I Regret Nothing: Notes on my Toronto Visit
I was in Toronto for a few days last week and saw two very enjoyable baseball games.
I was originally planning not to go to any of the Yankees series at all, but I finished taping a thing at MTV (which I'll have a link to eventually) and saw that the Jays were up 7-0 on Big Hirok. So with that, combined with a possible final Mariano Rivera appearance, I figured I'd go, with about 30 lbs of tv makeup suitable for HD on my face, and check it out.
A-Rod was lustily booed, Darren “Black Magic” Oliver struck him out late in the game and the Yankee fans streamed up the aisles. It wasn't quite Roy Halladay one hitting them, which I also witnessed, but it was a welcome sight nonetheless.
I also saw the first Kansas City game, which was efficiently dominated by Mark Buehrle. I had plans that involved margaritas post-game, so the clip at which Buehrle pitches was much appreciated. Buehrle has become one of the most enjoyable parts of this disappointing season. Per National Post’s John Lott:
When Emilio Bonifacio reported to the visitors’ clubhouse, he found the nameplate above his locker lacked several syllables. Emilio Smith, it read. That was the mischievous work of Mark Buehrle, a recent teammate in the locker room across the way. A few weeks back, when Bonifacio was still a Blue Jay, he joked with Buehrle that he should perhaps change his name in order to get more playing time. The banter continued July 28 after Bonifacio doubled in the ninth inning against Houston and scored the winning run, with Buehrle quipping that the Smith surname should stick.
I met José Bautista at a signing I went to on a whim. It was 20 seconds of shared oxygen, two seconds of eye contact but I got a signed ball, and when I leaned over and said, “Thank you, José” I got eye contact and a smile (which is apparently somewhat rare) for my trouble.
I regret nothing.
I saw this from behind the ‘pen.
Shine on, you crazy diamond.
(Read that whole post. It's excellent work by Drew Fairservice.)
The play was equally impressive from that angle and distance. It made Casey Janssen laugh and clap, which assures me that his mental faculties are in good working order.
This team is still fun, which makes the season that much more baffling and disappointing. Bruce Arthur talks about the season. I suggest putting away sharp objects before reading it.
That, and John McDonald is a member of the Red Sox, which is just so wrong I can't even discuss it.
It’s a move that has “Butter”fingers all over it. I have a sinking feeling that the loss of Brian Butterfield is going to haunt the Jays for a while.
That, and the Red Sox seem to be cruising into the final month of the regular season unchallenged. I trusted you, Tampa Bay, and you betrayed me.
Two awesome articles from John Lott you might've missed, one on RA Dickey’s talk with abused kids and the other about Mariano Rivera’s visit with Blue Jays staffers. It was way cooler than a cowboy hat.
Although we would’ve been denied this picture.
