Bleacher Report - Articles by Ian Hunter

Two Tickets to the Gonz Show: Toronto Blue Jays Sign Alex Gonzalez

Ian Hunter — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:22:00 -0500

Toronto, line up to get your tickets to the Gonz show .

The signing of former Red Sox and Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez has capped off what has been an unusually active past few days for the Jays in the free agent market.

First they sign John McDonald to a reported one year deal as a stopgap solution at shortstop for 2010. Then it’s revealed that it's actually a two year deal, then we find out that John McDonald will actually be the backup SS and that his role on the team is undefined. Now they sign Alex Gonzalez to a one year deal (with option for a second)

Gonzalez (or A-Gonz as I will probably call him) is the final piece of the puzzle when it comes to the Blue Jays infield. At $2.75 million for one year and a $2.5 million option, the Gonzalez signing isn’t the biggest waste of money the Jays have ever spent on a shortstop. Just look back to 2008 when they paid David Eckstein over $4.5 million to stand out there between second and third base.

Speaking of Eckstein, I noticed that the Blue Jays have now successfully acquired both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds left side of the infield in the exact same way. They traded to get Rolen from the Cards at 3B, and signed Eckstein as a free agent SS. Then they traded to get Encarnacion from the Reds at 3B, and signed Gonzalez as a free agent SS. I guess some people’s trash is another person’s treasure.

Those wishing to complain that a combined $4.25 is too much to pay for both McDonald and Gonzalez in 2010, how about these less attractive alternatives? Orlando Cabrera at a total of $12 million for two years, or resigning Marco Scutaro so some ridiculous three or four year deal upwards of $25 million? I'd rather take the Gonz/Mac combo, thanks.

Believe it or not, this was actually a very smart move which basically forces the hand of the Boston Red Sox. Now their only options are to overpay either Marco Scutaro or Orlando Cabrera, neither of which the Blue Jays were interested in. I tip my cap to you sir, Alex Anthopoulos. Well played, sir.

If anything, at least we can be reassured that nothing will make it past the defensive wall combination of J-Mac and A-Gonz. Consider them the new version of J-Mac and Scoots .

Scratch That: John McDonald Is NOT the Blue Jays' Starting Shortstop

Ian Hunter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:25:00 -0500

Are you as confused as I am?

Just hours ago the Blue Jays officially re-signed John McDonald to a two-year, $3 million deal that pretty much answered the question of who would be the starting shortstop in 2010.

Now this comes along.

Jordan Bastian reports that McDonald's role on the team next season remains undefined and that the Blue Jays are actually still seeking a full-time shortstop.

Say what?

So I guess that means time for the Blue Jays to dip into the shortstop free agent bargain bin. Viable options out on the market include former J.P. Ricciardi man-crush Orlando Cabrera, Alex "not that Alex " Gonzalez, or hell...maybe even Adam Everett.

This news comes as a huge surprise after I (and many of us) had assumed that this contract basically locked McDonald in as the full-time shortstop until somebody else challenged him for the job.

In my estimation, part of the reason for signing Johnny Mac to the two-year deal was so other teams could not scoop him up. By the sounds of things, it appears there were a few teams gunning for McDonald, and Alex Anthopoulos didn't want to let him slip away just in case they couldn't find a replacement at SS in the interim.

Unfortunately, knowing the way that Cito Gaston coaches, McDonald is doomed to be banished to the bench once again aside from the odd pinch-running assignment. Which is a shame, because one would think that this starting shortstop position was Johnny Mac's to lose.

But now he's lost it before he even had a chance to defend it. Now he'll spend the rest of 2010 and 2011 trying to get it back.

Your starting shortstop for 2010: John McDonald

Ian Hunter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:05:00 -0500

So much for Plan A , Plan B , or even Plan C …it appears as though the Blue Jays will be resorting to Plan D for shortstop next year.

Thanks to a reported one year deal worth approximately $1.5 million, John McDonald will return for one more season to wow fans with his defensive prowess at shortstop.

While the rumblings of this deal initially irked me, I fully understand the reasoning behind it. Instead of taking a chance right out of the gate with Mike McCoy or some other el-cheapo free agent signing, the club would rather have the stability (albeit his offensive shortcomings) of Johnny Mac stationed between second and third base.

Two months ago I would have been livid to find out that the Blue Jays were giving the starting shortstop position to John McDonald. The reasoning behind my disdain in that decision was having Johnny Mac on the team didn't move this team forward—it merely kept it at status quo.

Now that Alex Anthopoulos has announced the Blue Jays are "building", I understand that this move is to keep John McDonald as a placeholder until somebody else comes along. Whether that happens via a position player in a trade involving Roy Halladay, or if it means somebody from Las Vegas gets called up remains to be seen.

If anything, at least Johnny Mac will distract us from the on-field product with some of his defensive gems scattered throughout the 162-game schedule.

In the meantime, I don't see what all the fuss is about over giving a deserving player like John McDonald a starting job he has coveted for so long. $1.5 million dollars is chump change for McDonald to play 120+ games next year.

After all, the Blue Jays will be paying B.J. let Ryan almost seven times that kind of money in 2010 to work on his tan and try some experimental hair restoration products.

Breaking Down Roy Halladay's Break-Up with the Toronto Blue Jays

Ian Hunter — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:31:00 -0500

So much for staying together for the kids.

Now I know what it must feel like for those poor children on Jon & Kate Plus 8 watching their parents go through a bitter custody battle, because it appears the same thing is happening to Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays organization - they're breaking up.

The most recent development was Paul Beeston's quote in the New York Post indicating that there is absolutely no chance Halladay will stick around in Toronto following the end of his contract in 2010.

" We would like to sign him, he is an original Blue Jay and we have never had a pitcher as good as him...but he is not inclined to sign with us."

At this point in the proverbial marriage between Doc and the Blue Jays, Halladay is living it up as a single man and seeing other people while the Jays have been desecrated to sleeping on the couch while living on a steady diet of cheezies and "Who's the Boss" reruns.

It's unfortunate that it had to come to this, but it's very rare that an amicable breakup is possible in this particular situation. People are going to say things they don't mean, tears are going to be shed, and feelings are going to get hurt.

The important thing here is that the kids (the fans) aren't the ones that suffer. The best way to do this is for the Blue Jays to trade Roy Halladay in order to get the most in return in the way of players and prospects, and also so that this doesn't become a long and drawn out process.

I remember how emotionally draining it was during each Roy Halladay start at the trade deadline earlier this year, so imagine how difficult it would be to experience that for yet another season. There was something heart-wrenching about watching Doc tip his cap to the crowd at the Rogers Centre knowing fully well that it could have been his last game as a Blue Jay. Frankly, I don't know if I could do that ever again.

It's hard to say goodbye, however I am ready to let go and say so long to Roy Halladay. In this instance, I think it's better for everyone if they decided to go their separate ways and agree that it's better to just be friends.

Toronto Blue Jays: The Ticket Increase Fiasco

Ian Hunter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:06:00 -0500

Image courtesy of Flickr user JeremyCai

It appears as though the Blue Jays aren’t winning over very many fans these days.

After the infamous Boston Red Sox ticket stunt, Jerseygate , and other numerous public relations blunders, the most recent development seems to have irked quite a few fans of both the faithful and fairweather kind.

Unearthed by Drunk Jays Fans earlier today , the latest debacle surrounds the purposed ticket increases for certain season ticket holders and possible single game tickets as well. Initial knee-jerk reactions have been pretty harsh, so before we get our panties in a knot, let’s stop and consider the following:

99.2 percent of season ticket prices will remain the same in 2010. That’s less than one percent of ticket holders that are affected by this increase, about 24 people in total. Frankly, if more fans aren’t coming out to the ballpark (as all numbers indicated in 2009) then you have to charge more for tickets if you want to make more money.

It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but single-game-ticket prices are almost certainly going to go up in price. If you take a look at the 2010 Rogers Centre seating map , they have done away with the separate pricing for the field level sections in 113 and 130, and they are now all one price.

The Toronto Star featured an article on how one fan in particular will see a 56 percent increase in the price of his season tickets. I’m not really feeling that empathetic in this situation because if you’re willing to pay over $3000 to see your favourite team, then you should be willing to pay $6000.

And if not, then just downgrade your tickets to a different section. Not to mention that this guy is a lawyer—come on, he can obviously afford the increase.

After this past year’s lackluster season, I would love to see the Toronto Blue Jays lower their ticket prices. Unfortunately, sports business doesn't work that way—ticket prices are not reflective on the team's performance. Lowering or freezing ticket prices benefits fans in the long term, however bumping up prices increases the revenue which hopefully leads to more team payroll and eventually a winning team.

A couple bucks more at the ticket booth might seem like a lot, but if it’s for the greater good of this team and the future of the franchise, frankly...I’ll give a toonie now if it will bring a playoff run later.

Another Roy Halladay Cy Young Calibre Season

Ian Hunter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:12:00 -0500

I hate to say it...but for the fourth year in a row, Roy Halladay crafted another Cy Young calibre season and had nothing to show for it.

The Baseball Writers Association of America did the right thing by giving the Cy Young to Zack Greinke. Though not your typical runaway candidate, Greinke did everything right on a team that played so horribly wrong throughout the season. Greinke didn't have an impressive win/loss record, however he certainly made up for it all other categories.

The voting went down pretty much as expected, but I would have liked to see Doc finish a little higher than fifth place. Ultimately, I guess it doesn't really matter because you either win the Cy Young award or you don't—there isn't any purple fifth-place-finish ribbon like there was at the track & field meet in public school.

Out of all the votes, the one that stands out like a sore thumb was the ballot which included Justin Verlander as a first place vote. This is just another example of a voter not digging deeper into the statistics and only scratching the surface and looking and win/loss and strikeouts. For shame!

Even though the Roy Halladay trophy case won't have any new additions this year, I commend him on another fantastic season and in my heart he will always be a Cy Young award winner.

Time for Roy Halladay Suitors To Line Up

Ian Hunter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:44:00 -0500

It's a bitter pill to swallow, but I'm come to grips with the fact that Roy Halladay is likely not going to be a Blue Jay for much longer. The poor guy was dangled like chum in front of hungry sharks at the trade deadline, and now Alex Anthopoulous has the daunting task of trading away the franchise's best player.

By this point, I'm sure Alex Anthopoulos and Paul Beeston have narrowed down the candidates to which they are willing to trade Roy Halladay to. Ultimately, Doc has the final the say the matter so that means any potential suitors must be contendors and give him a chance at winning.

Below is what I believe to be the short list of candidates for Roy Halladay:

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels seem to be the front-runners on the short-list to land Halladay in a trade. They have handily won the AL West the past five out of six years and would give Doc arguably the best chance to pitch in the playoffs.

Whether or not John Lackey walks away from the Angels, they could definitely benefit from having Halladay in their rotation (then again, who wouldn’t?) Plus, Mike Scioscia knows that if he has to yank Roy Halladay from a game, that he won’t give him lip like Lackey did.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are no longer high on Chad Billingsley, and Los Angeles needs a bona fide ace to anchor their starting rotation. A deal swapping Halladay for Billingsley makes perfect sense...not to mention, Halladay would rack up the wins facing teams in the NL Central. No more of this playing second fiddle in the Cy Young voting.

Philadelphia Phillies

At the trade deadline, the Phillies went home with the second-best looking gal at the prom (Cliff Lee) but now they have an opportunity to bring in the valedictorian of the pitching class in the majors.

Luckily for the Blue Jays, the Phillies still have many of the players they were hoping for initially at the trade deadline. If the Phils would part with J.A. Happ and Kyle Draebeck, this deal could happen and would immediately give the Phillies the best starting rotation in baseball.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox probably have the deepest farm system and young major league talent to offer up to the Blue Jays to get Halladay. Whether they would be willing to part with Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, or others remains to be seen.

New York Yankees

Out of all the places that Roy Halladay could be traded to, this would be my biggest nightmare. If traded to New York, not only does Alex Anthopoulos give the Yankees an even better chance at repeating as world champions, it also means the Blue Jays would have to face Doc at least three or four times in divisional match ups. Great for television ratings, but bad for our souls.

Toronto Blue Jays' Silver Sluggers

Ian Hunter — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:37:00 -0500

Of all the sights that Blue Jays fans were subjected to over 162 games this year, the one above is one that I never got sick of seeing.

For their incredible efforts this season, Adam Lind and Aaron Hill were rewarded as recipients of the American League Silver Slugger awards . The two brought strength and power back to the heart of the Blue Jays lineup in 2009, combining for 71 home runs and 222 RBIs.

Prior to the start of the 2009 season, like most folks I would have been happy to have one 30/100 hitter in the lineup, let alone two. As much as I was screaming that the Jays needed to sign a free agent big bat, Hill and Lind have proven that sometimes the best solutions come from within the organization.

Congratulations boys, job well done.

The Value of the Hometown Discount

Ian Hunter — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:33:00 -0500

It's a term that's been thrown around quite often during this week's MLB hot stove —"hometown discount." For those unfamiliar with the term, a hometown discount is when a player takes a bit of a pay cut to play in the city that they grew up in, has family in, or is where they started their career.

The problem with the hometown discount is that it seems like the valuation is at an astronomical level. To assume that a player would consider signing with club solely for the reason that it's their hometown is a bit ludicrous. While it may play some part in their decision, in my mind here are the top reasons why a player signs a contract with a particular team:

The money
The chance to win
Proximity to home
Strip clubs per capita

One such example was last year when AJ Burnett decided to opt out of his contract with the Blue Jays. Some speculated that he might sign with the Baltimore Orioles so he could be close to his wife Karen and their family in Maryland. Unfortunately, Burnett was tempted by the $82.5 million from the Yankees and the bright lights of New York.

Burnett's adversary and former mentor Roy Halladay could be one of the few exceptions to these rules. The team learned that Doc's number one priority was winning, followed by the opportunity to be close to home, and money was the least of his concerns. His Mormon lifestyle basically rules out any possibility for reason number four, but if he gets a few beers into him who knows what might happen.

Home for Halladay would either be in Colorado where he grew up, or in Florida where he lives during the offseason. If Doc places a lot of weight on which city he plays in, that means the Rockies, Rays or even the Marlins would be suitors for his services.

Another recent example involving the Blue Jays is the talk of trading Lyle Overbay to the Seattle Mariners. Overbay is well known to have grown up in Seattle and enjoyed the odd Vanilla Caramel Frappe from Starbucks while thrashing around in his plaid shirt listening to Pearl Jam.

This situation is a little trickier because Overbay is not a free agent and doesn't really have a choice about where he is traded. But if a player does in fact have a no-trade clause, the hometown discount may not have that much baring on their decision.

So the next time you see the phrase "hometown discount" thrown around in trade talk and free agent speculation, remember that most baseball players couldn't give a damn if the ballpark is 20 minutes from their backyard. Just like Puffy said, it's all about the Benjamins baby .

Whether they want to admit it or not, the true reason why they sign on the dotted line in a certain city is because of one reason ... strip clubs per capita. Don't believe me? Just ask A-Rod.

The Best Moustaches in Baseball, Part Two

Ian Hunter — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:19:00 -0500

Many heroic male figures throughout history have used their facial hair to persuade, inspire, and seduce legions of followers and admirers. Since the dawn of time, mankind has used many forms of facial hair to not only express themselves, but provide a sense of identity.

One of the greatest forms of said facial hair is the moustache; and no group of warriors have displayed the characteristics of a fine 'stache better than the men (and occasionally hormonally imbalanced women) of professional baseball.

In honor of Movember in which men across the world unite in growing moustaches to raise money for Prostate Cancer, I have decided to delve into the art of facial hair for part two of The Best Moustaches in Baseball .

This year’s version covers some ‘staches that may have been omitted from last year’s list or have just recently left their stamp as some of the best cookie-dusters in baseball.

Keith Hernandez

Before I knew Keith Hernandez the baseball player, I knew him as the guy who was allegedly spit on by Kramer and Newman. His two-episode stint on Seinfeld not only solidified himself as one of the coolest moustache-clad men in the majors who may or may have not banged Elaine Benes.

Sal Fasano

During his illustrious career, Sal played for 10 different teams and along the way, he made a lasting impression on almost every city that he played in. As Blue Jays fans, we had the pleasure of watching Fasano work his magic in a Blue Jays uniform during the 2007 season.

Al “The Mad Hungarian” Hrabosky

Not only was Hrabosky’s facial hair mean looking, just take a look at his name. It’s basically the baseball version of Vlad the Impaler or Atilla the Hun. Hrabosky followed in the footsteps of legendary closers like Rich Gossage and Rollie Fingers as having a badass ‘stache.

Ross Grimsley

Grimsley is the whole package—sporting a moustache and an afro that would make even the Ladies Man, Leon Phelps, jealous, Grimsely wasn’t just a looker. In 1978, his 20-11 record garnered him a seventh-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting.

Jeff Kent

I’ve always said that Jeff Kent could moonlight as a police officer if he ever felt the need to take up a second job. Now that he’s retired, you just might see Jeff Kent responding to a domestic dispute, or making a cameo appearance in a Super Troopers sequel near you.

Reggie Jackson

Not necessarily most revered for his prowess in the facial hair department, Mr. October still contributed towards the moustache culture with his classic but cool addition to the list. Did his stache help him hit three home runs in one game? No—but he looked damn good doing it.

So there we have it, folks—part two of the best moustaches in baseball. Feel free to cast your vote on your favourite soup strainer below. The wondrous thing about the world of moustaches is that just like the hairs themselves, the history of moustaches in baseball only continues to grow as the years pass.

The Blue Jays' Man Behind the Curtain Goes to Work

Ian Hunter — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:32:00 -0500

Occasionally it's best not to know what's going on behind the scenes. During last season, the disarray and inner workings of the Blue Jays organization were revealed for all to see. Unfortunately. Now Alex Anthopoulos has the dubious task of taking his place behind the curtain and starting the magical Oz machine once again.

Anthopoulos didn't waste any time this during this relatively busy weekend. First, there was the "state of the franchise" conference call on Saturday. Lately there's been rumblings about the Jays wanting to trade Lyle Overbay to the D-Backs for Chris Snyder.

According to the Arizona Public , trade talks were well underway but were put to a halt when the Jays realized that Snyder's back wasn't all it was cracked up to be (sorry...I couldn't help myself).

It appears as though A.A. is making good on his word that he would be active in the trade market this off-season. The wheels are already set in motion because a move like this would benefit the team two-fold:

Without any other major injuries from Snyder, the Blue Jays would have a full-time catcher until the end of 2011. Hopefully by then, J.P. Arencebia will have made his triumphant debut and will be well on his way to becoming the future star-catcher of this team.
Trading Overbay also sets in motion a search for a long-term first baseman. It sounds like A.A. does not want to move Adam Lind to first base, no matter what (even though the move makes perfect sense). This must mean that he's working on something else entirely to bring in a long-term first-baseman. Your guess is as good as mine on this one.

Moving on to the other big deal that didn't happen late last week...it appeared as though the Blue Jays all but missed the boat on the J.J. Hardy trade, and that the Minnesota Twins cashed in on this blog's biggest man-crush.

Little did we know, Anthopoulos was apparently working behind the scenes and the Blue Jays were one of the teams in the hunt , according to Jeff Blair. Reports indicate that it would've taken Adam Lind or Travis Snider to land J.J. Hardy. If that's true then it's no surprised the Jays balked at that proposed deal.

Maybe most surprising of all is that Russell Martin is another name being tossed around as a possible replacement behind the backstop for the Blue Jays.

Martin could be an integral piece of a trade with the Dodgers which might ship Roy Halladay to Los Angeles. This is a theoretical trade, but since this is just a sliver of information that's been leaked out, who knows what A.A. could be cooking up.

Whether or not any trades come to fruition this week at the General Manager's meetings, it's refreshing to see a GM take a different approach with this ballclub. Although it's uncertain how this team will finish in 2010 or even 2011, I am confident that Alex Anthopoulos is putting together a winning team.

In the meantime, may he work his magic from behind the curtain and hopefully he won't come back out unless he has something spectacular to show us.

The Yankees as World Champions: Bad for Baseball?

Ian Hunter — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:26:00 -0500

Today the Yankees enjoyed a lavish ticker-tape parade down Broadway Avenue celebrating their 27th World Series Championship. While most folks in New York came out in droves to celebrate, the rest of the baseball world basically rolled their eyes and said "not again."

After watching the continued success of the New York Yankees as the most financially driven team in MLB, it begs the question—are the New York Yankees as World Series Champions bad for baseball?

In a word...yes.

It's not just because I'm a bitter Blue Jays fan that hasn't tasted the victory of playoff baseball for sixteen years either. There are 29 teams in baseball I would rather see hoist the Commissioner's Trophy above their heads other than the New York Yankees.

So here are a few of my reasons in no particular order why I think the Yankees as World Champions are sending the wrong message:

1. Team payrolls across the MLB are bound to go up

Whether it's predetermined or not, it seems like teams subconsciously emulate the formula of the previous World Series Champions. In the case of the New York Yankees, most clubs will probably take after their model which is "sign the best free agents at any price, so long as it means winning."

This means guys like Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, and John Lackey are going to rake in especially fat contracts this off-season. It also sends the message that money equals success, almost the exact polar opposite from the Tampa Bay Rays model which was build a team from the minor league system upwards.

2. It makes even more free agents want to flock to NY

I'm sure a large part of the reason why Pedro Martinez and Raul Ibanez signed with the Philadelphia Phillies was because they had a fairly good shot at winning another championship in Philly. For free agents that are getting close to the end of their careers and want an almost-guaranteed shot at the post-season, they will likely be seeking to sign with the New York Yankees.

3. It doesn't promote home-grown talent

There was a lot of hype surrounding the "core four" of Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Pettite that have stuck with this organization since (almost) day one. Aside from those four guys, most of their roster spots are occupied by players acquired via trades or free agent signings (only ten in total came up through the Yankees organization).

The Yankees aren't notorious for drafting and developing great players, they are known for signing other team's great players. I realize it's all fair in love and baseball, but it feels like the Yankees would rather build a winning team with their pocketbook rather than their minor league system.

Again, let me reiterate that I'm not bitter and jaded (okay...maybe a little) that the team I cheer for wasn't number one this year.

However, I would have been happy to see the Phillies win the World Series. I would have been thrilled to see the Dodgers or the Angels win the World Series. Hell, it would even be fun (more so hilarious) to see the Nationals win the World Series. But there's something about watching the Yankees get their World Series rings that doesn't sit right.

It's almost like if the tallest, strongest, and fastest kid in grade seven won every single event at the track meet. Sure, it's great for that one kid—but for everyone else, it just creates an environment of resentment.

It's about as exciting as when the team with the highest payroll wins the World Series.

$200 Million Buys the Yankees a World Series Championship

Ian Hunter — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:44:00 -0500

Very quickly, congratulations to the New York Yankees on becoming World Series champs.

There was nothing overly dramatic about Game Six or the series in general; however, good for the Yankees for coming out on top.

But for the New York Yankees organization, anything less than a championship this year would have been an utter disappointment.

So after missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, they went out and snagged the best free agents on the market in the hopes of building another winning team.

On Managing...

This World Series in particular might have possibly been the most over-hyped when it comes to managing decisions.

The media scrutinized Joe Girardi for only using a three-man rotation the entire playoffs, and they even grilled Charlie Manuel for something as simple as not starting the runners with one out.

Basically, people need to stop giving so much credit to Girardi, because I think even Cito Gaston could have managed the Yankees to a championship.

Just like the 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jays, when you have the best group of players, oftentimes they will come through when needed, and these minute coaching decisions don't really have an effect on the game.

Godzilla comes to life

After tonight's MVP performance, Hideki Matsui certainly bought himself a fat contract with whichever team signs him in the offseason.

Initially, I thought he might be a good fit for the Blue Jays as a DH, but now it appears that the price tag might be too high, and I find it hard to believe that Matsui would leave his cozy nest in New York to shack up in Toronto.

In closing...

Whether we like it or not, the New York Yankees are the World Series champs. However, if any other team in the American League, such as the Blue Jays, had a payroll of $200 million, they could also very well be standing in the Yankees' champagne-soaked shoes.

World Series Observations

Ian Hunter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:49:00 -0500

After having the pleasure of watching five relatively exciting World Series games, there are a few things that have stood out in my mind as noteworthy. The following is a list of some observations from this year's series thus far:

With his half-dozen mound visits per inning, Jorge Posada is the sole reason these World Series games take four hours to complete . It is my hope that Baseball Reference starts keeping track of this statistic next season, which will be called MVI (mound visits per inning).

Ryan Howard strikes out a lot . And when he does, he always mutters something under his breath in disbelief…even when it’s a swinging strike three.

Kate Hudson just might be the most famous baseball groupie since Alyssa Milano .

Among many other things, Joba Chamberlain needs to wash his hat .

It appears as though Chase Utley has starting using the John Stamos/Jesse Katsopolis line of hair products . Have mercy!

There is so much loose jersey hanging off CC Sabathia , that the spare materials could be used as a tarp to cover the entire country of Cambodia.

Cliff Lee is non-chalant about everything , so would he even get excited if the Phillies won the World Series?

There is no stopping Mariano Rivera. If this World Series goes to a Game Seven, Joe Girardi might be best served to let Mo pitch the entire game himself.

After seeing all the camera time that the Philly Phanatic has been getting , I realized the Yankees don’t even have an official team mascot. How sad is that?

The Alex Anthopoulos Game Plan: What Will Blue Jays Do with Roy Halladay?

Ian Hunter — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:44:00 -0500

Alex Anthopoulos has a plan for the Toronto Blue Jays. The problem is that he can't reveal the full details just quite yet.

He's been in the midst of attempting to rebuild this team, solidifying the coaching staff last week. Now the next thing on Anthopoulos' agenda is the players.

Last week on Primetime Sports , Paul Beeston assured us that fans would have a better idea of what kind of expectations to have when it comes to total payroll by the end of this week. It looks like he and AA just might deliver in time before next week's general managers meetings.

Anthopoulos dropped a few sound bites about particular free agents and whether or not they would return next year. John McDonald, Rod Barajas, and Marco Scutaro were names that he mentioned and could not say whether or not they would be back next year.

My suspicion is that at least two out of those three players will leave via free agency, with Johnny Mac almost certainly out the door. It simply doesn't make sense to pay McDonald over $2 million a year to play 30 games at shortstop

Of course, the giant, glaring elephant in the room that Anthopoulos needs to address is what to do with Roy Halladay. Whatever happens with this team in the next three to five years basically hinges on whether or not Doc is traded this offseason.

The longer that time goes on and the more and more Halladay sees his former teammate A.J. Burnett pitching in the World Series, perhaps he's developing a little bit of resentment towards the organization that has failed to make the playoffs the past 16 years.

Not only would Halladay be looking for a winning team, but he could also very easily find a suitor that would be willing to pay top dollar for him. Regardless of whether the Phillies win the World Series, many teams have seem the impact that adding an ace like Cliff Lee to the pitching staff can do to solidify themselves as a contender.

Teams like the Dodgers and Angels will be looking for that added insurance to get them over the hump, and Halladay could be that player who gets them over the edge.

We will have to wait and see if that happens under the watch of Alex Anthopoulos or if Doc just walks away via free agency at the end of 2010.

Either way, the gears of change are in motion, and things in Toronto are going to look a lot different next year.

Cito's Staying Put

Ian Hunter — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:05:00 -0400

For those who were hoping there might be some new blood in the Blue Jays manager's office next year, you're going to have to hold your breath for yet another season.

Sportsnet has confirmed that Cito Gaston will serve out his final year as the manager for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. Following the end of the 2010 season, Cito will retire and remain on with the club as a consultant for the next four years.

News of Cito's comes on the heels of the announcement that Brad Arnsberg has accepted a position with the Houston Astros as their pitching coach. I'm still undecided as to what move will affect this team more - Arnsberg's departure or Cito's survival as manager.

So what does this all mean? Basically this move assures that Kevin Millar will be their full-time cleanup hitter next season, Randy Ruiz will be on the 25-man roster but spend all 162 games on the bench, and Jesse Carlson will pitch in almost every single game.

For a baseball franchise that's trying to turn over a new leaf with a new General manger and a new-ish President and CEO, this move feels counter-productive and merely puts the team in limbo until the 2011 season.

Even if the Blue Jays bump the payroll up to $120 million, what's the point if the coach is liable to not use those new players in the right manner?

Rogers can spend all the money they want on this team in 2010, but it seems like the money that will go towards free agents might just end up going to waste anyway.

Have a Happy Halloween and Enjoy My Blue Jay-Inspired Jack-O-Lantern!

Ian Hunter — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:13:00 -0400

In between scarfing down bags of Halloween Kisses and trick-or-treating at a very questionable age, I'd just like to wish you all a Happy Halloween!

This Blue Jays inspired Jack-O-Lantern (or Jay-O-Lantern as I prefer to call it) took me about three hours in total to carve. That included two hours of gutting, tracing, and carving, then one hour of trying to put everything back into place with toothpicks once it all fell out the front.

Fortunately, you don't have to go that extent to celebrate the Bluebirds on All Hallow's Eve. For those looking for creative Blue Jays costume ideas, check out my post from last year on how to dress up as your favourite former Jay or staff member.

This isn't baseball related, but this time of year brings along a slew of craptacular Halloween movies. Many of which have gone by the wayside, forever damned to be sitting at the bottom of the Wal-Mart discount bin. But there are a few worthwhile Halloween flicks to check out.

My personal favourite and ultimate guilty pleasure is Halloween 3: Season of the Witch . Don't be surprised if you've never heard of the movie, it's because Halloween 3 is the only film in the series to have no relation whatsoever to Michael Myers. Way to stick to the formula!

Or if you're just looking for the best part of the entire movie, check out the clip below (spoiler alert) from the very final scene of the move. Then, if you're brave enough ... start at the beginning.

Happy Halloween!

A.J. Burnett's Inner Monologue Before Game Two of the World Series

Ian Hunter — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:34:00 -0400

The following transcript may or may not have happened in A.J. Burnett's mind already tonight. I guess only he will ever know.

Hey you got this.

Listen, I know last time was a little rough. So what if you gave up twice as many runs in one inning than Cliff Lee has given up the entire playoffs. You got this.

This is why you get paid the big bucks. This is why you opted out. This is why you're in pinstripes.

Come on man, it's time to dig deep and show this city what you're made of. You're tough!

Not everyone can stand the pain of getting those armband tattoos, only you. Now you just have to show that same toughness on the mound tonight.

Remember, if things are going too smoothly, make sure you uncork a wild pitch. You don't want folks to think you have entire control of this game. That doesn't make for an interesting storyline. A pitcher who is battling his inner demons has all the makings of a made-for-TV movie.

And you know who's going to star in it? You, buddy. You.

But tonight...you're the star.

You're going to go out there in front of all those fans, all those TV cameras, Kate Hudson, Kate Hudson's family, some of Kate Hudson's fans, and put on a show.

No matter what happens, remember that I'll always love you.

And don't forget to pack the shaving cream. You just might need it. Even if it's to throw in Pedro's face after the game.

Bring on the Fall Classic

Ian Hunter — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:02:00 -0400

After what has seemed like an eternity since the end of the ALCS, the World Series is finally ready to get underway later tonight.

On paper, I can't say that a Yankees-Phillies matchup is one that will go down in history as one of the greatest playoff rivalries, but I'm sure some people probably thought the very same thing about the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees.

If there's one team in the National League that's built to take down the New York Yankees, it's the Philadelphia Phillies. With their combination of stellar starting pitching and an insurmountable lineup, the Yanks will have their hands full with Ryan Howard and company.

As a side note, other bloggers and media outlets have picked up this story, but did you know that this is the third straight World Series appearance for Eric Hinske?

Since being dumped by the Blue Jays, whether or not he was actually on the playoff roster, Hinske has made trips to the past three World Series. Just in case you were curious, he's made a grand total of three plate appearances and is 1-for-3 in those appearances with one home run.

Although Eric Hinske might not have any World Series rings, at least he has three different "American League Champions" sweatshirts to keep him warm through the cold, long offseason.

When in doubt, hire yourself as President

Ian Hunter — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:06:00 -0400

It took almost an entire year of recruiting, but finally there is a President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the official announcement that Paul Beeston (pictured above) will in fact be the new President and CEO of the team, the good news is that Rogers won’t have to change the name plate on the President’s desk and send out that pesky “so and so is no longer with the company” email.

The bad news (and forgive me for the blatant disregard for grammar)…Cito ain’t going nowhere. Beeston staying on as President basically just bought Cito another year as manager of this team and possibly even more than that, because there is no way in hell that Beeston lets Cito go under his watch.

So it turns out that the Blue Jays will not be wiping the slate clean, and instead it seems like J.P. Ricciardi was the only bad seed in the whole bunch. At least now it doesn’t seem like the team is in limbo anymore, and the Toronto Blue Jays can finally move forward and start over with the next “five-year plan”.

A Year in Retrospect with Scott Richmond

Ian Hunter — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:35:00 -0400

By now, you've probably already heard the story of how Scott Richmond overcame all odds and made his way into the major leagues by winning a spot in the starting rotation spot with the Toronto Blue Jays.

While that particular anecdote was penciled back in May, it turns out that the Scott Richmond story wasn't even close to being over; not by a long shot.

Since then, Richmond has remained as one of the core members of the starting rotation and hopes to contend once again for one of the open spots in 2010. I had the pleasure of talking with the Blue Jays starting pitcher about this year's success and the lessons he learned from his rookie year as a Blue Jay.

First of all, congratulations on your first full season in the major leagues. What would you say is the biggest thing you learned this year?

Pitching to contact—plain and simple. As a starting pitcher in the big leagues you have been entrusted with the responsibility to go deep into the game on a regular basis in order to avoid over taxing the bullpen.

The longer you’re in the game and executing well, the better are your team’s chances to secure a win, because the set up men and the closer can just go out there and do their jobs and aren’t expected to pull off miracles night after night.

From a personal level for a starting pitcher, that’s what makes Roy Halladay so good. He goes deep into games and whether it’s a win or a loss, he’s always getting decisions because he’s not leaving the bullpen to get 10 outs. You have to try to go seven to eight innings, and the only way to do that is to pitch to contact to keep your pitch count down.

You were one of the anchors in the starting rotation this year, which was very rookie-dominant. Being one of the new guys can be stressful, and there were a lot of you who were in the same boat. Were there any teammates in particular that you bonded with?

Ricky Romero and I were really close all year. We started together in spring training and we both knew there were two spots open in the rotation and we had to battle out nine guys to try to win those spots.

We ended up living together in Toronto for the whole year and we tried to learn from each other, but we supported and pushed each other at the same time.

This year, it seemed like you started to rely more on your curveball and it worked out fairly well for you. What did you and Brad Arnsberg work on in the offseason?

I’ve always been a strike thrower and I always try to pound the strike zone. With lefties, my changeup was pretty suspect all year so I was really trying to establish that some games.

Overall, he (Arnsberg) wanted me to be aggressive in the strike zone. That’s the whole thing as a rookie pitcher; you’re a little cautious of pitching to contact. When you’re ahead in the count, you try to strike everybody out and guess what? The Red Sox and the Yankees, they spit on those pitches when they’re out of the strike zone.

If you’re not careful, you can find yourself with the pitch count at a hundred, and you’re still in the fifth inning. He really taught me to stay competitive in the strike zone and not give in at any point.

With rookies on the mound, the umpires sometimes tend to squeeze the strike zone. When you’re not getting the same calls as the opposing pitcher, how do you deal with it?

For some reason, it’s always been a part of the game for as long as I’ve been aware, sort of like a rookie initiation into the big leagues, but everyone has to endure it. It can be very frustrating and difficult not to let it affect you to some degree, especially when the missed calls end up having an effect on the score line, and possibly the outcome of the game.

As the pitcher, you have to learn to deal with it, and do your best not to let it get to you, or show the ump that you’re upset, so in some ways maybe it tends to make you tougher.

Being in the American League East means the Blue Jays face the cream of the crop in the American League quite often. Who would you say was the toughest hitter that you faced this year?

It’s no fun facing Jacoby Ellsbury; he’s a good and patient hitter and he hits for power and he’s got the speed when he’s on base.

There are lots of great hitters but he’s been a pain in my side and you have to really buckle down and make sure you work ahead when he’s in the batter’s box. He’s an impact player and that’s why he’s leading off for the Red Sox.

If there was one hitter you could pitch to, either active or inactive in major league baseball, who would it be, and why?

It’s always been my nature that I’ve wanted to face the best every year, and throughout this season I know that I’ve faced some big hitters. Now that I’ve got a year’s experience under my belt, I’d like to get the opportunity to face guys like Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez just to challenge myself.

A lot of guys on my team have faced Manny before and they’re really happy that he’s not in the AL East anymore because he’s such a great a hitter and he’s an impact player. I’m kind of the opposite—I want to face him, I want that challenge.

Is there an area of your game that you feel that you would like to see a definite improvement in for next season?

There are a few specific areas that I intend to work on—I’ll continue working on developing confidence in my changeup, I’d plan to develop more movement on both my two-seam and four-seam fastballs, and I need to assert my claim to the inside part of the plate and not allow batters to feel comfortable crowding the plate.

I’ve spoken to your father, Dr. Bob Richmond, and he seems like a really insightful man who has a true passion for baseball. What kind of pointers has he given you on your game?

Being a chiropractor, he taught me the importance of reducing and neutralizing the huge stresses that a pitcher’s body is subjected to over the course of a long season.

When you’re an athlete, your body is your No. 1 tool of the trade, so it’s your first responsibility to treat it with the highest respect. You need to train well, be nutritionally diligent, get the right amount of rest, and develop a routine that works well for you.

On top of that, he stresses the huge importance of my need to continue developing and strengthening the mental side of my game and has given me some books to work from.

We talk almost every day during the season, and he usually sends me an inspirational e-mail before every start, with a few specific pointers. We also discuss ways of gaining the psychological advantage over the batter, to keep them off balance by being unpredictable, and pitching backwards on occasion, by throwing off speed stuff in fastball counts.

Since we are similar in many ways he understands what makes me tick maybe better than anyone else, so I find his input helpful.

He’s from New Zealand and has been an athlete his whole life, but my dad didn’t really follow baseball much until I started playing in college.

He noticed that I had pretty efficient pitching mechanics, and saw that maybe I had a chance to play professionally one day. He has really helped me realize the importance as well as the complexity of the mental side of being an effective pitcher.

I’ve never had any major injuries of any kind and I credit that to the preparation in the offseason, getting regular chiropractic care and making sure my body is in the best shape possible for the season ahead, to handle the abuse that it takes.

Some people take a lot of medication to mask the pain, but if you take care of your body in a natural and preventative way, then I feel that you are more likely to enjoy a longer and more productive career.

Speaking of father figures, Roy Halladay seems like the kind of player who would take younger players under his wing and try to help them improve their game. Has Doc given you any you pitching tips this past season?

H e’s a great pitcher and I love watching him go out there and do his business and in turn, that’s how I learned to pitch to contact. His work ethic is second to none, he knows his body and he’s very in tune with himself when he’s on the mound.

I ask him questions when the time is right, and what he told me is “if you make a bad pitch, forget it. The next pitch, make a good one.” Just simplify things and go one pitch at a time.

You guys get the odd day off during the regular season, which means you get to relax every once in a while. I know Dirk Hayhurst kept himself busy with writing, your former teammate Alex Rios liked to fly model airplanes…what do you do during downtime in between games?

Rest—especially in the rookie year. Other than that, in all of these cities I’ve been to this year, I like to take some time to check out the city and take some photographs.

When we were in Washington, I would go out and see some of the sights like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House, but I don’t like to overdo it…it can be tiring in its own way.

You really need to relax and get your rest when you can get it; you have that responsibility to yourself and to the team.

Your brother, Brandon Kaye, was drafted by the Blue Jays earlier this year. He was in Toronto back in late August and you guys got a chance to practice together. What was it like to have him there right next to you in a Blue Jays uniform?

It was great—I just put myself in his shoes when I was his age. I wish I could’ve gone to a big league field and watched what it was like to be there with the players.

It just motivated him even more to try to make it and really work hard at what he’s doing because he sees how much fun it is and how the big leagues really are. It really invigorated his drive to keep pushing forward, to keep working hard.

And it always helps when you have a family member on the team, too. Have you heard if he’s close to signing yet with the club?

Not yet—he was drafted in the 45th round, so he’s going to go to UBC and play there for this year and hopefully he’ll be drafted higher after a year at UBC.

You had many career highlights this past year, including the AL Rookie of the Month award in April. What would you say was the personal highlight of the 2009 season for you?

Aside from the RoM for April, I’d have to say the game in Philadelphia on June 17, which was my best start of the year. It was broadcast as The Game of the Day all across the US, and it was supposed to be Roy Halladay going against Jamie Moyer.

I ended up getting the start and went eight innings with 11 strikeouts against the defending world champions in Philadelphia.

Scott, once again let me congratulate you on a great season. What are your plans for the offseason?

I’ll be going down to Los Angeles with my fiancée Deanna and we’ll stay at our place there. She and I are actually leaving for Mexico for 10 days, and that will give me a bit of time to reflect on my rookie year and let it all soak in.

When we get back from Mexico, we’ll go back down to Los Angeles and I’ll get back into the routine with my personal trainer once again, to work hard to get into the best shape possible and be ready for spring training in February.

I wish Scott Richmond all the best of luck next season and beyond! Congratulations on your first full season in the big leagues, Scott, and hopefully we'll see you back in a Blue Jays uniform next season in the starting rotation.

Where Were You 16 Years Ago, When Joe Carter Made History?

Ian Hunter — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:51:00 -0400

Today is a very special day—it's an occasion so momentous that it should almost be declared a national holiday in Canada.

It was this very day 16 years ago that Joe Carter solidified himself as one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time by taking a Mitch Williams pitch deep to ensure the World Series trophy would remain in Canada.

Fly-by-night and casual fans talk about how they remember the good old days when the Blue Jays used to rule the American League East and how Carter was their favourite baseball player. As a kid, Carter was my favourite Blue Jay years before he ever even stepped in the batter's box on Oct. 23 1993 against Williams.

After that night, nothing was the same ever again. Carter was everybody's new favourite Blue Jay player and suddenly I was lost in the sea of thousands and thousands of self-proclaimed Blue Jays fans and Carter adorers. I know now that it was selfish of me to think that Carter could only be MY favourite player and nobody else's.

Prior to the Philadelphia Phillies World Series win last year, the memories of Williams nearly tumbling off the mound have been ingrained in their minds for years and years. Now they are hoping to win back to back World Series, just as the Blue Jays did 15 years ago.

So what about you—where were you 16 years ago when the Blue Jays won their second straight World Series? I as a snotty-faced 9-year-old kid was absolutely ecstatic and jumping on my parent's couch when the ball sailed over the left field fence. It happened so quick, I almost couldn't believe it.

Ever since then, I will never forget what happened on Oct. 23, 1993—and neither should you.

The Men in Black

Ian Hunter — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:39:00 -0400

One star has taken over the headlines and drawn all the attention on themselves this post-season. It’s not Alex Rodriguez, not Ryan Howard…I’m talking about the umpires.

The officials have taken centre stage during the playoffs this year and have caused more controversy than ever thanks to some botched calls and just plain flat-out mistakes. This was evident as ever as I was live-blogging last night’s Game Four of the ALCS.

The umpires and crew chief didn’t screw up one call , not two calls , but three . Luckily none of them really translated into a game-changing play because the Yankees won handily by nine runs, but what if it were a tied game? It’s safe to say there would have been riots in Los Angeles to the magnitude of when the Rodney King verdict came down.

I realize that these officials do a thankless job and work their asses off game after game, but calls like these are unforgivable. Especially since some of them could determine whether or not a team is going to the World Series, that means these decisions are as important as ever. I can't understand why the officials seem to be treating them as routine plays.

Crew chief Tim McLellan obviously had his eyes elsewhere and even fully admits that he screwed up . He claims that he was doing his best...well frankly, McLellan's best is simply not good enough.

This wasn't just one isolated incident with Tim McLellan, either. You might recall that he was the home plate umpire that called Matt Holiday safe during the 2007 NL Wild Card tiebreaker game between the Rockies and the Padres.

It’s examples like those that really show the flaws within the officiating in Major League Baseball. In a game of inches such as this, I think the managers should be given the opportunity to challenge or dispute a call, much like how it’s done in the NFL and NHL.

Some might argue that this would slow down the game considerably, but I would rather the umpires take a couple of minutes to review the call and get it right rather than make a snap decision and have to stick with it. Hell, the game was already over three and a half hours anyway, what's another five minutes?

Bud Selig was on the right track by instating the home run video review system, but I’m afraid that’s just not good enough—especially in the playoffs. Yes, a home run call can make or break a game, however those smaller calls can easily lead to game-changers as we’ve seen already.

Unfortunately, those hoping for some salvation in seeing more instant replay in baseball will have to continue to hold their breath. Selig seems to be firm on his stance that video review will only remain on home run calls:

“…do I think we need more replay? No. Baseball is not the kind of game that can have interminable delays."

If the coaches do in fact have the game on tape just inside the clubhouse as was alluded to on the broadcast last night, why not actually put it to use?

Otherwise it might as well just be hooked up to a Super Nintendo and Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball so at least somebody can get some use out if it.

Cy Young Ponderings

Ian Hunter — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:47:00 -0400

On the heels of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance announcement of the AL Cy Young Award and Tao of Stieb's ballot , I thought I would chime in with my own two cents on the subject. Of course, any year Roy Halladay doesn't win is a damn shame and this was the fourth year in a row where he was at least in the top-five pitchers in the league.

Now while there is an enormous amount of weight placed on a pitcher's win/loss record, ERA and strikeouts, let's take a moment to delve into the overlooked or neglected categories that Cy Young votes should be taking into consideration.

First of all, if the win/loss record is such a significant part of the ballot, then I urge the Baseball Writers of America to at least glance over at the pitcher's run support category. While C.C. Sabathia's 19 wins are impressive, even more so were the 7.9 average runs that the Yankees managed to give him in support. One can only imagine what Halladay's win total would be if the Blue Jays could score nearly eight runs for him every time.

Naturally, Zack Greinke pitching for a weak Kansas City Royals team is at the bottom of the heap when it comes to run support (4.83 runs), followed closely behind are Felix Hernandez (5.66 runs), Justin Verlander (6.15 runs) and Roy Halladay (6.18 runs).

The next stat is something that ESPN calls "tough losses," which are defined as a loss in games that are quality starts. Depending on what your school of thought is on the quality start, this is another point for debate on who is more deserving for the Cy Young. In this situation, the quality start is a bit irrelevant because there are no brownie points with voters for pitching five innings and giving up three runs or less.

But if you are curious about who the most tortured starting pitchers are in the American League when it comes to "tough losses," of course it's Greinke and Halladay, who have four apiece.

But more intriguing than the tough loss statistic is the situation in which the starting pitcher exited the game. Surprisingly, the relievers after Halladay only coughed up one win that should have been his (on May 25 when they blew a five-run lead).

Finally, one area that should be looked at is the quality of opponents the pitchers faced. Automatically, Halladay has the advantage because he faced the cream of the crop in the American League more than another other candidate. Doc had a combined 11 starts against the Red Sox, Yankees and Angels compared to Greinke's three and Hernandez's six. So in that respect, Halladay has pitched more often against higher-caliber opponents thanks to the MLB's oh-so-balanced schedule.

By looking at all these stats, one could be accused of trying to work the numbers in favor of their candidate and, in a way, that's true. I've come to grips that Halladay will not be taking home the Cy Young hardware this year, but I just want folks to know that he at least deserved to be in the top three.

Stadium Review: The Rogers Centre in Toronto

Ian Hunter — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:43:36 -0400

This article was originally featured on www.stadiumjourney.com .

Back in 1989, the Rogers Centre (previously the Skydome) emerged as a modern marvel of architecture. Thanks to its retractable roof, after 20 years it still stands as one of the most unique ballparks in the majors.

FANFARE SCORE: 22

F ood & Beverage: 5

Whatever your heart, and your stomach, desires, you will probably find it at the Rogers Centre. Not only do they have ballpark hot dogs, pizza, and ice cream, but just this year the Rogers Centre has updated their concessions to include very unique items such as corned beef sandwiches, chicken wings, and even sushi. The quality of food is vast, and the prices are reasonable.

Unlike the food, the beer choices are fairly limited, with a few domestics, and a couple of imports. A 12 ounce tall can of domestic beer will run you about $9.50

A tmosphere: 2

With such a large stadium, it’s difficult to get the entire crowd involved and excited about the game at times. One thing that’s significantly lacking at the Rogers Centre is any sort of memorabilia or “wall of fame”. Aside from the World Series and playoff banners hung high atop the dome, there isn’t much in the way of historical memorabilia at the Rogers Centre. The large information screens along the outfield wall are great for keeping fans updated on other scores around the MLB, but can be somewhat distracting at times.

N eighborhood: 3

One very popular attraction close to the Rogers Centre is the Steamwhistle brewery. It’s a great idea to go there before, or after the ball game to get a free sample. You can also travel up the nearby CN Tower, which is especially beautiful on a clear night.

There are a plethora of bars and restaurants surrounding the stadium for fans to flock to for a post-game celebration. If you head west a few blocks, you will stumble across Lonestar Texas Grill. If you get your second wind following the game, this is a great place to enjoy a juicy steak, or even just nachos. Their selection of beer is pretty decent, and they also make a mean Margarita.

Toronto.LoneStarGrill" class="size-medium wp-image-433" src="http://stadiumjourney.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Toronto.LoneStarGrill-300x225.jpg" border="0" height="225" alt="Lone Star Texas Grill" width="300">

Lone Star Texas Grill

Just south of the Rogers Centre is St. Louis Bar and Grill. They are most famous for wings and ribs, but they also have a great selection of sandwiches and other entrees. St. Louis Bar and Grill features seven beers on tap.

St. Louis Bar & Grill

F ans: 2

Long gone are the days when the Blue Jays used to draw three million in attendance. However, the Blue Jays still manage to consistently clear at least 11,000 in attendance per game. At times, it’s frustrating to watch fans more focused on when they should stand up so they can catch “the wave”, or when they are cheering loudly to win a piece of pizza, rather than cheer on the home team itself.

For the most part, the biggest crowds flock to the Rogers Centre when the Blue Jays play the Yankees, or Red Sox. At times, the opposing fans are actually louder than the home fans, and you can hear this clearly on the television broadcast.

A ccess: 3

If at all possible, I would recommend taking public transit to get to the game. With Union Station just a 10 minute walk away, it’s much easier to take the subway and save yourself the money, and the headaches. If you’re traveling from out of town, there are plenty of parking lots around the Rogers Centre for those willing to arrive early and shell out upwards of $20 for parking.

You will have no problem finding the bathroom facilities at the Rogers Centre. They are very well equipped, and there are usually no waiting lines until the game lets out.

R eturn on Investment: 4

Really, there isn’t much to complain about in regards to tickets to a Jays game at the Rogers Centre, which start as low as $9 dollars. For those looking to get closer to the action, tickets range anywhere from $25 dollars up to $200 dollars. Earlier this year, the Blue Jays offered special discount days and “All You Can Eat” tickets.

E tc.: 3

Bonus points for promotions offered throughout the season. Most notably, the Blue Jays had a “Back 2 Back” weekend, in which the 1992 and 1993 Blue Jays rosters reunited to celebrate their World Series wins. This was a very clever way to draw fans to the ballpark for what would have otherwise been an ordinary series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Final Thoughts:

Some might say that the Rogers Centre is a cold, dark, and lifeless place. Please keep in mind that when the Rogers Centre was built 20 years ago, it was meant to be a sports mecca where many professional sports would take place. Despite all this, the Rogers Centre still holds its own as Canada’s premiere baseball stadium.

Mr. "Any Month But" October

Ian Hunter — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:57:00 -0400

It's safe to say that there is a lot of pressure on Alex Rodriguez going into the ALCS.

As the highest paid player in the league on the team with the highest payroll, there will be very lofty expectations for him and the New York Yankees going into their series against the Los Angeles Angels.

Although he's been painted as a notorious choke artist in October, Rodriguez actually had a decent ALCS against the Minnesota Twins hitting .455 and going 5-for-11. Most importantly, he hit that game tying two-run homer off Joe Nathan in Game 2 of the ALDS. Prior to that, surprisingly his postseason stats aren't as horrendous as others would have you believe.

G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
42	182	158	25	46	9	0	9	23	4	3	18	40	.291	.381	.519	.900

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com : View Original Table
Generated 10/16/2009.

In 11 playoff series over the past eight years, A-Rod boasts a .291 batting average with nine total HRs and 23 RBI. I hate to say it, but he's been getting a bit of a bad rap when it comes to not being able to perform in the playoffs.

When most folks refer to Mr. "Any Month But October" they probably remember the Alex Rodriguez that couldn't hit for the life of him back in the 2005 and 2006 playoffs. A-Rod was essentially non-existent in the 2005 and 2006 ALDS with just three combined hits. Yet aside from that, he's basically performed on par or better than what's been expected of him.

Since all eyes in New York are always on Alex Rodriguez, he is held to a much higher standard than most players and anything lower than a .250 batting average in the playoffs is considered "choking."

However, the Los Angeles Angels will be hoping that A-Rod reverts back to his old ways in the playoffs if they want to increase their chances of making it to the World Series. With any luck, if they can get a hold of some Kate Hudson impersonators and sit them on the third base line, Rodriguez will probably be thrown off.

Which World Series Matchup Do You Want To See?

Ian Hunter — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:35:00 -0400

Last year, some of us got all googly-eyed at the potential of seeing a World Series where Manny Ramirez would go against the very same team that traded him just a few months prior. It had all the makings of the perfect media circus.

But then it never even happened.

This year's World Series might not live up to those lofty expectations, but here are some possible scenarios that could provide the most drama.

Yankees vs. Dodgers

Naturally, this World Series matchup would draw the most media attention. Joe Torre facing off against his former team, hoping to stick it to the empire that built him up and tore him down.

It would be a series that the media would love to get their hands on. It would also feature the two best teams in their respective leagues competing for the Commissioner’s Trophy. Manny Ramirez would also draw lots of attention in New York thanks to his many years in Boston as a Yankee killer.

Angels vs. Dodgers

Most baseball purists are praying for this one to come true. While a “Freeway Series” really only appeals to those living in southern California, I think that an Angels-Dodgers World Series would feature the best starting pitching out of all the possible combinations.

Another prevalent storyline would be Mike Scioscia managing against the very team with which he spent his entire playing career. It wouldn’t be a very flashy World Series, but it would still be very entertaining.

Yankees vs. Phillies

This is where as a pseudo baseball writer, you really have to start digging deep to create compelling story lines for a World Series. There isn’t any bad blood between the Yankees and the Phillies, so it’s very difficult to see how these two teams would fare against each other.

My best guess is that the New York Yankees themselves would create drama stemming from the A.J. Burnett-Jorge Posada feud. Either that or another spill-happy fan pours beer on Shane Victorino at Yankee Stadium, and he climbs into the stands to take the law into his own hands.

Angels vs. Phillies

Out of all the potential World Series combinations, this one appears to be the least appealing to the masses. There is so little dirt on the Angels and Phillies that I had to use Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon to connect these two teams.

It turns out that both Mike Scioscia and Charlie Manuel were both on the American League coaching staff for the 2002 All-Star Game. Talk about beef!

Conclusion

Ultimately, it really doesn't matter what the back story is on any of these teams. Good clubs will prevail and sometimes you don't even need a huge buildup to create a great story in postseason baseball.

I just hope that the games speak for themselves.

Free Agent Wish List: Carlos Delgado

Ian Hunter — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:48:00 -0400

It seems like every hero gets a second chance at glory.

Rocky got another kick at the can, John McClain came out of retirement to kick some ass, and even good old Ma$e decided to return to the rap game. So why not have one of the most prolific Blue Jays return to claim his rightful throne? King Carlos, consider this your invitation back to Toronto.

Despite any bad blood there may have been in the past, it's all water under the bridge when it comes to Carlos Delgado. The city of Toronto and Blue Jays fans alike will always have place in their heart for Carlos, and I'm sure he feels the same way.

After spending the last five seasons with the Mets and the last six in the National League, it's time for him to come back to where he belongs—the American League and most importantly, the Toronto Blue Jays.

The situation almost creates a perfect storm that would allow the Blue Jays to sign Delgado at a reasonable price, yet gain the most value. Carlos is coming off an injury-shortened season, but prior to that he put up MVP-calibre numbers (38 HR, 115 RBI, .271 AVG) so he definitely still has some pop left in his bat.

It's unsure whether the Mets will re-sign Carlos, because it looks like they're perfectly content keeping Daniel Murphy at first base. Also, Delgado could benefit playing DH for the Blue Jays and not having to field at first base. At 37 years old, Carlos is approaching the cut-off point for aging sluggers who are more of a liability on the field than they are a benefit.

The current economy works in the Blue Jays favour to sign Delgado at a short-term contract for less than what he was paid with the Mets. It would be a far cry from the $16 million a year he previously made with the Mets. I would venture a guess that Delgado might even sign for as low as $10 million for the opportunity to play with the club that brought him into the majors.

If I were Alex Anthopolous though, I would be weary of signing Delgado longer than two years. Although it's been a while, the Frank Thomas debacle is still fresh in people's minds and I would hate to see money flushed down the drain once again.

With a DH-heavy free agent market, the time is now for the Blue Jays to lock in a designated hitter for the next couple of seasons. Next year's crop doesn't look too much better, and the team would be better served to move Adam Lind out of the DH spot and try to develop his skills in the outfield.

Even if Carlos Delgado doesn't reclaim his throne with the Blue Jays, it will always be sitting there waiting for him to come back. And when he does, the kingdom will bow down in his presence.

Even the Mightiest Of Closers Eventually Fall

Ian Hunter — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:24:00 -0400

It took less than one week and already the first round of the MLB playoffs are in the books. It was not without controversy—what with the botched calls—but, for me, the storyline that prevailed through most of the series was the fall of many of the teams' closers.

Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, Huston Street, and Ryan Franklin were all victims of blown saves in what was otherwise a sparkling year for each of these closers. During the regular season, they saved a combined 168 out of 187 games, which is a 90 percent success rate.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the playoffs, that 10 percent can be the difference between making it to the next round and watching the rest of the playoffs at home with a bag of Scream Cheese Doritos.

The amount of pressure on these pitchers is enormous as their margin of error is very slim, especially in October. That's one of the reasons I enjoy the MLB postseason so much—because no matter how many games you win during the regular season or how many times your closer shuts the door and gets the save, all that matters is winning those 11 games to get you that World Series ring.

For Papelbon, Nathan, Street, and Franklin, they will get their chance once again and most of them will probably won't have to wait long to redeem themselves in the playoffs. Not that they did it on purpose, but they picked the most inopportune times to fail the seal the deal for their teams.

Rob Ducey: The Cambridge Kid

Ian Hunter — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:27:00 -0400

A strange thing happened to me a few weeks ago during my stay in Cambridge, Ontario. While enjoying a nice dinner out at Applebee’s, I noticed what appeared to be a Blue Jays shrine at the back of the restaurant.

Not one to pass up a chance to gawk at Blue Jays merchandise, I ventured into the back of the Applebee's to see what it was all about.

Upon closer inspection, it was actually a wall with Blue Jays memorabilia which featured former Blue Jay, Rob Ducey. A native of Cambridge Ontario, Ducey was born and raised in the tri-cities area, and I was very surprised to learn that he was actually from the same city which I was staying in.

Among the memorabilia at the restaurant, it included a letter of congratulations from the Mayor of Cambridge, along with newspaper clippings and an authentic Blue Jays jersey circa early 1990s.

After digging a little further, I discovered that Rob Ducey is also a member of the Cambridge Sports Hall of Fame.

Ducey's stamp on baseball in Canada is unprecedented, as he is only one of two players to suit up for the Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, and to represent Team Canada at the Summer Olympics. The other player to do the same was Matt Stairs.

The timing of this post could not have been worse, what with Rob Ducey being let go as pro scout for the team just last week. Most recently, he was designated as the Blue Jays scout to discover talent in the Pacific Rim and overseas. As a scout, Ducey is credited as discovering fellow Canadian Scott Richmond in Edmonton while he was playing for the Independent North League.

It's an unfortunate way for Rob Ducey to end his tenure with the Blue Jays, being let go by the hands of the new General Manager Alex Anthopolous. I can't help but notice the similarities between this situation and Ernie Whitt's termination a few seasons ago. Both were former Blue Jays who returned to the club as a member of the staff only to be let go in another "changing of the guard."

Whether it was as a player, coach or scout, when people look back at Rob Ducey they will always think of him as a Blue Jay and a patriarch for baseball in this country. He might not have the glamour that some other Canadian baseball players, however Rob Ducey still remains as one of the most memorable Canadians to ever play to the game at the major league level.