I have been sick with a lingering cold for the past week and a half and didn't feel like trotting out a real post so I am using the old blogger's trick of looking back at what others have already written and laughing at them using the 20/20 vision of hindsight. Last time I did one of these it resulted in 429 comments for some reason. I expect nothing less.
2012 - Tuesday Bantering: Snider, Drabek, Arencibia
Tom wrote about Keith Law's piece on prospects who were going to have a better 2012 than 2011. On that list were Blue Jays Travis Snider and Kyle Drabek. Tom turned out to be right about Snider not being given the starting job... Funny line in retrospect:
"It will be interesting to see if Kyle is the guy the Jays turn to this year, when/if one of the starting 5 falter or go down with an injury."
Hahahahaha ONE???
2011 - Tomorrow is just your future, yesterday. Quick Recap Jays beat Pirates
JohnnyG recaps a game when the Jays beat the Pirates 5-0 despite shaky performances from relievers Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco. Yunel Escobar acted selfishly/stupidly on a couple of plays. J.P. Arencibia struck out. Edwin Encarnacion went 0-4, 4 K, and stranded seven...AA just go DFA that guy.
2010 - Quick Game Recap: Spring Game 4
A happy game recap for Tom, who reports that the Blue Jays beat the Yankees 9-1. Some backup infielder named Jose Bautista hit a "massive" two-run homer, and some idiot named craig in calgary posted in the comments
"Everytime I check, JoBa is doing something well. Is it a) Just preseason and minor league pitching or b) Getting a chance to play everyday? Could he have a Scootesqe breakout year?"
Small sample size and spring stats don't matter, bro!
2010 - Saturday Morning Bantering: Links
Tom Dakers did a links post which featured a Jordan Bastian piece on J.P. Arencibia's kidney condition and vision problems. I had completely forgotten about this. I take it as a good sign for his health.
2009 - Is It Time For John McDonald To Go?
Bluebird Banter had a surprisingly close vote on whether the Blue Jays should release John McDonald--the "No" side won 56%-43% after climbing back from a big deficit (people back then were mean). Jeff Blair thought that if the Jays could put Joe Inglett or Jose Bautista (!) at short to back up Marco Scutaro, they can release PMoD and keep a slugger like Jason Lane.
2008 - Pancho Needs Your Prayers, It's True - But Save a Few For Lefty Too
Hugo, in his typical screw-you-SEO-title style, reports that B.J. Ryan was told to not pitch and to slow down a bit. Hey I'm sure he'll be 100% come Opening Day and will be super duper during the regular season! Just like Casey Janssen and Sergio Santos, Ryan just needed to rest to prevent him from being "too ready" for the season. No biggie, don't worry.
2007 - Spring Training Reports... from a Moron's perspective
Former Bluebird Banter writer Dave Carrol, who left the blog after United Airlines broke his guitar*, gives us "scouting reports" on various Blue Jays. Looking back, I have no idea whether this was written seriously or sarcastically:
"Everyone in Toronto is really starting to get just what a solid player Overbay is. He's going to be an increasingly large presence in their marketing... just watch. He's only getting better too."
*Actually, Dave Carrol is a church leader in Brantford and blogs at Big Ear Creations.
2006 - Spring Training and the Positional Battles Within
mark w organized the 2006 spring roster into seven categories. I'll include the most interesting name in each category:
- "Stone-Cold Locks" - Gustavo Chacin
- "Most Likely To Succeed" - Guillermo Quiroz
- "Next In Line" (AAA players) - James Baldwin (the Jays signed him at one point??)
- "Possible Mid-Season Call Ups" - Sergio Santos
- "Possible September Callups" - Curtis Thigpen ("Exluding Quiroz -- or perhaps including him, depending on your viewpoint -- he's really the only legitimate catching prospect in the organization")
- "Give Them Some Time" - Chi-hung Cheng (who?)
- "Fodder" (players with no chance to make Opening Day roster) - Brian Tallet.
2006 - Game Recap: Toronto vs NY Yankees - March 6th, 2006
Dustin McGowan gave up 7 earned on 6 hits and 2 walks in an inning of work as the Jays' starter against the Yankees. The Yankees started Chien-Ming Wang, who was relieved by Aaron Small, and J.B. Cox got the save. Tee-hee the box score says "Small Wang". I guess the Blue Jays should've countered with Chi-HUNG Cheng.