Spoiler tag suiting Jays down the stretch
The Jays are playing the spoiler role down the stretch as they are facing some of the tougher teams in their division.
They played some gritty baseball last weekend, taking two of three from the Bronx Bombers, coming from behind and taking advantage of some rare Yankee mistakes.
Although the Yanks are sometimes called the Bombers, they haven't dropped a lot of bombs lately, which really surprises me because they are usually one of the best second-half teams. But the Jays have gained momentum and are creating some problems for other teams as we near the end of the regular season.
Despite some mediocrity in the Toronto offence during the first half of the season, the second half gives me a reason to be optimistic for the future of this team, especially with the front office’s commitment to bringing back Cito and the coaching staff next year.
The Jays are playing the spoiler role down the stretch as they are facing some of the tougher teams in their division.
They played some gritty baseball last weekend, taking two of three from the Bronx Bombers, coming from behind and taking advantage of some rare Yankee mistakes.
Although the Yanks are sometimes called the Bombers, they haven't dropped a lot of bombs lately, which really surprises me because they are usually one of the best second-half teams. But the Jays have gained momentum and are creating some problems for other teams as we near the end of the regular season.
Despite some mediocrity in the Toronto offence during the first half of the season, the second half gives me a reason to be optimistic for the future of this team, especially with the front office’s commitment to bringing back Cito and the coaching staff next year.
That is a huge step in the right direction for a team that needed some stability after many experts had picked Toronto to win the division or at least the wild card. But injuries and poor play early on took care of that. Hey, it happens, look at Detroit! Everyone thought they would run away with the division and score a thousand runs, but they have been mediocre at best.
One of the reasons I’m optimistic is because the Jays boast one of the best pitching staffs in the entire game and this includes their bullpen. Now, that can't be overlooked and not many teams can say that. That’s a pitching staff to be envied.
The defence has also been stellar all season long. By making the routine plays, the Jays don't beat themselves and support the already tough pitching staff. To me the injured players returning next year and the new confidence in Gene Tenace's hitting philosophy will only boost the offence next year. Now, don't think that I have given up on this year, I just always look ahead.
Crazy play
How about that crazy play at Wrigley Field Tuesday night?
Hunter Pence of the Houston Astros hits a line drive to centre-field, Jim Edmonds goes back, leaps for the ball, can't make the catch, the ball goes into the ivy, but wait … two balls come out! He threw one in and tossed the other to a fan.
Life with ivy.
3-D plaques and a bit of history
Another Yankee Stadium memory was created for me after this past weekend’s series between the Jays and Yankees (actually, probably more than one memory).
As promised, I did go to Monument Park and it was an experience that I will never forget. What I didn't know was that all the plaques are 3-D. Can you believe that? I didn't expect that, I just thought they would be flat. I was going to major in architecture, so maybe that’s more interesting to me than to most people. But now you know something else about me that you probably didn't know.
Anyway, I also found out that the Yankee logo was originally an insignia struck on a medal of honor designed by Tiffany and Company for the first New York City police officer, who was shot in the line of duty in 1877. The New York Yankees adopted the logo and it became a part of the uniform in 1909. How about that! Only in New York would a jeweller create a logo for a sports team. But I did have a former player's wife ask me once what did that Asian symbol on the Yankees hat meant. That is no joke - just ask Mike Jackson, it's his wife!
I took so many photos and saw the Jays third base coach Nick Layva with his son taking it all in as well. That is what baseball is all about, enjoying the game and its rich history with your family and friends.
The bleacher bums
It was also my first broadcast at Yankee Stadium, which was pretty special since I had spent four years in pinstripes. Although those were the leaner years for the Yanks, I enjoyed every moment of it especially my friends in right field who are lovingly called the “bleacher bums.”
Those guys will let you know how you are playing. They appreciate and know the game extremely well and they were very supportive of me. Just ask my wife who decided to have a little fun and go out there during last year’s Old Timers’ Game to razz me.
As she called me a "bum" she quickly learned how faithful the bleacher bums were - they almost beat her up. She had to let them know she was my wife and she was just joking.
They told her, "Hey, that's Barfield. Don't mess with him."