Sometimes, in the middle of mourning the things that you've lost or the things that you've started to realize will never come to pass, you begin to create unnatural attachments to whatever shines in your proximity.Such is the case with Randy Ruiz.
The big Bronx-born slugger managed to slice a pitch the other way for Yankee Stadium special last night, putting the Jays ahead 4-3. If only the game could have ended there.
Unfortunately, we were forced to watch Cito's lefty mancrush Jesse Carlson slinging batting practice floaters in to the mightiest lineup in the Majors. Three hits, three runs and back-to-back homers in one-third of an inning later, it was all shittied up good.
Those ever-so-brief moments of happiness that we as Jays fans can eek out are pretty fleeting, aren't they.
Vernon says a mouthful
Vernon Wells' reaction to the Sun on Rios' hasty departure was pretty revealing in terms of his current state of mind.
"You sign that kind of a deal, (scrutiny) is going to come with it," he said. "It's a matter of going out and playing better baseball. You can never justify the amount of money anybody makes in this game. You don't make excuses for it. It's not my job to explain it or justify it. I've just got to go out and play the game of baseball like I have ever since I was a little kid."
Well okay then.
Afternoon baseball will kill your productivity
It's kinda eerie to look at the lines of this afternoon's starters: RR Cool Jay (10-5, 3.66 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) takes to the bump versus this A.J. Burnett fellow (10-5, 3.67 ERA, 1.37 WHIP). First pitch is at 1:07. Get it on.
I was sort of reading a book while watching that game. I read a page or two and then looked up to see it was 7 - 4. Yeesh!
ReplyDeleteAt this point in the year, with the Jays out of it, I start coming up with other things to hope for. This year it's no playoffs for the Nation. The charm of 2004 has long since worn off.
"Shittied up good"
ReplyDeleteReal good!
Wells:
ReplyDeleteDon't blame me for Godfrey's idiocy, you'd cash the cheques too.
Wow, that is one eerie matchup.
ReplyDeleteTake his ass to school Ricky.
Other than the fuckawful season-long performance at home, it's really hard to get a hate on for Vernon. He does seem like a good dude. A kind-hearted soul, if you will. It's not like he's an arrogant prick like A-Rod or a loathsome human being like Youkilis or anything.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, he will always be tied to The Contract. The goddamned Contract.
In some ways, the Wells contract, other inflated contracts, and the steroid era can be tied to the housing bubble. Everything was exaggerated and false. Teams, sponsors, and fans felt rich and unstoppable. Now, we have to live with the poor decisions we made in those heady days. Not me, of course, I've never had any money.
ReplyDeleteI see Rios was out of the line-up for Chicago. Maybe some lingering nasty injury will be revealed and he'll be out of baseball in a year. The baseball gods tend to mete out a harsh and steely brand of justice and they know Ken Williams owes us one from Mike Sirotka.
Rios was out of the line-up due to a flight from Toronto to Seattle some time after 6:00 pm eastern yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWe knew Randy Ruiz was going to do something good because people with two Rs for initials tend to be awesome. Go Rickey!
I would've much prefered Butterfield's bullpen management last night over Cito's. Carlson had a great 2008, but an ERA over 5 does not justify putting him in high leverage situations in a close game.
ReplyDeleteSo RR and AJ each pulled an even 6 innings and 3 ER. Too bad the Jays couldn't have made more of their 10 hits against AJ.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ruiz ... Ruiz - next year's fulltime DH? (i know, i know, settle down).