday nights. The security guard at the beer stand told us that Friday night games are starting to attract rowdy fans that come to get loaded and cause problems. I had to give the Rogers Centre and Jays management credit. They are trying to limit the amount of drunkenness without eliminating sale of beer on the 500 level altogether on Friday nights. Holly and I noticed after we had changed sections that security actually went up to the douchebags and spoke with them. After that, the screaming and swearing stopped.

To add to the night, as Holly and I were waiting for the GO train to go back to Burlington, there was another douchebag puking on different platform at Union Station. It was a nice cap to the night!

Cheers.

Hangin' In

Four for 8 with runners in scoring position???? Are you talking about the Jays? The '08 Jays??? WOW!
I was reading the paper this morning and was surprised to learn that The Jays are in 4th place in the AL with the number of hits and on-base percentage. However, as you probably know, it is their inability to get the runners in scoring position across home plate that has proven their hindering factor against a +.500 record.

It was good to see a few bloop singles drop in and score some runs. Then Lyle Overbay hit a homerun to put them ahead after the Angels tied it. The BEEJ, coming in and saving his 10th in as many tries looks better. Even when he puts guys on with walk or a hit, he manages to bunker down and hold the fort!

I'm going to the game tonight against the Royals. Candy Maldanado will the the Flashback Friday feature player. I still remember his hit in the '92 World Series that gave them the win (I think in game 3, but may have been 4).

I went to the Toronto FC game on Wednesday night and I have to say that it is the best sporting atmoshpere in Toronto by far. The Jays home-opener this year was a blast, but considering the FC game was a regular, middle of the season game played in a steady rain, it was amazing. The crowd is constantly singing, chanting, playing drums and cowbells (that's right, more cowbell).

It will be interesting to compare the two events. Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog.

Cheers.

Back to the same old, same old

Nothing like having the bases loaded on 3 separate occasions and not being able to cash in a run. YIKES.

I've got to give Rios a little credit though. He is going through a terrible slump (13 for 78 with 23 strikeouts) and he got caught looking at a called 3rd strikeout to end the game with the bases loaded. However, he did have the onions to stick around after the game and face the media. That could not have been the place that he wanted to be, but he is getting paid big bucks and at least he realizes that he has to be accountable.

At least the Yankees got crushed last night 12-2 by the Orioles!

Cheers.

Hooray for Overbay!

Good Evening:

It's been a few days since my last post, but it's been a busy weekend!

Holy crap, did you see Lyle jack a pinch-hit 3-run shot yesterday against the Phillies? He should have taken more time to admire that monster!!!!!!!!!
Reading The Star today and learned how Halladay got into the game as a reliever. It wasn't that Gibby asked him. Nope, The Doc volunteered to go in because he thought it would be tough on an already tired relieving corps so he pitched in with 2+ innings of work. Too bad that he didn't get the win for his efforts!

Looking at the standings in the AL East, the Jays still remain 4 back of The Bosox, but aren't in last place. That honour belongs to the Yankees for the time being. However, I'm sure the Orioles will find themselves there in the very near future. I have a new sense of respect for the Rays (nee Devil Rays) as they continue to hang tough in the divisional race. I'm not entirely convinced yet that they can keep it going. Although they do seem to have the pitching and hitting going right now.

If the Jays can get their shit together, I think they have a legitimate shot at beating the Yankees in the division for the first time in how many years???? I'm guessing since 1995. The Yankees just don't seem to have the pitching after Chin Ming Wong to keep up with the Sox, Rays, and Jays. Time will tell and the Yankees have been written off in May a few times in the last 3 years, but managed to find themselves in the post season for the umpteenth straight year.

I'll be at the game on Friday night vs. the Kansas City Royals.

Cheers.