Lost Series #1

The Toronto Blue Jays have finally lost a series...it sounds weird, but after a close 8-6 defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Royals earlier today, the Jays 6-series winning streak. The difference this series was pitching. Kansas City had three solidly pitched games. We only had one. That was the difference and I think the injury bug might be starting to bite now.

Tomorrow, I'll be heading down to the Rogers Centre to see the Jays take on the Orioles. Halladay's on the mound, so that should be fun. I'm also looking forward to snagging a ball or two while I'm there.

We voted in our student council elections today. As I wrote in my last post, I have been really busy running a presidential campaign. I feel really good about my chances and I'm especially confident after the speeches yesterday. We're hoping for the results to come out tomorrow. Wish me luck. *Fingers crossed*

-D

So the Joyful Ride Continues

Eighteen games into their new season, the Toronto Blue Jays have the best record in baseball. As a Jays fan, is there any other statement that would make me happier? Last night at US Cellular Field, the Jays put on an offensive fireworks show, exploding for 21 hits and 14 runs. At the same time, Brian Tallet, Bill Murphy and Bryan Bullington combined for a 6 hit shutout. It came on the heels of the announcement that Ricky Romero and BJ Ryan were headed for the DL. With a slew of pitchers now on the DL, it gives you a smile to see the unlikely candidates stepping up to do a fine job and the offense picking them up big time.

They're playing again at US Cellular tonight and have already pounded Buerhle for 2 runs in the top of the 2nd. Brian Burres is making his first start of the season for the Blue Jays tonight. If they could keep up this consistency through the next 5 months, the Jays will be in the picture for October. But again, A LOT of things can happen, so just enjoy the good play while you can!

D'you know the NFL Draft was today??

I've been really busy at my school running for Student Council President. Last week was LONG and next week will be even more intense with the speeches on Wednesday and vote on Thursday. I'm really looking for a challenge by running for this position. It's a risk, I know, but I really want to make our school a better place. Wish me luck.

-D

PS: I snagged a ball last Saturday when I went to the game against Oakland!

How Bout 'Em Jays?!

If the Jays keep playing like this, they're going to make the playoffs no problem. With a record of 6-3 going into tonight's game, the Jays have once again broken out the bats in Minnesota. In the 8th inning, they're leading the Twins 10-2. I can't say enough about this team's offense. Everybody's contributing to the hit barrages too. Michael Barrett hit a homer tonight. Lind has a dozen RBIs. Snider was the difference in the game a couple night's ago. Hill's hot. Wells' doing well. It's terrific to see this team start off the year with a fabulous run, as I believe it sets the tone for the rest of the year.

I actually have hope that they can contend come September. There is a feeling that the 2009 Jays are an organized team. While our bullpen have not...excelled, but the bats are making up for it big time. It seems like every night, when somebody on the team's not doing so well, another player is stepping up to fill his shoes. That's the way the game is supposed to be played. That's the way that championships are won.

The Jays are not necessarily the most conventional contenders this year. We don't have $200 million to spend like some clubs. We have nights when the Rogers Centre is not even a quarter full. But with the way this team's playing, I doubt those days with 12 000 fans in the seats are going to last.

To be honest, I am a bit surprised with the way the Jays have roared out of the gate. The previous few years, it has always felt like they had no chance since the beginning. And now, there is hope. All I can say is that I will be there to support this team along the way, no matter what happens.

-D

PS: Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

MLB Predictions

Here they are, my predictions for the 2009 MLB Season:

AL West

Team Record GB

Los Angeles Angels 95-67 --
Texas Rangers 84-78 11
Oakland Athletics 80-82 15
Seattle Mariners 69-93 26


AL Central

Team Record GB

Cleveland Indians 90-72 --
Kansas City Royals 86-76 4
Minnesota Twins 85-77 5
Chicago White Sox 83-79 7
Detroit Tigers 74-88 16

AL East

Team Record GB

New York Yankees 94-68 --
Tampa Bay Rays 91-71 3
Toronto Blue Jays 88-74 6
Boston Red Sox 86-76 8
Baltimore Orioles 70-92 24

Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays

NL West

Team Record GB

Colorado Rockies 87-75 --
Los Angeles Dodgers 83-79 4
San Francisco Giants 79-83 8
Arizona Diamondbacks 75-87 12
San Diego Padres 70-92 17

NL Central

Team Record GB

Milwaukee Brewers 97-65 --
Chicago Cubs 96-66 1
Houston Astros 88-74 9
St. Louis Cardinals 86-76 11
Cincinnati Reds 81-81 13
Pittsburgh Pirates 78-84 16

NL East

Team Record GB

Philadelphia Phillies 99-63 --
Atlanta Braves 91-71 8
New York Mets 89-73 10
Florida Marlins 82-80 17
Washington Nationals 64-98 35

NL Wild Card: Chicago Cubs

There you have it, let's see what happens 159 games down the road!

The Blue Jays are actually leading their division right now, with a record of 3-1!!! Woohoo!!

Last night, I was down at the Rogers Centre for the match against the Tigers. Brandon Inge's homer in the 6th inning landed in my section, 9 seats away, but I was impeded from making an attempt at grabbing it as I was seated near the aisle, on the other side of where the ball landed.

Also met Zack Hample last night! That was real exciting! Check out his blog, if you don't know who he is. He's authored 2 books, with a third coming, and has nearly 4000 baseballs in his collection. Got him to sign my ticket stub and we had a nice conversation together. You are so cool, Zack!

I wanted to comment on the fan behaviour at the Rogers Centre on Opening Night. If you haven't read the news, the Tigers were pulled off the field in the top of the 8th inning as several baseballs were thrown at the left fielder. There were other projectiles on the field, such as paper airplanes. Jim Leyland felt that the situation was dangerous enough that he decided to pull his team. The fans, who were uninformed of the situation, became rowdy and threw even more things onto the field. It was very chaotic and extremely embarrassing. It doesn't not represent Toronto as a city, and certainly does not represent the Blue Jays fanbase. To be honest, I was shocked at how long the delay was. It was really appalling, and I never hope to see such a thing happen in Toronto, ever again. It's just so immature!

In some sad news today, 22 year old Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart passed away in a car accident mere hours after he shut out the A's through 6 innings. I read the MLB story by Tom Singer and it was very heartbreaking. Think about it. This young kid, with a well-merited spot in the starting rotation of a major league team, comes out one night, shuts down the A's. The next thing you know, he's killed in a hit-and-run. It's beyond sad. May he rest in peace!

-D

The Boys of Summer

Boy am I happy baseball is BACK!!!

The banners, the home made signs, the thundersticks, foam fingers, smell of the grass, crack of the bat, fans begging for autographs, negotiating with security for better seats...those are the dog days of summer, hanging out at the ballpark!

Funny how I say summer. Today, on this the Opening Day of the 33rd Blue Jays season, snow fell in Toronto. I'm not kidding. When I woke up this morning, the temperature was 1 degree Celsius (about 33 F) and snow flakes were actually flying in the sky. It's sort of reminiscent of the first ever game in Jays history, where they had to get snowplows to help clear the field at Exhibition Stadium. But this is the Rogers Centre, we've got a roof, and rain or shine, we play ball! Games in the South Side of Chicago and Fenway were postponed due to similar inclement weather.

I wonder if this is going to be like the April we had in 2007, where about two dozen delays were blamed on the weather. Remember how the Cleveland Indians cancelled 4 games because a foot of snow fell courtesy of winds from Lake Erie and had to temporarily move to Milwaukee only to be met with 6 more inches of the white stuff? That was a brutally cold month, where I remember watching fans in Atlanta huddled together in blankets at Braves games. That was when the big sluggers were afraid to swing because it stung their hand badly if the ball struck the end of the bat.

Maybe we should be optimistic. They ARE forecasting the weather to turn much nicer by the Easter long weekend. I'm just glad baseball's back and be sure look for my predictions on the league standings tomorrow.

So the Jays have started the year 1-0. It was quite a game too, 12-5 the final score against the Tigers. Adam Lind is in all likelihood going to be the MLB leader in RBIs through the next couple of days. He collected 6 Ribbies tonight with a fabulous 4 hit performance. Travis Snider knocked a home run. Vernon Wells smashed a double in the first. Every Jay had a hit. Now, if the pitching could hold up, and our offense keeps pounding opponents night after night like this, the Jays could capture the division crown.

There was some very appalling fan disturbances at the Rogers Centre tonight. People were throwing objects onto the field, and the game was almost forfeited in Detroit's favour. It was just nasty stuff, and I hope it doesn't ever happen again!

-D