Play Ball! Go Jays Go!
I am all excited. Major League Baseball begins today in Toronto with the Blue Jays playing the Cleveland Indians. This is a year of great hope and expectation. Could it be the beginning of a repeat of the 1992 and 1993 seasons when Toronto Blue Jays won back to back World Series?
This past year I decided to follow the Blue Jays after years of not doing so after the station that broadcast the games locally ceased to broadcast the games. I still cannot get the games on TV and actually prefer to listen to them on the radio. On radio you share in the announcers exitement and knowledge of the game and it's history. Toronto has had great play by play announcers throughout its history. Tom Cheek broadcast from the first day of their existence.for 27 years for 4,306 consecutive games. He is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. When he died his sidekick, Jerry Haworth, took over and his been the announcer for 32 years to this day. Here is the whole broadcast team
2012 was a very difficult years for the Blue Jays. In spite of having some exciting baseball players, they suffered from more injuries than any team can recover from. The organization has developed great depth in its minor league team which supplied young talent to fill in;. mainly from the AAA team in Las Vegas but they could not replace proven major league players.
This year holds great promise. Over the Winter the team made some big time trades to get major players. The Roger Broadcasting Company which owns the team, the Rogers Centre ballpark and the broadcasting rights (radio and TV) to all of Canada, decided to spend some money to make major changes. On paper it looks great.
The starting pitching rotation is outstanding. The most exciting pitcher is R.A. Dickey who pitches the most interesting pitch, the knuckle ball. All but one of the five starting pitcher is new.and proven successful major league players. In the field, there are major changes as well. It seems the most exciting new player is Jose Reyes, a shortstop, who is not only an outstanding player but also charming and full of fun. Another player worth watching is Melky Cabrera, a great player with something to prove. He was convicted of using drug enhancing drugs last year and it seeking a new start and redemption. His effort in Spring training is any indicator he will achieve this and be a great player with Toronto. There is no reason the best player from last year will not repeat this year: There seem to be few if any weaknesses in this years team. Besides better pitching their is potentially better hitting. There are more left handed pitchers this year that can be strategically important. Toronto has a great running group of players what can steal bases and occasionally beat out an otherwise routine out.
Toronto's farm system still has great depth. The AAA team is now in Buffalo, The Buffalo Bisons, instead of in Las Vegas. This will make it easier to call up players when needed. With the players on this team the Bison's should field an exiting team this year. They have a lovely ballpark to play it. It is only 1 1/2 hour drive from Toronto, good for players call up and fans to take in some games in Buffalo to enjoy some players who will be Toronto Blue Jays future.
My son, the teacher, is playing hooky today to go to Toronto for the opening game. He is in good company, he is going with his friend and Principal of his school. (I guess the two of them are taking sick days). Lucky fellas. I left a message for Parker to take an extra day and stay to take in the opening day game in Buffalo, on April 4. I doubt he will but I thought it would be a great idea. This year I would like to go to a game in Buffalo as well as some in Toronto.
Memories. . . . . . .
Joe Carter was involved in the wining play in both the 1992 and 1993 World series. He was playing first base., in 1992, when the pitcher Timlin picked up the bunt and tossed him the ball for the final out against Atlanta. In 1993, Joe Carter hit the winning home run for which he will always be remembered. Here is a tribute to Joe Carter by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in which his memorial home run is shown. Joe Carter is still doing promotional work for the Blue Jays and giving back by working with kids interesting in baseball.
Here is Tom Cheek announcing Joe Carter's winning home run.
Sadly we all grow older. Here is an aging group of players from those 1992 and 1993 Blue Jays. Older yes, but what memories they have left us and surely what memories they share as part of those great teams.
Tonight a new season begins full of hope. There will be wonderful moments in many games but the DREAM is that there will be great moments to rival the last time the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada's baseball team, won it all in World Series games.
Go, Jays Go!
I am off to find my blue Blue Jays logo jelly mold. Time to celebrate!
Tonight
.
posted by Tossing Pebbles in the Stream @ 1:27 p.m.
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4 Comments:
There was a teacher in Sarnia who used to take a sick day to watch the Detroit Lions (maybe on Thanksgiving). He was eventually read the riot act.
Didn't know you were a baseball fan. Maybe you should visit your son in Arizona (I think I remember he lives here) during March and watch spring training. I don't think Toronto trains here, but you could stay with family.
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Well Phillip dear, since I am just not into baseball...or football....or hockey...or much of any sport, well maybe horse racing a litte bit, I will just say I hope you enjoy the season and that your team wins, and that is a BEAUTIFUL photo of the bridge!
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