If you are anything like me it has been getting harder and harder to tune into the disaster that has become the Toronto Blue Jays 2009 season. The promise and the joy of the Blue Jays hot start has been replaced by the sadness of watching Toronto finish out another season far out of contention. Don’t get me wrong, Toronto is my team and I will follow ‘em through to the end season even if I am sickened by the out come, but all hope is not lost there are still some reasons to keep tuning into the games.
1) Travis Snider – a glimpse into the future. Snider is back after being sent to sin city to get his groove back the number one prospect in the Jays organization has returned. He tore it up in Vegas before his recall and already has two dingers since his return. This is his chance to show us what he has learned since his demotion and provide us with preview of the future has in store for him.
2) Ricky Romero’s chase for the ROY – what a difference a year makes. Roll back your calender 365 days and you’ll see the word bust mentioned next to Romero’s name by many a Jays fan. The 2005 first rounder due to injuries and lack of performance wasn’t even considered by most experts to have a shot at being part of the Jays rotation this season. Proving the critics wrong Ricky has been Toronto’s most consistent starter behind the man they call Doc and has put himself in contention to earn the AL Rookie of the Year award. To take home the honour Romero will have to out perform two other young hurlers Rick Porcello of the Detroit Tigers and Jeff Niemann of the Tampa Bay Rays.
3) Doc’s goes for Cy Young number 2 – Despite missing sometime to injury and the lack of support he received from his teammates upon his return Doc remains in a hunt for his second career Cy Young. Standing in his way are two young phenoms in Felix Hernandez and Zach Greinke. With a little help from his team in terms of run support we could very well watch Roy Halladay join Roger Clemens as the only Jay two win multiple Cy Youngs.
4) The last of Halladay – barring a off-season full of stunning moves we could very well be watching the last couple of weeks of Roy Halladay as a Blue Jay. Halladay has given his all to this franchise during his time here but the itch of playing for a contender and testing free agency is something he finally wants to scratch but the Jays in a position where Halladay may likely be dealt this off-season. It might be a while before we see another one like Roy Halladay so make the effort to tune into watch what might be his final days.
5) So long Kevin Millar - he might be the greatest guy ever in the locker room but that doesn’t stop me from rolling my eyes every time I see his name pencilled in the line up or having heart palpitations when he bats clean up. I will take joy in knowing that unless Millar is willing to sell his soul to the devil there is no chance I will see him in a Blue Jays uniform next season.
I agree Darryl and I hope the Jays can boost their form enough to make Doc want to stay!
I’d love to have Doc re-sign. Sure he has alot of trade value but elite number 1 pitchers don’t grow on trees either.
me thinks the main reason for jays down fall this season is the lack of
productivity from Wells and previously Rios. I’m not a baseball coach but In closely observing Wells, his swings this year and last year leave a lot to be desired. His swing is like he’s trying to remove a fly off of his bat and when he makes contact the hits are weak. Surely video replays of his swing with the batting coach might get him out of his rut. But then Wells may not give a dam
he’s still getting paid big bucks.