Opening Day! Part 5 of 5 - Let's Go Buff-A-Lo!

Finally an Opening Day that I can attend and truly enjoy. The weather is looking questionable, as is tradition at Dunn Tire Park, but being outside for a ballgame is what truly kicks off Spring for me.

The Bison's have an old squad this year and it is probably one of the worst in recent memory. Thanks to Mark Shapiro and his slow and steady approach with youngsters there are a lot of old players playing well above their level of competition. I am crossing my fingers that Adam Miller recovers from his bizarre injury and is able to take the mound, but it is looking like the crafy left hander Jeremy Sowers will take the bump for Opening Day.

I am disappointed that Chuck Lofgren was sent down to Double A to start the year, I'm not sure he has much to prove and his control issues can be worked on at any level. His numbers from last year do not tell of the pitcher he is, as he was very unlucky to have a high batting average of balls in play.

Also of concern, is the rationale behind sending Trevor Crowe back to Akron. Crowe started the 2007 season off in a mess, this after being shuffled between the outfield and infield during Winter League play. However, even through the difficulties at the plate (mostly due to poor luck) Crowe managed to keep his walk and strikeout rates at a strong level. If he stays in Akron, Crowe will reach about 1000 Double A at bats, which certainly will stunt his growth and potential, we've seen what keeping a player down too long can do to Goleski, why do the same to Crowe?

Ugh! I'm sounding like a blogging-fan now!

Let's go Buff-A-Lo!

Opening Day! Part 4.5 of 5 - Reaction and Reflection

Drunken Jays fan discusses last night far better then I could have.

Since I am boycotting the Jays, I became a Red Sox fan last night. The JD Drew home run-which he had been swinging for since his first at bat-was extremely pleasing as the "fans" (Home Opener fans, whom I like to compare to Sunday Christians or Sabbath Jews) were really riding Drew all game. Now I have no problem with some good ol' heckling, but the "Dreeeeeeew" whammy does grow old after 3 innings. Step it up with some comedy. Maybe bring Drew's terrible health into the equation. Anytime I hear "Manny Sucks", I simply laugh.

In fact, any time I heard the phrase "Red Sox Suck", I laugh. I mean, I'm not a Red Sox fan, but I can see that they won the World Series in 2007. I would give it until at least mid-May before claiming that last year's best team 'Sucks'. This would be like calling Bill Belichick a bad coach.


A couple other interesting observations.

1. People called into the Fan 590 last night complaining about the excessive drinking and frat like atmosphere. To that I say, "Welcome to professional sports". That atmosphere is what is making the rest of the sports market in North America billions of dollars.
2. This is kind of a continuation of the first comment. Beer at the Sky Dome was $7 for a bottle last night. That's an outstanding profit of over 250%.
3. Jays "fans" cannot accept their Opening Day gifts. At least they have gotten rid of the magnetic schedules which can really fly.
4. Field Turf is as bad as Astro Turf.
5. The Uniforms last night were as ugly as the 30+ year old man in front of me bringing a baseball glove. Mind you, I was sitting in the 200 level outfield, but what are the odds? And how can you feel proud?
6. I hate the wave! Watch the game.
   

As for the actual baseball...

1. Shaun Marcum really had his change up working. Once the Sox realized that was his go to pitch, they began teeing off on him.
2. The Red Sox were 'lucky' in 2007. They were 'unlucky' last night. I see a trend establishing. That is, of the last 6 World Series champions, 4 have not made the playoffs the following year. I called it!
3. Tim Wakefield is the most entertaining pitcher to watch. He throws batting practice fastballs which make for every at bat to be a hilarious one.
4. Jeremy Accardo should remain as the Jays primary closer even when BJ Ryan returns. If everyone in Toronto can play up to their potential, this should be an exciting season for the Blue Birds.
5. Is Brian Tallet really going to be the Jays top set up man?
   

Last nights game was entertaining, but I don't know how many more Jays games I can go to. Last night was as good as it gets, and it was still terrible.

Opening Day! Part 4 of 5 - It Drags Me In Every Year

I SWORE up and down that I would NEVER go to another Toronto Blue Jays game if I had to pay for it. Not only is the ballpark a disaster of an environment to watch a ballgame in (from the fans to the jail-like atmosphere) but the unprofessional treatment of fans is what truly got to me.

In 2007, as a 'mini pack holder', I attended nearly 20 games. Each game was enjoyable, simply because of the product on the field. But that is where it stops. The concessions are over priced, even for ballpark standards and the employees are simply running out their time. I had one security guard say to me, 'I cannot wait until the end of the season'. What kind of product pride is that???

Specifically, there were two games, one of which I will not discuss, because it was simply my fault, although I do not agree with my treatment. The other, was a direct sign of unprofessionalism and simple lack of understanding of the game of baseball.

Let me paint the picture for you:

On Friday July 6th, 2007 the Toronto Blue Jays faced off against the Cleveland Indians at the Sky Dome. The Indians scored a quick run in the first and it looked as if they were about to put up a crooked number on the first inning scoreboard. Roy Halladay then buckled down and finished off the inning allowing only one runner while stranding two. In the bottom of the second, the Jays got their revenge and plated five runners. The Indians scratched their way back getting the Jays within one run before Matt Stairs hit the 12th triple of his career.

Fast forward to the top of the 9th inning. The score is Toronto 8 - Indians 5. Jeremy Accardo takes the bump in a save situation. The PA announcer urged the fans to get to their feet and support the Jays to hold the lead. The fans, to their credit, did stand, for a moment.
With the fans properly seated, I, in my Victor Martinez home jersey remained on my feet. I accepted the appropriate hoots and hollers, that was part and parcel with wearing the oppositions jersey (keep in mind however, this was the first amount of criticism I received, also laughable).

• Jason Michaels led off the inning with a walk. Good start.

• Next batter, Grady Sizemore, lines out hard to Alexis Rios.Keep in mind, I remained standing, not being obnoxious as to attempt to not draw attention. Those directly beside and behind me had nothing to say, they simply pivoted their head slightly. It was those who were 5+ rows behind me that had a problem. Also keep in mind, that I am Todd MacCulloch.
  

• Casey Blake doubles to deep right center moving Michaels to third and putting Martinez up to bat as the tying run. It was around this time that a young usher asked me to sit down. I asked if I had too, she said I did not, so I remained standing.
  

• Martinez blasts a shot to left field, this is obviously going for extra bases, two runners are going to be plated, this is going to be a one run game...But...Oh Reed Johnson! What a catch! Probably the best catch I saw all year. One run scores.

• Travis Hafner then comes to the plate and promptly grounds out to second. The game is over.

Not so fast! A beer comes flying at me. Which, I have to say, really upsets me. I don't mind so much that something was thrown at me. But to literally THROW $9 away, disgusting! Also, what is kind of startling. I imagine the Jays stop serving before the 9th inning, what was this guy doing with adult pop left?

A teenager in front of me, who appeared to be on a first date, then went bezerk, running up the stairs wondering who threw the beer. I had taken note of the possible beer throwers earlier and decided to calmly walk up to a male, about my age, quite a bit bigger then me, and suggest to him that he probably shouldn't throw a beer at a ballgame. Yelling and complaining is one thing. But throwing a beer is what starts fights. I commented that with his company (a young lady) he probably did not want to fight and neither did I. Further comments 'rained' down on me from both perspectives. Really, I did not care. A couple other instances occurred, but again, trivial in the big picture.

I then, to be annoying, asked to speak to the supervisor of the usher who asked me to sit down. I discussed my issue and simply stated that I have been to many games where throwing objects onto the field has occurred. Clearly people feel as though they will not get punished and she might want to have her ushers keep a better eye on this. Simply put, a mess could have resulted from their ushers lack of control. The usher then came and pulled her supervisor over, told her the story. To which the supervisor came over and told me, 'You are wrong'.

Now I've worked in the service industry before. I've worked at restaurants and in retail. On the first day of training, I have always been told, 'The customer is never wrong'. In fact, even when a manager or supervisor was being taken advantage of, they would still never tell a customer they were wrong. So, I got a little upset. I then asked to speak to her supervisor. Enter Will Hill. Probably the worst public relations official I could imagine. I can't even imagine what it is that Mr. Hill does.

Needless to say, this situation, combined with Mr. Hill's lack of professionalism is the reason why I decided to never attend a game at the Sky Dome. But here we are, April 4th, 2008. The morning of the Blue Jays Home Opener against the Boston Red Sox. Maybe next year, right?

Opening Day! Part 3 of 5 - It Doesn't Get Any Better

This is officially the best day in all of professional sports. Major League Baseball's Opening Day represents the beginning of professional sports in North America. The only sport to truly exist during a single calendar year. And despite MLB's best marketing attempts, the Monday that the season begins, is and will always be the real Opening Day.

Consider a day in the baseball season where every teams top pitcher is on the bump. Where one can flip between Sabathia and Buehrle to Webb and Harang or Halladay and Wang to Sheets and Zambrano. Even the minor bumps and bruises are not felt on Opening Day as the players themselves are as excited as the fans are.

I do, have one issue with Opening Day. Why is it that teams such as the Tigers and Indians are hosting games on March 31st? While weather is not likely to drastically turn around by the end of the week, is the probability not greater that Mother Nature will be nicer a week further into spring?

Sit back and enjoy the day. With 183 days remaining in the season you do have plenty of time to take it all in. But there is no other day in sports, let alone baseball, that is like Opening Day.

Opening Night! Part 2 of 5 - Go Davidson

We're under six hours from Baseball officially returning for the 2008 season. All the cliche's from baseball beat writers will be in full force.

I'm confused about one thing though. Why is it that the Nationals are playing a one game series against the Braves for Opening Night? Did the schedule makers look at the numbers and realize that they had only scheduled both teams for 161 games?

Opening Day! Part 1 of 5 - Japan Issue

It's a brand new season and despite the games starting time being 6 AM EST my need for baseball outweighs what this is going to do to the rest of my day. In fact, at this point I don't even mind that there are going to be so many Opening Days.

So let's lose ourselves "in the comforting intricacies of baseball" (Gray, 2006, 5) and watch Baseball for Breakfast.

Update - 3/25/2008 - 10:07 AM
A couple notes of interest:

1. Did anyone notice the advertisements on the right sleeve and helmet of the players today? I'm not sure if thisis going to be something that sticks for 2008 nor do I remember hearing anything about it. I wonder why playing games in Japan makes this acceptable?
2. The Athletics may surprise some people in 2008. I am in the midst of my AL West Preview and despite having the A's ranking last I am wondering if this is simply too obvious of a pick. If Blanton, Ellis and the rest of the veterans are moved, then certainly, but this is a nice core.
3. 95 pitches out of Matsuzaka a week before where he should have actually started. I think the Sox are going to pay for this down the line.

It was great to have baseball back on television. My dish is down so I was fortunate that the West Coast Roger's Sportsnet was carrying the game as for some reason, RSN East and Ontario felt as if people would rather see hockey high lights.