Author Archive
Long Live the Starting Pitcher
Relief pitchers are too volatile to invest too much money or years. So far this year, over half a dozen ‘closers’ have either been placed on the DL or lost their job. Some notable names;
DL - Mariano Rivera, Sergio Santos, Andrew Bailey , Drew Storen, Joakim Soria and Brian Wilson
Lost their job due to incompetence: Heath Bell, Carlos Marmol
That is just to name a few. Some people believe in the closer and there are businesses and websites dedicated to the research of this role. Not to be left out; the rest of the bullpen. If you are not a closer, then you are a either a specialist, set-up or long man. The majority of the time, the aforementioned pitchers are not good enough to start or close. It could be the number of different pitches they throw, age or stamina. Personally, as a fan and a ‘numbers freak’, I find the bullpen to be a necessary evil. You probably have some questions and disagreements with what I’m typing, so let’s get started
- If you don’t use your bullpen, the starting pitcher will get injured - Ironically, there are over seven current closers on the disabled list. So even non-starting pitchers get hurt. I read an article stating that at least 50% of all pitchers will spend time on the disabled list this season. A very bold prediction and I don’t necessarily believe it will be that high, but probably 35% +. Reason being is that with all that is invested, teams are quick to pull them out of the lineup. Another reason that teams pull their starters is because of ‘pitch count’. Typically, a hundred pitches is the time when a pitcher is pulled. Some managers pull a pitcher whether he is on a roll or struggling. I disagree because in doing so, you are bringing a pitcher in who a) is in the bullpen because of injury or the fact that he was not good enough to start. Or b) pitcher is cold (I realize they warm up) and that could cause a ‘shift’ in momentum.
- If you over use the starting pitcher, they will be tired for the playoffs - This may be true, but what happens if you don’t make the playoffs? Isn’t the reason they play 162 games is to make the post-season? So why not have your pitchers give everything they have leading up to the playoffs? I believe a strong, competent pitcher needs to pitch as much as they can.
Now with that being said, believe it or not, there is a place for a bullpen. It’s just that it is over-used and if there are 7, sometimes 8 pitchers in the bullpen, the manager is more opt to use them. I say have less and use them sparingly and accordingly. Most teams don’t manage their bullpens properly because they don’t trust the starter or rely too much on the pitch count. If a pitcher is throwing effortlessly and is having quick innings, then leave them in. Whether it’s pitch 99 or 120. Obviously there are times and certain players where you have to have a count. I get that. Especially with younger guys. But if you keep them on a count, how do they build up their endurance?
This is just something that has been on my mind and I thought that it needed to be said.
Thanks for reading and long live the starting pitcher.
E5 – A new meaning to a negative nickname
In case people don’t recall, a few seasons ago, Edwin Encarnacion was the everyday starting third baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was one of three players acquired from the Reds for Scott Rolen. Personally, that deal worked out for both as Rolen is still in Cincinnati and E5 is starting to come into his own. Yes, he did hit 26 home runs back in 2008 for the Reds and yet, the average and consistency wasn’t there. I remember two Father’s days ago, when my little brother and I took our Dad to the baseball game. We sat in the 200 level on the third base side (it was the game where Johnny Mac hit a game winning homerun in the 9th, less than a week after his father had passed). I heckled E5 and received some cheers and laughs from the other spectators. Two days later he was sent to AAA. This season, Encarnacion started a new path. It was to play DH and 1B. Personally, I think not having the pressure of being on the other side of the infield helped.
Some of you may still be thinking “What does E5 mean?”. It’s the ‘code’ that is used on a baseball scorecard when the third baseman makes an error. Since, Edwin played third and had many errors, he was subsequently nicknamed ‘E5’. His career fielding percentage is .940. Enough said.
Since this is a new season, full of hope and electricity from us, the fans. I will give Encarnacion, five positive E’s!
- Energetic – This past week, Mr. Encarnacion stole two bases! His new found confidence shows on the base paths and his play at first has been better than expected.
- Excellent Attitude – You will never see Edwin cut up the team, coach or teammates. He is one of the first guys to congratulate someone on a great play, hit or anything else. Nor do you see him disgruntled or saying something detrimental.
- Embracing new role – When he signed a new contract in the off-season, knowing full well that he would be the full time DH and not a fielder, showed that he WANTS to be a Jay. And he will play or do anything they ask him to do.
- Everyone in the clubhouse loves him - He seems to be a guy who others want to be around. Sure, he is not the most outspoken, but his quiet, confident demeanor must certainly be seen by the young guys.
- HomE Runs - (I know the ‘e’ is not first, but does it matter?) So far, he has three dingers and I can see 30+ home runs this season.
There you have it. So next time you hear Encarnacion called E5, think of the five e’s above. I know that he has made a believer out of me!
Thanks for reading and let’s be positive and support our Toronto Blue Jays.
Blue Jays Preview 2012
Could this be the year that the Toronto Blue Jays finally make it back to the post season? With an extra wild card berth,it could happen. With that being said, many things will have to happen to make it a reality. Below, is my preview for 2012 and I have rated the different positions with a letter grade. Let’s see what the verdict will be:
Bullpen: This is the obvious weakness from 2012. The Jays need a closer who won’t blow leads. Last season was just ridiculous. Hopefully the re-acquisition of Sergio Santos works and he is lights out. Once again, AA has signed some veterans for the 7th and 8th innings as Darren Oliver and Fransisco Cordero will be there if Santos falters. Another re-acquistion is Jason Frasor. Him, Janssen and Villanueva, round out a very good bullpen. Great? Not quite, but better than most teams.
GRADE : B+
Starters: Ricky Romero has turned into a staff ace and this young man leads by example. Last season, he won 15 games and posted a sparkling 2.92 ERA. Even better was his WHIP (1.14) and opponents hit a meager .216 against him. Behind him is the ever improving Brendan Morrow, who should get 200+ strikeouts this season. After that, it’s a toss up. Contrary to what others say, I am worried about the back end of the starting rotation. Too many question marks and inexperience. First, the question marks. Brett Cecil has really lost his swagger and I’m doubtful that he will have another season like 2010. Dustin McGowan? I like the comeback story, blah, blah. However, the fact remains that he missed over two seasons because of an arm injury and other ailments. Heck, he may start the season on the DL. Now for the inexperience. Last season, Kyle Drabek’s age was in full view as his maturity isn’t quite there yet. I still think that he can/will be a middle tier starter and probably needs a full season in AAA. Henderson Alvarez lacks the experience and has roughly a month of big league experience. I personally think that AA should’ve signed a veteran to help this young staff out.
GRADE: B
Infield: Defensively, this team is good. Once again, not great, but good. I think the recklessness (or some say, aggressiveness) of Lawrie will sometimes harm the team on the field. With experience, he will only get better. Mind you, he needs to stay healthy in order for that to happen and so far, he hasn’t. Yunel Escobar is a better SS than some people give him credit for and I believe will only improve as he plays his 2nd FULL season with Toronto. The right side of the infield is average. Kelly Johnson can hold his own (and is a slightly better defensively than Hill) and Adam Lind has really improved as a first baseman. To spot the infield is Edwin Encarnacion and Omar Vizquel. Vizquel is a defensive wizard and has been playing major league baseball since I was collecting baseball stickers. Do they still sell those? Anyways, he will be a great player for the bench and will help Escobar on the field and off. As for offense from the infield? Awesome. I realize there was some negativity at the beginning of this paragraph in regards to Lawrie. Now, for some positive accolades for the Jays first Canadian born star. This guy has the attitude and skill set to wreak havoc at the plate and on the basepaths. Will he steal 20? Perhaps, but more likely 12-15. Will he hit 20 home runs? You bet. Average? Probably around .280. Myself and of course most Blue Jay fans are hoping for him to succeed. Adam Lind is looking to bounce back from a disappointing second half and I believe he will do so. Look for a .250 average and at least 25 home runs from this genuinely nice guy. Kelly Johnson is a better hitter than Aaron Hill. Hill was a fan favourite and I think that some people may never like Johnson because of it. My prediction, back to respectability with a .260 average and probably 20 home runs. As for the shortstop, Escobar needs to learn how to steal bases and be more aggressive on the basepaths. He is slated to lead-off.
Grade: Defense : B
Offense: B+
Catcher: J.P. Arencibia is the man. He broke the Blue Jays single season home run record for a catcher last season. Barring a sophomore jinx, I believe that he will hit even more. The one thing that will remain constant, is his low average. With the nuances of the defensive side, he will remain a .230 hitter. You think .230 is bad, check out the light hitting back up, Jeff Mathis. Here’s to him hitting above the Mendoza line.
Grade: Defense: B
Offense: B+
Outfield: This past week, AA and the Jays assigned Travis Snider to AAA. Is he the Jays version of leafs forward, Nazim Kadri? Perhaps. His competition for the starting left field spot was Eric Thames. I for one, am not overly impressed with Eric Thames as an everyday player. To me, he is just a younger version of Ben Fransisco, who ironically, is the back up outfielder. Look to see him lose the starting job because of inconsistency or injury. Is Thames a nice guy? Certainly. But you also need talent to succeed. Onto centre field where the enigma called Colby Rasmus needs a break out year and finally hit and field the way he is suppose to. From what I’ve read, it sounds like he is better prepared mentally this season. If he falters, Rajai Davis will fill in at centre fielder. Not an ideal fielder, but an excellent stolen base guy. Right field is owned by the formally best player in the American League (Albert Pujols is now #1), Jose Bautista. He has led the AL in home runs two consecutive years and I see no reason why he won’t lead again this year.
Grade: Defense: B-
Offense: B+ (Jose Bautista factor)
Designated Hitter: Edwin Encarnacion will be the everyday DH and will occasionally play 1B, 3B and LF to give a few guys a rest. He really came into his own last June and I think he will do the same this year. Frankly, he is better for the team off the field and only in the batters box!
Grade: Offense: A
Management: John Farrell did well in his first season as the Blue Jays manager and the players seem to respect him. He looks to improve the handling of the bullpen after he self admitted that it was his main weakness from last season. He is planning to have set roles for guys. His aggressiveness for players at the plate and on the base paths sits well with a finicky group called the blue jay fan. As for AA, he did sign and trade to upgrade the bullpen and some OF depth. One thing that I am growing tired of is his secretiveness with the media. I don’t expect him to divulge everything, but to me, he comes across as a self-centered, ‘I’m better than you’ attitude. I believe that he needs to learn from Paul Beeston and be a little more open. Baseball is entertainment. We the fans, pay for him to manage this roster and organization. He needs to understand that and act accordingly.
Grade: B
Recap:
Bullpen: B+
Starters: B
Infield: B and B+
Outfield: B- and B+
Catcher: B and B+
DH: A
Management: B
Overall: B+
So after all that, some may say that I’m being a little harsh on the Blue Jays. I disagree as there was no grade lower than a B- and one solid A. They can be a playoff contender If the offense can stay consistent and the pitching healthy. Plus, if some of the young guns over-perform, we could possibly see a playoff berth. Personally, I don’t think it will happen this year.
Prediction: 88-74 3rd in AL East and 4 games out of a wild card spot.
Thanks for reading and Let’s Go Blue Jays and prove me wrong!
A Champagne High?
While most St. Louis Cardinal fans are still gleaming with the World Series win, the heart and soul of the Cardinals flew to the GM Meetings and signed a monsterous contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Is that what they are called? I can’t remember as they change the name once to many times. Remember when they were the California Angels? Sorry, I got a little sidetracked, but that happens when you get a bomb placed on your computer screen that reads “Angels to sign Albert Pujols”. At first I thought it was speculation, but as I read the article further (www.mlbtraderumors.com), the realization of life without Sir Albert set in. I received emails, texts and BBM’s from my friends and a phone call from my brother sending me their condolences. For that, I thank them.
Like most Cardinal and baseball fans, I really thought that he would return to the Cardinals. My brother asked me a good question today. He asked if Tony LaRussa was still the manager in St. Louis, would Albert have re-signed. My answer is yes. You can say what you want about LaRussa, good or bad. But to Albert, he was great and he loved playing for him. With that being said, Pujols did actually play with the new manager Mike Matheny in the early 2000′s. Of course, this is all opinion and I don’t know obviously what Albert was thinking. But here are some reasons as to why he should’ve remained a Cardinal.
- He practically owned the hearts of everyone in St. Louis.
- In my opinion, he played for the redbirds and not for individual numbers
- How much money does a man need?
- His charities
- The countless people(not just kids) who looked up to him. Not just as a player, but as a person.
- To play for one team for an entire career.
In regards to #4; Did you know that he donates over a million dollars a year to his own charity and thousand of dollars to others? As for #5, Albert lived a clean life, no drugs, mistresses, alcohol or profane language. He was devoted to his wife, children, faith and his team. An all around great guy.
Now #6 is what disturbs me the most. I believe that he is the last of the ‘greats’ to have a long tenure on one team. Sadly, I do not believe that we will ever see a ‘great’ play his entire career for one organization. Doc Halladay didn’t do it. That arrogant basketball player LeBron James didn’t. Heck, even the Great One, Wayne Gretzky played for four NHL teams. To be honest, that was the beginning and Pujols is the end. I had hoped that the thought of being an icon, immortalized by one city crossed his mind (and I don’t mean in a self-absorbed way). Because how much more money do you need? I don’t know exactly what the Cardinals offered, but could’ve it been that low? Hopefully we find out.
Another thought of mine regarding him taking such a large amount of money was split into two thoughts. One, he did take the ‘hometown’ discount once and wanted what he deserved. The other, perhaps the players association pressured him into taking if not the highest, but perhaps second highest offer. Think about it, if he took (for argument’s sake), less than $20 million per season, would that mean that F/A Prince Fielder would get less? Perhaps. Again, this is just speculation, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
The title of this post is from a Sister Hazel song with the same name. “A Champagne High. A toast to the future, will that be a lie?”. I wonder if Pujols and his teammates thought that as they were celebrating their World Series victory. Just like any high, you do have to come down and I believe Cardinal fans have hit the bottom. An iconic manager departs and then the heart and soul of the organization and city of St. Louis leaves. Wow! How is that for a hangover? Metaphorically speaking.
So today, I am left with half a closest of Pujols jerseys, t-shirts, figurines etc. What to do with them? Burn them? Give them to the less fortunate? Or keep them and wear them? I will probably go with the last one, even though I am hurt, disapointed and bitter. These feelings will pass. Heck, just last summer, Michael Richards, a Kitchener Ranger alumni was traded from the Flyers to the Kings. I own two of his jerseys and still wear them. Personally, I believe that I was spoiled by having my favourite player of all-time play for one team. His name is of course Joe Sakic. Growing up, many of my friends would see there favourite players leave for greener pastures. I never had to experience that until this past summer. And for the second time, today.
So for anyone who is still reading, don’t worry, my rant and rumblings are slowly coming to an end.
In closing, I would like to say that Albert Pujols was a bright star (the greatest player of my generation, and certainly top 5 of all time) who people should look up to and cheer for . In my sky, his star is fading and may just disappear on the horizon.
Thanks for reading and humbug to all the million athletes who we cheer for.
The Prophecy was fulfilled. Cardinals win World Series!
The St. Louis Cardinals are World Series Champions for the eleventh time! Talent, heart, determination and luck were a
few key factors in their rise to glory. However, perhaps the largest factor was me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my prophecy came
true. Sure, the pitching of Carpenter, the timely hitting of David Freese in game 6 and 7 and Albert Pujols helped. But, the five year trend doesn’t lie. Time continues on whether you like it or not.
In case you missed it, this World Series was one of the best in decades! Home runs, comebacks, errors and managers
(both) making questionable calls. This series had everything. Heck, even a 16-7 slugfest, which was followed by a shutout.
Here are some other things that happened in the series:
- Tony Larussa sets a playoff record by having 75 pitching changes in the playoffs
- The Cardinals come back five different times in Game 6, including David Freese’s walk-off home run in
the 11th - Matt Holliday sprains his thumb while he gets picked off at 3rd. Allan Craig replaces him for game 7 and hits what would end up being the game winning home run. Craig also stole a home run from Cruz in the 6th inning when he leaped up over the wall to make the catch.
- Albert Pujols line for Game 3 –
| Pujols, 1B |
AB 6 |
R 4 |
H 5 |
RBI 6 |
BB 0 |
SO 0 |
LOB 0 |
AVG .417 |
- Three of those hits were home runs
- David Freese becomes first player to win NLCS and World Series MVP in the same year.
- Chris Carpenter pitches on three days rest and gets the deciding win in game 7
Game 6 was perhaps one of the strangest games ever played in post-season history. Aside from the Cardinals coming back five different times, the game had five errors, twenty eight hits and a couple base-running blunders. To me, it seemed that nobody wanted the game. Not even in the eighth as Craig hit a solo home run to cut the lead to two. After his homer, the boys in red left the bases loaded. Then came the ninth, with two outs and two strikes against him, David Freese hit a two run triple to tie the game at 7! Texas scored two in the 10th and it almost looked like it could be over. But the resilient redbirds scored two to keep the game tied. Bottom of the 11th had only one batter. His name was David Freese and he launched one over the centre field wall to take the series to seven.
Game seven did not have the tension of game six, but it was stressful enough. Especially to this Cardinal fan. Those last three innings couldn’t finish soon enough. When Allan Craig caught the final out in left field, I stood up and high fived Virtually everybody in the tavern! That’s right, I did not watch it in my sports cave, as I was on a family trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan. So instead of watching it in the hotel, we decided to walk down to a local pub. Good people, good music, great pizza and cheap beer. It all added up to a great time and you couldn’t take the smile off my face for the rest of the weekend.
So if anyone is interested in my next prophecy? I will see you in 2016 when the Colorado Avalanche
win the Stanley Cup!
Thanks for reading and just over 100 days until Spring
Training begins!
Reasons Why the Cardinals will Win the World Series
This past week (actually month) has been exciting times for Cardinal fans. With the Redbirds at least eight games back of the wild card in early September, they battled back and won it on the last day of the regular season. With all the injuries and other factors, it was surprising to see them accomplish this. Now, with them having a manager named Tony LaRussa, we shouldn’t be surprised!
So today they square off against Doc Halladay and the Phillies. It will be my first time cheering against Halladay and I’m alright with that because the Cardinals are destined to win the World Series in 2011. Why do you ask? Keeping reading.
The boys are starting to ‘click’ at the right time. Pujols and company are getting timely hits and running the bases aggressively. Same goes with the starting pitching; very consistent. The bullpen has been a little suspect of late, but I have a feeling ex-Jays Rzypcenski and Dotel will help newly appointed closer Jason Motte out. Another reason is Tony LaRussa. This legend deserves one more ring and he has the players playing for him (the opposite of Tony Francona! To early? Maybe).
The last and primary reason why the Cardinals will win the World Series is because of me. That’s right, me. What I mean is that my two favourite teams in pro sports are the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Cardinals. Now some people may want to know why a boy (I started cheering for both teams around the age of 7 or 8 ) from Southern Ontario would pick these two teams. For the Avalanche, it was because they were formally the Quebec Nordiques. They were a Canadian team, albeit french, but nonetheless from our great country. For what I recall, my Dad collected hockey pucks with NHL team logos on it. For whatever reason, I loved the symbol and started cheering for them. Being a loyal person, I stuck with them through some very dark seasons and when they moved to Colorado, I still cheered for them. Especially since one of the all-time greats, Joe Sakic was on their team. The Avs eventually won Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001.
As for the Cardinals, not exactly sure, but I do remember 1985 when our Blue Jays lost to the Royals in the American League Championship. KC went on to face the Cards in the World Series. Perhaps it was because they had a ‘bird’ name that I started to cheer for them, I’m not really sure. St.Louis would make the playoffs several times and winning the World Series in 2006.
Now to the point of the past three paragraphs. My favourite hockey team, Colorado, won in 1996 and 2001. The Cards won in 2006. Do you see a pattern? That’s right, every five years one of my teams wins the Championship. And it’s been five years since St. Louis won!
So after reading this, some probably will laugh, others will shake their head and some may actually use their imagination and agree with me. Why not? What’s life without some harmless superstitions and fun?
You can call me eccentric or nuts, but I call it passion.
Go Cards Go!!
Colby Rasmus is a Jay!
It’s official, AA pulled off a monster three team trade that landed him the enigma that is Colby Rasmus. From one of my favourite teams to another.
The trades break down as follows:
(from mlb.com)
{The White Sox got reliever Jason Frasor and pitching prospect Zach Stewart from Toronto in exchange for Jackson and third baseman Mark Teahen. About two hours later, the Blue Jays sent Jackson to the Cardinals, along with relievers Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski and outfielder Corey Patterson and three players to be named later or cash, and received Rasmus, left-handers Brian Tallet and Trever Miller and right-hander P.J. Walters.}
Wow! That is a beauty.
So here is my early synopsis of the deal:
White Sox – They shed over $10 million in payroll with the trading of Jackson and Teahen. Mostly Teahen as he has over $7 million remaining on his contract thru 2012. The Sox acquire a very good reliever (yes, Dad, he is good) in Frasor and a prospect (Stewart) who they apparently have been interested in for over a year.
Blue Jays — Where to begin…….so many names. Let’s start with the biggest fish; Colby Rasmus! As I posted the other day, he has pure raw talent that just hasn’t materialized in the majors. Perhaps a change of scenery will do him good and he will be a significant upgrade in the duds called Davis and Patterson. Colby is also under team control until 2014. As for Miller, Tallett and Walters; Miller is suppose to be a left handed specialist, but has faltered (presumably Rzepzynski will take on that role). Brian Tallett has been hurt and very brutal for my Cards. P.J. Walters is a 6’4 right handed pitcher who has been recalled a few times in the past couple of years. You can just add him to the depth that is Toronto’s pitching. Let’s not forget about Canadian born Mark Teahen. He can play both corner outfields, third base and first. His average is terrible this year, but at one point in his career, he was projected to be a star. Again, perhaps a change of scenery will do him good. The consensus is that AA took Teahen in order to get Jackson. Remember Juan Rivera? Same thing.
Cardinals — Edwin Jackson will help solidify this rotation. Am I sold on this guy? Not exactly but is numbers are good. The Cards are not looking for a Carpenter or Wainwright, just a pitcher who can be at the back end of the rotation. Marc Rzepzynski will be loved by Tony LaRussa. This is a southpaw who just flat out, gets the job done. The other pitcher in the deal, Dotel, I’m not so confident in. With that being said, perhaps LaRussa will put him in a role that is not the 9th inning. Personally, his veteranship will be great and will be an asset if they make the playoffs. In the previous paragraph, I called Patterson a dud. For the Blue Jays that is. Not for the Cards as he will now be a bench player who will pinch hit against righties and pinch run. Anyone that has watched him played outfield this year knows that he is better on the bench!
A question I asked myself was this: Will this deal have the same public backlash as the Westbrook for Ryan Ludwick deal from last summer(others were involved in the deal)? After St. Louis GM Mozielak traded Ludwick, the offense tanked and although Westbrook pitched well (and he is still a Card), they failed to make the playoffs. Many fans and media members blamed that trade.
Winner(s)?: Everyone. The Sox get Frasor who has a club option for next season and they had an extra starter to part with anyways.
The Blue Jays get a player who could be the next Carlos Beltran or even better. I hope this is the case.
St. Louis gets players that can help them win this year. The trade rounds out their starting rotation, strengthens the bullpen and adds bench depth. Plus, they apparently get three more players or cash.
In the long run, Toronto wins, but if St. Louis wins the World Series then it’s great for both.
One more thing is that this was a baseball trade. Yes, there was a salary dump in Teahen, but the rest was for the benefit of the clubs, not the owners wallets. I love this and let’s hope that AA is not finished as I know Mozielak is not. Apparently, he is trying to pry Bell or Adams from the Padres.
In closing, I now have to dispose of my Rasmus ‘jersey’ t-shirt that I bought in St. Louis last year. It is now in the same pile as my Michael Richards Flyers t-shirt and jersey(s) (yes hockey is allowed on this blog. I am Canadian!) , my Flames Phaneuf jersey and Sanchez Pirates jersey. Let’s hope that Sir Albert stays a Cardinal as I would then lose half my wardrobe.
Thanks for reading and now my father doesn’t have to watch Frasor pitch anymore!
Reasons why AA should acquire Rasmus
I apologize that this is my first ‘blog’ of the 2011 regular season. No particular reason, just didn’t have much to say about baseball (if you know me, then you are probably laughing right now).
Now down to business. On my drive up to Orangeville to watch my wife compete in a horse show, I was thinking about how Colby Rasmus was sitting on the bench and Jon Jay is getting the starts in centre field for the Cardinals. It made think that perhaps young Colby could use a change of scenery. Then I thought, why not my other favourite team, the Blue Jays?
Most of us know of the turbulent past between Colby and Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. Is this what has led to him sitting on the bench? Probably not. I believe it’s because Jon Jay is hitting over .300 and Colby can’t hit anything since May. As I am typing this, Rasmus hit a home run today. But this doesn’t change the fact that he is slumping and I don’t know if he will ever materialize as a superstar.
A little background on young Colby for anyone who doesn’t know him. He was the Cardinals top prospect for three straight years (2007,2008,2009). In 2009, he had a great spring but was still sent to the minors. Apparently, he was a little unsettled about it and last season he asked to be traded. Personally, I think it was blown way out of proportion. You see, Tony LaRussa can be a tough manager to play for, and one thing about LaRussa is that he likes to change his lineup and keep everyone on their toes. Some players don’t like this (Rasmus), thus the tension between them.
Now onto why the Blue Jays should acquire him. First of all, has anyone watched Davis or Patterson(or Patterson in right for that matter) in centre field? Enough said. This past week, manager John Farrell has put Travis Snider in CF a few times and he performed well. However, we all know that he is better suited for the corner outfields. So this leaves a glaring hole that needs to be addressed. So why not trade a prospect pitcher and Aaron Hill for him? AA and the Blue Jays will not be picking up Hill’s option as he has not been playing up to expectations. Also, Aaron would be a starter for the Cardinals ahead of Skip Schumaker. Then top prospect Lawrie could play second base for the Jays instead of third(Bautista stays at third). Also, don’t forget that Rasmus is still under team control for at least three more years (I may be wrong on that).
Personally, I think dealing Hill and acquiring Rasmus would help catapult this team to a contender for 2012 and would also help my other favourite team the Cardinals in 2011.
Sorry for the large gap between posts as I will try to write one before the end of “August and everything after……..”
Thanks for reading and go support our Toronto Blue Jays!
Some call him ‘Venom’ Wells, I think I will call him Vernon
This past weekend, the ‘franchise’, Vernon Wells was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera. The $120 million ‘untradeable’ contract, was indeed tradeable. Plus, the Blue Jays did not send any money as the Angels are on the hook for the $80 million that is still owed over the next four years!
When I first heard of the deal (from www.mlbtraderumours.com) , I was really happy that he was moved. But upon reflection, it is sort of sad to see him go. Off the field he was a class act who did a lot of work in the community and was a genuinely nice guy. On the field, was a different story. He had a few underachieving years hitting wise but was always excellent playing defense. And that, my friend’s is what people are going to miss the most. Many fans took his defense for granted and will wish that he was still here once they watch Rajai Davis getting lost in centre field. I’m referring to balls that Vernon would’ve caught in his sleep.
Now with that being said, I was very critical of Vernon Wells in the past and by no means innocent on blaming him for some of the Jays woes. But, the problem was that he could never live up to that deal($120 + million). No one could, with the exception of perhaps Halladay or Pujols. After Wells signed this blockbluster deal in 2006, he was destined to fail and it was unfortunate that it got to the point where his new nickname was ‘boo’. Thankfully he bounced back in 2010 and had a solid year with 31 home runs.
Overall the Jays come out ahead in this trade because they unloaded a mega contract and now will have more financial flexibility in the upcoming years. AA did well to shed this contract as 2011 was the first season in which Vernon would be paid $20 million plus annually. The two players the Jays receive are legit major leaguers, who will help the club now. It was refreshing to see actual bodies instead of draft picks or prospects acquired. Don’t get me wrong, they need the aforementioned picks and prospects but it was good to see some players who could help right away. Rivera will be a solid depth outfielder who can hit for some power. Same with Napoli , he is a catcher/first baseman who fits the mold of a Blue Jay Slugger. You know, the one’s that can hit home runs but have a poor batting average. (See Hill, Lind, Encarnacion etc, etc.) So if Napoli plays behind the plate, what does AA do with Molina and highly touted prospect J.P. Arencibia? Does Coach Farrell let Arencibia rut on the bench, Cito Gaston style? Or will Napoli play DH and first more. It will be interesting to say the least.
In closing, I would like to thank Vernon Wells for his years in Toronto and hope that when the Angels come to town that people are sensible and mature to give him a standing ovation. Believe it or not, he will be regarded as one of the best players the Jays have ever had. Heck, if he wasn’t traded, he would’ve surpassed Delgado in many offensive categories as the all time leader in Blue Jay history. Vernon Wells never once blamed anyone or anything other then himself on his poor outings, which just proves that he is pure class and a very decent human being. So everyone out there that called him Venom (including myself), perhaps step back and think about that for a moment and I hope you come out with the same decision, I did. To cheer him and not jeer him when he returns to Toronto as an Angel and appreciate what he has done for this club.
And yes Craig, you can still wear your Wells Practise Jersey!
Thanks for reading and bye for now.
A Baseball Fan in Baseball Heaven
This week, my wife & I are on our honeymoon. It consists of each of our passions. For Sarah, horses and for me, of course, baseball. The former is the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. The latter is baseball in St. Louis. This city is where I first fell in love with visiting different stadiums. You see, when I was a boy, my family (Dad, Mom and little brother) decided one summer to spend our holiday travelling to a couple of different baseball parks. For what I recall, my brother Craig wanted to see Fenway Park in Boston. But, fortunately for me, we decided to travel to the mid-west and see my other favourite team, the St. Louis Cardinals! We watched a couple of games at Busch Staduim II against the Montreal Expos. I was young, but I do recall Ray Lankford hitting a home run for the Cardinals and having ‘fried’ ravioli for the first time! While in St. Louis, we did tour the Gateway Arch and of course the Budweiser factory. After a few glorious days, we travelled to Cincinnati and saw the Reds. This was in 1990, the year the Reds won the World Series. Upon arriving home and for years later, I always wanted to travel back to St. Louis. In 2006, it came true, as my brother, and our cousin Jeremy & I decided to drive to St. Louis for a weekend series against the arch-rival, Chicago Cubs. It was the first year of the ‘new’ Busch Stadium. This was a great time as well & one of my favourite moments was when Gary Bennett hit a walk-off Grand Slam to defeat the Chicago Cubs on Sunday Night Baseball. It was pretty cool to see 45,000 people screaming in celebration. It was a ‘sea of red’ that night! We of course, visited the Budweiser factory too.
Earlier this spring, my wife & I were trying to decide where we would go for our honeymoon. The World Equestrian Games were being held for the first time in North America & she really wanted to go. I had no problem with it, and that’s when she suggested that we go to St. Louis as well. So you see, it was an unsolicited trip to St. Louis. With any luck, and me being on my best behaviour, we’ll get to see four baseball games. Three against the lowly Pirates (one being an afternoon game), and one against the NL West pennant chasing Rockies. It’s too bad the Cardinals are pretty much eliminated as I wanted my wife Sarah to see what a sold-out, passionate stadium looks like. With that being said, there was still a large crowd for Monday night’s game. They announced 38,000, but I highly doubt that.
So to quickly run down what has transpired so far, yesterday morning we awoke and walked over to Busch Stadium & took the tour. It was exceptional. The guide took us through the different parts of the park, including the radio booth, a high end restaurant and of course the dugout. I sat on the bench, probably where the great Albert Pujols has sat. While on the field, two guys were training their American Bald Eagles to fly to them from centerfield to the pitcher’s mound. We got to meet the eagles close up. What magnificent looking birds.
After the tour, we travelled to probably the best store in the world, the St. Louis Cardinals official merchandise store. It puts all the other team stores to shame. The Blue Jays try, but not as nice as this. Surprisingly, I only spent just over $200. To be honest, that number is a bit misleading, since Sarah purchased a sweater for me for Christmas. We then walked around a bit as I was anticipating game time. It finally arrived as we walked over to the stadium around 6 p.m. We travelled back to the store & I bought a couple more t-shirts (I told you the $200 was misleading). The game was great, a little cool, but fun. The Cardinals beat the Bucs 6-4, and Sir Albert had a RBI.
The title of this entry has the words ‘baseball heaven’ in it. What I mean by this is that the minute you walk into that park, you know that you are in baseball heaven. It is a marvellous looking stadium and the fans are just awesome. I’ve been to some nice parks, PNC Park in Pittsburgh comes to mind and it is a great park. But if you factor in the passion of the fans, I would have to say Busch Stadium is number one for me. If I could only watch a baseball game in one park, it would be Busch Stadium.
In closing, I would like to say that I am very fortunate to have a wife that enjoys baseball (perhaps not as much as I do), and loves to go on these trips. We’ve been to Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and now St. Louis. The same goes for my Mom, who never complained when we went on these sporting trips. And for that I thank her, as it is a memory that I will never forget. Just look, this is now my third time in St. Louis, and hopefully someday, there will be a fourth.
Now off to the Budweiser factory!
Thanks for reading a bye for now.
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