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Since the season is starting again, I thought we’d put up the intro post again.
We had one at the end of March, but by then we knew we weren’t starting the season. I’ve added a question asking for a Covid story from you. It’s been a part of our lives for a bit now.
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:
A COVID-19 pandemic story of mine is:
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.
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 but it isn’t happening.
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham.
Stepping up to the Plate Music: I Ain’t Ever Satisfied, Steve Earle
When Not Bantering, I: Right now? Mostly wondering what day it is. I have some guitars and some ukuleles that catch my attention at times. This weekend I’m biking to raise money for MS. If you want to donate go here.
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). I signed up for a half marathon in Florida in November
A COVID-19 pandemic story of mine is: Well I came within a fluke of spending the summer Morocco. We were very lucky to get a flight out. We were in a huge line at the airport in Marrakesh and someone behind us in line said they got a flight to London online. Checked quick, it was sold out. Checked a few more times and suddenly there were four seats left. Staying would have been ok, it is a beautiful country and we could have afford a house rental and many rentals came with cooks. The only worry was how long the beer supply would hold out. After our flight there wasn’t more for a long time. There are still Canadians in Morocco. It was better to come home, but then we came home to finding most of my wife’s work and my work gone. So we are mostly retired now. It is interesting.
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)
A COVID-19 pandemic story of mine is: I was on one of the last cruise ships that returned to port without discovering a single case of COVID-19.
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!
A COVID-19 pandemic story of mine is: I flew to the US for a month. The airports and planes were almost completely empty, as were the freeways and cities.
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: likely the long run pacer
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC Park (the Jays had the same wish).
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
A COVID-19 pandemic story of mine is: I started quarantine petless, and now I have a tortoise. He’s been informed that we love baseball in this house, and he’s super stoked for opening day.
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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
Name: Matt W
Location: GTA
Favourite Current Jay: I don’t really get attached to individual players, but it’s quite nice to have a half dozen legitimate options from which to choose.
Favourite All-Time Jay: Doc, of course
Favourite Non-Jay: Tucupita Marcano, son of Tucupita Marcano from Tucupita, Venezuela. Honourable mention to Wander Franco, son and brother and brother of Wanders Franco (and nephew of Aybars Willy and Erick), but disqualified on principle since he’s going to spend most of the this decade with the Rays beating up on the Jays.
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Alejandro Kirk, though I don’t relate as much anymore. Or maybe Otto Lopez. HOW CAN I BE REASONABLY ASKED THIS??!?
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Catcher
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Looks like Bowen Field won’t happen, so we’ll go with Nat Bailey though the ship might have sailed on that too
Favourite Baseball Movie: Major League
Stepping up to the Plate Music:
When Not Bantering, I: crunch numbers
On Twitter I am: Not. As I noted last year, decisions that look better each trip around the Sun
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I’m terrible with names...just ask Kate.
A COVID-19 pandemic story of mine is: I found the COVID test more uncomfortable than the three IV lines and arterial blood line that were placed on the same day.