Bluebird Links - Home Runs are good (unless your name is Ryan Rayburn)

by masterkembo on Apr 27, 2011 10:21 AM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays Links

Hey look, the Jays CAN score runs! Nice game for Lind yesterday with a pull and opposite field homerun. And Rivera seems to be breaking out of his ill-timed brutal slump. Life is good in Jays land!

I stayed up to watch the Vancouver Canucks (ugh) versus Chicago Blackhawks game seven last night and now I'm tired. So, straight into the Links this morning but there's a few good ones (especially around the league).

Jays Links

Injuries dog Blue Jays
Sounds like Davis should be back later this week and Encarnacion should be available tonight. It also sounds like either Podsednik or DeWayne Wise will get the call up next week when the Jays drop back down to 12 pitchers.

Drabek's changeup develops into weapon
Nice to hear - maybe this is why he's throwing less curve balls?

Fire When Ready (Which is Always)
Drew at Ghostrunner is okay with Escobar first pitch swinging.

What I Like About Jose Bautista
Parkes tells us what he likes about Bautista. I like mostly everything about Bautista.

Vote Jose Bautista, other Toronto Blue Jays to All-Star Game in Phoenix
It's that time of year...already. Vote for Bautista!

Three Up, Three Down - Heroes and Goats of the Season (So Far)
The Tao of Steib has this seasons heroes and goats, at the 1/8th point of the season.

A New Hope for Baseball in Montreal?
Kyle Roussel wonders if the Jays could attempt to get a AAA affiliate in Montreal. I would love to see something like this happen be it Montreal or Ottawa, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. Thoughts?

Carlos Delgado: Excellent enough for the Level of Excellence?
Scott Barber wonders if Delgado deserves a place among the all-time Jays greats. Does anyone think he doesn't?

Around the League

Lillibridge’s grabs against Yankees prompt Wikipedia vandalism
Brent Lillibridge made a sweet catch to save the game against the Yanks yesterday (seriously, if you missed it, check out the video in the article). And he also earned Wikipedia immortality:

Lillibridge was born in the deepest caverns of ancient mesopotamia. When he was five years old he mastered the art of natural pwning through rightfield... One thousand years later, he laid dormant until the white sox discovered his frozen body in the jungles of Mexico.

Ryan Rayburn's Glove Causes Miguel Olivo Home Run
Bahaha. Rayburn pulls a Jose Conseco. Awesome.

Ethier sets mark for longest April streak
A nice 23 game hit streak to start the season.

Struggles of Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada show lack of aging stars
There's not a whole lot of 36+ year old players setting the world on fire right now. Verducci also has an interesting note at the bottom of the article regarding pitch counts. It looks as though managers are letting their hurlers pitch deeper into game than the past few years. I wonder if pitchers are throwing more in general, or if it's just a few of the games top starters that have gone to really high pitch counts?

Carl Everett charged with holding gun to wife’s head
Never like to hear stories like this. The Star also has a few notes regarding Josh Hamilton and Joe Mauer's rehabs, and Phil Hughes troubles.

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Comments

I feel like for Toronto to put a farm team in Montreal would be like the Yankees putting one in Boston

by T_Mizz on Apr 27, 2011 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

In terms of hockey or baseball hate?

by Nadia on Apr 27, 2011 12:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Hmm, I don’t know. Does the Maple Leafs / Canadiens rivalry really transcend to other sports / walks of life? I hate the Canadiens with a passion, but I like the city and I’d be more than okay with a Jays farm team there. Same with Ottawa and same with Vancouver now that they have an affiliate.

Now maybe from Montreal’s perspective, they would never want to play baby brother to Toronto? I don’t know.

by masterkembo on Apr 27, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

The cities have an issue usually with each other. Whether or not it started with Hockey I dont know.

Montreal seems more easy going, drunken, fun partying vs the business nature suit and tie of Toronto with Bay st. etc.

I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
Twitter is the thing with all the tweets...

by JohnnyG on Apr 27, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t really think it would apply. Even in the 90s when we got interleague play between the Expos and the Jays, there wasn’t any kind of hostile animosity there that I remember. Maybe if you called the team the Montreal Blue Jays or something, it would be an issue.

I think that if a AAA team comes up for sale, it’s a no brainer for a Canadian group to purchase it and move it to Montreal. Reclaiming the old ‘Royals’ name gives a big tie back to the traditions of the city, and incorporating some old Expos materials and staff to promote a unique Quebec identity would be the key things I’d see in it being successful.

by dexfarkin on Apr 27, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

they could hire Richard Griffin

to be the PR guy

by jaysbrazil on Apr 27, 2011 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

The Las Vegas 51's were up for sale at the beginning of the year.

by Alan F. on Apr 27, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Quiet around here today…

by masterkembo on Apr 27, 2011 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

NHL playoff catching people's attention.

There was some good hockey yesterday.

by Tom Dakers on Apr 27, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions

The Canucks/Blackhawks game was fantastic hockey. Missed most of the Bruins/Canadiens game but hopefully will get to watch some of that along with the Pens/Lightning game tonight.

You rooting for the Nucks without the Flames involved?

by masterkembo on Apr 27, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I cheer for the Canadian teams. Canucks are a little tough because I have met some fans.....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 27, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm happy for the Canucks

I used to follow them in the Naslund, Bertuzzi, Morrison years. Also, if they lost, I’d hate to have to see all the Vancouver Bashing, and negative articles around them. I’d rather see the “Blackhawks fought hard, gritty and with character, but ultimately lost to the more talented team” articles.

2011 Jays slogan should be "Power and Speed", not just "Hustle and Heart".
Proud member of the AL North
@VagabondBansal

by Vagabond13 on Apr 27, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not

I was hoping to see some more nhl conspiracy against Vancouver articles. Leafs fans get flak for being angry about 93 ( which is way too long ago to be seriously angry about) but the reaction from the 3 game choke job was by far worse. I can understand a fan being annoyed with the reffing for one game, every fan believes that their team is getting screwed but the articles coming out of Vancouver about a league wde plan to make Vacouver collapse were just sad. Vancouver papers proved they are worse than the Sun. That my friends is pretty bad.

As a Toronto sports fan I proudly follow the lessons of lachrymology.
"He drives that new car around town and feels really good about it." - Ron Wilson
"Vancouver, BC: A massive inferiority complex with a city." - TheOtherAndrew
"HOPE is more than a postponed disappointment" - Epica

by Redonred on Apr 27, 2011 4:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Isn’t cheering for a Canadian based team just like Boston fans chanting : USA USA! when Chara scores?

by Redonred on Apr 27, 2011 4:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Maybe, I don't know or care really

I can’t cheer for a team from Florida or Nashville, cause I have no clue about the teams. Why would I cheer for a team who can’t get people in their home towns to cheer for them.

Doing things my way I sort of know who is on the teams I am cheering for.

by Tom Dakers on Apr 27, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Nashville actually draws decently. Florida on the other hand…ugh.

by masterkembo on Apr 27, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think its the same as all. Its not a Canada Vs USA thing, you just want to see a canadian franchise do well, so you cheer for them.

I know some may see it as the same thing.. but its really not. I don’t get why people knock on it anyway

by bowling_kid25 on Apr 27, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I pretty much just cheer for players I like once my team is eliminated (which is pretty much every year by now). I’m not really into cheering for a random Canadian team, but it doesn’t bother me when other people do.

Come to think of it, the players around the league I like are pretty much the players that were on team Canada (with a few exceptions) so I guess I just cheer for really good Canadian players once the Leafs are eliminated (aka, Toews, Duncan Keith, Crosby, etc.).

by masterkembo on Apr 27, 2011 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Why though? It’s league play, not international. The world championship/ olympics are for national pride. It’s judging a franchise based on their location, not on the quality of the players’ skill or character. It’s not a big deal I just don’t understand the “bring the cup to Canada” mentality, when the cup would be in Canada longer if Philly/ Chicago won it.

by Redonred on Apr 27, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't understand why they do stuff like that

the players they’re cheering for when they chant ‘USA!’ are mostly Canadians or Europeans anyway

by sheehan on Apr 27, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

if you think about it, even if you cheer for an American team

you’re still cheering for mostly Canadians

by sheehan on Apr 27, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone else think that having Patterson and Wise on the same bench is a little redundant?

by Redonred on Apr 27, 2011 4:07 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

yeah

Patterson’s a substantially better hitter (which is saying something about Wise) but they bring pretty much identical skillsets: pretty good OF defense, a little speed, not much hitting, lefty bat

by benk on Apr 27, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

So educate me here...

What would Podsednik bring that neither of those guys provides?

I'm thinking that when the Leafs win the Cup, I'll lose my drinking problem.

by leafsfan4life94 on Apr 27, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

to be honest

not a whole lot. he has a better OBA than the other guys (he walks more) but he has no pop at all; their offensive capabilities, even including steals (Pods gets caught too much) are pretty much equivalent. factor in Pods’ horrible defense (and inability to play CF, like Wise and Patterson can) and I really see no reason to give him playing time

by benk on Apr 28, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions