No Fun
Ever get the feeling you've been cheated? This is bullshit. And it's not so much that even a Halladay start can't buy this team a break, it's that they go down one run with nine outs left against a fairly shitty bullpen and you're still thinking to yourself, well, they're fucked...
At least because Doc was on the mound it was mercifully quick. But I guess merciful is probably the wrong word to use when Halladay gives up a four-spot in the sixth. Fuck. And even though it's completely true, I'm getting seriously sick of saying things like, "Well... stuff like that's going to happen from time to time." Of course it's going to happen, but why now?
That's the epically frustrating story this team. I genuinely don't think I'm delusional for believing that they have the talent to be a playoff team, but for whatever reason, they just cannot ever seem to get their shit together. It. Does. Not. Make. Sense. You see, this is Chewbacca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it; that does not make sense! Why would a Wookiee, an eight-foot tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor, with a bunch of two-foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense!
Anywho... Lind and Rolen can't get here soon enough, and I'm trying like hell to not say stupid shit like about the season being over. Thank fuck for my anonymous friend who's been trolling our comments sections lately. He strengthens my resolve daily by showing me what an idiot I'd sound like if I did.
And shit. Now Doc is 2-3 for the season, so I guess he officially sucks. We need a winner, not this shitbag Holliday. Someone like Jack Morris or Gustavo Chacin, who just WINS. This .500 pitcher bullshit is just unacceptable.
Guh..... You know what? I don't even want to talk about this any more...
Somewhere Mickey Brantley is smiling.
Oh Yeah... The Bet
I'll leave it to Parkes to deal with the fallout of his wager with our friends at Rays Bay, which thanks to the Rays' series victory has lost us use of the nickname "The Beej", but I suppose at some point we're going to have to start thinking of alternatives. Might I suggest, in honour of Gregg Zaun's extra G, "The Beeej"? (Or if you really want, "The Beejj", though obviously that's just stupid.)
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55 comments:
Its too bad the Beej didn't get a hit tonight.
Dammit dude, the Wookiee line got me thinking and well, you guys can keep calling him the Beej.
After all this is America, and if there's two things Americans do - besides eat and use credit cards - it's forget and brag about free speech.
I dont know where you scored that picture of Chewbacca, but it rules too much.
I wasn't aware he was left handed either.
I say pick him up and give him a spot start. He's got to be better than litsch, and he'd be the only lefty in the whole rotation.
Why do you think I've been saying Barry Bonds? The sooner he joins our team (and reports are that he'd taken much less than even 10 million, or at least HE'D LISTEN), the more he can help our season.
THink of it this way. Deadline deals, even if bringning in an impact player, hardly ever put a team over the top, because you are getting that 1 player for only 2 months. It's a matter of perception, since the season already has had 2/3 of its games played.
Anyway, with Bonds at full time DH, and Lind and Rolen...this team would all of a sudden look like that playoff contender you are deluding yourself into seeing.
To further my point.
1) Many players took steroids, not just Bonds. He's an egotist, but so what? Apparently since THomas was cut, the clubhouse is drab anyway.
2) If its not the money, why wouldn't this club sign him? Because of integrity? Is that it? Godfrey has already shown he'd do anything for a quick buck, ie: selling tickets to other fans before Jays fans.
3) This team just ain't going to cut it without him.
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also, like you said, BJ could be "The Beejj" or "bossman" which sounds cool.
That photo of Chewbacca throwing out the first pitch at Fenway has been my desktop background for 2 years. I can't get enough of it.
"Bossman" might work since it semi-rips off Upton, and BJ was also born in Bossier City. Or we could just call him the Rajun Cajun or something like that.
My first reaction to the thought of signing Bonds was a bit of self-righteous horror...but then I remembered that the Jays had no problem scooping up David Cone, even after a couple rape accusations and a sexual harrassment beef. Games like the last two also seem to make me want to come down off my high horse.
exaclty. and as brittain put it, at the end of the season when the jays are out of the playoffs again for the 15th year straight, will you console yourself by saying, "well, at least we didn't even try bonds."
But anyway, it's way too early to care about what's going on. This is still a good team...standings right now don't mean anything.
Eli. I think the Jays realize that, but they're not budging. They don't like the idea of the money. They don't like the idea of bringing him into the clubhouse, but most importantly, they're not crossing Selig on this. They're just not.
Bud wants Barry to just go away. Look at how quickly Thomas is going to get signed. You can't tell me that Bonds wouldn't help a team more than Frank would? Yet he keeps sitting? Something else is going on. Not collusion or blacklisting exactly, but I think it's known that the commissioner doesn't want him playing, and a team like the Jays won't cross Bud. If they saw that they needed him, I bet the Yankees or Red Sox would, but they don't have the spot. It all goes back to the equalization payments. Or so the theory goes...
Guys, that's not Chewbacca, it's John Franco.
The fact that the Jays don't want to cross Bud Selig (if it's true) is the biggest piece of shit cop out ever. First, you own a team, and the point is to win, which in turn induces a profitable team, usually. The equalisation payments years ago were only what, like 5 million a year?
A team shouldn't be operating to avoid red in the finance books first, and to win, maybe second.
Keith Law brought up a good example. When he worked for the Jays, he thought that adhering to slot was the biggest croc of shit ever because, why would you want to help your competition? The point is to win at whatever costs. That's why the Red Sox are so good. They are opportunistic.
sorry if this post is fractured, im literally watching jon stewart right now, but our FO is full of shit.
I agree completely that it's ridiculous, but I also don't have a clue what else might be going on behind the scenes. Law has also said that he figures the Jays would be one of the last teams to ever go over slot. I assume that's part of this same picture. And as much as it seems ridiculous, the Jays are lucky to still be around, and they were lucky that MLB bailed them out when the dollar was below 70 cents, and for that, the theory goes, they owe Bud. Entirely speculation, of course, but speculation that makes sense. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours kind of a thing. I don't think it's about balls-- if this really is anywhere close to what the situation is-- it's about backrooms and business. Bud Selig has made the owners staggering amounts of money, so they usually don't cross him. And if Thomas signs really quick, I think it demonstrates really clearly that the Jays are the only ones.
According to your logic, shouldn't we call him The Beejj then?
According to your logic, shouldn't you go fuck yourself?
Oh ho ho. It's surly Stoeten, ev'rybody.
So, I just got an "accidental" call from that CBC radio dude who did an interview with us last year.
Apparently, it aired, but he didn't tell us about it 'cause he imagined we'd mock it harshly. He said he wasn't happy with the finished product anyway.
I'd be more upset, but he did give us The Log nickname for Bryan McCabe.
shouldn't the mlb players association investigating why bonds has yet to be signed? there is obviously a handful of teams that could use him. if blue jays are not signing bonds because they don't want to cross selig, isn't that a form of colluding and engaging in blacklisting? and is that not illegal?
Is "The Ragin' Cajun" too easy? Why not borrow from geekdom as use "Le diable blanc"?
I think proving that would be very, very difficult-- again, if that's even what's going on. The Jays can very legitimately say they don't want to spend more money and they want to try Adam Lind. The A's, if they sign Thomas, can say that they tried Mike Sweeney and decided to go in a different direction when someone they were comfortable with became available.
But to be honest, I really don't know what the hell I'm talking about on this, so I probably shouldn't.
Parkes, your phone works? ZINGAZANGAZINGZINGZING!
The Artist Formerly Known as Beej
So, what's the point of that facebook page anyways?
We'll think of something.
"Somewhere Mickey Brantley is smiling."
Yes, yes he is.
And Stoeten, I think you've officially pissed off Hinske. What the fuck is up with him killing us? I can't stand losing to the god damn devil rays.
fuck disney world.
Thanks for pointing me to that great Fire Joe Morgan column about The Big Hurt a couple of postings back.
I'd say on average I watch about 140 jays games per season, and maybe 20-30 other MLB games, and last night I just decided to give up. I simply could not stand watching this team.
Tonight, I watched Halladay's innings in hopes of something great, and FFwded through the Jays' at bats because I just felt sick. Except for the production we're getting out of Stairs.
Forget about firing Gibbons - let's just gut the entire front office while we're at it.
If this is how we manage without Thomas, we seriously need to go back to the drawing board. I'll try to put Tuesday's game out of my mind, but today we put forth the absolute worst defensive alignment behind our ace, non-strikeout pitcher I've ever seen.
Barajas - limited experience at First Base
Inglett - carried himself well at Third, but is a bit of an unknown when we have MacDonald and Scutaro here
Eckstein - definitely weaker than MacDonald (it would have been interesting to see if some of those balls just out of Eck's reach might have made it into Mac's glove - not that he could have easily made a play). Nonetheless, he is our starter, so I won't complain.
Hill - nothing to complain about here
Stairs - At least he was playing his natural position - but we already complain about him in Left
Wells - Okay, strong here
Stewart - weak, weak, weak
oh and let's not forget
Zaun- the weaker defensive option behind the plate
I realize that our loss was mostly about hitting and Halladay's rough outing, but when I saw that alignment I was disgusted.
And why is everyone so excited about Lind? I guess that moves Stairs into full time DH, which is better, but I personally liked the idea of having a veteran HOF hitter on the team in the DH slot and Matt Stairs as a utility option to boost offense. You can't expect Lind to match Thomas' production (once he got going)
Production out of stairs is iffy. Though he did two tonight, he'd only had one other extra base hit this year, and that was opening day.
From an American's perspective, you guys don't ever have to worry about our dollar getting that much stronger than yours ever again. I would say the opposite is more likely. If I were the Jays, and this is a business, I'd be comfortable telling Bud "thanks for the memories, but we have to give you a big F off right now because we need to win." This team is safe now. Canada's dollar is strong, and I don't care what the 55 - 65 demographic that calls in to the radio shows say (I'll never go to another Jays game if they sign Bonds.) Trust me, if they signed Bonds, attendance would go up. Partly just to see him, but mostly because the team would be GOOD. The Jays don't need Bud any more. Roll the fucking dice. It's only a 6 month gamble.
I know it's early, but with all the pressure on this team (Ricciardi's 5 year plan being in year 7, knowing that the Yankees and Sawx are going to win 95 games, yada yada yada) they really needed a fast start to calm their nerves. This start is just amplifying that pressure, and it already feels like the season is slipping away. Getting Lind and Rolen back SHOULD help, but again that's just compounding the pressure on those guys. This team needs a tsunami of cold water to the face. Firing the manager probably won't do it. Fucking flipping around the fucking lineup every fucking day clearly won't do it (this is my one MAJOR beef with Gibbons. Christ can we just put the best team out there 5 days a week, SHIT!) This team needs a superhero that is larger than life and could give a shit less about the pressures and expectations laid upon him, and I only know of one.
What amazed me about last night's game was how quickly a flu bug (or, later in the year, a more serious injury) turned what once looked like a reasonably potent batting order into basically a collection of has-beens and castoffs, with a couple of untested youngsters thrown in.
Seriously, the only players in the lineup last night that were bona-fide, everyday players on any roster in the league were Hill and Wells (and maybe Eckstein, I suppose, although I don't imagine he strikes too much fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers). Do Lind and Rolen change that? At the very least, I guess they get the bench players back on the bench. If you want to know how Roy Halladay can throw three straight complete games and be a sub-.500 pitcher, look no further than the assortment of carpet-baggers we fielded last night.
Ugh.
140 games left, everyone. I know I get shit on for being overly optimistic (read: not being a panicky idiot), but seriously... 140 games is a lot of fucking games. Frustrating as it is to watch right now, this writing the season and team off already kind of stuff is just ridiculous. I mean, if you're going to do that, why not go all the way and assume that based on what we've seen so far, Baltimore and Oakland will be fighting for the Wild Card all year? Because that's pretty much exactly the same thing you're doing when you write a team like this off with a week to go in April.
Oh, and anonymous 12:59 AM, people are excited about Lind because he's hitting over .360 with 16 RBIs in 15 games (or something like that) at AAA, and once he's plugged into the lineup, it's hopefully not going to be another month and a half before he finds himself. I'd still probably bet on Thomas to have a better second half, but the Jays can't wait. I mean... look at all the fans ready to jump under a bus before the end of April? Which isn't to say they aren't completely jumping the gun on that, but it's not like their frustration isn't very, very real.
I just think it's much more realistic that Baltimore or Oakland will drop 10 in a row than it is for the Jays to win 10 in a row. I don't think climbing out of a whole is "pretty much exactly the same thing" as falling into one. It would be a lot easier to jump off Everest than it would be to climb it.
I'm just desperate.
I'm not throwing in the towel on the season by any means. That would be stupid. I do know that we need to get healthy and turn the lineup into the deep one we know we have. We will be a better team when we aren't running Marco Scutaro and Joe Inglett out there every day. That will happen soon. At that point, I think you'll see the team take two of three in a series more often than they lose two of three.
Besides, there are always things in which to take comfort, like Halladay giving the bullpen a break every time he pitches, or the fact that Troy Glaus and Scott Rolen have the same number of home runs so far.
Jesus, I just realized I typed "whole" instead of "hole." I guess losing 6 of 8 will do that.
Well ... on May 14, 1989 the Toronto Blue Jays were 12-24, in sixth place--six games out with 126 to play and went on to win the AL East.
We're not at that point yet :-)
Best Regards
John
If Bonds plays for the Jays, they would be the team to beat in the East. Wells would actually start seeing fastballs again.
Does anyone else notice that Stewart gets jammed on almost every at bat.
Even with their shitty bullpen people in NY are saying that the Rays are better than the Jays!The Rays are more potently offensive than the Jays despite the fact that Toronto has the best pitching in the AL.How the hell did one of the best offensive teams in 2006 go down the toilet so fast.As fustrating as it is watching the Yankees down here in NY, you know that their bats will warm up.But the Jays?Rolen and Lind are the saviors?Fuck no!Try Bonds!If JP has the courage to do so that will shake things up bigtime.They will have a truly fearsome and FEARED hitter in the lineup like Tampa,NY, and Boston has.It has to be done!Enough with struggling to cough up 3 runs.The Jays made Phillip Hughes look like the second coming of Cy Young and I watch all the Yankees games on Yes AND HUGHES SUCKS RIGHT NOW!JP,TED ROGERS GET BONDS RIGHT NOW!You cut Thomas so get Bonds.'Nuff Said!
"jays have the talent to be a playoff team." seriously?
i agree that the staff is good.
however, who scares you in that line up? maybe 75% rios and 75% wells when they're on their game...after that...it's a pitcher's wet dream.
Digressing back to the "Beej" nickname drama... even Rance Mulliniks knows that Upton isn't worthy, he called him Justin about 30 times last night and that dwarf Jamie Campbell didn't even correct him. Seems like the Rays' 'Beej' can't even outshine his younger brother haha!
I really take no pleasure in beating the Bonds drum, because I want to love the guys we have and win with the guys we have. I just don't see any other way. Bonds doesn't come with any gaurantees, but dammit at least we would be firing all of our bullets. I'm just sick of the same old same old.
My biggest fear is that they bring Lind up, Rolen gets back, then everyone says "ok let's see what this team really is." Then....
May 16th - Lind is cracking under the pressure. He goes 0 - 7 in a game the Jays lose 2 - 1 to Philly in 13 innings to drop his average to .116. Somehow Mitch Williams gets the save.
May 22nd - Rolen is in the midst of an uncanny Overbay circa 2007 impression. Joe Torre smiles as he sees Toronto on the Dodgers schedule, and he's quoted as saying he's glad he doesn't have to worry about the injury problems John Gibbons does. Meanwhile Nomar is cart-wheeling across the background.
June 2nd - We're 10 games out, they fire Gibbons, send Lind down, and then go get Bonds.
June 4th - Lind hangs himnself in his fucking closet.
July 8th - Bonds hits 6 bombs against the Orioles and the Jays win 22 - 1. Too bad they're 17 games out and we all quit caring 3 weeks ago.
Who in the Sox lineup besides Ramirez and Ortiz scares you? I mean, that's kind of a weird way of thinking about it, no? Rios, Wells, Hill, Stairs, Overbay, Rolen,... these guys are quality major league hitters. Not the '27 Yankees, but above average hitters, or better. And look at some of the lineups that have made the playoffs over the last decade. There is absolutely no reason to say that this team isn't capable-- with its pitching staff-- of being very good.
NY anonymous: They went down the toilet so fast because of injuries in '07 and because people are losing their minds over three weeks of '08.
I really do hate to sound like a bright-eyed optimist, but Jesus, people. There are five months and one week left in the season and you're already this full of despair? Frustration, that's OK. But frustration without hope? I mean... Jesus. Why? It would be one thing if there was absolutely no reason for hope, but um... isn't there? I know, I know, it's the same old story as every year, but isn't this team better? Give it at least another month before the doomsaying.
Who cares about fear struck into some random pitchers mind? How about they just go out there and get some hits.
Who scares pitchers in Boston? Ortiz and Manny... NYY? A-Rod and maybe Abreu... Detroit? Miggy... Rios and Wells 'strike fear' but more importantly, hit for power and average and have solid speed. I'll take that over a relatively scary face and/or hype making them scary.
I don't understand how, after the past 15 years, people can be so quick to jump ship. I've invested too much time and emotional effort into this team to dump this team after a 10-12 start.
OMG WE'RE IN 5TH!!! FIRE SALE!! FIRE EVERYONE!! SWITCH TO NFL!
I think the difference is that Boston and New York are used to winning. It's kind of cliche, but when some hack like Julio Lugo or Shelley Duncan comes up in the clutch for those fuckers, doesn't seem like they come through more than Vernon comes through for us? That shouldn't happen. The biggest hump seems to be the attitude. How do you get this team comfortable, confident, and expecting to win? The offensive numbers are there in about every catagory except homers and RISP. So why can they hit with no one on base, and not with RISP? It almost has to be because they're pressing. Doesn't it? I just can't imagine everything staying stats quo and things turning around. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't have any recent history to reassure me.
Hey all you Bonds fucks,
Let's exhume Cobb and put Rose in the lineup and maybe even George Bell!
Does age and deteriorating numbers not make a difference to you all?
.270, 20HR's based on last couple seasons . . . no spring training, and who know's what the fuck he's been doing to prepare. Do you think that he'd take NO TIME to be a factor . . . are we going to wait for him to regain his stroke?
Lose the fucking pipe dream. You're all hunting for king solomon's mine here.
I don't care if you agree with me, but honestly, he is NOT a sure thing to be effective.
and don't make a OBP argument based on his walks. Our HWRISP is the problem thus far.
"Bonds Fucks?" Seriously?
I said he was no gaurantee, but if you're factoring in age and rustiness on last year's numbers, I would counter with the fact that he was in the middle of a little league lineup. If you stuck him in between Rios and Wells, he's going to get pitches to hit, and I think he would hit them hard. I saw him last year in Cinci. He looked terrible in the field, but his bat speed was still amazing, and he didn't get around the bases too bad. I wouldn't expect 73 homers or him to hit .340 but I think he could hit .300 and 30, and he'd still walk a ton. He'd make a difference.
i don't think that the sky is falling at all...it's the same mediocre team that'll be cruising along around the .500 mark come september.
they're beginning to remind me of the leafs with predictability but at least the leafs often give the fans a faint glimmer of hope for the playoffs...when was the last year you honestly thought the jays had a shot at making the playoffs at mid-season?
and yeah...the line up was way more potent last year with thomas and glaus.
The definition of a good hitter is one who hits for average, power, has good plate discipline, good speed, and can field.
Stats are for historical reference only. They let you guess about future performance but it's just a history lesson of what happened. The Jays lost some games because they didn't execute in those games with runners in scoring position.
If you can't handle the roller coaster ride that is the 2008 Jays I suggest you get out of the line and go cheer for the Yankees. You'll fit right in.
How about 2007 and 2006?
Does nobody even watch baseball? The Rockies? The Phillies? The Twins of a couple years ago? It's a long fucking season. Go back to humping the Leafs if people are going to jump on and off the bandwagon on a daily basis.
Stedron, I will have to respectfully disagree with the attitude stuff. I don't believe in that in the slightest.
Ty Cobb was a dick.
If only Mickey could smile back our '06 offense
If only Mickey had a job in the major leagues.
I respect that you respectfully disagree, and I wouldn't buy it in any other situation. However the Yankees / Red Sox stranglehold on 1st and 2nd in this division is unlike anything else in sports. (Yeah yeah I know we finished 2nd, but the Sox threw in the towel that year.) I think that being in this boat for over a decade would play on the minds of even the most hardened professional. (He he, I said hardened.)
My point about bonds is that he's not likely the white buffalo you all think he is. Plus, The Jays as a team are getting plenty of chances to score and not cashing them in. What is a guy in the 4-hole walking going to do?
Bonds' stats show a significant decline. Further, his juice is wearing off and, as Clemons may say, his ligaments are likely turned to dust. He's an aging Rocky Balboa and has been injured in his recent seasons. There's no flexibility with him either.
Let's not go crazy here and say Bonds is going to instantly turn this team, that is playing like lead, into gold.
The Red Sox/Yankees dominance is not unlike anything else in sports. It's the exact same as the Man U/Arsenal/Liverpool/Chelsea dominance of the Premership or the Barca/Madrid dominance of Spain. They can afford the best players, therefore they win. However, occasinally someone like Everton will sneak in and grab a Champions League spot. That's pretty much what we have to hope for.
... or for Boston and New York's young pitching and bullpen to mess up... wait, what?
Boston is surviving because of their lineup, New York is over performing because of their lineup and occasional strong pitching start. The Jays are surviving on their pitching and their lineup under performing. On paper Boston is god but they need elite performances from Beckett and Matsuzaka as well as Ortiz and Manny. Right now they are running on Manny's MVP start and Matsuzaka's logic defying performances.
New York doesn't have the pitching to compete unless their young ones reverse current trends. Their lineup may be getting older but it will score more runs than Boston. They are going to have to score a boat load of runs to offset a pitching staff allowing 4-6 runs a game.
The Jays may be under performing but they have better than league average pitching. It's waaaay to early to be so defeated.
Beau, you are right that Bond's ridiculously high OBP is not the tonic for the Jays' RISP problems. However, his left-handed bat, and high SLG% are the solutions.
I just like beating a bonds horse. I'm friends with an anti-bonds horse.
Is my dislike for Bonds blinding? nope. I just don't trust that he'd perform. What would he be performing for? He doesn't have the Aaron motivation any more.
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