Bleacher Report - Articles by Dan Verhaeghe

THE NATIONALS: Are You Kidding Me?

Dan Verhaeghe — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:39:00 -0400

Just when the Jays have pitched as well as any five-game stretch over the course of the season, the offense fails to bring the runners home. Brett Cecil gave seven strong innings last night, and it was just what Toronto needed. But this game stank so much of 2008's offensive failures, where the pitchers eventually lost because the offense couldn't pick them up at all. What more can you ask from Brett Cecil? The bullpen? The white horse Scott Richmond who saves the entire staff by pitching on two days rest in the 11th and 12th innings? And although Richmond would take the loss, it's hard to blame him because it was the 12th freaking inning!

Oddly enough, on the offensive front, Vernon Wells is riding a hot streak, and his homerun drought came to a close after a dismal 160 at-bats, which saw the slugger's average drop in the .240 range, only to rebound to something known as respectability. But just when Wells started to get hot, the rest of the team left him out to dry, in these two games in this strange baseball wonderland known as Washington DC, where it is just the fifth season played in the 38 years since the Senators left town in 1971....

That franchise, now the Texas Rangers, leads the American League West, but they have nothing but a handful of playoff appearances to show for all their time in Texas, no matter how difficult the ballpark in Arlington can be to play at on a mid-summer's night. I apologize for the Shakespeare in the latter, but it is almost something out of one of William Shakespeare's epic plays—a troubled history of baseball in Washington DC, coupled with the dismal end to what was once a great franchise in Montreal. But everyone knows the story of Olympic Stadium, the roof that didn't retract, leaving an ugly eyesore of a cookie-cutter dome that still litters the Montreal skyline. I, for one, have never been a fan of Olympic Stadium, and the montrosity that it was. It just seemed to me that you went into the space age to play a baseball game on an alien surface that took funny hops often resembling that of moundy terrain.

Two nights, and two extra inning losses to the lowly Nationals who have now won four straight games against American League opponents, including two fucking nailbiting games to the see-saw Blue Jays, who in June at times have shown the likes of a first place club, but have also shown the other side of the spectrum....

20-46? Still the worst team in baseball by a mile. And for Toronto? It's the same old story once again—they play up and down to the competition—just when it looked like they may have turned a corner and run all over the Nationals after sweeping the defending champs, they began a new chapter of absolute infamy in joining the short list of teams that have lost a series to the freakin fucking Nationals. Maybe, and just maybe, if the Jays were able to get a left-handed power bat, they could stick around a little longer against the terrible teams in baseball. Then again there's another thing one should consider—maybe it's just about timing—did the Nationals suddenly get hot when the Jays rolled into town, and it seemed like they could do nothing wrong? This game, I tell you, I've been watching it for over 17 years, and I still can't fucking figure it out. And that was since I was three.

The 1992 and 1993 World Series wins made me a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays forever as I watched those videos hundreds and hundreds of times, and can remember so vividly, it's just every once in awhile, I question why I still watch this game. It's been such a struggle, the Blue Jays are good, but they just aren't good enough, despite how hard they try. Like holy fuck, the rotation is entirely on the shelf, and they're still able to pitch deep into games. Brett Cecil is going to be a bonafide major leaguer. Brian Tallet has done an incredible job. Ricky Romero has been dynamite as of late, and Scott Richmond has been everything and more that the Blue Jays could ask for. So hey, maybe when Roy Halladay returns with his 10-1 record, the Jays suddenly become that playoff-contending team yet again.

I can't believe that I even dare to suggest this, but almost a decade ago Kansas City Chiefs' fans were absolutely demoralized after losing a playoff game to the Colts back in early 2001. A grief counselor in Kansas City advertised a group counselling session for Chiefs' fans to get over the playoff loss to Indianapolis, and 39 attended. It was one of the top signs of the apoclaypse in SI's 50th anniversary edition magazine in 2004 that I happened to stumble upon in my bedroom...

If the Jays tantalize fans with the idea of making the playoffs—they are just two games out of the wild card with 90-odd games to play, and somehow heartbreakingly lose it, that might just be an idea after all. It's just the Jays can ill-afford to lose games to the worst teams, for this is the HARDEST division in baseball, so for fuck's sake, salvage the series today!

Lyle Overbay Finally Gets Some Love

Dan Verhaeghe — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:59:00 -0400

Lyle Overbay has been named your American League Player of the Week, and as strong of a case as there was for giving another fine Swiss timepiece to Roy Halladay, Overbay's honor is well-deserved.

Overbay stepped up his game this week and people are finally starting to take notice of just how swank his game has been lately. He has very quietly become one of the most reliable bats in the lineup, a la early season Aaron Hill.

He's got a 14-game hit streak going that dates back to May 20. During the streak, he's been batting a god-like 20-45, scoring eight times and driving in 12 runs with an impressive .444 average and an elite 1.337 OPS.

Overbay's little streak has even led to the possibility of manager Cito Gaston acknowledging him a little more. As such, he may shuffle the order to get Overbay more at-bats while Wells and Rios are struggling to find their swings.

I'm definitely in support of shuffling guys like Overbay and Adam Lind into some higher spots in the order. I see potential for some improvement there if the lefty bats are used better toward the top of the order.

A Sit-Down with a Jays Dance Team Member

Dan Verhaeghe — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:20:00 -0400

Seventh-Inning-Stretch Video for 2009.

Recently, I interviewed one of the Jays Dance Team Members. Katy sat down on a chair, and I sat down on a chair at various times and intriguingly, it all transpired!

For contractual and privacy reasons we will not be releasing last names or pictures to protect her well-being and identity as a member of the Jays Dance Team. And yes, they have contracts, just like the players! But I can guarantee you the authenticity of this interview! And this may be occurring on a reoccurring basis!

But hey, if you want her autograph, I don't see why not, just don't be cheap- supply the baseball and the pen!

INTERVIEWER: DAN THE MAN

SUBJECT: KATY, the life and soul of the Jays Dance Team.

Dan The Man: How long have you been dancing with the team?

Katy: This is my first year. I'm a rookie!
And we're not hazing? Okay, I guess we can call her "The Rookie"

Dan The Man: Who's your favourite current Blue Jay?

Katy The Rookie: Aaron Hill. He is the next Alomar. Although Scutaro does play a mean air guitar, and Barajas is a base running god...

Roberto Alomar was said to be the best baseball player Jerry Howarth and Alan Ashby ever saw.

Dan The Man: Who's your favourite Blue Jay of all time?

Katy: Joe Carter. I used to refuse to talk to anyone unless they called me Joe as a kid. He was kind of a big deal.

Alright, we'll start calling you Joe.

Dan The Man: When you play baseball, what position do you play?

Katy or Joe: DH. Obviously. I hit for power. Haha.

Left field line shots.

Dan The Man: It's Skydome's 20th Anniversary, what's your favourite Rogers Centre/Skydome moment you've ever witnessed?

Katy: Probably Doc versus AJ earlier this year. The atmosphere in the Dome was ridiculous. I’m so glad I got to work that day.

Amazing game. And the fans just stuffed it to Burnett.

Dan The Man: What's the craziest thing you've seen a fan do while performing the seventh-inning stretch?

Katy: I've had people in the front row tape me doing the entire routine. From five-feet away. Not creepy at all...Also, a fan dropped into the Jays bullpen from the outfield seats...although I think he was trying to get to the players, not us. It did not end well for him.

It's interesting what Anonymity does to people. They'd tell a baseball player they were a bum, and drop in on them, but they wouldn't call their mother a bum.

Dan The Man: I've seen you give away prizes to fans on the jumbotron. What's the best prize you've given away?

Katy: The best prize was probably a trip to Cuba during the Home Opener. But the seat upgrade isn't bad either!

Dan The Man: And the most elated reaction from a fan?

Katy: We gave away a bucket of chicken wings to these guys who texted to win. We told them to do something so they’re not just standing there on the big screen. As soon as they see themselves they dive into the bucket and start smearing the sauce all over each other, it was hilarious.

Dan The Man: Now for the question everyone wants to ask: Are the Jays going to make the playoffs!!!??

Katy: I’d say they have a shot at the Wild Card. Past that, who knows. A lot depends on whether Marcum and McGowan make it back this year at all or if we have a 4-rookie starting rotation all season. Pitching = depth and depth = playoffs. Therefore, pitching = playoffs!!!

Dan The Man: Just how fake is the playing surface at the Dome to play on?

Let’s just put it this way, you would get some serious carpet burn if you laid out for a catch. And it’s really easy to trip over (I may or may not be speaking from experience).

Dan The Man: Have you met any Blue Jays players and/or famous people as an added perk to your awesome job?

Katy: We see the players around quite often, but it’s in our contract not to speak with them at work, unless they talk to us first. Although I did trip and fall in the dugout when the Yankees were here, and Jeter definitely pointed and laughed. Sweet first impression.

No wonder everyone boos Derek Jeter. What a media-savvy tool.

Dan The Man: When they put you on the jumbotron, have you ever taken a peek to see how you look on the massive screen?

Katy: It’s hard not to! Especially if you’re not sure what camera is making the shot, so you don’t know where else to look!

I can't watch myself on video. I used to be a stand-up comedian and to this day I've never watched any of the videos.

Dan The Man: Is there anything else you must tell us?

Katy: Ummm I have the best job in the entire world? I get paid to be around baseball, pretty much every day.

Nice!

Dan The Man: Finally, for your sense of ADVENTURE, Would you parachute onto the field for the seventh inning stretch? Or land in a hot-air balloon on the field?

Katy: It could happen. Just saying. Maybe it’s already in the works!

I want to see that happen.

What's the Big Deal With a Couple of F-Bombs?

Dan Verhaeghe — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:11:00 -0400

Steve Simmons, over at the Sun, seems to think that Alex Rios has talked his way out of Toronto. Frankly, I think it's a complete knee-jerk reaction to something that I don't think is that big of a deal.

Seriously, in this whole situation I sympathize with Rios: what's the big deal about him dropping a couple of f-bombs to some smack-talking douchenozzle on the street? The guy yelling is a complete asshole, so stand by your damn players.

Simmons' thoughts on the subject included these gems:

"Never mind that the hitting numbers aren't anywhere near where they are supposed to be...All that pales when compared with his foolish act of the other night, exchanging swear words with a fan after turning down an autograph request from a kid, at a charity event no less. Available in today's technology for all to see on YouTube."

Why is this such a big deal to Simmons, is all I want to know. So what if Alex's production is down a little bit, he's got the ability to be amazing, he just isn't always motivated, which is clearly the problem. Maybe this could even give him a little bit of a kick in the ass. He went 2-4 today with two steals; maybe now we'll finally see a motivated Alex Rios.

Alex apologized already in a statement, which was clearly going to happen, but Simmons even has an answer for that.

"Rios essentially is done as a Blue Jay. Failing on the field can be accepted. Failing off the field reflects a certain lack of character. All the apologies in the world may not be able to correct that."

Seriously, what's the big deal about verbally sparring with someone who goads you into it? It's not like Rios hit the guy or anything, and he was provoked. He shouldn't have to put up with bull, like hecklers anywhere other than the ballpark; and even then, you should support the players or keep your mouth shut, not rag on them like a douchebag.

Simmons seems to be misdirecting the blame in his jump to assign blame for the incident and write off Rios. This is a Griffin level of dumb.

Blue Jays vs. Kauffman Stadium Brawlers

Dan Verhaeghe — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:17:00 -0400

Skydome is now no longer an awkward teenager, and is now all grown up. And since the Brewers aren't in the AL anymore, the Royals will do the honour of being the visitors for the anniversary series.

Whoop dee doo.

Coming in: The Jays are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They rebounded from the losing streak of death with a job taking two of three from the Red Sox. They then dropped two of three to the Angels this week. Currently, Toronto sits third in the AL East, three games out.

The opposition Royals have gone 2-8 in their last 10 and are on just as much of a slide as the Jays. They are now sitting in fourth in the Central, five-and-a-half games back of the Detroit Tigers.

Both teams are struggling and somebody's going to have to step up their game and not suck enough to take this series.

Offense: Both offenses are pretty cold and over their last 10 games, the Jays are driving in 3.9 runs a game, compared to Kansas City's 2.6. The once top-ranked Toronto offense now sits sixth in the league. Something's got to happen here for the Jays. Rios has five strikeouts to make up for and people have to start coming through.

Pitching: Before I get to the starting match-ups, what happened to the bullpen? I don't have any faith in the pen anymore, no wonder Roy went nine innings the other night.

Tonight: Zack Grienke (8-1, 1.10 ERA) vs. Ricky Romero (2-2, 4.15)
Both guys have had less-than-great performances lately. Grienke drew a no-decision, only getting seven strikeouts over seven innings giving up four earned runs, making him appear to be human in his last start. Romero's lost two in a row, giving up 10 runs in 9.1 innings, so here's hoping Ricky bounces back and Grienke struggles a little more.

Tomorrow: Luke Hochevar (0-2, 10.80) vs. Scott Richmond (4-2, 3.50)
Hochevar's only started three games, getting shelled out in his first start (2 IP, 8 ER), and just being ordinary in his last start (6 IP, 4 ER). The Jays need to capitalize on any mistakes that a seemingly mistake-prone guy like Hochevar will make. Richmond was skipped in the rotation on the weekend, and he comes back like he's got something to prove, despite being solid in his last few outings.

Sunday: Kyle Davies (2-5, 5.20) vs. Roy Halladay (9-1, 2.77)
Doc's coming off the game of the year as he had a complete-game with 14 strikeouts. Now he looks to win No. 10 to rub it in Grienke's feel-good-story face. Davies has lost four straight decisions, despite not being extremely bad in anything despite, an eight earned run disaster-piece in Detroit on May 27. You know what to bet on this one.

What a lovely inspiration for a headline.
http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-arrests-made-kauffman-stadium-brawl-51809,0,3080371.story

Blue Jays' Comeback Falls Short

Dan Verhaeghe — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:40:00 -0400

They brought the crowd back to life, but it was short lived.

Toronto's comeback from down 5-1 to tie it in the bottom of the eighth was like something out of Toronto's storybook 27-14 run. But this time the Blue Jays didn't have enough in the tank to steal not only the game, but also the series away from the Angels.

I seriously hope that the last two games allow management to make a worthwhile investigation into perhaps calling up or acquiring a left-handed power bat that would be able to offset some of the imbalance caused by a very righty-heavy lineup.

The fact of the matter is, in baseball, you need left handed hitters to beat good right handed pitchers like Jared Weaver and John Lackey, among others.

After all, the only guys ripping the cover off the baseball were Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay—Lind's eight for his last eight! And Lyle? He had a couple RBI with a double and a single of his own.

Baseball purists could argue that it's just because these guys suddenly got hot. But Lackey and Weaver have shut down right-handers their entire careers.

Reliever Brandon League was snake-bitten, that's all there is to it. A bunt single and a little flair leading to a run? You can't blame League.

If there's anyone you want to blame, it's Brian Tallet for having a less than sub-par start, allowing five runs. Blame Alex Rios for his platinum sombrero—he struck out five times in front of 5-for-5 Adam Lind. You can't have your number three hitter strike out five times!

Toronto no longer commands the No. 1 offense in baseball.

That's a fact.

But hey, that's how it goes in baseball, certain teams go on hot streaks, they go cold, and then they warm up again. But the fact of the matter is, with over 162 games, you can't be below league average when it comes to pitching, because chances are the offense won't be able to bail you out enough times.

Three more games on the home stand. And I don't care if Zack Greinke is pitching Friday night for the Kansas City Royals, because frankly it doesn't matter.

It's the same game being played once again. There's a ball and a wooden bat. And a cracking sound must be achieved.

If you want to talk about dumbing down the game, that's all there is to it. So let's keep on playing ball and hope for the best—the teams in the East? They're beatable, far from superior.

I'm not worried one bit.

Tommy Glavine Released By Braves, Should Not Join Jays

Dan Verhaeghe — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:52:00 -0400

The Braves released Tommy Glavine today.

He was on a $1-million contract for a single season with the Racists and trying to come back after some elbow and shoulder troubles. Glavine just pitched six shutout innings in a rehab start last night before being cut loose.

I'm just saying it now because I guarantee it will come up tonight on Wilner: mo the Blue Jays should not go after Tom Glavine.

To anyone that's even thinking this:

What are you serious? You don't think there's enough of a log jam of major league level starters in the organization ready to go? The team's had 10 different pitchers start games this year; that's two full rotations of solid pitching, good enough to hang with any rotation in the league.

Why the hell do you need to bring in Tom Glavine, other than to add to a ridiculous log jam of arms. There's nothing to gain.

I'm saying this comes up within the first five callers. If not, I'll eat my hat.

HALLADAY'S RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE!

Dan Verhaeghe — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:26:00 -0400

THE INCREDIBLE STUNNING PERFORMANCE OF ROY HALLADAY'S 14 STRIKEOUT NIGHT

"ROY HALLADAY HAS ETCHED A NEW CAREER HIGH IN STRIKEOUTS HERE IN THE TOP OF THE NINTH WITH TWELVE!

AND NOW TORRI HUNTER IS BLOWN AWAY BY A CUTTER, THIRTEEN STRIKEOUTS!

CAN THE DOCTOR STRIKEOUT THE SIDE IN THE NINTH INNING?

AND THE REASON HE'S STILL PITCHING, EVEN THOUGH HE'S THROWN OVER 125 PITCHES IS BECAUSE OF HIS 65 NO-DECISIONS CAREER, 32 HAVE BEEN BLOWN SAVES BY THE BULLPEN, including that ugly loss in Baltimore last Thursday.

THE FANS ARE ON THEIR FEET AS ROY HALLADAY HAS BEEN THE MAN SAVE A SEVENTH INNING FOUR RUN BLUNDER, AND NOW HALLADAY IS ONE STRIKE AWAY FROM A FOURTEENTH STRIKEOUT TONIGHT!?

OH, AND HE JUST MISSED IT, OUTSIDE IS THE CALL.

FULL COUNT, AND THE PAYOFFFFFFFFFF STRIKEOUT NUMBER FOURTEEN FOR ROY, AND THE JAYS WIN! 14 STRIKEOUTS IN A 6-4 WIN!"

THE MACHINE. WHAT A MACHINE.

ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ORDER

Damn. The top of the order, one thru five musters two hits, and the six thru nine just do all the damage, producing five RBIs and five runs!

IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER IN THE SERIES, BUT WE BELIEVE IN CASEY JANSSEN AND BRIAN TALLET

These guys are gamers, and they're up against Jered Weaver and John Lackey, but don't let the names scare you. Janssen and Tallet are just as capable of competing with these two hurlers, and it just may eventually come down to a battle of the bullpens! Remember battle of the bands as a teenager? This is going to be fun as hell! And Toronto's got their own Jack Black in Snakeface Scotty Downs!

Besides, there's alot of confidence in Casey Janssen- everyone remembers him as an amazing bullpen pitcher in 2007 where he just tore up major league hitters- and few have forgotten just how good he is.

Also, Brian Tallet, save one bad start has been absolutely sensational. So hey, these are really Toronto's three best pitchers right now going up against the Angels, including Halladay.

I want to include Richmond on the list, but the double off-days got his start skipped which is really too bad, because the results could have been so different Sunday if Romero had not pitched.

However, I guess Cito felt that he needed Romero to pitch on regular rest in order to try and bring him back to his former dominant self earlier in the season.

You have to remember that Romero's far more touch and feel than Richmond. Scotty Richmond will be just fine and should have a good outing against the KC Royals Saturday!
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROGERS CENTRE

They're giving out little Rogers Centre replicas on Sunday, and I want one. But I can't go to any of the games this weekend, which upsets me. I'll be camping on the shores of Lake Erie, and then I have a weird family function on the Sunday that I have to drive about three hours to get to. That being said, there will be no bloggage this weekend.

YANKEES ERRORLESS STREAK COMES TO A CLOSE, BUT YANKEES STILL KILLING RANGERS 12-3...AND THE AL EAST PICTURE AS OF JUNE 2..

When will the Yankees stop winning for once? They reeled off nine straight wins, played a week of solid baseball and then now have won four of five again, while the Jays have taken three of four and have been able to keep pace, while Boston is destroying the freakin' Tigers 5-1.

It's interesting, because the division race continues here into June, and it's really time to start scoreboard watching as we approach the third mark of the season.

This is one-third of the season, and the Jays have to be two games better than the Yankees at least the rest of the way if they are going to win the American League East, which for all intents and purposes I don't think is going to happen. The Wild Card will likely come out of the East unless the Angels get their act together and Texas continues their remarkable early season success.

So it's basically between Toronto and Boston for the time being, and don't forget about the Rays, because they may make some freakin' noise soon too.

This great division race? I'd say there's a 75% chance of it still happening. I just fear the return of Wang would give the Yankees a huge freakin' boost if he could pitch well.

The Yankees will win as long as they can hit like they've been hitting. But we will see if they do alright during interleague or not. Interleague may determine things for the time being!

FINALLY

Later this week, we'll be interviewing one of the Jays Dance Team members!

Cheer That Girl Up, Would You, Toronto?

Dan Verhaeghe — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:12:00 -0400

I said I would go into a spiraling rant if the Jays coughed up their ninth straight game after the Orioles tied it in the eighth inning. But I just feel disappointment. Jesse Carlson has been nothing short of awful in the month they say brings out all the flowers. Carlson sure over-bloomed.

I mean, alright, sometimes relievers cough up huge leads. At least the Jays were still in the ball game and could win it in extras right?

THEN THAT MOMENT OF GLORY CAME, AARON HILL HIT A TWO RUN BOMB AND THE JAYS WERE ON TOP, AND WERE SURELY GOING TO WIN!

10-8. You couldn't blow that, not after coming this far to score almost more runs than the entire road trip. But yes, you did. B.J. Ryan did. Brian Wolfe gave up a heart-crushing, head-dropping, 3-run bomb to a rookie's name I kept hearing during the series, but still can't rehearse.

GODDAMNIT.

Why do you think that I didn't even turn on a computer last night, as I watched the end of a 7-2 Orioles drubbing, and watched some movie called "A No-Hit No-Run Summer" about the inception of the Montreal Expos and a little kid who just desperately wanted to play baseball so they formed their own team? You know what I was trying to do? I was trying to understand how I could possibly still love baseball when my own team kept on breaking my spirits.

Yes, I'm a diehard, but it's not so much what I've felt emotionally—I'm just extremely disappointed and a passionate writer is all.

Call me crazy if you like, but this is one of my many summer pastimes, and I thought that everything was going so amazingly this summer until this horrible road trip.

27-14 when they left, and now just a mere shadow at 27-23?

What a harsh reality check. It might be time to golf away the summer and break even for once, for I'm giving up my baseball love til Friday night where, if by god, they lose their tenth straight game it will surely be the lowest of lows. HOWEVER, it will not discourage my mood after the game hitting a Toronto bar after a terrible work week and what could be a terrible game. But I SURELY HOPE NOT.

Toronto Blue Jays: This Is All a Bad Dream, Right?

Dan Verhaeghe — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:20:00 -0400

Eight games. The last eight days have been one of the lowest points of recent history. At least the last time the Jays went on a big slide like this it got rid of Gibby. Right now there's zero positives coming as a result of dropping seven-plus straight.

Let's look at the few (only) positives of the slide: The starting pitching is still there.

Seriously, it is. Over the slide, the pitching is still there. Tallet's 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA, Halladay threw seven shutout for a no decision in Atlanta, Janssen was great in his return: 6 innings, 3 ER. Scott Richmond threw his normal solid but unspectacular game.

If we throw out sub par Romero and Ray starts and a god-awful Brett Cecil turn in against Boston, the Jays have had the support to play winning baseball five out of eight games on the streak.

So that's it for the positives. Now let's look at just why this team is in such a horrendous slide.

1. The Bullpen

Surprisingly enough, the pen didn't give up a single run in the Boston series, which is really impressive. But over the last five games, they've given up 14 runs. Eight of those runs came in one game in Atlanta, after a solid outing by Richmond.

The pen's got to be able to keep close games close. Just look at BJ Ryan on Monday: 0.2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB. His season ERA is now at a lovely 8.71. Those are the kind of stats you expect from a little league coach's kid, not someone who at the start of the year was supposed to be the anchor of the pen.

Everyone else has just been kinda shaky; BJ's been a disaster.

2. The Obvious

Where is the offense? Thirteen runs in eight games with one home run, 40 strikeouts, eight GDPs, 50 LOB, and a team batting average of .251. Aaron Hill is still getting plenty of hits (now the only .300-plus avg on the team), but there's no run production coming from anywhere.

Vernon Wells is slumping, Rios is slumping, and nobody is coming through when this team needs someone to. Something has to happen to get this team back on track. We've seen what this offense can do; now they just need to actually go out there and do it.

The only thing worse than an eight-game losing streak is a nine-game losing streak. Please, let's not let it come to that. Doc is all that can save us now.

Baseball: Somber Reflections on the Sweep

Dan Verhaeghe — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:22:00 -0400

So, the Jays went into Boston, riding a season-high four game winning streak and came out riding a season-high three game losing streak. In baseball, you could win 11 straight, and then drop six of eight. It's a funny game.

When I was younger, if I'd known baseball was such a rollercoaster ride through a 162 game schedule, I probably wouldn't have invested so much emotional stake into the game. The standings don't change as fast in any other sport than they do in baseball.

But, if we're still looming about in the present, the Blue Jays are still in first place, even if it's by the slimmest of margins. Nobody said this was going to be easy!

Toronto takes a 27-17 record into Interleague Play against the Atlanta Braves, still something that no media member in Toronto believed would happen come May 22. If there's anyone who can stop the bleeding, it's Roy Halladay, who goes for his American League leading ninth win tomorrow night at Turner Field, which once hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics where Oakville native Donovan Bailey won that storied gold medal in record breaking fashion in the 100 meter dash.

The moral of the latter story is that records were meant to be broken, which means that teams were meant to lose, eventually. Sprinters like Greene and Bolt would eventually eclipse Bailey, and Bolt would do it in incredible fashion in Beijing, taking track to a new level virtually unseen before.

Perhaps now that we know New York and Boston are both not kidding around, this could turn into the great American League East race Major League Baseball has been dying to see since the division was coined "the toughest in baseball." Perhaps even the Tampa Bay Rays can join in on the fun. After all, that was a club that won the pennant last year, so we can't count them out.

Quite frankly, Toronto just didn't hit in the clutch during the series, stranding dozens of runners, and they didn't pitch well enough to win save Brian Tallet's effort Tuesday Night against a bucklin' series of knuckleballs.

But rememeber, folks, the great teams overcome adversity. Great players overcome such adversity. Great managers like Gaston have already done so, and will be well-equipped to do so, once again.

The point is that we all know Travis Snider looks overmatched, but even Mickey Mantle had to re-learn how to hit in the Minor Leagues (thanks DJF), Roy Halladay had to completely transform himself (thanks Mop Up Duty), and Cito Gaston had to prove that a black man could lead a team to win a World Series.

So, yes, maybe Brett Cecil and Bobby Ray are a little rough around the edges at times, but, come on, it was just one series. If Toronto returns the favour next weekend, what are you going to say, then?

Toronto Blue Jays: "Ooh, ahh. That's how it always starts...

Dan Verhaeghe — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:52:00 -0400

...but then later there's running, and screaming" - Ian Malcolm

The Jays' season up until now has been mesmerizing. Fans are coming back to the team, and the buzz around these Blue Jays playing some incredible baseball to start 2009 has made the team look like a legit contender.

But suddenly a small bump in the road has been hit; losing 2 of 3 to the Yankees a week ago before being swept by the Red Sox tonight. Granted this is much less severe than dinosaurs getting out of a cage and eating a lawyer.

It's just two series, but the Jays have been spectacularly sub-par in them—leaving 12 runners base over three games in Boston, Vernon Wells underperforming, and Travis Snider struggling badly enough to possibly be demoted.

It's definately too early to call this team a joke or a non-contender, which many skeptics and nonbelievers have been saying to me based on this series. There's so much baseball left there are plenty of other games left to earn these back.

Yes, a sweep hurts, and it's a setback, but these things happen. Just like there will be more insanely hot stretches of the season, people will go on crazy streaks, and the Jays will win lots of games. But at the same time the pendulum will swing, they will get swept, there will be cold streaks.

Things aren't even that terrible. For how bad of a slide the team is being made out to be on, they're 5-5 in their last 10. The Doc starts tomorrow, then things will get back in the right direction. Just relax, enjoy the ride.

BUCKLED BY THE KNUCKLE.

Dan Verhaeghe — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:55:00 -0400

I was stunned to see the hype of this game only to get the NESN feed. Like what the fuck TSN? You can only send people to work one game at once, that being an NHL playoff game? Is your budget that low? I didn't really want to hear the crappy NESN announcers say things like: "You can't expect to keep this up, Toronto, with four starters we've never heard of."

Or: "Right now is not a good time to say anything because Tim Wakefield is pitching so quickly."

THE ANNOUNCERS SUCKED TONIGHT!

BUT:

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, It was a great game.

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, Wakefield had a bucklin' Knuckleball.

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, Jays dropped game 2-1.

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, B.J. Ryan sucked balls.

Toss the Yadda Yadda Yadda aside and realize this:

This could have been an entirely different game if Marco Scutaro was able to keep that ball fair down the left field line for a two-run bomb. But then again George Kottarius belted one down the right field line just foul.

In the end Boston prevailed 2-1, and Toronto really just tried to swing too hard and too often at the knuckle ball, leading to many pop ups and pulled balls that went nowhere.

Brian Tallet gave his best effort, 6 innings, 2 ER, but it wasn't enough—for the second straight time.

But hey, look at the bright side, Toronto's still 2.5 up on Boston and they've won four of five and still have the best record in the AL at 27-15.

Oh, and Vernon Wells? You are sucking.

Game Two tomorrow night. A POWER LEFTY CECIL VS. A CRAPTACULAR PENNY.

ADVANTAGE TORONTO.

Blue Jays-Chowdah Heads [Boston Red Sox] Preview

Dan Verhaeghe — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:00:00 -0400

Hype

The Jays are rolling into the home of Chowdah, the Dropkick Murphys, JP, and Massholes-a-plenty, to take on the dastardly second place Boston Red Sox in a big three game set starting tomorrow. The Jays are rolling in off of the big sweep of the White Sox that put them 3.5 games ahead of Boston as they head to Fenway.

This is a big series, big enough to get Rogers and CTV to end their stupid feud about TSN 2. Expect to hear plenty of hyperbole about it being judgment day and the biggest series of the year.

I won't go that far, but it's the biggest series for the Jays so far. Their season is not completely resting on it, and to say such a thing is ludicrous; however, the result of the next few nights at Fenway can change the picture in the AL east dramatically for the time being.

Add to this that Doc (Roy Halladay) doesn't get a start this series and it becomes clear that there's not gonna be any freebies in Beantown.

This has all the makings of a good series.

Tale of the Tape

The Jays head in at 7-3 through their last 10 (4 straight), and have a league best 11-8 record on the road, and I cannot get tired of posting the run differential every series: they're outscoring the opposition 234-174 thanks to the best offence in the American league.

Boston, meanwhile, is 5-5 through their last 10, 13-4 at home, and is outscoring their opposition 208-190, with the third best offence in the AL.

Those Guys Who Throw the Ball

Tuesday: Brian Tallet (2-1, 4.68) vs. Tim Wakefield (4-2, 4.03)

I always dread watching Wakefield pitch against the Jays, maybe it's because of the success he's had against them in the past (16-11, 3.76), or maybe it's because Wakefield is the most boring pitcher in baseball to watch go to work.

Tallet, meanwhile, has been solid since his disaster in KC; he's been solid but unspectacular in his career against Boston (1-1 4.26), but with only one of his 16 appearances being a start, so this should be an interesting matchup.

Wednesday: Brett Cecil (2-0, 1.80) vs. Brad Penny (3-1, 6.69)

Cecil has been great since his call-up, and I'm damn happy to see it, even if I was on the "he's not ready" side of the fence in spring training. He held the White Sox in check on Friday very well, despite giving up a couple long balls, and his start in Oakland was awesome.

Penny's had his struggles this season, he's had a couple of very short outings (8 ER, over three innings in Cleveland last month comes to mind) but he's been turning it around lately, despite the high ERA.

Thursday: Robert Ray (1-1, 3.60) vs. Jon Lester (2-4, 6.51)

Ray earned mad props for his great start against Chicago, going eight strong, and officially making me believe he's not just a spot filler, but someone who actually belongs.

Another strong showing from him should cement his status in the rotation. Meanwhile, Lester is coming off of two bad starts (5 ER over 5.1 and 8 ER over 4.1) so his stuff has been very hittable lately, and with a potent Toronto offence, that can prove very, very problematic for the Masswads.

Other Stuff

Buried in the game notes about today's Jays-White Sox game was a quote from Cito Gaston about him and Geno Tenace trying to fix a mechanical problem with Travis Snider's swing, and the contingency plan in case of a Scutaro day off—Snider batting lead-off against a righty.

David Ortiz is still homerless for the Red Sox, and spent the weekend on the bench, but will be back in the line-up against the Jays. He's also hovering ever so close to Mendoza territory with a .208 clip. Wouldn't it just be lovely to see him drop below .200 against the Jays?

GO JAYS!

Blue Jays-White Sox: How Sweep It Is!

Dan Verhaeghe — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:50:00 -0400

My apologies for the lamest title ever to this post, but c'mon, sometimes you gotta bring the cheese.

What just happened:
The finale with the White Sox that played out today was a perfect lounge around on the couch kinda game. Couple that with a holiday Monday and you've got a pretty damn fine afternoon.

Richmond was a machine today, seven K's, and an absolutely unreal breaking ball. He had the Sox chasing everything he threw during his seven shutout innings.

Unfortunately, one swing of the bat by Jim Thome made it a no-decision for Richmond, and put Jesse Carlson on the hook for the decision.

Rios came through in the clutch in the eigth with a huge triple that rolled to the wall, cashing in Bautista to put the Jays in the lead. Downs worked a solid ninth to get the save, preserving the new lead. The Jays roll into Boston knowing that no matter what, they'll be in first place when they start up their inter-league schedule against the Braves on Friday.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T:

As Jamie and Fletch were kind enough to point out on the broadcast, and what got pointed out to the crowd equaling a big ovation, Roy Halladay was named AL Player of the Week today. He went 2-0 and was dominant in both starts, holding opponents to two runs over 17 innings between the two starts, taking over the league lead in wins from that other guy in KC.

He was also brought up as a possible All-Star game starter during Fox's coverage of the Mets and Giants game on Saturday afternoon. There's a word I'm looking for here: NAILS.

I picked up this week's SI for the first time in about six years, and the Gameplan is telling everyone to wonder if the Jays are for real. It of course plays the broken record that is bringing up the lack of games with the AL East, and doesn't mention anything new.

But any publicity is good publicity, right?

Karma, Meet AJ. AJ, This Is Karma

Dan Verhaeghe — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:33:00 -0400

What I saw from section 533 last night with my unfortunately bought-from-a-scalper ticket, was like the real life equivalent of 1984's "Two Minute Hate." 43,000 people were whipped into a frenzy of hatred for Allan James Burnett, and all things that the Yankee scum stand for. And to be very frank, I loved every second of booing, every second of tauntingly yelling "AAAAAAAAAAAJ" and even busting into everyone's favourite spiteful goodbye song midway through the eighth inning. Last night was simply one of the best experiences I've had at the ballpark. I saw maybe 10 Yankees fans the whole night, including time spent in Union post-game.

Scott Rolen's two RBI double almost tore the roof off the place in the fourth, and Aaron Hill continues to be on a tear, with a big solo shot in the eighth that rattled AJ some more before the Jays tacked on another in the inning on a Scott Rolen RBI single which finally got Burnett the hook.

Roy Halladay pitched like Roy Halladay the complete game, with one run, five hits, five strike outs, and now sitting at 7-1 with a 3.29 ERA on the year.

Let's all take a deep breath and hope that tonight goes just as smoothly.

Yankees Deserve To Be Booed

Dan Verhaeghe — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:19:00 -0400

Well, would you look at that! There's a Roy Halladay-A.J. Burnett matchup. It's the biggest game of the season! Even the Tamils will be watching this one instead of blocking the Gardiner.

Burnett decided to sign with the evil empire in the offseason, so, of course, you'll boo him. A.J. Burnett was awful for most of his three years as a Blue Jay, and he wasn't pitching a lot of the time, having fun on the disabled list. And when he did pitch well, he didn't pitch as well as the rest of the staff (last year the Jays' four main starters all posted better numbers than Burnett himself).

Derek Jeter is a loser, so you'll boo him. That's a baseball tradition.

A-ROD has no shred of decency, among so many other things that I'd be typing all night if I had to list them.

A-Rod is a steroid abuser, a cheater, a pitch tipper, has no class, had extra-marital affairs, once made Howie Clark and John McDonald drop a pop up by shouting "Mine!", and basically is the biggest fool in all of professional sports.

To top it all off, A-Rod is investigating his family roots to understand why he's such an problem on and off the field.

A.J. Burnett may be pitching, but the Blue Jays have the best pitcher in the American League, Roy Halladay. I was personally treated to Halladay's three-hit shutout of the Yankees last summer. I expect Halladay to be on top of his game. After all, he seems like he's there now—since a rough start against the White Sox, Halladay has allowed just two runs over his last fifteen innings of work.

The advantage goes to first place Jays! I'll be there tommorrow night, booing and cheering my head off!

Yankees suck!

Oakland Is Getting a New Baseball Field

Dan Verhaeghe — Sun, 10 May 2009 13:26:00 -0400

Located in Fremont, California, the Athletics may turn into the Fremont A's to get out of Oakland. Details about the new stadium can be found here.

Pink Bats

Across Major League Baseball on Mother's Day, pink bats are being used! Here at John McDonald's Cabinet, we will sift through dozens of highlights to find the pink bat play of the day and night for today!

For every hit, a certain amount is donated towards Breast Cancer Research. Mothers are special, and I hope the league hits plenty.

The Blue Jays Can Go for Another Series Win!

I'm so excited for Tuesday's Halladay-Burnett matchup, as well as A-ROD booing, but we've got a game to win, boys!

Brett Cecil takes on Dallas Braden. The last time the Jays faced Braden, Ricky Romero turned in seven shutout innings, and the Blue Jays beat Braden and the A's by a score of 1-0. It's the only 1-0 game of the season the Blue Jays have played.

Can Cecil, a great new shining lefty, emulate the amazing Romero? Find out at 4:00 on SPORTSNET where they broadcast live from the third worst stadium in baseball, the McAfee Coliseum.

Brett Cecil is apparently a Washington Capitals fan, so, for all of you odd and even betters out there, he might be slightly dismayed at the fact that the Washington Capitals have lost three straight games to Pittsburgh and now trail 3-2 in the series. But maybe he'll take out his rage on those awful green, yellow, and grey A's.

The Coliseum in Oakland

I just hate that stadium! The foul ground is ridiculous. The walls make it difficult to hit home runs. It's a pitchers park. I would never go to see a baseball game in Oakland.

Oakland Uniforms

They just keep getting uglier; they seem to be the dirt bags of Major League Baseball.

Whenever I see Oakland's grey road jersey, I think to myself, "Eww, we're playing Oakland."

I know Oakland used to be amazing with Rickey, who stared into a mirror and told himself that he was the best, but I have always struggled to realize the pedigree of Oakland. There is no value in the franchise to me.

Jose Canseco became a muscleman; Mark McGwire, too. You have to wonder if Rickey also took steroids, because, by 1993, he was a Toronto Blue Jay and he looked jacked. Canseco was the expert at steroids, too. But I guess he was in an era of baseball where base-stealers were rampant, such as him and Tim Raines, who used to play for Montreal in the Expos' glory years. Raines' problem was that he loved his cocaine when he was first coming up.

Back to Oakland, though: It's just like the Golden State Warriors—where they based? It was only recently during their trip to the 2008 NBA playoffs after years and years of futility that was I finally able to realize they were from Oakland—I should have guessed.

So, Blue Jays, let's smash this team and then embarrass the Yankees in the biggest series of the season starting Tuesday.

Toronto Gets the Attention it Deserves

Dan Verhaeghe — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:23:00 -0400

A lot of people aren't fans of AM radio, but I really like the FAN590, broadcasted nationwide by several different stations. If you want to listen, you can go to the FAN590's website and find a local radio station in your area, or you can build the longest antenna in the world.

If you hate AM radio and don't want to listen to the gods known as Howarth and Ashby tonight, Joanna from Hum and Chuck is live-blogging tonight's game started by Toronto's amazing ace, the Perennial Cy Young Award winner, Roy Halladay!

I was surfing AM radio today in the GTA, and you know what I found? Radio announcers hyped up the Blue Jays, calling them the first place Blue Jays, the best team in baseball!

And even though Jimmy Basille's proposed takeover of the Phoenix Coyotes dominated the sports chatter, the Blue Jays, in the midst of hockey playoffs, found a way to sneak in as this great emerging team that's earning the respect of everyone in the Toronto area and across Major League Baseball. This team has a city and a nation extremely excited.

During the middle of random FAN590 calls, one caller changed the topic back to the Blue Jays from the NHL situation. It was like nothing was spoken about the NHL playoffs, but something was spoken about the Blue Jays.

Now, all these bluebirds have to do is prove they can win another 71 games to uphold the great Bob McCowan's prediction of 90, right? So far, they have 19 wins in 29 games. That's insane, and they've still got how many to play? 133.

133 games to prove they are really the champs.

Toronto Blue Jays: Seven-Run Seventh!

Dan Verhaeghe — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:38:00 -0400

Bob McCowan said it best: "This stinks of '92 and '93". You just can't turn off the TV or radio because the Jays might get the comeback!

And that was exactly what happened against the Cleveland Indians. After blowing a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning, Toronto answered Cleveland's four runs to score seven times in the seventh alone.

This was capped off with back-to-back home runs from Adam Lind and Scott Rolen that gave the Jays 9-6 and 10-6 leads respectively. They never looked back as they split the series with the Indians.

What a pleasure to listen to the game by Howarth and Ashby, with out of town updates from Mike Wilner while driving around suburban Oakville today, promoting the crap out of Ontario Safety Surfacing (Rubaroc).

I went something like 15 for 16. I'm better than the major leagues.

The Jays are now on this nice roll, having won four of five, having posted the American League's best record by a mile at 19-10, and doing it with young arms. Wilner emphatically pronounced that teams with good young pitching are a recipe to fall off, but the difference between those teams and Toronto is that Toronto has reinforcements.

They have so much pitching either on the disabled list or ready to come up from the minors should others falter. Look at Ray, today with Brett Cecil (6 IP, 1 ER), Scott Richmond (Rookie of the Month), Ricky Romero (before he got hurt), and finally Brian Tallet (a reliever turned starter who no-hit the Indians over six-and-one-third).

Also, overshadowed by today's amazing come-from-behind win (the Jays are now 8-4 when the opponent scores first versus 11-6 when they score first), was the fact that Scott Richmond, the North Vancouver native, went a perfect 3-0 in April and won American League Rookie of the Month honours!

That's how good Scott Richmond has been, and for April, he's been king of the hill!

The Blue Jays are simply doing unbelievable things, and McCowan is dead bang on in saying that this does stink of '92 and '93. Those teams were just unreal, and the 2009 Jays are more of the same.

The Yankees series is going to be absolutely ridiculous when Toronto returns to town.

Toronto Blue Jays Lose In Extra Inning Heartbreak to the Cleveland Indians, 9-6

Dan Verhaeghe — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:50:00 -0400

Last night was just one of those ridiculously gripping, enthralling games that only come along a few times a season. Things went from "Fuck yeah! Tallet's gonna throw a no-no" to "God dammit" to "more beer" to "why the hell isn't Jason Frasor pitching the 9th?" and back to "God dammit" very quickly.

The 9th inning that saw both Brandon League and Kerry Wood blow saves was almost heart attack enducing. Alex Rios stealing 2nd with 2-out in the 9th almost made me lose it.

I took in the game at West End last night (after getting the game switched on in place of basketball) and seeing a decent crowd reaction as the Toronto Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom of the 9th off of Bautista's single was an awesome sight to see even if the Jays couldn't cap the comeback.

Brian Tallet rebounded very well from his clusterfuck of a start in KC, giving up 4 hits and 3 runs through 7, striking out 5 and walking 3. As we all know by now he carried a no-hitter through 6, a solid return to form until he hit the wall in the 7th, and things went downhill from there.

After Vernon Wells earned the lead back for the Jays in the bottom of the 7th with a 2-run single, Brandon League set about blowing the lead and the save in the 9th inning. 3 innings later and Sean Camp got knocked around by Barfield and Sizemore in the 12th to make it 9-6 for the Clevelands.

After that rollercoaster, the Jays won't have to wait long for a shot at redemption from last night, as in a little over 2 hours Brett Cecil (0-0, ---) takes to the hill for his big league debut against Anthony Reyes (1-0, 7.58) infront of high pitched screaming school children and a few midday drunks. Get out the radios.

Jays' Sweep Series with Orioles

Dan Verhaeghe — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:22:00 -0400

The Canuck, Scott Richmond shines again and Blue Jay nation goes into instant and ridiculous euphoria! Toronto has their first sweep of the season and is 3-0 to start the month of may. What an exciting team!

The 18-9 Blue Jays!

It started with a Roy Halladay victory as the 'Doctor' cured Kansas City woes, a nail-biting middle game where Aaron Hill delivered on two occasions of redemption, which led to the Jays' fourth walk-off win!

And in the series finale, Scott Richmond pitched seven effective innings, while Alex Rios and Vernon Wells both contributed majorly, as they both hit homeruns and drove in three of Toronto's four runs, which was enough to win it 4-3!

Toronto's unbelievable start continues! The team that was completely written off by the media has won two-thirds of their games, and through 27 games, they look absolutely unstoppable with that .667 winning percentage.

The first place Blue Jays!

But most of you already knew that. As Blue Jay fever continues to gain steam in Toronto, they've got this great chance to beat the lowly Indians in a little mini two game series that features a night-day ensemble Monday and Tuesday—two baseball games seventeen hours apart, before heading out to the west coast to play the Angels and the Athletics for five games in California.

After that, they'll return home to face the New York Yankees in front of huge crowds at the Dome, and it's likely the Jays will still be in first place, and the town will be just abuzz about their Blue Jays. I can't F***** wait!

50,000 abuzz?

Robert Ray's Shindig in Toronto: Young Jays Pitching

Dan Verhaeghe — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:43:00 -0400

The Toronto Blue Jays started the month of May just like they started April, with Roy Halladay and a winning note, as MLB's No. 1 offense continued to destroy opposing pitching. They crushed Baltimore 8-4.

And now the man above makes his Major League debut!

Robert Ray is just 25 and posted an 8-6 record with a 3.18 ERA with New Hampshire last season. He has been asked to erase the memories of David Purcey's brutally awful April, which led to several of the Jays' nine losses.

MLB.com reports:

Ray said he relies on a pitch-to-contact style, using a sinker and slider to create more ground balls than fly balls. If Ray hopes to make the most of this opportunity, he will have to do what Burres and Purcey could not: throw strikes consistently.

Beautiful.

And he's got literally the league's top defense behind him?

Perfect.

Ray was shocked to be called up, but hey, the Jays are thin on arms, and you'll never know who they'll want to pull. Just when it looked like perhaps Fabio Castro, the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, was a front-runner, the Texas native and virtual unknown Ray emerged.

It will be a two-start stint for Ray. Let's see what Robbie Ray can do!

Wherein I Attack Some Prick

Dan Verhaeghe — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:39:00 -0400

Through Fark, I found a blog on Bareknucks.com and an article by some dickhole attacking the Jays titled Toronto Blue Jays Fans: Please stop getting your hopes up.

Some of the gems (anything bold was bold in the original).

The first thing you have to look at is the history of this franchise. Not since 1993 have the Blue Jays won the American League East division. In fact, they’ve only been crowned the Eastern division champion five total times since the division’s inception in 1969.

And? What's your point dude? The Jays weren't in the division for eight of those seasons anyway, so those are a wash. In addition to that, the Red Sox have only won the division 6 times and yet you continue to attach your mouth to a red sock coated penis throughout your article since their the "surging, hot, dominant" Boston Red Sox. In addition to that, a team that had never won the division before last season won it last season, I'd love to hear you write off last year's Rays solely because "their past rosters with different players haven't won the division enough to win it now".

In 2008, Toronto went 4-2 against the dominant powers of Boston and New York to start the season, even taking two out of three from the defending champion Red Sox. They finished that promising start in April by losing eight out of their final nine games of the month to sit at 11-17. Then there was 2003, when they started 5-2, which included a five game winning streak. How did they follow that up? By losing 12 out of their next 14 games.

The Jays swept the Sox to start the 2008 season, that's called taking three of three; get your facts right before you try and use them. As for talking about 2003; there are two players still on the Jays roster from the 2003 season. Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay, in addition to changes in coaching staff. The 2009 Jays share very little with the 2003 Jays.

The Jays have faced two out of the three last place teams in the American League divisions in the Indians and Athletics, picking up four of their fifteen wins against those two teams.

The almighty Red Sox have picked up four of their wins against the last place teams, in addition to six losses. So what exactly is the point here that makes the Jays a pretender based on winning four games against the cellar dwellers? At least the Jays have a winning record against the basements.

I'm not even going to bother quoting any of the B.S. examinations of players like Hill, Bautista, Lind, and Richmond. But I'll leave it at this: just because a player is suddenly having the year of their life, does not mean that they are destined for failure. There is this little concept called "improvement".

As someone works on a skill set like say, pitching or hitting, they tend to get better at it; this is what's happening here. It's not some bulls*it fluke like you're writing it off to be. Show a little respect towards what these players are doing before you just write them off.

The only thing that I agree with is that yes, May will be a test for this team, but to say that only because they haven't played any division team means that they're a fluke team with no shot, is utter and complete bullshit.

Oh and one more thing.

Expect the Jays to again fade into the background of the AL East and again make baseball fans all over the world feel bad for the wasted talent of Roy Halladay.

Toronto Blue Jays: Damp and Shivering Reflections...

Dan Verhaeghe — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:12:00 -0400

I'm still shivering literally and at yesterday's performance by Brian Burres. I'm glad to know that as of this morning, the Burres experiment is over! However, the shivers are not.

Nevermind how hard it rained in Kansas City...as I was so tired after spending 10 hours moving, seven of which were in the steady, then pouring rain, that I decided to pass out in damp clothes and awake dry, but shivering....but that's alright, that's a thought I'll put aside for now.

I also wondered if the damp and foggy conditions contributed to my eighth deer sighting in the last three or four years, four of which have come in the last eight months, but I'll also put those experiences aside to tell you this:

Like many of you, I've been riding the '09 Jays day in and day out, and there have been more moments of golden euphoria than stone-cold knockouts, and for that we are blessed.

When they win, we run like the deer do across roads, and when they lose, we see deer grazing at the side of the road, I guess? Alright, I'll get off this deer train before I end up working for John Deere...not that it would be horrible or anything..

Back-to-back losses? Forget it, Roy Halladay's on the mound tonight. It's like he's the end of all giant "L's", and the beginning of that amazing "W".

The terminator, they like to call him over at Drunk Jays Fans...

A series sweep of Baltimore isn't out of the question if David Purcey could pitch well enough to win. The way Halladay and Richmond have been pitching, along with a lights out bullpen, it's hard not to expect at the very least a series win...

And hey, it's not all bad news on this morning either, the Jays still hold a share of first place with Boston as the Sox were demolished 13-0 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays. Garza pitched seven and two-thirds of one-infield-hit ball.

Look for Kevin Millar to destroy his former club tonight, as he likely gets the start in the place of Lyle Overbay with the towering lefty Mark Hendrickson on the mound.

I can't say our memories of Hendrickson are too great, but at the very least, the Jays should be able to score four runs off of him- he's like a Randy Johnson without the 99 MPH fastball, and that's certainly a stretch to be comparing him to great ol' Randy.

It's a see-saw season, full of ups and downs, and in the end you just hope the ups outweigh the downs and see your club take a shot at ultimate glory, and after all, who doesn't want to see a great division race?

Don't Count Out the Toronto Blue Jays

Dan Verhaeghe — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:22:10 -0400

You've heard of him. His name will roll off the tongue of any devoted Blue Jay fan like the sweet bliss of the first day of spring.

That man is Cito Gaston. He was the first African-American manager in the Blue Jays' history, way back in 1989. He turned a struggling 12-24 Jays team into a division winning 89-73 team.

Yes, the year's different, but the same man is in charge. He was never given enough credit in his years in Toronto, but is always remembered as spearheading the 1992 and 1993 World Series runs.

Yes, the Jays are 47-48, and for the most part, they've underperformed, underachieved, and most of all frustrated.

But someone said baseball was like a marathon that never ends until the northerly winds return to make way for falling leaves and the cold, deep, dark lull of winter. The Jays are still looking up in the standings, and there are a lot of teams to leapfrog.

But one must remember: There's still a ton of divisional contests left.

Back in 1989, Cito's team was still messing around the .500 mark at this time of the year.

In 2008, The Jays closed out the first half with five inspiring wins in six days against division rivals, leapfrogging Baltimore into fourth.

The Yankees are the next target. The Jays sit just three behind them, 8.5 behind suddenly slumping Tampa, and nine behind Boston.

There are still 67 games to be played. Don't write off Cito's Jays just yet.

Here is why.

1) John Parrish

Little known to most of the baseball world is Toronto's newfound hope, and while we're on an '80s theme, just as Luke Skywalker was for the Republic, and John Connor was for mankind against the machines in Terminator, John Parrish is for the Blue Jays.

Dustin McGowan, A.J. Burnett (although dominating at times), and sometimes Jesse Litsch have been models of inconsistency throughout the season.

Parrish comes out of AAA Dunedin with a stellar track record in his journey back to the major leagues as a starter, going 10-1 with a 2.74 ERA in the minors, and is 1-0, allowing just four runs in thirteen innings of work in two starts while up in the majors. He'll be a major player down the stretch for Toronto.

2) Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen....Brandon League

League is back. The dominating reliever of 2006 can only get better.

Accardo, who saved 30 games, should be back soon enough.

Casey Janssen could give the Jays a much-needed sparkplug out of the bullpen come September, if he's able to return this year.

3) Alex Rios

Rios, sooner or later, is going to find his homerun swing.

4) Lyle Overbay

He'll find his groove.

5) The Jays play better in the face of adversity

Injuries to many key players, like Vernon Wells and Dustin McGowan, will only make this team stronger once they play their way back into contention.

6) Cito Gaston

He makes the right moves. Burnett on three days' rest? Beautiful. Halladay in the opener against the Yankees? Beautiful. Parrish to finish off the Orioles? Sure.

7) The Infield Defense

When Aaron Hill returns in August, the Jays will not have a ball go through the infield ever again. Gold Glover Rolen, plus the best defensive SS in the league in John McDonald, plus Gold-Glover caliber Hill, and Gold-Glove caliber Overbay at first.

Doc might just throw a no-hitter after all.

8) Roy Halladay

11-6, 2.71 ERA, and a 6:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Tough to beat.

They've got all the pieces, these Jays.

As Cito begins to fit them together, you just watch out.

For all the doubters, well, Yogi Berra always said, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Remember the Rockies? The 'Stros of '04?

Yeah. I thought so.

COMEBACKS ARE SWEET, JAYS SWEEP O'S

Dan Verhaeghe — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:45:10 -0400

The announcers had said that it was a perfect night for baseball.

If the first two games of the Blue Jays-Orioles series was any indication of how nerve-wracking games have been at times in this up and mostly down season for the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada hadn't yet witnessed game three of the series.

A small number of fans were beginning to entrust in the Parrish. John Parrish, Toronto's new number five starter, replacing both the injured Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, proved his worth in his lone start June 28th against the Atlanta Braves, surrendering just one run over six solid innings of work.

Thursday night was no different, as Parrish, now a journeyman 30-year old, made his second start as a Toronto Blue Jay. Even though things started rocky—Parrish allowed three runs in the first two innings—he would settle down and shut down the Baltimore Orioles for five innings after that. Of course, leaving the game having thrown seven innings and allowed three runs.

Toronto, however, had to face Baltimore's victim of minimal run support, who boasted a losing record despite a tidy 3.61 ERA. Guthrie would throw seven innings too, just allowing two runs, and would leave the game with a 3-2 lead.

Baltimore wanted to get a win for Guthrie, and a win in the series.

Melvin Mora singled home two runs with the bases loaded in the 8th, and Baltimore took a 5-2 lead. Tallet was charged with both earned runs, which is rather unencouraging considering that he will start Sunday against the Evil Empire, in the final showdown before the all-star break.

But a lead was never safe.

It just wasn't meant to be Baltimore's night once again.

Jim Johnson would surrender two runs in the bottom half of the inning, giving back whatever insurance Baltimore had suddenly gained.

And after a scoreless top of the 9th inning by the eventual winning pitcher Shawn Camp, the O's turned to George Sherill, one of the more dominating closers in the American League...

But Sherill didn't have his stuff.

The Jays loaded the bases once again.

Lyle Overbay hit a sacrifice fly with one out to tie it up at FIVE!

And then, the man that John Gibbons would not trust with a starting job would come through for the new manager, Cito Gaston.

ADAM LIND!

As I called it...

"The pitch from Sherill, LIND SWINGS!, It's through the hole on the right side! Rolen's coming hard around third, can he make it and win this game? The throw is wide, and ROLEN WINS IT! THE JAYS WIN IT! 6-5! AND FOR A SECOND TIME IN THREE NIGHTS, THE JAYS HAVE SHOCKED THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES IN DOING SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL SEASON LONG! COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN IT IN THE NINTH INNING!

All in the wake of injuries to key players such as Dustin McGowan (torn rotator cuff), and Vernon Wells (grade three hamstring pull). Both will miss at least four weeks, and McGowan probably won't be back until September at the earliest.

The Blue Jays seemed to play extremely well in Vernon Wells' absence last time around. Perhaps the same will happen this time.

Maybe the injuries will be a blessing. And for John Parrish, it's a major league dream come true. A spot in the starting rotation for good, because AJ Burnett will likely be dealt by the trade deadline.

But if tonight was any indication of how the 2008 Jays were supposed to win, were supposed to play, this could be an exciting team to watch down the stretch, as they heat up in the dog days of summer.

The Evil Empire rolls into town Friday Night, and we'll see a matchup much looked forward to, the ace Roy Halladay (the best pitcher in the American League), against the up and coming Joba Chamberlain.

The Jays, should they sweep New York, will have a winning record (48-47) by the all-star break. That's the goal.

Toronto's about to play over their heads, and quickly climb into contention.

Brett Favre Fallout: All-Time Tear-Jerker Retirements

Dan Verhaeghe — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:57:32 -0500

When I heard that Brett Favre was retiring for real, I had to choke back the tears until I could no longer. For an hour, in a horridly cold dorm room I cried face down into a pillow.

Like many other Green Bay faithful, I grew up watching Brett Favre dominate the National Football League for so many years. I was convinced he would be back to redeem himself after possibly the worst way to end a career—an interception to a young and upcoming cornerback Corey Webster. What if Corey Webster becomes one of the great cornerbacks of all time? People will always remember his name for picking off Favre though, and he's already famous.

I never hated or disliked Green Bay, but in the last few years I fell in love with the green and gold. I remember watching the Super Bowl in which Favre won, and then seeing them lose to the Broncos when I was merely eight and nine. I remember Favre being on top of the world, and then it was Elway's turn, and I didn't quite understand because I had thought Favre was on top of the world for eternity. But years later I would realize that there are only days of glory.

I believe the game in which I gained the utmost respect for an absolute legend was that Monday Night game in the 2004 season against the Oakland Raiders. Favre's dad had just died days earlier, and he was back out on the field throwing FIVE touchdown passes, absolutely decimating the Oakland Raiders like he had a point to prove.

I don't even want to dare to suggest this, but maybe Favre just didn't have the total motivation to win the Super Bowl yet again for Green Bay this past season. Maybe the dedication wasn't there anymore, and he was beginning to feel his age, and losing his passion. He didn't get as excited as he ever used to. That's a legitimate enough reason to retire. You can bet Favre tried so hard in that championship game, though—I'm not even suggesting that he didn't want it—because every professional athlete HATES to lose. But maybe he wasn't prepared enough, that's all.

A magical season that was for Favre, and boy, I just can't believe he won't be back next season. It's a real shock to my world.

How do you accept the end of your career and continue to live with yourself?

I think I'd commit suicide because I’d miss my life on the stage. I'm a performer, and if I can't perform on a given day, I'm dying to get out there in front of the crowds and waiting for the laughs and the applause. Being a showman is the best feeling in the world, and to not be able to do it after so long would absolutely kill me.

There are other retirements that have also deeply saddened legions and legions of fans. These are examples of players that perhaps had enough in them or the skill to continue forward, but instead, went into retirement...

1) Kirby Puckett

Kirby was probably the most admired player in baseball, especially in Minnesota, playing for the Twins. He was the biggest star of the city, bringing home baseball's most coveted trophy, the World Series, in 1991 home to the Metrodome. In one of the most classic game sevens of all time, Jack Morris held off the Braves in 10 shutout innings. But you know the rest.

Puckett was just admired by so many in the Northeastern Prairies, and brought baseball to a place that’s really known for Old Man Winter.

The saddest thing of all: a problem with his eye forced him to retire from baseball when he was only 34, and had many years ahead of him. He was one of the most elite players in his day.

His death ten years later, at the age of 44, shocked the Baseball world. It reminded us of how short life is, and how quickly it can be taken from you.

Kirby Puckett has been the saddest sports story of the last twenty years.

2) Tony Gwynn

Tony Gwynn was a lifetime San Diego Padre. Not once did he hit under .300. Even more amazing is that most of his seasons were above .330. Even in his final season he still hit over .330, despite reduced playing time.

It was hard for Padre fans to swallow that the aging Gwynn had to retire despite the fact his numbers had not wavered. He was maybe the greatest hitting outfielder of his age.

3) Michael Jordan

Who can forget how many times MJ retired? He was the greatest basketball player the NBA ever saw. He gave up his incredible career in basketball to pursue baseball, where he was beaten hard by opposing pitchers. It just proves he was no Deion Sanders.

His return propelled the Bulls to three more Finals wins though, and he would retire yet again, heartbreaking more Chicago fans. The greatest player wasn't done though, and returned to the Washington Wizards for a couple of seasons in which he put up average numbers, really, as age became his casualty.

4) Wayne Gretzky

He was dubbed as "The Great One" and you could see it by the look in his eye. You can still see it in the mastermind of a coach that he isn't yet, because the Coyotes still haven't reached the playoffs under, without argument, the greatest hockey player of all time.

When he retired with the New York Rangers, the importance of his retirement was such that even CBC in Canada interrupted the telecast of the Blue Jays' game to show Gretzky's final game as an NHL player. Now that was a legend.

It was sad to see him retire, because he'd done so much for the game, but you could tell his skills were kind of dwindling.

So, there are great ones. Age always gets the better of them, eventually. David Beckham, however, will never be featured among these players because he does not have the prowess or respect of the world that these great players once did and still do.

Beckham showcased himself too much, and has yet to prove anything in the MLS. If he transforms the MLS, just maybe he can be included on this list when he retires.

I loved Brett Favre and I still can't hold back the tears.

But thanks, Brett, for all the memories.

Toronto's Forgotten Pitcher: Jesse Litsch

Dan Verhaeghe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:37:45 -0500

Someone forgot about Jesse Litsch.

I remember his sparkling debut against the Baltimore Orioles. Eight and 2/3 IP, one earned run. What a beginning for a 22-year-old kid.

Yeah, he struggled after that. But he came back later last season and down the stretch pitched extremely well.

He finished the season 7-9 with a 3.81 ERA. He was rocked once in awhile, but to finish with a 3.81 ERA despite the tough times, he usually only gave up one or two runs a start.

If the Jays had had any offense last year, Litsch might have won 12 games. He threw 111 innings for the Jays, and promises to be a healthy workhorse this season.

Of course, he'll have to fend off competition from Casey Janssen (who was superb out of the bullpen) and Gustavo Chacin (who always has won as a starter).

Everyone talks about Burnett, Halladay, and the other two young guns McGowan and Marcum who emerged last season. But nobody really gave Litsch any credit.

Watch out. He's going to surprise in 2008. Litsch will be the reason that Toronto gets to the playoffs.

He was quoted as saying, "I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing—keeping the hitters off balance."

He definitely has the potential. He was 12-1 with a miniscule era in double AA last season.

But only time will tell whether or not he can replicate those numbers in the majors.

Why the Blue Jays Are the Team to Beat in the AL East

Dan Verhaeghe — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:56:48 -0500

The American public and media do not recognize Toronto for what they're truly worth. But it's understandable, I guess.

The 1993 season was the last in which the Blue Jays amounted to anything. "Touch 'em all Joe, 'cause you'll never hit another one like that." It was the greatest moment in Toronto sports history, and maybe the greatest World Series finish of all time.

But that was almost 15 years ago. Finally, Toronto has another team with the talent to possibly win it all.

When it comes down to it, pitching is much more important than offense, and so this will be our focus.

Toronto might just have the best all-around pitching staff in the American League. The bullpen is their strength, and starting pitching isn't far behind...

Roy Halladay is a workhorse but will get injured this season, and Litsch will come through big time.
AJ Burnett is coming off a great late season performance that he'll extend and bring into the 2008 season for numbers comparable to Halladay's. He is my sleeper pick for the Cy Young.
Shaun Marcum will only start 22 games, but he'll go 14-4.
Dustin McGowan will be consistent, going 15-9, and improve on his 2007 totals.
Jesse Litsch will make 23 starts and go 11-9.
Casey Janssen will make 29 starts and go 14-5.
Gustavo Chacin will make 11 starts and go 6-2, but he'll end up on the DL again.
BJ Ryan will save 48 games, and blow only one.
Jeremy Accardo and Bryan Wolfe will be the most feared set-up men in the American League, with sub 1.50 ERAs.
Brandon League and Scott Downs will put up reliable numbers.

Also, Toronto's offense isn't as bad as you might think...

Toronto has incredible depth compared to Boston and New York. (For example, Stairs, Stewart, Scutaro, and Johnny Mac.)
In the case of injuries, Toronto has suitable, competent back-up players. But if either Big Papi or Manny are hurt, Boston is screwed.
Toronto will hit much better this season as Overbay enjoys a career year, posting Olerud '93 type numbers: .354, 26 HRs, 112 RBIs, 61 doubles.
Eckstein and Reed Johnson will be a one-two pain in the ass.
Thomas will belt 35 home runs while posting a .330 average.
When all is said and done, Aaron Hill will surpass Robbie Alomar's club record of 17 home runs for a second baseman.
Stairs and Stewart will see considerable playing time.
Toronto will rank fifth in offenses.

In the end, Toronto will win 103 games and capture the AL East, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games.