>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>< really big snip >
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I have to admit. While the Jays are not tearing up the league, they sure have been a fun team to watch this year. And now that we have a for real center fielder in Colby Rasmus and a third basemand (not that Bautista doesn't play a terrific third, but he likes right field better and with his arm, that's where he belongs) in Brett Lawrie, this could be a pretty good looking team next year. All we need now is a bullpen. I think the fun has just started.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>That the Jays are over .500 in that division proves they are good. It's no treat competing against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays. What Toronto needs is a new division. Either of the other AL divisions would do. The Angels and Rangers are decent and that's the end of the story for the Central and West combined.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>This is probably going to sound really masochistic, but I don't want a different division. If you can do it in this division, then you've done something. I like it right here.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>It has diminished my enjoyment of baseball -- even though this season has been a renaissance -- that a handful of rich teams have such an unfair advantage. It's no guarantee, as any fan of the overspending and underachieving Cubs or Orioles can assure you. But year in and year out the Yankees and Red Sox, and now the Phillies, sign the highest profile free agents and scarf up the highest profile players at the July 31 roster deadline. Hunter Pence, who is already making a noticeable contribution to the Phillies, as if they needed it, is the latest example. God love Tamar but I hope the Phillies never win another game. Roy Halladay -- bought him. Roy Oswalt -- bought him. Cliff Lee -- bought him. Hunter Pence -- bought him. Is there a pattern here? At least the Giants' crappy hitters are home grown ;-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I can't speak for the others, but as far as Halladay is concerned, he signed for less than he could have had. He just really wanted to play in Philly. When he was with the Jays, he signed for less than market at least twice because they lied to him and said they were building a winning team.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I actually learned something from this.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>It wasn't until Anthopoulos took over that it became plausible. Real smart guy. And the payroll still leaves a lot in the bank just in case.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Yes, you are masochistic ;-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Halladay's desire to play in Philly may prove wise. They are clearly the best team in baseball at the moment. It will shock me if anyone other than the Phillies, Yankees, or Red Sox win it. And I'm not that bullish on the Yankees.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>If you don't live in New York, it is your job to hate the Yankees. This has been the job of non New Yorkers for decades, and it's no less our job now. You are allowed to like the odd player from time to time, but anything more than that is treason.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Having spent about the first 40 years of my life as a passionate Red Sox fan, antipathy for the Yankees has always come naturally ;-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Me too. When I was a kid, we had a Triple-A team here in Toronto called the Maple Leafs (like the hockey team is now) and that team was a Boston farm club. Sparky Anderson was 2nd base. Shortstop too from time to time if I recall correctly.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Now there was a baseball guy. Like many of the best managers, he had a playing career but not an especially distinguished one. Second and short also seem to be fertile positions for future managers. (Conversely, I think we are still waiting for our first big league manager who was a DH ;-) )
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Brewers continue to delight me. They waxed the Cardinals again here last night to open up a 5 game division lead. Of course no team stays as hot as the Brewers are (13 wins in their last 14 games) and they are a notably streaky team. There's still a lot of baseball to be played. Still, this has been a really nice season for them and I like where they're sitting now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>There was an amusing moment in last night's game, Tony La Russa getting himself tossed in the 9th inning over a call at first base. Pure La Russa gamesmanship IMO. Fire up the troops. La Russa, BTW, had a brief playing career, a few years in the minors and 132 games in the bigs. He played second and shortstop and had a career batting average of .199. I have never particularly liked him -- cold as ice and an overmanager IMO -- but I certainly respect him. Earlier this season he managed his 5000th game in the majors. Run that one through the calculator a couple of times. That's over 30 seasons. The only other member of the 5000 club is Connie Mack, who managed until he was a very old man and may in fact still be managing in one of those places like Baltimore or Seattle where no one is paying attention.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>Baseball is still the best sport on the planet. But now it's time for me to get my white shirt on, get out to the center field stands and start stealing signals again. Little do they know I'm giving false information. That's why so many Jays have batting averages smaller than their hat sizes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>I was going to bring up that story from espn.com but am making a point to be nice ;-) Of course I have no way of knowing but it made the story seem credible that major league players claimed to have seen signs stolen by fans in the Jays' bleachers (albeit anonymously) and the striking disparity between home and road offensive stats. Something about Jose Bautista's home run stats sets off a red flag for me. Just a suspicion. I stress that I have no proof.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>The Toronto Star printed comparison stats for Teixeira, Granderson, and Bautista - home and away, and they all do better at home. And all by about the same percentages. To me that's perfectly natural. You've got to be more comfortable at home. J.P. Arencebia said it best. I don't have the exact quote, but it was something like, did anybody think he'd be hitting .200 if he was getting stolen signals.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>The White Sox; what a sad bunch.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Not as sad as the Cubs! For all their drama this season, the Sox are only five games out of first place. And the Tigers aren't that scary a team other than a couple of good hitters and Justin Verlander, the best pitcher in baseball. (Just getting your attention with that last bit ;-) ) If you haven't heard, the hotheaded Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano went ballistic last night, even for Carlos. He was getting shelled, giving up 8 runs and 5 homers into the fifth inning. The last two homers were consecutive. The first two pitches to the next batter, Chipper Jones, were way inside. The ump tossed him, rightfully so. That was not the strange part. The strange part was that Carlos went into the clubhouse, cleaned out his locker, told a couple of people there that he was retiring, and left. Not a word to his manager, coaches, or teammates. He may or may not try to make amends but I'm not sure the Cubs will accept it if he does. I suspect he has played his last game for them.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Some guys just can't accept being rich and then not having everything else as well.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Wanna hear something weird? The Blue Jays are 17 and 28 in day games and 47 and 31 in night games. I don't get it. They're a .600 club at night. They all must be part vampire.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>That's too far out on the bell curve for there not to be a reason. I sure don't know what it is, though. Maybe something to do with the disparity in eyesight between sunlight and night lights, and the Jays being unusual in age composition? I am just tossing out a guess there. I bet there's a reason, though.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Probably the sun shining off the white shirt on the guy in centre field is interfering with their ability to read his signs.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Another gem from Tim Lincecum last night. He has been red hot and keeps winning must-win games to keep the leaky Giants afloat. He's still right up there with anyone. You didn't bite at my comment about Justin Verlander, probably wisely. My point -- and it was my point last season in the many conversations when you and KG were genuflecting before Saint Roy -- is that there isn't just one best pitcher in baseball. There are several who deserve to be in the conversation. Halladay, Verlander, Lincecum, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Jered Weaver, probably others.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hey wait a minute. I never said Roy was the best pitcher in baseball... Oh, wait, maybe I did. But then you have to understand something. He's the best pitcher in baseball. ;)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>No, there are lots of extremely good pitchers. For me I just think it comes down to who I'd want pitching for my team when push comes to shove, and I honestly think that'd be Halladay. I also think he makes the other players better through his example of how to get ready for a game and for the season. Nobody works harder.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I know you aren't going to like this, but I still think Lincecum is off the rubber when he lets go of the ball. He should be getting called for a balk on just about every pitch. I'm not sure why the umps let it go, but if you watch him closely you'll see.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Lincecum
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hah! there, you see? Blow up the last picture and the picture two before it and look closely at his back foot (the one that's supposed to still be on the rubber while the ball is still in his hand). Then look at where the ball is at that moment.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Lincecum has a lot of talent. No question about it. But he ought to have to play by the same rules as everybody else.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Waah, waah, waah ;-) Have you considered the possibility that the umpires understand the rule better than you do?
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm not much of a Waaher. I'm more of a *&%^$# er ;). But, the rule does exist. Hey, why not take a few more steps toward the batter before throwing? What's a step or two among friends?
>>>>>
>>>>>I think the umps just don't want to interfere as long as nobody complains or seems to care much. Or maybe they just never noticed. I doubt it's the easiest thing to see because it happens so quickly. I only noticed when I saw a slo-mo of his style. He can sometimes be quite a ways off the rubber when he lets go.
>>>>>
>>>>>Anyway, the Jays have Brett Lawrie (good young Canadian kid) and he's turning out to be what everyone hoped for and more. A real treat to watch. He has so much enthusiasm that he can tire you out just watching him sit on the bench.
>>>>
>>>>I will let the stepping off the rubber thing go. It just seems unlikely to me that you are the only one who has noticed or cares. Nothing personal because I know you know the game.
>>>>
>>>>As a Brewers fan I am grateful to the country of Canada this season. John Axford, who has been an almost flawless closer, hails from Simcoe, Canada. (That's all the info espn.com provides. Do you know what province Simcoe is in?)
>>>
>>>As it happens, yes, I do. ;)
>>
>>Everybody's a wise guy ;-)
>>
>>Now you guys are making me do my own work. The temerity!
>>
>>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/545027/Simcoe
>
>In honour of John Graves Simcoe, we have a civic holiday (Simcoe Day) celebrated on the first Monday in August.
>
>>
>>I just checked the baseball scores and see that many good things happened in baseball last night. Jim Thome, long time good guy for the Indians and White Sox, now playing out the string for the Twins, hit his 599th and 600th homers, becoming the eighth player to do so. The Brewers won again, 3-0 over the Dodgers in a game featuring a triple play by the Brewers. John Axford of Simcoe, Canada got another save, his 32nd converted opportunity in a row. They have now won 17 of 19, a streak which has coincided with my time in St. Louis. (Bowing deeply). The Cardinals lost in Pittsburgh to fall six games behind the Brew Crew with 40 to play. I am starting to take this seriously.
>
>That was really nice to see about Thome. But talk about a quiet milestone! I've seen more hype around block parties in Hoboken.
>
>>
>>Usually after looking at yesterday's scores I look at today's pitching matchups. Halladay and Verlander both pitch at home tonight. No, not in their houses, wise guy.
>
>We'll see if Halladay can pitch with an extra day rest.
>
>>
>>Just when I was mustering a bit of sympathy for Carlos Zambrano he proved this is just one more example of Carlos being Carlos. He can't even lie like an adult. He lies like a little kid. And he seems to have about as much understanding of the consequences of his actions.
>>
>>http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0816-cubs-zambrano--20110816,0,1602698.story
>
>I agree. That's one of the things I've always liked about Halladay when he was here. Go out, do your job. If the manager comes out and asks for the ball, just give it to him, go back into the dugout and watch the rest of the game. No snide remarks, no arguments, just do your job and work hard at it.
>
>Much as I'm not really a huge Jeter fan, I've always liked the same thing about him. He goes about his work. He's not going to degrade his sport. Of course, I'm discounting that time about five years ago when he was caught with a bottle of Flinstone vitamins.

;-)

The commissioner should have turned him to rubble for that one.