Sens of Anarchy
Registered User
- Jul 9, 2013
- 67,142
- 52,862
OT: All-Purpose Sports Thread III (NFL, MLB, etc.) - JAYS AL EAST CHAMPS PLAYOFF EDITION
- Thread starter Quo
- Start date
- Status
To be fair, the Jays were a hard team to root for during the whole JP Ricciardi era. He shipped off all the popular guys (Delgado, Shannon Stewart), he fired all the scouts, disbanded the Dominican operations, and seemed to dislike colorful characters, whether they be player (Orlando Hudson didn't last long) or coach. The old logo was gone, and the jerseys were ugly and boring as hell. The farm did so badly that the Jays were left with a AAA team in stupid Las Vegas. The one great player during that era was Halladay (and maaaybe Vernon Wells if you squint hard enough and forget about the albatros his contract became once he suddenly declined) and he had a very bland personality. There were no exciting acquisitions, unless you consider AJ Burnett, BJ Ryan or a soon-to-retire Frank Thomas to be exciting. Fans were left to root for John MacDonald and Reed Johnson. On top of it all, JP Ricciardi had a big mouth and he alienated players. Nobody seemed to want to play in Toronto.
Alex Anthopoulos came in, hired plenty of scouts, re-established latin american operations, exploited every loophole in the CBA, and was willing to gamble. He rebuilt a farm and so was able to get his AAA team closer at hand in Buffalo. Made some unbelievable trades, some that worked (such as getting rid of said albatross contract) and some that didn't. But at least excitement gradually came back. Marketing stepped up with a new/old nice logo and jersey, a winter tour and better TV coverage. Players such as Arencibia, Snider, Romero, Lawrie were allowed to make themselves more accessible through social media. Attendance kept going up after the Reyes/Buehrle/Josh Johnson mammoth deal, even though ultimately it turned out to be a pretty bad way to increase payroll. Ownership loosened the purse strings, but they were still weren't allowing much payroll flexibility. Yet Anthopoulos managed to keep bringing in more talent. Donaldson, Martin being the latest last off-season.
Anyway, all this to say the increase of interest in the team hasn't been only the product of the last two months. We've been seeing more and more Jays hats in Ottawa the last couple of years. My own girlfriend who used to hate baseball became the greatest fan 4-5 years ago.
I remained a fan through the dark years, but it was understandable to get off the Jays' bandwagon during the JP Ricciardi era and I think it's understandable that there would be a regain of interest with this new bunch of players and the results they're getting.
Alex Anthopoulos came in, hired plenty of scouts, re-established latin american operations, exploited every loophole in the CBA, and was willing to gamble. He rebuilt a farm and so was able to get his AAA team closer at hand in Buffalo. Made some unbelievable trades, some that worked (such as getting rid of said albatross contract) and some that didn't. But at least excitement gradually came back. Marketing stepped up with a new/old nice logo and jersey, a winter tour and better TV coverage. Players such as Arencibia, Snider, Romero, Lawrie were allowed to make themselves more accessible through social media. Attendance kept going up after the Reyes/Buehrle/Josh Johnson mammoth deal, even though ultimately it turned out to be a pretty bad way to increase payroll. Ownership loosened the purse strings, but they were still weren't allowing much payroll flexibility. Yet Anthopoulos managed to keep bringing in more talent. Donaldson, Martin being the latest last off-season.
Anyway, all this to say the increase of interest in the team hasn't been only the product of the last two months. We've been seeing more and more Jays hats in Ottawa the last couple of years. My own girlfriend who used to hate baseball became the greatest fan 4-5 years ago.
I remained a fan through the dark years, but it was understandable to get off the Jays' bandwagon during the JP Ricciardi era and I think it's understandable that there would be a regain of interest with this new bunch of players and the results they're getting.
L'Aveuglette
つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
This.
People just love to crap on bandwagon fans but isn't that the entire point of managing a team properly/spending more? To get the old fans back and gain new ones?
It's not like all these people were cheering for other MLB teams until the Jays got good again.
So now the question I have to ask all fans: Would you rather the team come back to force a game 5 only to lose in the ninth (a la Leafs style) or just lose in game 3 and be done with it.
For me, nothing can hurt as much as the '87 collapse or the various Sens losses to the Leafs, so I'd rather a game 5 heart breaker. Maybe it's because I'm older and more beaten down now, but for some reason losses don't hurt as much any more.
For me, nothing can hurt as much as the '87 collapse or the various Sens losses to the Leafs, so I'd rather a game 5 heart breaker. Maybe it's because I'm older and more beaten down now, but for some reason losses don't hurt as much any more.
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Sens Rule
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2005
- 21,251
- 75
As a long time Expos fan... My attention to baseball dwindled after 1994 and died after the Spos left. I kinda watched Pedro Martinez pitch in playoff games for Boston. I had 10's of thousands of baseball cards as a kid, was a bigger baseball fan as a kid and teen the hockey, have read many dozens of baseball books, maybe over a hundred on my life, probably have a bit of knowledge about every HOF ball player, even most dead ball, negro league players. But I have not watched baseball in a decade and a half, nor cared about it, not had more then a passing interest in the Jays.
However since the trade deadline I downloaded the MLB app to my phone and Jays news apps, read the GDT on The Jays on the Leafs board here, have listened to on the radio or watched most of every Jays game. I bought a Jays hat. First Jays clothing I ever owned.
So yeah I am on the bandwagon, I had forgotten why I even loved baseball and watching and listening to it. This run rekindled the days of Dawson and Raines and EL Presidente, El Perfecto! And Larry Walker, Grissom and DeShields.
So yeah, this has been a BIG, BIG, BIG few months for the Jays regardless. Even if this bubble bursts and they lose to the Rangers, I will care about the Jays and watch them. They are now MY TEAM. I LOVE baseball now... And could have not cared less about the whole sport for 15 years.
This bandwagon brings back real true fans. Probably so many heartbroken, disinterested Expo fans across the country.
I hope Rogers comes through this offseason and next year we have this kind of strong stacked team all season, not just from the deadline.
ChocolateLeclaire
Registered User
How old do you feel watching Delino's kid play against the Jays? I felt ancient! hah
L'Aveuglette
つ ◕_◕ ༽つ
Well put!
I'm so old I even remember being a fan in the Gary Carter era and seeing him play at the Olympic stadium. Those were great times to be a young baseball fan.
God Says No
Registered User
- Mar 16, 2012
- 8,540
- 1,907
Man, what a bunch of whiners. Bautista being the biggest. You lost the game because you didn't play well enough.
Well put!
I'm so old I even remember being a fan in the Gary Carter era and seeing him play at the Olympic stadium. Those were great times to be a young baseball fan.
Unfortunately, I also remember that Rick Monday homerun.
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,825
- 1,694
Sorry Nac, but you just sound incredibly bitter. I've been a Jays fan for 20 years, and sure I have a laugh at all the uninformed bandwagoners, but that happens with literally every sports team making a run. It just so happens that Toronto itself has a huge population and they are the only team in all of Canada, so the effect is magnified.
I remember going to Jarry Park with my dad and when Rusty Staub returned to Montreal...lol
I don't like all the fancy crap they pull when they head to the dugout after a homerun or whatever... if I were pitching for the other team I'd be drilling guys left and right for that s***... and yeah the whining about balls and strikes drives me nuts. they look so distracted by it, instead of sucking it up and focusing on the next pitch, Bautista is the worst , by far...
I missed Tulo's HR cause I shut it off after us hitting into dp's with bases loade inning after inning after inning.... was driving me insane.. great job by Estrada.... Dickey today, with either Price or Stroman as the long reliever if needed (hopefully not)... here's hoping Dickey can screw texas up with that knuckleball for a game
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,825
- 1,694
Lol. I feel your pain! But turning it off at that point is like turning off a 1-0 NHL playoff game because we went 0-5 on the PP. Frustrating as hell though. I was yelling at the radio in my car.
Should be fun tonight, we desperately need that knuckler to dance. Price and Stroman will be available in the pen.
Pierre from Orleans
Registered User
- May 9, 2007
- 27,429
- 20,027
I heard on the radio that Tulo wasn't really happy with being in Toronto. Is there any substance to this?
Scrub*
Team Canada
- Dec 28, 2008
- 9,289
- 2
He didn't like the way Colorado handled the trade, that's what he said in an interview but he likes a winning team and likes Toronto, believes everything happens for a reason.
The Rockies told him he would have a say where he would get traded, then suddenly he's told he's been moved to Toronto, it just caught him by surprise , he thought he earned the right to control where he went after being in Colorado so long.
Sens Rule
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2005
- 21,251
- 75
ChocolateLeclaire
Registered User
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,825
- 1,694
Dickey sketches me out haha
Hopefully he can get some good innings. Price looks like he is chomping at the bit.
Hopefully he can get some good innings. Price looks like he is chomping at the bit.
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,825
- 1,694
robsenz
Registered User
- Apr 15, 2007
- 3,592
- 2,469
DrunkUncleDenis
Condra Fan
- Mar 27, 2012
- 11,825
- 1,694
- Status
