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The best pitcher in baseball is perfect–just not in Toronto.

James — Sun, 30 May 2010 20:56:55 +0000

Back in December, the Bluejays’ best pitcher, possibly of all time, flew the coop. I wrote this entry about it then. No sooner does he leave the team does he put up the kind of game that’s only ever happened 19 other times in the history of the league–a perfect one. He was good with Toronto for years. He’s perfect in Philadelphia. And it couldn’t have happened to a better pitcher. Now if it’d just happened in Toronto.

They don’t win often, but they win big.

James — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:30:36 +0000

I’ve always sort of absentmindedly followed the Jays for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until around 1999 or 2000 that I started more consistently paying attention. And, admittedly, I didn’t do a whole lot of that last year. Now, though, I’m actually surprisingly glad I do.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista each hit two-run homers, and the Toronto Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep with a 12-4 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. The major league leaders in home runs brought their team total to 76, and the Blue Jays established a season high for hits with 17.

They don’t win often, but when they win, they win big. That’s my team.

Okay, Bluejays, let’s play ball!

James — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:08:24 +0000

It’s the start of April. The official start of spring for any sports fan. And, the official start of the 2010 baseball season. There’s a crap ton of young bats turning loose on this team, and even more waiting in the wings. Will we make the playoffs this year? Not a clue. I’d be happy with doing better than last season, personally. And to welcome in the 2010 baseball season, as only a Jays fan can, have a theme song in video format. Okay, Bluejays, let’s play ball. And win something.

Zach who?

James — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:09:29 +0000

Until about 2 minutes ago, I had no clue who Zach Jackson was, in spite of the fact the Jays apparently drafted him in the supplemental round in 2004. Woopsies. Apparently Cleveland’s decided to send him back. Not saying he’ll be our new Halladay, but hey, one more top round arm can’t hurt. I’m just sayin’. Now if we could just find some more offense.

Roy leaves the Jays, but at least he took my advice.

James — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:32:49 +0000

He’d been threatening to do so according to a report or two for at least a month. Now, he’s done it. Roy Halladay, apparently effective as of this morning, is no longer a Bluejay. In a 3-way deal he ended up going to Philadelphia. On the bright side, we can still cheer for him without feeling dirty for also cheering for the Yankees or Redsox. I mentioned in response to someone’s comment last month that I’d much rather he find himself in the NL. Thank you so very much, Roy Halladay, for taking my advice. You may be too good for today’s Bluejays, but you’re way too good for those other two teams. We’ll miss ya, but at least we won’t have to curse ya.

Can’t fault the guy for trying.

James — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:39:33 +0000

Everyone who knows me knows I’m a Jays fan. Have been at least in passing since the early 90′s. Have been a more hardcore fan starting in approximately 1999 or 2000. And with every year, and every game I’ve actually been able to sit down and watch, things seem to be progressively worse. The only constant, and that’s often times constantly above .500 for a given season–and way over .500 career–is the only guy on the team fans have collectively called by name since Joe. Roy Halladay, otherwise known as our better answer to Roger Clemens. He’s won as many as 20 games, and I don’t know that he’s ever actually lost more in a season than he’s won–I’m sure someone with a better head for Jays trivia than me will correct me. He continues to get better year by year, while the rest of the team progressively… well, does all kinds of not doing that. And now he’s thinking about leaving the nest. There were trade rumours all through last offseason, and even through part of this one. And they’re talking now about a possibility of him not signing with the Bluejays again once his contract’s up in 2010. Not that he can be blamed–the man deserves a world series win. Actually he’s deserved about 6, but if he gets at least 1 in his career it’ll be well earned. And, as aptly pointed out by the Jays’ new GM, he probably won’t get that as soon as he should with the Jays–the man’s not getting any younger here. So, if you’re really leaving us Roy, we’re gonna miss you. But if you find that world series start you deserve a shot at, I’ll be right there in front of the TV with a pizza and a coke or 3 to watch it. Just please, for the love of God, if you have any love for your fans at all, please don’t do it with the Yankees.

A little baseball with your booze?

James — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Tonight’s Toronto versus Detroit baseball game is apparently going to be a very dry one. At least on the alcohol front. Folks got a little too rough and loud during last night’s game, so the alcohol and gaming commission suspended the stadium’s license to serve alcohol for 3 games as a result. Woops. Too much pass-time goin’ on with Canada’s second favourite pass-time. In other slightly related news, my poor team is losing. Granted, it’s only by a run, but… ow. Just ow.

New year, new season, same old result?

James — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:57:00 +0000

I’m both a hockey fanatic and a baseball fanatic, and have no problem admitting to both of them. Granted, my well documented hockey followings were rather written off significantly earlier in the season, while they were still royally stinking it up. Still, I keep threatening to get on the baseball blogging bandwagon at some point and I figure, you know, now’s as good a time as any. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to agree with me; this is supposed to be opening day for the only Canadian team left in the MLB, and they’re currently in a rain delay. Not that outside my window is any better at the moment. I’m currently home from work anyway, for completely unrelated reasons (hint: I need to work on my sleep schedule), and until 5 minutes ago forgot that today was opening day. I’m such a fan, I know. But it’s been corrected now, and as soon as that game actually starts, it will be corrected for good. Sadly I still get to miss tomorrow’s, wednesday’s, and thursday’s games. But eh, I work ’til 10. Unless they play on the west coast I’m not gonna be watching much baseball this year. I’ve accepted and moved on. I’ll bitch about it in full come September. For now though, rain delay means halfway entertaining show.