The Outsiders' Edge

(I am pleased to introduce Jamie our person on the scene in beautiful Toronto. He will be bringing us all the latest on Leafs, Raptors, Jays, and Bills. Sorry Buffalo. As another MLB season wraps up, Jamie laments on the Blue Jays never ending run of failure.)

At some point around May 12^th 2009, I asked an old friend if he was a baseball fan. He replied yes, but also mentioned that the Blue Jays sucked. I sharply told him to “wake up” because the Toronto Blue Jays were in first place. Those were the days. Since that blown up phone call my beloved Jays have fell further and further away from any sort of post-season berth. Now normally I expect this, but this year we spent time atop Major League Baseball’s toughest division. Okay, for only five or so weeks. So as just fewer than 11,000 people went to the game on Wednesday, I ask what went wrong, and what went right in 2009?

The Good-

Aaron Hill may not only be the best player in a Blue Jays uniform, but he also might be the best second baseman in baseball right now. After a forgettable 2008, marred by a head injury, Aaron was a wildcard coming into the season. Would the golden boy from a few years ago be able to regain the hitting form that earned him a fat contract? Yes! And in big way. Every expectation that was on his shoulders he reached, then destroyed, and is now probably going to get a few MVP votes.  31 homeruns, on pace for over 100 RBI’s, gold glove defensive play. In a season that had high expectations, but no realistic chance to compete with the baseball giants (Yankees and Red Sox), Aaron hill has made watching this team special. Of course any die hard Blue Jays fan will become skeptical now that he has a huge contract and an All-Star caliber year. This usually means his career here, and anywhere else in baseball, is in jeopardy. Let’s hope we get to see this diamond shine on in a Jay’s uniform for years to come.  On the other side of the diamond, out in left is the other great story of 2009. Adam Lind has been a shining beacon of hope at the plate. For the first time in his major league career, Adam has gotten to play every day. Many of us have always preached the hitting of Lind and could never figure out why he was never given a chance. Well he’s finally gotten it, and with under a month to go has 45 doubles, 28 homeruns, 94 RBI’s and a .301 batting avg. Did I mention that he’s 26 and says he’d like to play his whole career here?

Adam Lind has finally broken through with the Jays after being on the roster since Paul Molitor was on the team.

The Bad-

Vernon Wells and Alex Rios. Now normally I would cut anybody that just had a child some slack. I know what it’s like to not be able to focus, concentrate, or sleep. However, Alex Rios’ baby was born last year, and I cut him that slack then. This year I expected him to live up to his potential. Or at least his best previous year. Neither happened.  He was terrible from the word “go”. The simple task of putting bat on ball was nearly impossible. I realize that’s only simple for athletes, and I would probably never even come close to making contact. If I wasn’t crying like a baby hoping I don’t get hit. This is his job! And one that he gets paid quite a bit for. Since 2007 almost all of his numbers have been on a steady decline. The guy many fans hoped would be the lead-off man, worked his way right off the team. After JP Ricciardi put him on waivers, the Chicago White Sox picked him up on August 10^th…for nothing! Nothing? I thought this was our blue chip guy? Our young talent groomed into the right fielder of the future? I guess not.

Alex Rios: The Ben Linus to JP Riccardi's John Locke.

Meanwhile to his right, our center fielder, Vernon Wells.  Vernon’s had a tough year. Nobody thinks he’ll ever live up to his 100million dollar contract and have let him know at every turn. Now I like this guy. He’s a solid dude and a big part of the franchise. All this aside, I’m also disappointed with his play this year. His numbers are shocking and there have been no injuries like years past. I know the diminishing crowds at the Rogers Centre can be tough sometimes, but it’s not real tough, it’s “Canadian” tough. It’s like when your Mom says, “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed”. It hurts just a little more. For whatever reason Vernon can barely get the bat off his shoulder at home. What’s sad is the fans only boo him because they want to spur him on. They believed so much in his potential that with each strikeout a part of them dies. It’s been hard to see two of the three outfielders looking like they would have to try out for my beer league softball team. With all the usual crap being heaped on about the Jays this year, I hope Vernon can be the leader we’re looking for in 2010. If not, don’t be surprised if he’s given a new home with nothing coming back as well. That’s if anyone has 70+ million lying around to payout his contract.

The Ugly-

It’s difficult to follow all the problems with a team and place the blame firmly on one thing…but I’m going to. Last season was encouraging for the jays but ran into troubles when they spent lots of money on people and they didn’t work out. Personally I don’t care how much teams spend. It’s not my money and I don’t see a direct correlation between your salary and your numbers.  If you have a budget to work with and you give some aging hitter 10 million just so he’ll be in a Jays uniform when he hit’s his 500^th career homerun, then a month later you cut him, well that’s just bad accounting. Over the past few years there has been one constant that has driven Jays fans to screaming “Why” towards the heavens.  And that’s JP Ricciardi. Now I know how easy it is to blame the general manager, but this year he’s really asking for it. As the people in southern Ontario decide to hang on to what little summer we’ve had, baseball is no longer on their minds. After all we’re just a few weeks away from being just as frustrated at the Maple Leafs, and the Raptors. When it was leaked that JP was looking to shop Roy Halladay before the deadline, that was the last straw. The number one player, and possibly the best pitcher in baseball was on his way out of town. The Jays and Ricciardi were conceding another season, and now that horrible phrase, “rebuilding” was about to enter everyone’s mouth.  He never got traded, but now isn’t feeling the love from the team and will probably have to be traded. Either that or given the keys to the entire country. JP was brought in because he was good with a small budget, but that doesn’t work when you play in the American League East.  Every other week we have to compete with the Yankees, Red Sox and The Rays. I can’t see this organization keeping JP around in the off season, especially if they want the players to believe that we stand a chance to make the playoffs. In the past he’s been brash with answers, defensive about his job and quick with judgments, all things that should make him a hardcore GM. The kind of guy that doesn’t make concessions, and won’t be backed into a corner. The problem is I can’t really see what direction he’s going in after all these years.  When the organization brought back Cito Gaston, and Paul Beeston it told the fans that we were returning to a commitment of winning. It brought back the feelings of ’92\93 when the Blue Jays were the best in baseball. To culminate that, we even had a reunion of those great teams in early August. Days later JP sent Alex Rios on his way for nothing.

Few people know that JP Riccardi's face was used as the model for the shark in Jaws 3

Perhaps the World Series reunion was all 2009 should be remembered for. To see the parade of superstars that illuminated this city. Reliving the towering homerun that clinched the ’93 World Series in dramatic fashion. Arguing whether or not Pat Borders actually applied the tag and got the first triple play in World Series history. It was a great weekend.  Much like when I play golf, or watch the Maple Leafs vie for the final playoff spot in hockey, for me the season will come down to one day. ThelLast one. It’s always that final hole that brings you back to the course. All I ask of the AAA filled Jays is that they save everything for the final day of the season. That’s one game I go to every year, and I judge the entire year on that outing. If you have enough beer, enough friends, and they put forth an effort, you’ll be back the next year. Of course the beer is expensive and all my friends have kids and leave early. I have hope that the Jays will compete, and that old regime must win back the crowds.(11k people in a 52k seat stadium looks real bad) Beeston and Gaston have done it before, but the AL demands scouting, free agents and a whole lot of money. If they don’t rid the team of JP and look to the future, we’ll have to find a word worse than ugly.

Sports isn't all bad in Toronto right now. Jamie may not know this but Wrestle Mania may be coming to the Maple City in 2011 or 2012. Rock-Hogan 2, anyone?

~ by globalcorrespondent on September 13, 2009.

Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Adam Lind, Alex Rios, Hulk Hogan, JP Riccardi, Roy Halladay, The Rock, Toronto Blue Jays