[Ziggy Lidstrom]

We will be playing around 23% of our remaining games against the rays and I will say this: I don't like the matchup. I feel this series will be the preamble to another fourth place finish. Realistically, which team do you see the jays catching? IMO, with this line-up having its two highest paid position players underperforming and intimidating nary a pitcher, we will be coaching eachother on how to cope with the eventual loss of Halladay.

On a tangent, in the Globe there was a story about a beat writer complaining about the lack of game knowledge that the skydome patrons posses in general. I totally agree, A Hill didn't get a curtain call when he broke Berto's record. This oversight to me proves this guys argument. Because of things like this, I say sell all the goods and rebuild like florida then we may get lucky in 13 years like TBay and be able to contend with the mega-budgets we comepete with in the AL East.

I know this post may come across as pessimistic and cynical, but face facts, we don't have the budget to be able to provide the depth that will be invoked during a 162 game schedule that sees injuries occurr more than A-Roid allegations. We don't have a farm team like Tbay or Florida to compensate with natural talent. We don't have the finances to pay for a farm system like ATL, BOS, NYY, NYM. What we have is a collection of guys that will continue with the status quo: better than baltimore and a GM obsessed with a model that has never won a championship. I remember the counter offer JP was hit with when inquiring about Bay in Pitt: Snider and Marcum. Would you do it then, and now? Me, yes on both. Why, because prospects are never a sure thing and guys who can hit major league pitching are more valuable than guys who could potentially do it. Marcum was a funny commodity, but JP wanted him to be special. Now, JP is paying the ultimate price for not wanting to part with some of his homegrown talent. How sick would our line up be with bay? Plus, he's a friggin' canuck. Make the PR move JP, the fanbase doesn't care about your dreams any longer and you are running out of time to deliver.

Can we blame anyone? I don't think so. If so, blame the americans for loving their national sport too much. The fans are the reasons for the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs and Angels. Am I bitter? No! Am I puzzeled why Bettman continually tries to grow the game in the US and will bend the rules to see the failing franchises get the best talent to compete and draw fans, then Buddy Selig seems to be content to have the bluejays and their fans fade away into mediocrity.

I'm just frustrated by the Jays' inability to rise above it all and make the playoffs. And my other team is mired in mediocrity as well- Indians - with no hope of improvement with the firesales these broke clowns are known for.

One last funny comment -funny in a semi-ironic way: The rays, when they were the whipping boys of the AL East, were never an easy series for the jays and often played them better while miserably competing with the other divisional rivals. Fast forward to last year when all their talent started to blossom, and they still are kicking our butts. We have no hope unless we start owning boston and NY and in their houses. I don't think we'll ever have the players to go to war with doc that are unphased by that atmosphere like he is.

Doc Departure countdown starts after this lastest loss.

PS, and cue the Debbie Downer pic!