If Only Life had a Dislike Button

With course selection coming up quick it’s hard to believe this will be the final year of my undergraduate degree at McMaster University. These past four years have been filled with good and bad classes, as can be expected, along with great times with friends and the opportunity to take initiative in starting some new teams and clubs. McMaster has given me the chance to put myself in a great position come graduation after participating in the internship program and getting involved with Model United Nations, the Canadian Marketing Association and the University Senate. Next year at this time it will all be behind us, but let’s make sure we make the most of these last eight months and have an amazing senior year!

Welcome Yan Gomes to the Toronto Blue Jays!

In case you hadn’t noticed the Blue Jays designated first baseman Adam Lind on a minor league assignment this week and later placed him on waivers. Lind has had a rough couple seasons since coming off the Silver Slugger Award in which he was a top five candidate for the MVP award. The organization was patient this season, giving him endless opportunity in the cleanup hole behind Joey Bats until finally making the decision that he needs some work back in the minor leagues. In exchange for Lind the Jays called up utility player Yan Gomes who immediately slotted into the third base spot for suspended Brett Lawrie. Gomes also plays first base and can DH being in the American League. With Lawrie returning for the series down in Tampa tomorrow, it will be interesting to see what Toronto does with the hot hitting young player who must figure into the lineup some place if they want to change their fortunes against the Rays.

Down goes Mo!

After shagging fly balls in the outfield as he has done before every game for the past 15-plus seasons Rivera tore his ACL falling awkwardly at Kauffman Stadium. Without doubt, the best closer of all time is done for the season and it was within reason that his career would be done had Mo not come forward and said “he will not go down this way and will rehab and attempt a return next season.” With 608 career saves, Rivera will now be replaced by either David Robertson or Rafael Soriano or a combination of the two backend bullpen arms to shut the door the rest of the way in 2012. The baseball world was shocked and disappointed by the news, well all except those in the AL East who won’t miss that cut fastball that has fooled so many hitters for the past two decades. My shootouts to Mariano Rivera for a quick and smooth recovery, enjoy the time with your family Mo, you’ll be back in the Yanks bullpen by next All-Star break if I had to make a prediction.     

Fans at Oakland Coliseum got a surprise when they showed up to the ballpark when the Royals strolled into town last week. Outfielder Jeff Francoeur had 20 pizzas delivered to a small animated group of fans in section 149 of the field a day after the second annual Bacon Tuesday, along with one autographed baseball bat to a lucky fan. Last year Francoeur tossed a ball wrapped in a $100 bill into the bleacher seats instructing fans to buy fans to use it to buy beer or bacon. Fans now adore him in Oakland and have left a large piece of paper bacon hanging on the railing to honour what he has done to make the ballpark a good time for everyone. After the lone trip to the bay area for the Royals this season, when asked why he made this gesture Jeff said “baseball is fun. We can take it too serious sometimes. This is something more than just baseball. That right-field section are here every game, they cheer for every (A’s player). They are diehards. I just enjoy them out there. It’s a lot of fun. You don’t get to build relationships like that every day.” This is what baseball is all about, brining people together in the name of the game. Why can’t we have more athletes both within baseball and beyond with the same attitude that Jeff Francoeur brings to the clubhouse each and every game.

Toronto Blue Jays are looking good offensively heading into the 2012 season - our outcome will be based on the the performance of the pitching rotation.

1. SS Yunel Escobar

2. 2B Kelly Johnson

3. RF Jose Bautista

4. 1B Adam Lind

5. DH Edwin Encarnacion

6. 3B Brett Lawrie

7. LF Eric Thames

8. C J.P. Arencibia

9. CF Colby Rasmus

Pitching roation is all but set except for the battle happening in the final spot, after Dustin McGowan was sent down to triple A, it’s down to a choice between Drabek and Laffey.

1. LHP Ricky Romero

2. RHP Brandon Morrow

3. LHP Brett Cecil

4. RHP Henderson Alvarez

5. RHP Kyle Drabek/Aaron Laffey

(Source: shot-at-redemption)

This explains it.