Monday, March 31, 2008

Delayed Gratification


File under: Anticlimactic.

We'll try to get excited all over again tomorrow night, but we hear the weather report's no better for then. This might take a while; not sure how much more disappointment we can stand.

There's Got to Be a Better Way: Sunny stadiums stand empty, domed stadiums (like ours!) have to wait to open. Meanwhile, predictably cold and wet locales suffer rain delays. Take note, schedule makers!

On the Bright Side: Fukudome! He went 3-3 with 3 RBI, nearly won it for the Cubs, and he's a member of our very own fantasy squad. Hell yes.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

At Last

Miss Me?

I’ve kept silent for many weeks now, reasoning that I didn’t have much to offer in the way of analysis, conjecture or, let’s face it, entertainment. I was just out of gas. Besides, all those other, better Jays blogs had all the news worth knowing. They’ve been on hand to tell you all about Casey Janssen’s aborted season and the resulting reinstatement of Litsch to the rotation, the departures of Reed and Sal, Rolen’s gnarled digit, Matty’s bum hip, The Mighty Rios’s possible extension, and anything else regarding your Toronto Blue Jays that was worth knowing.

But now, baseball’s really, truly back. Not Opening-in-Japan back, and not Flown-Up-North-For-a-Couple-of-Exhibition-Games back, but honest-to-god back, and with it comes the not so incisive and only marginally interesting commentary of yours truly.

The Long March is Over

Tonight’s appetite whetter between the Braves and Nats is a sweet lotion balm to our chafed souls, a lovely teaser to tomorrow’s full slate – including, most importantly, the matinee Jays-Yanks tilt.

But a few thoughts about this Sunday nighter, the (inter)nationally televised debut of Nationals Park

The yard looks nice enough, certainly inoffensive if not terribly distinctive. But as a baseball-only facility, it marks the long-sought conclusion to the Montreal Expos’ wanderings in the desert. Washington’s backroomers pulled off what a Bronfman and Jeffrey Loria (Curse His Name) could not, and the team finally has a house of its own. I’m not bitter toward the people of Washington; the US capital deserves a team. But I’m left to wonder what might have been had a downtown Montreal ballpark ever materialized.

Speaking of debuts, the Braves have rolled out new road duds for this one, an all-blue jersey (meh) and an understated, all-blue cap (i.e. no red brim). I like the hat. It’s simple, and in baseball, simple is good (hear that, Uncle Ted?).

Also, is it true that in Washington, Democrats wear the blue Nats road caps, and Republicans wear the red home version? Anybody know?

Jays vs. Yankees

Like George Will says, every team goes into the season knowing they’ll win 60 games and lose 60 games, and they play the whole season to decide those remaining 42 contests. I know tomorrow’s Jays opener is but one game, one measly April game, but I’d like nothing better than to see Toronto come out strong and feed the Yankees their lunch. Fuck the Yankees, and to hell with reverence for Yankee Stadium. I’ll be watching (hopefully), as well as keeping an eye on the Drunkards’ blow-by-blow, and what I’ll be watching for is early offense and smothering defense, as well as the Doc’s usual brand of excellence. Wake the Yankees up and let them know they’ll have to scrap for a spot atop the division (or, more realistically, the wild card).



The Season: ’08 Jays – An Inside Look at Your Blue Jays

When the commercials promised unprecedented access to the team, I figured there’d be cameras present for team meetings, or more in-depth interviews, maybe some shocking confessions, some tears, or some salty comments caught on mic. But I guess what they meant was footage of Vernon Wells’s arthroscopic procedure.

Regardless, good watching. Should make for must-see TV every Sunday evening, before Jon and Joe.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Odds & Sods

Is Buck Coats our saviour?
No.

Is "Neal W. from Toronto" insane for even suggesting that Stewart could play right field?

I have to believe that, yes, Neal W. from Toronto is insane. Neal W., if you're reading this, I'm sorry, but you're batshit crazy. Seek help, and refrain from procreating.

Is Gibbons on a short leash?
Probably, but as The Southpaw neatly details, the Jays figure to come out of the gate strong, with all due respect to The Tao.

Does CityTV suck?
Most definitely. Pray Jesus they never broadcast another baseball game. Stick to late night softcore, spawn of Moses.

Is baseball on the radio (or computer) in early March good for the soul?
I'm thinkin' it is. Holy damn, what a long winter.

Is this the laziest form of blog post known to humankind?
Pretty much, yuh. It's also a roundabout way of saying that new material on The Bottom of the Order might be scant and pithy for a few weeks. Which is fine, what with all those other fine Jays blogs out there to pick up the slack.

More Ichiro Madness

This Ichiro kid's pretty good.

(More real content, likely Jays related, later today. Promise.)

Saturday, March 1, 2008