Late March /2016

So, it has taken me awhile to get back to the blog.  Last year ended for Jays fans way too early.  We had the parade route all laid out, but KC cancelled the part.

So what happened in the off season.
> We cancelled Alex
> Hired 2 Indian execs
> Added no new talent
> JoeyBats dissed
> Edwin wondering
> Stroman excited
> Sanchez buffed

A new season week away, a trip to Montreal awaits, a line -up looking strong. Anew rotation assembling, the Price was not right, Buehrle retiring, Estrada comes back. re acquire Happ, add some bullpen for Revere, lots of stuff.

Bringer of Rain/ MVP

Murderers Row return for another shot











Sign me up, saddle up and lets go after the title again.

November Rain after October Pain

Shapiro in.
Alex out.

Price too much.

It looks like a cold winter ahead, doesn't it ?

Winters look like this in Cleveland, I imagine they will look this way here in Toronto.

I do not have much to say right now, with watching Anthopolous depart. Was this necessary ?  Seems Rogers has a vision, and it is not the same one I was led to believe as they walked off the field in KC.

Is it fiscally motivated ?

Perhaps, was it a power struggle ? Likely, but not one we will ever fully know all the answers.

I fixed my Dad's Grandfather clock today on Remembrance Day, and it is keeping perfect time.  It will tick off the seconds, the minute, the hours until we all find out the grand plans they have.

Spring training is 4-5 months away,  but we will listen and we wait wait.  And then judge.

Priceless

Like the commercial. somethings are priceless,

Like a well pitched game by your ace.
Like strong defense, like better communication,

Last night we watched in Kansas City, we had bits and pieces of defense, and almost a well pitched game, but tonight, we cannot afford anything less than a "priceless" outing. We need offense/defense and that complete outing from David Price.

Otherwise, we are not getting to a Game 7. 
                                                                             

What can we hope for ?

If Price delivers a bad outing, will Anthopolous try to sign him for big money ?

This can be his last time as a Jay, never know.  Want to cement a $30 mill contract, tonight you will the world watching.

Texas Flood

So we washed the Rangers away, after going down 0-2, with 3 straight, and a wild deciding game. I mean that 7th inning in Game 5 is a story unto it's self.

This guy Tulo helped our Sunday redemption, and plays great defense, but his bat is very unreliable. Sorry Alex, it is.


We got to the ALDS against the Royals, and we are still waiting on David Price to be that David Price.

Estrada had an average start and we lose 5-0 to Volquez, on the road, so taking Game 2 is pretty important, KC has proven winners, and they have defense to burn.

EE is now hurting, that damn ring finger is acting up, and not at a more worse time. Tulo has stopped hitting, and we have to back to Justin Smoak, if EE cannot go.

Not ideal


I guess my largest concern is # 14,  when oh when is the David Price, the shut down David Price plan to show himself.  Not missed on me is the fact that Gibbons did not use Price for 11 days, he avoided inserting him as Game 5 starter, actually, he choose not to have him face the Royals back in August. He saved him for a mid week tilt with the Twins.

While there will be many that will not find in Gibbons managing, but questions do arise, has Gibby lost faith in his star attraction.  Has the popcorn gone stale.

This young man has usurped Price as the pitching leader, but more important, the rotation, thought to be a strength, may not be.
Dickey was yanked a third of an inning in Game 4 with a 6 run lead. Price finished up, giving up 3 runs.  Estrada , who looked in control in Game 3, sprung leaks in Game 1 of the ALDS, and suddenly we have to depend on a kid that we thought was out for the year.


Not saying we cannot come back, the last series proved they could, but this will be tougher, the Royals believe they are destined to win the whole thing, they are healthy, and suddenly Johnny Cueto  has begun to find a groove.

After the last merciful out last night, I am sure the players were angry, putting themselves down 0-1 in the series, good, I hop they are down right pissed off.  Maybe they play with an edge.
Maybe Donaldson will mash a few, Bautista stare down Cueto, Tulo contribute.  But I think Russ Martin, Goins and Pillar will ultimately lead this team this afternoon.

Comeback time awaits.  Redemption.

0-2

We are now 0-2 in the ALDS to the Rangers, whoda thunkit.

In a best of 5 with Price and Stroman pitching, we bobbled the ball, we did not hit in the clutch, and we looked rusty.  Brings me to my first point.

We lally gagged through the last 2 weeks, gave Price and Stro 11 days off, not the way conventional thought would dictate.

Murderers Row killed rallies.

Smoak burnt up.

Tulo was too  low ( critical hits )

Gibby looked like he was sitting already in his San Antonio rocking chair.

Now we must win Sunday, or we plan for next year.



Cecil now on crutches, and the team is on life support.

Time to rally and Marco Estrada had better be ready for a national stage, or we will embrace the Leafs

Fall thunder

Jays on the cusp.

Bringer of Rain

Hitting number 40 last night tied the game, and seemed to ignite the team.  The fans, well they were already in an euphoric state, so this simply pushed them over the edge.

4 games ahead of the Yankees, so that magic number improved.

The Twinkies had a 4-0 lead, but lost 6-4 to the Tigers, so just a Jays win or Angels loss will cement the deal.  A 22 year drought will end. 

We will have October baseball again. 

Seems hard to believe where we were 22 years ago when Joe Carter, the resident rain maker hit a 3 run home run off Mitch Williams, but many long serving and suffering fans can remember. "Touch em' all Joe "....."the winners and still champions ".

Now with the Rays in town and today maybe the toughest pitching match up, Price versus Archer, the master against apprentice.  Archer has become "The Man" in Tampa, a pitcher acquired from the Cubs.  Developed by the Rays, coached by Jim Hickey now in game where he has to share the mound with David Price, his idol. 

Price has delivered everything the Jays fans and management ever wanted, or could expect.  He has beaten the Evil Empire, the Rays, Twins, Orioles, and Angels. Contenders and pretenders all.

Today, it is so fitting that #14 gets the ball, as with a Jays win, the champagne corks can pop, and the will clinch a post season berth.  They may face the Texas Rangers, but now can start setting their gun sights on the team just 1 game ahead of them. The Kansas City Royals.

A month ago, that seemed like Everest, now the can sense how close they are. KC rested their main players, and the Indians whipped them 7-0 on a nifty effort by Carrasco. 

We have come a long way this season, signing Russell Martin to handle the pitchers, trading for Josh Donaldson.

Stroman's spring training season ending injury, which was proved false. 

All I can say is "How bout them Blue Jays "

Champagne is on ice.

Start spreading the news

Well, here we are approaching September and we sit perched in first. Get it ? Blue Jays on the 1st place perch.

Sorry, we have not been here that often, so maintaining a calm demeanor is not easy.

We have a pretty intimidating offense, and the defense has been shored up. The bullpen has been upgraded and the rotation is fronted by an ace, David Price.

The rest of the rotation is fine,but not spectacular. Stroman will add some well healed support I expect by mid month. I think he will make a difference, in the post season. Especially if they win the division.

Marky Mark is tiring, but we need him to hold it together another 4 starts, then work Hutchinson and Stroman in , to give him a rotation skip, along with Dickey.  Estrada is reaching his innings highs, and we have not breached Labour Day.



A 6 man rotation to skip the vets, to interject the kids is essential to having something left in the tank.

Start spreading the news, it is fairly safe to say that we will be playing some meaningful games in the fall.  Now a nice 4rth outfielder would not hurt Alex, no pressure, just 2 shopping days left.