Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Blue Jays vs. Indians Series Thread

[Sylvanfan]

Cleveland might still make a run at this second Wild card spot. They're playing the Jays tooth and nail and took 4 of 6 from the Yankees. Once they finish up with Toronto they face all Central teams. So if they can start beating them they can close the gap. I like their rotation a fair bit, and wouldn't want to see them in a one game series.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Martin, Donaldson, and Smoak are good for their position too.

That is truly the one thing the jays turned around in a year, went from below average defensively to really good with the moves they made.

Revere in left makes a difference too. Suddenly Bautista looks like the weakest defensive guy on the team, and thats a good thing.

[Dion]

Played in our clubs Mens night and as we were coming off the course and into the clubhouse we caught the 10th inning homer by Goins. It was a thing of beauty watching that ball sail over the wall and his getting mobbed afterwards by his team mates.

The more I watch the team the more I think this a team of destiny. They have the defence, pitching and batting, leaving very little in the way of weakneses within this team. I truely get the sense from listening to the players talk that they believe they can beat anyone in the leagueand have what it takes to win the World Series.

[Frequitude]

First walk off homerun in Goins' entire life, at all levels of baseball.

[Tyler]

How vital is experience in baseball when it comes to winning championships?

That's one concern for me.. it doesn't seem like we have many guys with playoff or championship experience. Any area where we might run into troubles should we face the Yankees or the Royals in the playoffs. Or does it even matter?

[Jiggy_12]

They're pretty inexperienced but do have a few guys with some playoff games under their belts.

Rotation: Price, Buerhle, Estrada
Pen: Hawkins, Lowe,
Position players: Martin, Navarro, Tulowitzki, Donaldson, Carrera, Pennington


Interesting to note: while looking this up I discovered that RA Dickey has never made the post season. 13 years and not one playoff inning to his credit. He must be as pumped as anyone for October.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Tyler

How vital is experience in baseball when it comes to winning championships?

That's one concern for me.. it doesn't seem like we have many guys with playoff or championship experience. Any area where we might run into troubles should we face the Yankees or the Royals in the playoffs. Or does it even matter?

Playoff experience is way overrated IMHO. It's something veteran team's fans cling to when facing a plucky upstart team to justify why the fact that they're being outplayed is not an indicator that they're likely to lose. Just look at the Canucks vs. the Flames series this year. After games 3 &4 where the Canucks got outplayed, the HNIC machine and the Canucks themselves kept referring to their 'experience' like somehow that was going to make them faster or better out on the ice.

[Harry Lime]

I think that Goins has locked himself into the defensive replacement/day off/injury position for the middle infield next year. Regular playing time. If he shows that his bat so far is progression and not simply 'hot', he could even supplant Travis, although I think it unlikely. Only downside is that we won't have any Muni sightings next year. Good for Goins, he really took the opportunity and ran with it. Depth at SS/2B, that isn't a nailbiting experience, is a nice change for the Jays.

[whosurnabby]

Yanks on the verge of winning their series against Boston..bottom of the 9th with a 13-7 lead.

I read on twitter that the Jays' magic number is 25 right now. I hope it's down to 24 tomorrow. Go Jays!

[MyFlamesFirst]

Mvp mvp

[Acey]

Jays knock out the Indians' starter who looks on the verge of tears as he walks off the mound, but that's pretty much the look that's been on his face since the first pitch.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I don't think I've ever seen someone score on a sac fly to 2nd base before. What an incredible slide. JD is 2 for 2, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored. And it's only been 2 innings. What a player.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Thole playing again purely to catch Dickey because apparently nobody else can. I hope he gets Dickey a nice present in the off-season for single-handedly resurrecting his major league career.

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I don't think I've ever seen someone score on a sac fly to 2nd base before. What an incredible slide. JD is 2 for 2, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored. And it's only been 2 innings. What a player.

I think it's been happening more than ever since the league banned runner/catcher collisions in home plate.

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Thole playing again purely to catch Dickey because apparently nobody else can. I hope he gets Dickey a nice present in the off-season for single-handedly resurrecting his major league career.

If you have Netflix, please do watch Knuckleball on your spare time. R.A Dickey was THE sole reason why he got his career back on track. Josh Thole had nothing to do with it.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by whosurnabby

If you have Netflix, please do watch Knuckleball on your spare time. R.A Dickey was THE sole reason why he got his career back on track. Josh Thole had nothing to do with it.

Uh, yeah, read what I said again. Thole owes Dickey big time, not the other way around.

[Enoch Root]

Tampa was up 4-0, but Baltimore has tied it

[Enoch Root]

Is Francona going for a 9 inning record for most pitchers?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Wow!!! Love the way Donaldson plays. Definitely elements of Pete Rose in him. Love the hustle.

[Enoch Root]

Donaldson is alert, smart, and hustling on every play.

Just like Alomar was. Totally different players, but the same in the sense that they are the smartest, hardest working, and most talented guy out there.