A Little Diversity...
...up your ass. The National Post ran their Blogger's Panel season preview and once again, I was not asked to participate.
If I had just started this blog, I would understand. But 2011 will be the 5th season I've blogged about. If, on this blog, I wrote extensively about who was the dreamiest player, I would understand it. But I don't write about player dreaminess. This has the stench of preferential sausage treatment, if you get my meaning. The stench of bullshit also pervades.
But, I will not succumb to bitterness. I am going to answer the Blogger Panel questions here, and I have asked the lovely Sarah (@s_findlay) And when I say "asked", I mean she begged. Shamelessly.
Here it goes:
Joanna, from Hum and Chuck, doesn't need to have her work published on the website of a major national newspaper to feel special. Her site is best known the humourous humiliation of Red Sox fans who post on SOSH and for not being run by a dude. She thinks stats are for pencil-pushing nerds, who need to hide behind numbers because they are afraid to touch girls.
Sarah is a clever girl, best known for her cleverness and despite it, still believing in the Leafs.
1. What does Jose Bautista do for an encore?
Hum and Chuck: Jose Bautista hits 40 homeruns, grows a mighty beard and impresses us all with his feats of strength and manliness. Bautista also shows discipline at the plate and a hose in the outfield.
Sarah: Jose Bautista hits 30 homeruns and punches Damien Cox in the face before dropping his bat and walking away coolly, lighting things on fire with his eyes.
2. Who is the Jay most likely to have a breakthrough or breakout season?
Hum and Chuck: If Brandon Morrow gets healthy, he has all the makings of a super stud. His success will serve to increase the legend of Alex Anthopoulous. Travis Snider, if he stays patient, may finally blossom into the beast at the plate all expect him to be.
Sarah: Travis Snider, if only by the sheer will of the populous who has watched him eat his heart out this off season. "Watching Man vs Food for the first time. Wondering if baseball is really my dream job," - everyone knows it's the guys with outside interests who excel the most in sports. Wayne Gretzky loves baseball, Alex Rodriguez loves centaurs, Andre Agassi loves mullet wigs. Travis Snider loves food. Go forth, Lunch Box Hero.
3. Who else might be a pleasant surprise?
Hum and Chuck: Encarnacion showed up to camp skinny and with a strong wrist. Skinniness alone was enough of a pleasant surprise. Not so pleasant surprise, we are going to realize how much we miss Lyle Overbay.
Sarah: Edwin Encarnacion. It just isn't hard to be better than 1000 people on Twitter bemoaning your return to 3rd base. Anything that isn't a shifted tribute to Russ Adams will be a pleasant surprise.
4. Who do you expect to be the biggest flop?
Hum and Chuck: The bullpen, minus a solid left-handed presence of a Scott Downs, is scary indeed. So probably one of the right handed veterans acquired in the off-season.
Sarah: I'm not sure I can think of anyone in terms of expected success to disastrous BJ Ryanism. I can foresee some limited use (Dotel) or some general failing (Posednik), but as for legitimate flops no one comes to mind. Are we still paying BJ Ryan or can I just not get how much I hate him off my mind?
5. Who is the better candidate for a bounce-back season: Aaron Hill or Adam Lind?
Hum and Chuck: Adam Lind is a power hitter. He has been a power hitter at every level he played at. I don't know whether the idea that his offense was effected by his lack of defensive play as DH holds any weight, but Lind will now see time at first base and he will regain his swing. Short of concussing him again, I doubt Hill will ever repeat his miraculous 2009 campaign. But I hope he has some sort of recovery.
Sarah: Lind. I'm not as down on Hill as everyone else seems to be, but I'm also not as down on Hill as Hill seems to be. Adam has other things to worry about right now, and I can forgive the lack of Silver Slugger for any defensive prowess at first whatsoever. Infield confidence!
6. Will Toronto’s young rotation improve this year or take a step back?
Hum and Chuck: Another year under their belt is bound to improve their game, but they may still take a step back. But I think these boys can pitch, so the future is bright.
Sarah: I suppose you have to assume that they'll take a step back, but I certainly don't think it will be a big one. I expect consistency from Romero and Morrow, maybe a bit of a fall for Cecil.
7. Who is your closer? And if he falters, who takes over the role?
Hum and Chuck: Jon Rauch has experience in the role from his time last year with the Twins. If falters, be very afraid because a falter could turn into a fall, and Rauch, at 6'11, could take out the whole bullpen. I hesitate to put Frasor into the closer roll as it was a failed experiment under both Gibbons and Gaston. He works too slowly for my liking. I would probably put Francisco into the role.
Sarah: Francisco. When he eventually needs Tommy John surgery for his back injury, Rauch.
8. When does Brett Lawrie force his way into the lineup?
Hum and Chuck: No earlier than September. I like the idea of holding Lawrie back until next year the way Tampa did with Longoria, to push back his time till free agency. Let the kid tear up Vegas for a while.
Sarah: Only once he has tattooed Jay-Z lyrics on his other arm.
9. What other prospects are you waiting to see?
Hum and Chuck: Prospects are going to be fun because they are the reward the team got for giving up Halladay. And Halladay yielded some good ones. Perusing the list, I'm going to go with Travis D'Arnaud, a catcher with a nice arm and a quick bat. But really, any one of these kids could be fun to see. The future is bright.
Sarah: You can only underestimate my excitement for Adeiny Hechavarria, whether it be this year or next.
10. What will the Jays’ record be?
Hum and Chuck: The Jays gave up a few key guys in Wells, Marcum, Buck and Downs, but I honestly think the foundations of the success of last year still exist in this team. I'll say 81-81. I guessed low last year, and was pleasantly surprised.
Sarah: I'd guess in the neighbourhood of 75-87... but last season I bet a friend who doesn't even like baseball that the Jays wouldn't crack .500. Needless to say I lost and have no confidence in anyone's ability to guess such a random number. It won't be great and it probably won't even be good, but it certainly won't be the Baltimore Orioles.
If I had just started this blog, I would understand. But 2011 will be the 5th season I've blogged about. If, on this blog, I wrote extensively about who was the dreamiest player, I would understand it. But I don't write about player dreaminess. This has the stench of preferential sausage treatment, if you get my meaning. The stench of bullshit also pervades.
But, I will not succumb to bitterness. I am going to answer the Blogger Panel questions here, and I have asked the lovely Sarah (@s_findlay) And when I say "asked", I mean she begged. Shamelessly.
Here it goes:
Joanna, from Hum and Chuck, doesn't need to have her work published on the website of a major national newspaper to feel special. Her site is best known the humourous humiliation of Red Sox fans who post on SOSH and for not being run by a dude. She thinks stats are for pencil-pushing nerds, who need to hide behind numbers because they are afraid to touch girls.
Sarah is a clever girl, best known for her cleverness and despite it, still believing in the Leafs.
1. What does Jose Bautista do for an encore?
Hum and Chuck: Jose Bautista hits 40 homeruns, grows a mighty beard and impresses us all with his feats of strength and manliness. Bautista also shows discipline at the plate and a hose in the outfield.
Sarah: Jose Bautista hits 30 homeruns and punches Damien Cox in the face before dropping his bat and walking away coolly, lighting things on fire with his eyes.
2. Who is the Jay most likely to have a breakthrough or breakout season?
Hum and Chuck: If Brandon Morrow gets healthy, he has all the makings of a super stud. His success will serve to increase the legend of Alex Anthopoulous. Travis Snider, if he stays patient, may finally blossom into the beast at the plate all expect him to be.
Sarah: Travis Snider, if only by the sheer will of the populous who has watched him eat his heart out this off season. "Watching Man vs Food for the first time. Wondering if baseball is really my dream job," - everyone knows it's the guys with outside interests who excel the most in sports. Wayne Gretzky loves baseball, Alex Rodriguez loves centaurs, Andre Agassi loves mullet wigs. Travis Snider loves food. Go forth, Lunch Box Hero.
3. Who else might be a pleasant surprise?
Hum and Chuck: Encarnacion showed up to camp skinny and with a strong wrist. Skinniness alone was enough of a pleasant surprise. Not so pleasant surprise, we are going to realize how much we miss Lyle Overbay.
Sarah: Edwin Encarnacion. It just isn't hard to be better than 1000 people on Twitter bemoaning your return to 3rd base. Anything that isn't a shifted tribute to Russ Adams will be a pleasant surprise.
4. Who do you expect to be the biggest flop?
Hum and Chuck: The bullpen, minus a solid left-handed presence of a Scott Downs, is scary indeed. So probably one of the right handed veterans acquired in the off-season.
Sarah: I'm not sure I can think of anyone in terms of expected success to disastrous BJ Ryanism. I can foresee some limited use (Dotel) or some general failing (Posednik), but as for legitimate flops no one comes to mind. Are we still paying BJ Ryan or can I just not get how much I hate him off my mind?
5. Who is the better candidate for a bounce-back season: Aaron Hill or Adam Lind?
Hum and Chuck: Adam Lind is a power hitter. He has been a power hitter at every level he played at. I don't know whether the idea that his offense was effected by his lack of defensive play as DH holds any weight, but Lind will now see time at first base and he will regain his swing. Short of concussing him again, I doubt Hill will ever repeat his miraculous 2009 campaign. But I hope he has some sort of recovery.
Sarah: Lind. I'm not as down on Hill as everyone else seems to be, but I'm also not as down on Hill as Hill seems to be. Adam has other things to worry about right now, and I can forgive the lack of Silver Slugger for any defensive prowess at first whatsoever. Infield confidence!
6. Will Toronto’s young rotation improve this year or take a step back?
Hum and Chuck: Another year under their belt is bound to improve their game, but they may still take a step back. But I think these boys can pitch, so the future is bright.
Sarah: I suppose you have to assume that they'll take a step back, but I certainly don't think it will be a big one. I expect consistency from Romero and Morrow, maybe a bit of a fall for Cecil.
7. Who is your closer? And if he falters, who takes over the role?
Hum and Chuck: Jon Rauch has experience in the role from his time last year with the Twins. If falters, be very afraid because a falter could turn into a fall, and Rauch, at 6'11, could take out the whole bullpen. I hesitate to put Frasor into the closer roll as it was a failed experiment under both Gibbons and Gaston. He works too slowly for my liking. I would probably put Francisco into the role.
Sarah: Francisco. When he eventually needs Tommy John surgery for his back injury, Rauch.
8. When does Brett Lawrie force his way into the lineup?
Hum and Chuck: No earlier than September. I like the idea of holding Lawrie back until next year the way Tampa did with Longoria, to push back his time till free agency. Let the kid tear up Vegas for a while.
Sarah: Only once he has tattooed Jay-Z lyrics on his other arm.
9. What other prospects are you waiting to see?
Hum and Chuck: Prospects are going to be fun because they are the reward the team got for giving up Halladay. And Halladay yielded some good ones. Perusing the list, I'm going to go with Travis D'Arnaud, a catcher with a nice arm and a quick bat. But really, any one of these kids could be fun to see. The future is bright.
Sarah: You can only underestimate my excitement for Adeiny Hechavarria, whether it be this year or next.
10. What will the Jays’ record be?
Hum and Chuck: The Jays gave up a few key guys in Wells, Marcum, Buck and Downs, but I honestly think the foundations of the success of last year still exist in this team. I'll say 81-81. I guessed low last year, and was pleasantly surprised.
Sarah: I'd guess in the neighbourhood of 75-87... but last season I bet a friend who doesn't even like baseball that the Jays wouldn't crack .500. Needless to say I lost and have no confidence in anyone's ability to guess such a random number. It won't be great and it probably won't even be good, but it certainly won't be the Baltimore Orioles.