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This might be my favorite post of the year, our annual introduction post. Normally, in part, because the baseball season soon to start (I’ve gone from thinking the season will start in July to thinking that we might not have a season at all), but mostly because it is fun to see where everyone ne is from and learn a little bit about the folks who come to the site.
The second title comes from a Ray Wylie Hubbard song Mother Blues. Back when Hugo was on the site, he would use song lyrics as titles for his posts (generally from some obscure song that only he had ever heard of), and it gave the site an identity, making it different than all the other Blue Jays sites out there. I kept up the tradition for a while, but SEO interests ended that. My favourite line from that Mother Blues song is: “And the days that I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, Well, I have really good days”. I think that about my life, when I’m being reasonable I think ‘life is great’. When I’m being envious or expecting too much then I have bad days.
What we’d like is for you to copy and paste the following questions into the comment thread and give us your answers.
Name:
Location:
Favourite Current Jay:
Favourite All-Time Jay:
Favourite Non-Jay:
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect:
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:
Favourite Baseball Movie:
Stepping up to the Plate Music:
When Not Bantering, I:
On Twitter I am:
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:
Name: Tom Dakers. I joined the site in April of 2008. And started writing in June of that year, filling in for Hugo for a couple of months. They haven’t kicked me out yet. Maybe this year.
Location: Most of the time Calgary, though I had moments of thinking I was spending the summer in Morocco (which wouldn’t have been that bad really).
Favourite Current Jay: Who had the last hit? Let’s say Cavan Biggio.
Favourite All-Time Jay: Doc or Tony or Ernie or Rance or Jose or Snakeface or Edwin or Jesse....or any of 100 other guys.
Favourite Non-Jay: Gary Carter
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: I think Patrick Murphy got a raw deal on the toe tap thing, so let’s say him.
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: I feel like picking right field, since the Jays could use someone to play right field.
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Maybe Wrigley. Was planing to go to KC this summer, that would be in late August. I think odds are 50/50 that those games happen and then 50/50 that I feel like traveling by then.
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham. I was going to put Trouble with the Curve, just to see if anyone was reading this.
Stepping up to the Plate Music: I Ain’t Ever Satisfied, Steve Earle
When Not Bantering, I: Right now? I’m on holiday. Generally, I have some guitars and some ukuleles that catch my attention at times.
On Twitter I am: @BluebirdBanter
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Once (well five times) appeared on stage with the Alberta Ballet (I bet you feel sorry for the one who had to lift me). Signed up for a half marathon in November. I’m hoping I’ll be able to train for it sometime soon.
Name: Leo / Minor Leaguer
Location: Toronto
Favourite Current Jay: Ken Giles
Favourite All-Time Jay: Roy Halladay
Favourite Non-Jay: Tom Dakers (can I get a raise?)
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Alejandro Kirk
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Outfield wall: I am soft and well-padded, many things go over my head.
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
Favourite Baseball Movie: Angels in the Outfield (one of the first baseball movies I remember seeing)
Stepping up to the Plate Music: 4’33 by John Cage
When Not Bantering, I: Send and receive electronic mail on my microcomputer
On Twitter I am: @Minor_Leaguer
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Once lost his cell phone to a waterfall in Jamaica (once = this February)
Name: Erik
Location: Saskatoon
Favourite Current Jay: Jano
Favourite All-Time Jay: Halladay
Favourite Non-Jay: Trout
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Pardinho
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Pitcher
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Bluefield
Favourite Baseball Movie: Major League
Stepping up to the Plate Music: Like a Rock
When Not Bantering, I: Plan things
On Twitter I am: @erik_g_t
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Going to my third Major League ballpark this summer!
Name: Kate
Location: Los Angeles
Favourite Current Jay: Bo Bichette (discovered this when I caved and bought a player jersey for the first time ever last year)
Favourite Non-Jay: Clayton Kershaw
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Anthony Alford (he’s technically still a prospect, right?)
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: general provider of encouragement and positivity
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC Park
Favourite Baseball Movie: Moneyball
Stepping up to the Plate Music: Harmony Hall - Vampire Weekend
When Not Bantering, I: help make reality TV shows and these days run a lot
On Twitter I am: @OhKStan
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: picked up a British accent as a child living in the UK, then lost it after two weeks back in Canada
Name: Dex
Location: Toronto
Favourite Current Jay: Bo Bichette
Favourite All-Time Jay: Roy Halladay
Favourite Non-Jay: Russ Martin
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Nate Pearson
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Pitcher
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Dodger Stadium
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham
Stepping up to the Plate Music: ‘Poets’ – The Tragically Hip
When Not Bantering, I: write about a lot of other things. And drink… a lot of other things.
On Twitter I am: @dexfarkin
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Have been at the stadium for the final home start of eight players who pitched an Opening Day start for the Jays.
Name: Tom / Expo45
Location: Calgary
Favourite Current Jay: Vladito
Favourite All-Time Jay: Jose
Favourite Non-Jay: Now that he’s not a Sock, I can finally admit how cool Mookie is.
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Alejandro Kirk
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: crafty lefty who throws 88
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Fenway tops the list of places I haven’t been, PNC is the one I most want to revisit
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham
Stepping up to the Plate Music: Work To Do by the Average White Band
When Not Bantering, I: do economics, run
On Twitter I am: @tom_mullie, almost entirely silent.
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I’ve been to 20 current and two former MLB parks