"He's some kind of special."

Rueters photo, via Daylife.

"What he's able to do with that baseball, it's like playing a video game for me. You put that target down and away, or you put that target in, and you know the man is going to go out there and execute his pitches. He's some kind of special." -- Rod Barajas


A open letter to the half-dozen or so people who read this blog with any regularity

Thanks for reading, and so long. I've decided that I'll basically retire this portal, while leaving the possibility of the odd missive from time to time, simply due to time constraints . It's gotten to the point where posting here was more obligation than passion, and that's no good. I've long felt that, with the embarrassment of riches that is the Jays' blogosphere, I don't really have anything novel to contribute. So I'll revert to being a reader of all the great sites that obsessively cover all things Blue Jays-related (check the links on the right).

It's not as though I've stopped watching the games -- on the contrary, this nutty season has sparked in me an even deeper appreciation of the game and this team. Watching what Roy Halladay is doing this year is a gift to baseball fans, an incredible display that I'll enjoy seeing to its conclusion (in early November, obvs.). And somebody better be taking notes, because Doc's biography is a book I'm going to enjoy reading once it's written.

But while I'm very happy to watch and read and to be a fan, I'm no longer feeling that urge to relive every game on this page. If (when) the Jays make the postseason I might feel differently, if only to have a personal record of those heady days, but as a daily exercise, The Bottom of the Order is no longer.

Thanks for reading.

Go Jays.

Grindin'

Man, that KC offense is a real meat grinder for opposing pitchers, huh? After making Brian Tallet look completely awkward, they totally made Brian Burres appear to be a marginal pitcher with no business being on a major league roster. Lucky for Doc he avoids that whirring blade of humiliation and ERA inflation. I pity the next staff to face the mighty Royals bats, unless it's the Yankees.

I'm just brightsiding here, but hitting into six double plays and still score six runs will win you a game most of the time. Most of the time when Brian Burres isn't pitching.


Elsewhere!

• Because I'm a complete shut-in, I'm a little jazzed by the news that the Mariners will be paying tribute to the '39 Seattle Rainiers (PCL champs, dontcha know) on Saturday by wearing Rainiers throwbacks (they should be similar to the '41 version seen here). I want one.

• Related: Shame Lucky Lohrke won't be around to see it. Do yourself a favour and read Larry Stone's piece about Lorhke and his insane life. The things he survived are staggering; a movie made about this man's life would be a thousand times better than Benjamin Button (best Best Picture winner since Braveheart!).

• Quasi-related (to the first bullet): Hey, tomorrow's another Flashback Friday, right? Bring on the embarrassing pajama unis! Who looks the most uncomfortable in them things? Bajaras? Snider (who's too young to remember powder blue road uniforms)? Votes? Anybody?
  

• Completely unrelated: If I come across one more lazy journalist phoning it in with a story about "staycations," I'll be very, very displeased. Easily the most annoying and over-abused trope of 2009. Hell, it even made the list! Desist!