Uh-oh, Romero

Well the unthinkable, but yet somewhat inevitable has happened.  Ricky Romero will begin the year in single A Dunedin.

Unthinkable because he has been the Opening Day starter the past two years.  Unthinkable because he has been the face of the rotation since Halladay was traded. Unthinkable because his 2011 season was quite terrific.  Unthinkable because after some early struggles in his career, he realized the potential of his high draft pickedness.  Unthinkable because of the public support the organization has given him.  Unthinkable because of his contract.

But yet inevitable.  He never looked right in 2012, despite winning a lot of games early.  He struggled with his command, which led to struggles with his control.  He was fighting himself the entire season.  His emotions which previously made him a great competitor led to some of his problems as he seems overly frustrated on the mound (I have no doubt that Ricky puts way too much pressure on himself). 

It was also inevitable due to his off season elbow surgery and what seems to be a never ending battle with his knees. I hope he is not hiding another injury, but I would not be surprised if he was.

It was also inevitable as soon as they started tinkering with his delivery in Spring Training and the results weren’t there.

It pains me to say this, but it is the right move.  2013 is way too important to take a chance in April by just throwing Ricky out there.  Better to send him to Dunedin where it is warm and he can focus on his mechanics and trying to get some joy back.

Let’s be clear.  This is not a Roy Halladay project.  This more Cliff Lee (we hope) or Dontrelle Willis (we fear).  Only time will tell, but I hope for, and look forward to, a return game in July against Tampa where Ricky goes 7 strong innings and gives up only 1 run.

All the best Ricky.  We need you.

Where are we now? (We love you David!)

We are now less than two weeks away from real games, and while there have been no catastrophic injuries, there have been some disturbing developments.  By my count, there are seven things that haven’t gone according to plan.  So let’s take a glass ½ empty, ½ have full approach to it?  Ok, are you on board with this?  Can I start now?  Shall we begin?  We shall:

½ EMPTY - Brad Lincoln and Chad Jenkins have both been prevented from throwing thereby guaranteeing the fact they will start the season on the DL or in AAA. 

½ FULL - The fact they won’t be there Opening Day is not a surprise in either case as they were likely destined for AAA in any event.  If they had made the team it means others would have been injured or sucked bad.  You follow?

½ EMPTY – The teams hasn’t had too much time to gel due the WBC and the DR’s amazing run.

½ FULL – Chemistry doesn’t matter.  Our guys have looked fantastic and we have had many Reyes  GIF’s to enjoy. 

http://www-thescore.s3.amazonaws.com/images/119259/original.gif?1363662983

½ EMPTY - Bonefacio has had problems fielding his position.

½ FULL – Um, it’s Spring Training??  Um I don’t know about this one.  Did we ever get confirmation that Bonefacio doesn’t have EE disease?  Did we give him a blood test before the trade was completed?

½ EMPTY - Colby hasn’t shown any signs of life....again...unless you count this Photoshop by the geniuses at www.drunkjaysfans.com (My god this picture is creepy).

½ FULL – It’s Colby.  He is impossible to predict so we might as well just wait until the real games start.  Then when he goes 0-4 with 2 K’s in Opener, we can immediately call up the chosen one!!! 

½ EMPTY - Both Jansen and Santos have had barking arms

½ FULL – No Closer controversy.  Odds are one of them will be healthy, right?

½ EMPTY - Lawrie has been out with pulled rib cage or intercostalitis?

½ FULL – He hasn’t had chance to do something stupid and injure himself worse.

½ EMPTY - Romero has not looked “right” and is fiddling with his mechanics.

½ FULL – Um Happ has looked good over an extremely small sample size?  I’m struggling here.  I don’t think it’s a BIG deal that Romero has struggled ....but then again it could be.

Some additional Good News bullets

• Jeffress and Melky have not yet failed a drug test

• Bautista has killed a few baseballs

• Josh Johnson  looks impressive

• Adam Lind has....no I can’t go there.  We all know he will disappoint us again. It is just a matter of when

• The new David Bowie album is AMAZING!!!!!

I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles*

Well that was exhausting! 

What a three day ride last weekend during the WBC.  A devastating, demoralizing, mercy run loss to ITALY!!! I mean are you freaking kidding me???  ITALY....again!

Followed by a smack down of Mexico....literally.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2013/03/09/canada-takes-mexico-behind-the-woodshed-in-world-punchfight-classic/

And then on Sunday we were six outs way from knocking out team USA and advancing.   But it was not to be.  Our “Whittless” manager was just embarrassing.  I mean I can’t even believe how bad his decisions were.  But at the end of the day, Canada was simply outmatched.  Any team can win a single game, but player for player, Canada simply didn’t have the talent to match up against the USA.

But I will take away some great memories:

·         The Michael Saunders coming out party.  I would not be surprised to see him make the All-Star team this year.  He was phenomenal.

·         Justin Morneau appears to finally be back to his old self.  So good to see, as at one point his career was in jeopardy.

·         Young 21-year old Jameson Taillon looking like a gunslinger throwing bullets and shutting down Team USA.  He could be a good one.....and he’s a Pirate.  SHWING!!!

·         Catcher Chris Robinson (a last minute sub for Martin), taking one off the cup, followed by getting run over at home plate and making the out, followed by my little girl throwing up on me.  Ok that last part sucked, but not for me, I just felt bad for her.  I love being a Dad!

·         Rooting for a team in a close ballgame that felt like it meant something.  Obviously the WBC has its flaws, but on Saturday and Sunday I was riveted.  Can’t wait to feel the same way about Jays games this coming September.

Onward we go, spring practice continues.  Less than three weeks until Opening Day!

*I can't live the button-down life like you. I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles. Sure, I might offend a few of the bluenoses with my cocky stride and musky odors -- oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called "City Fathers" who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about "What's to be done with this Homer Simpson?"

-Homer J. Simpson Lisa's Rival

WBC Time! Joey is the Best!.....Oh no, not again…..

Part I WBC Time! Joey is the Best! Oh no, not again…..

As I write this, a critical Jay for 2013 has just suffered a “minor” injury while getting ready for the World Baseball Classic. “Bring him back, shut him down, those guys should concentrate on the Jays, this season is too important to screw around with some exhibition tournament….” Except one problem…..It’s Canadian and Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie who tweaked a muscle in his rib cage.

Sigh…….I don’t know. On the one hand, I was super psyched about the WBC this year. On the other hand the Jays 2013 season is much more important. So it’s too bad, but Lawrie need to ensure he is ready for opening day and he must take a cautious approach.

Of course this raises another issue. Is Brett injury prone? I mean he plays all out, all the time. But the reality is, only last year’s injury was the result of “reckless” play. His broken hand due to being hit by a wild pitch in 2011 when he was on the cusp of a call up could have happened to anyone. And all reports today are that this injury wasn’t the result of anything crazy Brett did. So for now, we give him the benefit of the doubt and hope and hope he doesn’t turn in Brian Roberts, Travis Hafner…..or gulp God forbid Nick Johnson!!!!

http://flipflopflyin.com/flipflopflyball/info-nickjohnson.html

Part II WBC Time! Joey is the Best!.....

As you can see from the title, this was going to a post about the awesomenicity of Etobicoke’s own Joey Votto and my excitement for the WBC. I love Joey. Not because he is from Toronto (that helps a bit), not because I have him in my keeper pool until I release him or he retires (that helps a bit more), not because he seems like a nice guy who has talked openly about his emotions and battle with depression (that really endears him to me), but because he is fuckin amazing.

Since Joey debuted, there have been more than twice as many no-hitters as Joey Votto pop-ups. Since 2009, there have been two more perfect games than Joey Votto pop-ups!!!!!

Joey Votto has already gone one full season without a pop-up!!!!!!

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-less-pressing-joey-votto-question/

I mean come on……That’s crazy.

As for the WBC, I’m not sure anything can top the in person experience from 4 years ago.

http://sports.yahoo.com/wbc/boxscore;_ylt=AvhZMat1mqznA9ODHSFvNlDavrYF?gid=290307108

Joey hit a HR in the 3^rd (went 4 for 5 on the day) and the Dome was rockin. It was the most energized I had seen a Toronto baseball crowd since the glory years. Sadly they could not hold on and lost 6-5. Then the wheels fell off and they lost to ITALY 6 to 2. How does that happen?????? Ug…I can’t look back.

Here we are four years later and Jussell Martin has abandoned us, along with Ryan Dempster. Now with Lawrie hurt, the odds look slim, but it is baseball and anyone can win a game or two in a row. So I’m going to watch and cheer. In a way, I guess it’s my Spring Training, because now we are only 25 days away from the real thing!! Here’s hoping Brett doesn’t do anything stupid between now and then.