You've Gotta Bury These Guys!
Last night reminded me of the Raptors. The Raptors have beaten the following contending teams this year: Pistons (2 times), the Spurs (on the road), and Boston. Then they come home to the ACC last week and shit the bed against the Charlotte Bobcats who were something like 28-46 at the time.
The habit of playing down to the competition has moved down the street from the ACC to the Rogers Centre. As I said earlier this week in an earlier blog, my biggest worry is that the Jays will play down to the A's, and sure enough, they have. The Jays, despite their recent wins against the Red Sox and a competitive series vs. the Yankees which could have also been a sweep, have yet to show me that they've got that killer instinct, much like the Raptors don't seem to have it either.
When you are facing a pitcher making his major league debut (who has not played more than half a season above AA ball), you've got to get to him early and often. The Jays managed to get 3 runs across in the first (on 1 hit, a walk, hit batsmen, and a sac fly with a throwing error). The next hit the kid gave up was in the 5th inning. Not exactly making it difficult for him are we? You allowed him to get in a groove and get comfortable.
Is it just me, or does anybody else not have a ton of confidence in Accardo right now? I just don't feel like his has the goods right now, and I am looking at the calendar saying, "OK, when is the BEEJ coming back?" The problem is, who else could fill in for Accardo? I guess Gibbons may have to ride out the storm and hope BEEJ comes back soon and gives the Jays that closer that tells the opposition that the game is over. Right now, I think the opposition knows it has a chance against Accardo. If you look at Mariano Riveira with the Yankees, everybody in the stadium, including the batter knows that he is going to throw the splitter, but how often does he get beat? Not often. He has the intimidation factor that makes it difficult for players to beat him.
On a positive note, despite the fact that McGowan wasn't very sharp last night, I like it how he has developed into a pitcher that will bend, but won't break. He had the bases loaded, 2 innings in a row, and in the 5th, none were out with the bases loaded and he got out of the 5th with no runs. I think that it shows his teammates that he buckles down and refuses to give up the big inning that deflates the offence (hello? AJ Burnett?)
Anyways, hopefully the Jays can salvage a game tonight (although my loyalties will be torn as the Habs are opening up against the Bruins tonight). I hope they can get one against the A's tonight and then it is off on the road to Texas and Baltimore. Despite the fact that Baltimore is off to a hot start, the Jays have to take the two series on the road here to get back on track.
On a side note, it is too bad that the boneheads in the 500 level ruin it for regular ball fans by boozing it up so much at the game that now the Jays have to ban alchohol sales on $2 Tuesdays. I have a flex pack, but luckily it isn't on those nights so I'll still be able to indulge while I'm there.
Till tomorrow,
Booze
The habit of playing down to the competition has moved down the street from the ACC to the Rogers Centre. As I said earlier this week in an earlier blog, my biggest worry is that the Jays will play down to the A's, and sure enough, they have. The Jays, despite their recent wins against the Red Sox and a competitive series vs. the Yankees which could have also been a sweep, have yet to show me that they've got that killer instinct, much like the Raptors don't seem to have it either.
When you are facing a pitcher making his major league debut (who has not played more than half a season above AA ball), you've got to get to him early and often. The Jays managed to get 3 runs across in the first (on 1 hit, a walk, hit batsmen, and a sac fly with a throwing error). The next hit the kid gave up was in the 5th inning. Not exactly making it difficult for him are we? You allowed him to get in a groove and get comfortable.
Is it just me, or does anybody else not have a ton of confidence in Accardo right now? I just don't feel like his has the goods right now, and I am looking at the calendar saying, "OK, when is the BEEJ coming back?" The problem is, who else could fill in for Accardo? I guess Gibbons may have to ride out the storm and hope BEEJ comes back soon and gives the Jays that closer that tells the opposition that the game is over. Right now, I think the opposition knows it has a chance against Accardo. If you look at Mariano Riveira with the Yankees, everybody in the stadium, including the batter knows that he is going to throw the splitter, but how often does he get beat? Not often. He has the intimidation factor that makes it difficult for players to beat him.
On a positive note, despite the fact that McGowan wasn't very sharp last night, I like it how he has developed into a pitcher that will bend, but won't break. He had the bases loaded, 2 innings in a row, and in the 5th, none were out with the bases loaded and he got out of the 5th with no runs. I think that it shows his teammates that he buckles down and refuses to give up the big inning that deflates the offence (hello? AJ Burnett?)
Anyways, hopefully the Jays can salvage a game tonight (although my loyalties will be torn as the Habs are opening up against the Bruins tonight). I hope they can get one against the A's tonight and then it is off on the road to Texas and Baltimore. Despite the fact that Baltimore is off to a hot start, the Jays have to take the two series on the road here to get back on track.
On a side note, it is too bad that the boneheads in the 500 level ruin it for regular ball fans by boozing it up so much at the game that now the Jays have to ban alchohol sales on $2 Tuesdays. I have a flex pack, but luckily it isn't on those nights so I'll still be able to indulge while I'm there.
Till tomorrow,
Booze
posted by Booze at
7:10 AM
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