Sometimes You Hate It: Jays Take Weekend Series vs Astros.
Much like the Jays’ bats over the past week, this space has been a quiet one. Turns out heat wave related headaches and smashed technology tools makes writing difficult (RIP phone.)
Since the bats woke up, it would probably be a good idea to wake up the space.
I went to the game on Friday, which turned out to be the only game the Jays lost over the weekend (thanks, boys.) It was so hot I nearly pulled a Sauna Russell™ waiting in line and wrecked my phone by dropping it on concrete in wooziness.
My friends and I sat next to three dudes. My friend was talking to them more than I was and eventually this got me yelled at by one of them, a drunk Tigers fan who said he’d see the Jays in the Wild Card game and continued to yell when I gently asked, “Why would the Jays be in the Wild Card game?”
He also repeatedly called Shapiro the devil (“and Atkins is, too!”) and lamented the loss of Jesse Chavez when Feldman was pitching. Because why not yell about the man who both brought Chavez in and then traded him away when it didn’t work out, especially when you aren’t even a fan of the team?
Other than all of those things (heat, wrecked phone, sick, yelled at, loss), I had a pretty great time. I got to tell my friend who knows nothing about baseball why it’s so awesome (pitch selection, sign stealing, double plays, homeruns, the existence of Josh Donaldson) and had a lengthy conversation about walk up music. The energy after Encarnación hit his 300th career homer was electric. It’s the benefit of a big crowd.
I wrecked my phone in the line waiting to get in so I didn’t get any pictures of the great moments of Carlos Delgado on the field before the game being greeted by Encarnación, Tulowitzki and then Donaldson. Bro hugs and handshakes. And the Delgado smile which is still cash money.
The weekend improved considerably when the Jays decided to hit the baseball on Saturday and Sunday. Russell Martin was the hero on Saturday, hitting a three run bomb to win the game.
It made him feel better:
Martin also had plenty of good things to say about Aaron Sanchez, who settled right down after giving up two runs in the first inning.
Sanchez's ability to adjust and throw his offspeed pitches for strikes have made all the difference. Without that, he's a great bullpen pitcher. With it, he's one of the best young starters in the game.
Martin's greatness continued into the next game where he hit another homer and made a very fancy catch leaning into the Astros' dugout.
Check moi l’es donc.
Good from
every
angle.
Wait, Russell has more to say? Vas-y, Coltrane.
Troy Tulowitzki, the other guy with the slow start to 2016, went 3-for-4 with homer, a pair of runs scored and three RBIs. He also appeared on Donaldson's Instagram.
John Michael Gibbons, Poet and Baseball Philosopher
Before Sunday's game, as part of the 40th anniversary, the Jays celebrated the best pitchers in the franchise's history. Notably absent were Roger Clemens (though he was there on video, apparently) and Jimmy Key.
Sigh. Yeah.
He's just the best. I watched this game live. By complete coincidence, my dad (and his friend) sat across the aisle from me.
One man highlight reel.
Tunes? Because much like the Roy Halladay Jays, Frank Ocean is a giant tease.
More? Ok.
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