Baseball

[smc]

With hockey and now basketball done, and not withstanding World Cup fever, it's time to bump up the baseball thread and get the discussion going again.

In the AL East, where my team (GO RED SOX!!) resides, things have gotten very interesting. The expected decline of the Blue Jays (sorry, shadows), who held third place for a while, has happened, but not to the extent expected. They have suffered more from the good play of their division rivals. Meanwhile, the Red Sox -- who looked "done" early -- have surged, thanks in large part to David Ortiz coming alive after a dismal April, and also to some very good pitching despite losing Beckett and Matzusaka. The Yankees continue to go strong, but not as strong, and the Rays can't seem to keep up the amazing start from April. So, waking up this morning, we find the Rays and Yankees tied for first place but with the Sox only one game behind.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

With hockey and now basketball done, and not withstanding World Cup fever, it's time to bump up the baseball thread and get the discussion going again.

In the AL East, where my team (GO RED SOX!!) resides, things have gotten very interesting. The expected decline of the Blue Jays (sorry, shadows), who held third place for a while, has happened, but not to the extent expected. They have suffered more from the good play of their division rivals. Meanwhile, the Red Sox -- who looked "done" early -- have surged, thanks in large part to David Ortiz coming alive after a dismal April, and also to some very good pitching despite losing Beckett and Matzusaka. The Yankees continue to go strong, but not as strong, and the Rays can't seem to keep up the amazing start from April. So, waking up this morning, we find the Rays and Yankees tied for first place but with the Sox only one game behind.

No need to apologize, because the decline has stopped. Toronto actually has a 3-game winning streak going on and they are only 4.5 games out of first place in the East, and only 4.5 games out of the Wildcard spot(3.5 games behind Boston). So it is fair to say that Toronto is by no means out of the picture. And considering how this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Jays, I can honestly say that I am impressed with how they are playing.

As long as they are still playing meaningful baseball in the latter days of the summer, I will be happy.

[ila]

Originally Posted by shadows

As long as they are still playing meaningful baseball in the latter days of the summer, I will be happy.

There is the big unknown. The Jays have too often had a tendency to quit playing baseball in late summer.

[smc]

Originally Posted by ila

There is the big unknown. The Jays have too often had a tendency to quit playing baseball in late summer.

True, but you must understand that as the opening of hockey season looms they are called upon to teach their city-mates, the Maple Leafs, their work ethic.

[smc]

Apropos of the Toronto Blue Jays, and on a more serious note than my post above, it is worth noting that soon the team's management will find itself at the proverbial fork in the road. Specifically, in what shadows correctly identified as a "rebuilding" year, the trading deadline of July 31 looms. Does the team decide that it is hopelessly out of contention and choose to keep building its arsenal of young players by trading a few veterans (Overbay, Bautista, Gonzalez, and McDonald come to mind), or does it go for broke and try to bring in some "rented" players to help make a run at the Wild Card in the American League. It is an unenviable position in which to be.

[ila]

^ I would like to see Toronto make the playoffs legitimately rather than make it in because of the wild card spot.

[transjen]

Went to the Phillies Reds game tonight and i'm glad i stayed for the whole game, yes i was templed to leave early as it was an ugly game from the start and going in to the bottom of the *9th it was 7 to 1 in favor of the Reds but My Phillies came back to tie it and took it to extra innings and Howard hit a walkoff HR in the 10th to win it 9 to 7, So this Jerseygirl had a good time at the park tonight even after suffering thru 8 innings but the end was worth it
Jerseygirl Jen