The Blue Jays

[RM]

Are you folks in the Toronto area getting excited by this team ?

As a Yankee fan, they're starting to make me nervous.

[charlene]

be afraid..be very afraid..
;)
Red Sox are up for a whoopin this week..White Sox went down for all 4 games ...
Doc rocks..Jays are #1
oh yeah...

[Don Quixote]

Another Yankee fan. It's pretty early yet; I wouldn't mind seeing the Jays sweep the Sox, and then fall apart. What worries me more than the Sox or the Jays are the Yankees themselves--aging, hurt, no bullpen, shaky starting pitching. Looks like third place again unless things turn around.
DQ

[fezo]

Mets fan here. I prefer the Sox to whup the Yankees but any port in a storm...

Your Yankees concerns are right on the money. The core of the team is too old now and they have no bullpen. They have a ton of work to do if they want to get another run going. Working against them is the fact that some of the old guys are already Yankee legends so they can't do anything about the situation until those guys retire - Posada and Jeter being chief among them.

This is actually the area where the Sox have them. The Sox get younger and yet continue to contend. The Yankees let the farm system get away.

The Mets are another story. They just have the curse of being the Mets. Five errors last night and lose it on a base running error. Doh!

[Don Quixote]

One thing you might notice about the Sox is that in 2003 they hired Bill James to be their personnel guru, or whatever title they gave him. Basically he was in charge of figuring out which players would really help, and which wouldn't. In case someone doesn't know who Bill James is, he led the wave of "sabermetrics", or the deep mathematical study of baseball statistics (if you can find any of his Baseball Abstracts from the '80s and '90s, they're absolute gems). When they hired him I, they Yankee fan, said "Uh-oh--the curse is over". It happened the next year.

The Sox have been smart about letting veterans go at the right time (Pedro, Nomar and Manny are notable examples) and building the farm system. They may not be infallible, however. And the whole Big Papi problem is, in my humble opinion, a 'roids thing. No proof, but... 1) his big surge came when almost everyone was either doing them, or suspect; 2) his decline came when the testing got tougher; 3) he's Dominican, and almost every Dominican is suspect. Drugs or supplements that are outlawed or prescription-only in the U.S are not only available, but easy to find. And it's also interesting that the Sox traded Nomar for almost nothing, when he was at the top of his game--look at the Sports Illustrated Cover of him, and it just screams "steroids", and now Manny is suspended. Of course, he was just taking a medication that mostly is used for fertility problems in women. I can just see the banners--"Manny--will you have my baby?"

As a Yankee fan, I'm also not excusing the FAR too many 'roid users in that clubhouse: Giambi, Sheffield, A-Rod (probably but not provably as a Yankee), Randy Velarde from earlier years, Clemens and I'm sure many more. All of them, Sox and Yanks and beyond, should be punished more than they have been.

DQ

[fezo]

Yeah, Bill James caught my eye right away when they grabbed him. A lot of teams were trying to hire a Bill James type of guy. The Red Sox were smart enough to hire James himself. Not like he started as a Sox fan. He's a Royals fan.

I loved his old baseball abstracts - informative and fun reads.

[RM]

Red Sox are up for a whoopin this week.

Red Sox 2 : Blue Jays 1

So much for "The Curse of the Moderator".

[jj]

rm, you applied the curse by starting the thread... like a potential no hitter, can't talk about potential playoff possibility til the dog days are here, even that might be premature

ahh, it's all about injuries, imo...let's see who has the depth

right now Scutaro (mister 24/7/365 baseball) and Hill (last i checked had most hits in the league) are out, BJ Ryan (tre-overpaid) demoted to set up man behind unproven closer Downs and even though we avg about 6 runs scored a game, what would we be doing if Vernon Wells (clean up) was hitting more than a back and change with RISP...what if, what if

hoping for a fun season...based on dollar outlays, i don't know how anyone can compete with Sox and Yanks...i must say i was happy for the Rays last year...i think teams should be ranked by wins divided by total payroll...question: why no cap in baseball?

another question: anyone ever spend late nights in the 70's drinking, smoking and playing Stratomatic baseball with other fellow wannabe managers ? that's when i really got into the James Abstracts

note: char bleeds powder blue;)

[RM]

rm, you applied the curse by starting the thread...

Whatever works. And I have no problem with stroids either.

[charlene]

I LOVE Flashback Fridays at the Dome when the boys wear their powder blue pyjama's a la late 70's, and an alumni sits in the field level seats along first base line..LOVE it!
That's Doc wearing his pj's in your pic.. LOVE Fletch doing play by play too..he's easy on the eyes and should be on camera more..lol

Hey james - wanna go to a game when they have the two Jays world series teams in town in august? Bring Harrison too!

We'll see how the Jays play tonight in Beantown..oh yeah..

[jj]

i agree, rm...and i think we should have an All Stroids Olympics

Ben Johnson (he nudged out Marion Jones) will chair the committee and later declare it the greatest games yet

...btw, it's knuckleballs that make me (and Yuek) nervous

hoping Jays rebound tonight...Cecil starts (Beanie tomorrow)

note: we got the Beantown game feed last night, who is the young colour hottie? is she the new bonnie bernstein?

[charlene]

i don't know who she was - a beantown girl but cito certainly was all smiles when speaking with her..
lolol

[RM]

i agree, rm...and i think we should have an All Stroids Olympics


Absolutely !! I love enhanced performance. I think it would be great to see someone pole vault 45 feet. I'm not concerned about the record books.

[jj]

rm ,we have a consensus: all prescriptions will be permitted...a medic will be on standby should the enhanced pole vault competition exceed the four hour threshold:whistle:

char, i dialed in last friday's retro night but they musta run out of old Jays, instead i had to listen to some Bills chew peanuts

speaking of dog days, august sounds interesting...i'd drive to the lake and catch the lakeshore line in since the darn CPR doesn't run from here on weekends...harry finds baseball boring, so far...golf and football and hockey too...even lightfoot, lol...oh well, mini-soccer starts tonight (speaking of boring)

note: within the decade, it will be hard to tell Clemens and Mickey Rourke apart

[charlene]

bring harry - i'll have him lovin' baseball by the 3rd inning. lisa started going to ballgames when she was 5. stayed for all 9 innings too.. she taped american idol last night so she could watch the baseball game..
lol
i saw those two buffalo bills players last week..hell if they can't find an ol alumni they should call me! i'll park my butt down there with a glove!

will the pole vault be scored on height jumped or 'hang time'??
lol

[jj]

lol, just a matter of time before sir john mounts this thread

will Ross Giabagliati be lighting up the big torch in BC 2010?

YouTube - Ron James: West Coast Wild (Snowboarding) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xLfL-RNt4Y)

[jj]

i was just joking...but these organizer guys might be serious:

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/636701

[charlene]

just read that! lol
and GovGen gets to head to greece to begin the toke up..er i mean torch run..
lol

[charlene]

oh dear. not a good night for my boys again..
:(

[RM]

My mojo must be cookin'...........

Since the curse was cast, the Blue Jays are 0-7.

[RM]

My mojo must be cookin'...........

Since the curse was cast, the Blue Jays are 0-7.

I don't know how to stop it.

[charlene]

I can think of several ways to stop the curse..
;)

and we play Boston again this weekend at home..
I may have to head to The Dome and offer up some 'in-person' support.

I wonder if Gord is busy this weekend..
hmmm...

[RM]

Medic !!!

0-8 !!!!

Maybe 'Doc' Halladay can stop the bleeding tomorrow.

[charlene]

from your lips to Doc's ears..
what a time they're having..

but i am so glad that the Penguins have advanced!

[RM]

0-9

Life support !

[charlene]

it was all good till Doc left the mound..
oy.
my heart is hurting..
tomorrow is a day off for the boys..oh lordy they need to do some serious re-grouping.
i 'll volunteer to give cpr to a few of the guys..
;)

[johnfowles]

lol, just a matter of time before sir john mounts this thread

OK Jimbo you asked for it
Err Um I really only have one word to say on this subject:-
ROUNDERS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rounders)
http://www.baseballbeforeweknewit.com/images/illustrations/18-boysownbook-1828.jpg
Caption

This explanation of how to play the game of rounders--from The Boy's Own Book, 1828--is the earliest known description of a baseball-like game to appear in English. The name rounders was adopted in England in the early 19th century, but the game itself was at least a century older, and was known as "base-ball"!

[jj]

it's all about injuries, imo...let's see who has the depth



i am disputing my earlier claim...its not ALL about injuries but its a factor...right now, our ace starter and new ace reliever are sidelined as well as all starters but one...thats the pitching update...as for hitting, our cleanup guy is hitting abut .150 this year with RISP...the wild card spot is starting to look like more like a joker

[RM]

I noticed the Blue Jays have a new pitcher for tonight's game :

Help me out......how do you pronounce this last name ?

Rzepczynski

[charlene]

Rzepczynski

don't pronounce the R - then it's zepsinski - doesn't quite roll off the tongue

[charlene]

Rzepczynski

don't pronounce the R - then it's zepsinski - doesn't quite roll off the tongue yet .

[RM]

Rzepczynski

don't pronounce the R - then it's zepsinski - doesn't quite roll off the tongue yet .

Thank you.

[jj]

yeah, or just go with Zep like most seem to

rhymes with Rluzinski (which we never had a problem with)

6 IP, 2H, ok...and wasn't tagged with the L, which is now a primary objective for each pitching staff member (ever since the curse was laid)

[jj]

farewell to our 'saviour'...lol

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/article/662963

[charlene]

farewell to our 'saviour'...lol

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/article/662963

dreams do come true..
lol

[RM]

farewell to our 'saviour'...lol


Are the Jays throwing in the towel ? Or just hurtin' financially ? I heard today that they will discuss trade proposals for Halladay. I feel more and more guilty about inadvertently casting the curse.

[charlene]

injuries/finances - curses..
sheesh...

[Jesse Joe]

Less fans at the games for certain than some previous years. I blame it on the Matt Stairs trade ! lol !

And then again it may be the garbage strike ! :biggrin:

I was watching a Yankees game some night ago, at their brand new Stadium, it seemed to be full to capacity.

[BILLW]

This weekend in Baltimore we'll see if y'all can maintain that .500 record, LOL

Bill :)

[charlene]

:(

[RM]

I wonder if there is a way to "Reverse The Curse" ? Maybe jj knows.

[charlene]

JJ is off to Cape Breton/Nova Scotia for vaca...we can only hope he checks in soon...
;)

[BILLW]

:(

Well, like usual, I should have kept my mouth shut. Brett Cecil ?? Shutout ? Ouch !

LOL

Bill :)

[charlene]

tee hee...and with momma and daddy in the stands watching their hometown boy... so proud!

It was a happy homecoming for Cecil, who grew up in Dunkirk, Md., and played for the University of Maryland before being drafted by Toronto in the first round of the 2007 draft.

:kiss:
:biggrin:
:clap:

[BILLW]

Char,
Three tough games and a good series. I have a few extra tickets for the last weekend which is another Toronto/Baltimore matchup (3 Oct. 09) if you and Lisa would like to pop down. I'd like to hope we'd be fighting it out for first place but that may not happen this year. LOL
Peace,

Bill :)

Yankees, Beaners and (Devil) Rays fans need not comment, LOL. (I've heard 'em all)

[charlene]

c'mon up for the Tampa/Jays games in August !
lol
with the weather being so cool, and the Jays playing so badly I"m finding myself wishing for hockey season..
lol
and we all know how much I hate winter...

[BILLW]

oh yeah right ? October games in Baltimore can get chilly (they can also be hot ) and my seats are so near the top it CAN get blustery, LOL.

Bill :)

[jj]

Are the Jays throwing in the towel ? Or just hurtin' financially ?

not sure but their GM continues to make the Leafs former GM (John Ferguson Jr) look like a genius

young, former all star and HR competition finalist, Rios is gonzo (yes, dreams do come true, char!:) ) ...watch, he'll likely tear up the ball and throw out a pile of runners in Chicago ...and it's really not all that important to know how many outs there are, if in doubt, just play as if there are less than two

I miss watching Scott Rolen, a guy any fan would like to call their own...for an unquick player, he was a league leader in grounding into fewest double plays, so reliable and professional, an old fashioned role model

if we can ever get even a bag of pucks for Wells, I'd bet he also goes and hits up a storm elsewhere...of course he'll also K or hit a dribbler chasing balls 2 feet out of the strike zone with runner on third and less than 2 outs when you're looking for a tying run

regardless of the 26-46 slide, always fun watching Hill (league leader in total bases), Lind, Scutaro, Romero...oh, and that Roy guy

ps) Argoooooooos...

[RM]

young, former all star and HR competition finalist, Rios is gonzo

I was stunned that the Blue Jays let him go for absolutely nothing, not even a single A prospect. Why in the world did they ever sign him to that contract in the first place? Oh well, he's the White Sox problem now. Should make his debut today.

[charlene]

JPRiciardi is an ass.
He HAS to go.
NOW.

I miss Rolen, love Hill, Lind, Scutaro, Doc...
Rios can be great..just watch him.
Not even a bag of balls did we ask for..jaysus...

Loved last weekends Back2Back events with the '92 and '93 World Series teams back in town. Omigawd I had several teary moments..I loved those guys.

[jj]

I was stunned that the Blue Jays let him go for absolutely nothing, not even a single A prospect. Why in the world did they ever sign him to that contract in the first place?


you know how it is when a guy has a big year when his contract is coming up (i think he rose to some degree of fame in that 2007 homer derby and that was the time to cash in on him!) and then coasted...imagine if doctors performed that way? i'd be asking just before life threatening surgery "you didnt just sign a long term contract by chance, did you?" lol


here's a bit of an fresh article that speaks to your comment, rm:

"It's still tough to wrap your head around the Blue Jays' logic with regard to their former outfielder Alex Rios. In December of 2007, they believed he was an asset that was worth in trade Giants' future Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum. In March of 2008 the Jays believed Rios was worth $69 million (all figures U.S.) on a well-thought-out contract extension. In August of 2009, they believe he is worth nothing.

Go figure.

White Sox GM Kenny Williams put in a waiver claim on Rios last Friday then prepared to negotiate a trade with Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi inside the 48-hour business-day window as outlined by MLB. But in return for sending back a player for Rios, he expected the Jays to kick in some cash for contract relief. Instead the Jays said they didn't want a player. Take him, but we're not throwing in any money.

Without the late Ted Rogers in the picture, it seems ownership has become all business, all bottom line. In that light, what experienced GM would want to take over a major-league team given the obvious shackles on spending his shekels. They clearly don't want to win as much as they want to break even. It's depressing for Jays fans.

Earlier in the season, manager Cito Gaston suggested that Rios had what it takes to be a future hall of famer. Now the Jays consider it a victory to be off the hook for the next five years and to be able to spend the savings on finding a catcher and a shortstop. There has been no mention from the Jays about using the saved monies to keep Roy Halladay. They know that's a pipe dream. That inevitable parting of ways this coming off-season will save them another $15.75 million and that's the bottom line."

it goes on to comment that Cito assessed Rios as a future hall of famer as recently as the start of this year...maybe down the road he'll go into announcing or ownership and make it in that category

char, i only saw glimpses of the weekend but glad there was such a good alumni turnout....Alomar seemed to be iconic once again...i imagine Stieb would be a hall of famer if he had played for a solid team all those years

JP is a creep...i hope Beeston knows what he's doing and hope the rumour that Pat Gillick may come back to at least steady the ship (in Cliff Fletcher like fashion) is true

rm, you'll dig this...this is what youtube is all about, lol (warning: mature, make that immature language)..this was following a charity event after Alex had gone 0-for with 5 Ks...i dont see him on any Wheaties box anytime soon

YouTube - Original Alex Rios Video "You are a bum!"

[RM]

rm, you'll dig this...

Indeed I did.

Thanks for the background info. They gave up Lincecum for him ?! It keeps getting worse.

Any idea what charity the event was for ?

[jj]

oh, no...it's not that bad...Rios was developed in the Jays system (those are the type I love to root for, and I tried and tried again to pull for him but he didn't seem intense and often tossed the ball to the crowd or ump when there were only two outs)

before signing him to the long term deal, the Giants showed interest but we asked for Lincecum in return and that was the end of that

it was just some gala Blue Jay dinner...i think they dish out the proceeds to a variety of charities

you can see the young black kid in the light shirt asking for the autograph as Alex ignores him...that's what the man means by "you forget where you come from"

on the bright side, Rios had just tied a franchise record earlier that eve ...his 5K performance gave him a streak of 7 in a row...if he were a pitcher his strikeout to walk ratio would be impressive

i hope the Chisox aint looking for him to take a walk in the clutch cos he won't...his bat seems to long for him...and Wells seems too short, they should have traded perhaps

anyhow, if Rios ends up in centre look for him to gun down a few runners...when he does unleash a throw or actually launch a long ball, it's actually quite an artistic motion

ok, enough...let's get on with the Travis Snyder era

[charlene]

charity raising money for the Jays Foundation that distributes funds to many local associations.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/647488
and
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2009/03/c2505.html

As the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, the Jays
Care Foundation is governed by an independent, volunteer Board of Directors
with a vision to use the sport of baseball, the reach of the Toronto Blue Jays
Baseball Club, and the resources committed to the Foundation to serve children
in need in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Money raised through this
event directly supports charitable organizations, community programs and
initiatives focused on improving opportunities for kids in the areas of
physical activity, education and life-skill development.

[RM]

oh, no...it's not that bad...Rios was developed in the Jays system

Oh...ok. I misread/misinterpreted the part about Lincecum. whew.....

Madam Moderator, thanks for the info about the charity. I've always wondered if mandatory participation in those team charities are included in a player's contract.

[charlene]

Doc has a private box:
http://mlb.mlb.com/tor/community/docs_box.jsp

most players of all Toronto sports teams are involved in many different foundations/charities of all types but for the most part th involve children who are disadvantaged in some way. It's a wonderful way to make the athlete's more approachable to the community. Much of it never makes it to the media and a lot of players do things on their own volition as well.
I'm sure the same is true of most teams in other cities.

[jj]

Oh...ok. I misread/misinterpreted the part about Lincecum. whew.....




ok, but if you want one of many other real sob stories, Chris Carpenter is a prime example...he and Halliday were to be our starting pitcher duo of the future back in late 90's...after Chris had some corrective surgery, during the downtime we would only offer him a minor league deal...he shunned it and soon after the Cards picked him up, 2002

let's see, since then he has earned an NL Cy Young and has something like a 60-20 WL record for them albeit with some ongoing downtime issues but still

the Leafs could have had Vincent Lacavallier (a top 3 forward in the NHL) years ago but let that draft swap deal get away...this city's sports fans are in constant mourning...then again, we do have a pretty decent lacrosse squad

[jj]

ps) char, I'm predicting Justin Pogge will one day win a Vezina with Anaheim

edit: oh, that prediction isn't likely to materialize, lol

[jj]

rm, the boys are in your neck of the woods this weekend so you can simply cast this year's hex on them directly...i'll be looking on tv for the fan with a wand in one hand (and beer in the other)

[charlene]

things are all discombobulated today! baseball at night and hockey in the aftrnoon...it's just not right...
GO HABS GO!
GO JAYS GO!

[jj]

hockey in the afternoon


what? i thought that Betman fruitless strategy only happened up until the semis started...ugh, thanks for the headsup...i was all geared up for HNIC not HDIA (hockey day in America...with all 1,000 fans watching unless something more enticing on, such as high school football)

it would be nice to see the old Hawks and Habs jerseys out there in the final

i don't mind the night ball...any sort of ball seems slow after watching hockey

ps) why do they have world hockey championships (which i totally missed, lol) during a winter olympic year? it was only 3 months ago where it was decided who was atop the hockey world...i suppose Canada is back to #7 in world hockey rankings right ahead of Denmark, lol

[charlene]

15 minutes of pre-game. start the freakin game already!!!!

[RM]

i'll be looking on tv for the fan with a wand in one hand (and beer in the other

For future reference......look for a fan with a cigarette in one hand and 2 beers in the other.

The Jays seem to be staying afloat in the AL east. The game tonight will not be televised here in Tucson (very unusual). And I have also found baseball is more enjoyable on TV than at the ball park......too many distractions at the park. Plus, beer is much closer in my abode than the concession stands are at a game.

[timetraveler]

What I like is when the Blue Jays play the Texas Rangers. My mum & I are accidental Rangers fans.:)

[jj]

beer is much closer in my abode than the concession stands are at a game.

yeah, and shorter washroom lineups

Jays may have sunk into 2011 planning in the standings but it's always fun to take a few from the Yanks, pitch well and continue to club those homers

yeah, team batting avg=low...i guess we are a Dave Kingman type of ensemble

judging by the glorious ARod slump, he may have finally eased off the 'roids:cool:

having said that, he and the boys will probably come around this aft...go TB

[jj]

having said that, he and the boys will probably come around this aft...

lol, there ya go (i called that shot)...i guess i should stop by the track tonight

[jj]

... pitch well and continue to club those homers



lol, and that's 8 more today against TB:cool:

not a bad debut for this Arencibia prospect (4 for 5 including a double and two homers, the first off the first pitch he faced in the majors, holy)

[charlene]

omigawd i love that kid...so awesome - first pitch in the big leagues and he homers..and then doubles and singles and homers again!
oh yeah - he's a cutie too!!
http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=450317
might head to the game tomorrow...

[jj]

might head to the game tomorrow...

cool, enjoy:)...don't think it hinders your trip, but Gardiner closed all weekend...GO doesnt' run from here on weekends...but maybe I'll get the tyke down there one Junior Jay saturday...will let ya know if going down during CNE

yeah, good looking and humble kid ...I can see female:kiss: (ok, and male too...this is Toronto, lol) attendance going up