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I can't take it no more
I can't stand it no more
Who's laughin' at me?


The best way to sum up yesterday’s Debacle at the Dome is this: the Blue Jays scored three more times than the Argonauts did last night -- and they still lost by 6 runs. Get all the gory details from Spencer Fordin, Allan Ryan and Mike Ganter. As Fordin notes, it was a bad day for pitchers at Skydome yesterday.

Here’s a double dose of potential inflammatories for you: Richard Griffin writes about Pride Day at the Dome. Actually, it’s a remarkably low-key piece about Toronto’s latest promotional effort. I still say the best marketing ploy is to turn down the damn volume at the stadium and let the game speak for itself. Mind you, if yesterday’s game could speak for itself, it would say something along the lines of “Yaaargh!”

Whacked theory of the day: who are the reigning NHL and NBA champions? The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Detroit Pistons. And who are the two surprise teams of the American League so far this year? The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Detroit Tigers. Jayson Stark does his best to argue that this is something more than a column-filling coincidence. Better hope not, because otherwise the Red Sox are going to win the World Series.

And just to cap off your misery on this bright sunny Friday, Chris Carpenter threw a gem for St. Louis last night. I put that whole situation down to lousy timing: Carpenter would have been too expensive for the Jays to re-sign and rehab, and in any event, he wore out his welcome with this franchise. Sometimes you get a free gift and sometimes someone else gets yours. At least Mike Sirotka isn’t doing much for the Cubs.

Daily diversion: The Compleat Book of Ratings. And I’ll be impressed with (and alarmed by) anyone who gets today’s (entirely appropriate) lyrics challenge.
Jays Roundup: Shake My Head and Scream and Shout | 46 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Loveshack - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 09:43 AM EDT (#55296) #
Our boys showed some hart yesterday. At least we have a place to come discuss our mutual woes here in the Box.
_Jordan - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 09:52 AM EDT (#55297) #
Oh, for the love of ... how could anyone know that lyric? That quickly?

One hundred million points to Loveshack, along with the everlasting shame of knowing the words to Boy in the Box by Corey Hart. No cuttlefish today, as I almost broke the server yesterday trying to link to a monstrous photo of a deep-fried version. Here's a link to Lloyd Shumacher's horoscopes instead.

I'm also doubly upset because now I have Love Shack stuck in my head, which is arguably a worse tune to have rattling around in your brain than BITB. Argh. This boy in Da Box is going for coffee.....
_Loveshack - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:11 AM EDT (#55298) #
What can I say, it's Corey Hart. I'll hang my head in shame now.

And it figures that on the one day I actually know the lyrics no cuttlefish are awarded. At least it's a Friday.
Craig B - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:12 AM EDT (#55299) #
I felt bad for Loveshack not getting his cuttlefish, so here's an adorable little stuffed one for him...

_I Wear My Sungl - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:38 AM EDT (#55300) #
Hijack - can somebody please tell me when Chasing Steinbrenner hits stores? I thought it was out already, but my friendly neighbourhood Coles didn't have it yesterday.
_Jordan - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:39 AM EDT (#55301) #
Thanks, Craig -- no lyrics winner should be without a cuttlefish. Or in the case of yours, a cuddlefish.
_Mosely - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#55302) #
Hijack - can somebody please tell me when Chasing Steinbrenner hits stores? I thought it was out already, but my friendly neighbourhood Coles didn't have it yesterday.

I looked for it in Chapters the other day but couldn't find it either. According to their high tech computer system, it was released in mid June, but is unavailable both in stores and by order.

I somehow managed to fight off the urge to pick up the Neyer/James guide to pitchers. Looks like an amazing book.
_Mike in CT - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:44 AM EDT (#55303) #
Chasing Steinbrenner has been out for a few weeks now. I bought it 3 weeks ago in New York City.

Is Mike Sirotka still pitching in the Cubs system?
_Brent - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:49 AM EDT (#55304) #
I've been wondering about this too. It seems that Chapters has it on backorder and will ship it within one to two weeks. Amazon.ca is not any better: they will ship it within three to five weeks.

My stack of books in the "summer reading" pile is growing by the day. I proclaimed triumphantly a few months ago that I would make my way through most of the Wheel of Time series again, but so far it looks like an impossible goal.
_I Wear My Sungl - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:53 AM EDT (#55305) #
Thanks Mosely.
Did you end up hitting ribfest last night?
_Daryn - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#55306) #
A stuffed Cuttlefish??? Some one made that??? Some bought that?? too many questions...

Boston will win?? what???... 19-13.. baseball???

taking my coffee and going back to bed
_Kirk - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:56 AM EDT (#55307) #
The best way to order Chasing Steinbrenner is through the publisher, Brasseys, or by typing in chasingsteinbrenner.com, which directs you to the publisher ordering form. From what I understand there has been distribution problems in Chapters stores, but they are going to correct it (according to the publisher). I know people who have ordered through the publisher and gotten it very quickly.
Named For Hank - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:02 AM EDT (#55308) #
If I'm not mistaken, the author of Chasing Steinbrenner will be coming through Toronto next month for a meet and greet, so if you haven't purchased the book by then you can probably get it direct from the source.
Craig B - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:02 AM EDT (#55309) #
Re Chasing Steinbrenner... I got my review copy last night (thanks Rob!) Read it in bits and pieces all evening, put it down to go to bed. Woke up this morning, picked it up, and kept reading. Read it on the way to the station. Read it on the train. Read it walking from the train to work. And now I'm going for an early lunch, and I'm taking it with me to read there too.

I'm almost done; the review should be up next week. Sneak Preview : If it were a stock, I'd rate it a STRONG BUY.
Thomas - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#55310) #
I lookede for it in Chapters a few weeks ago and was told that they didn't carry it, nor would theyin the future. I ordered it from Amazon.ca about two weeks ago, and it arrived today, which is great as I leave for a weeklong vacation tomorrow, so it will be the first piece of my vacation reading.
_Andrew Edwards - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:06 AM EDT (#55311) #
I've said it before, but I just awant it out there:

Heeartfelt cheers and appreciation to the Jays for having the courage (yes) to host a Pride event at the Done. Kudos, even to Dr. Evil.

Who's going to the parade on Sunday?
Gerry - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:07 AM EDT (#55312) #
I also ordered it from Amazon a couple of weeks ago and I just received notification that it was shipped yesterday. So if you order from Amazon you should get quick delivery now.
_Andrew Edwards - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:12 AM EDT (#55313) #
host a Pride event at the Done

Hehe. I like that typo. SkyDone it is.
_Ducey - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:13 AM EDT (#55314) #
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3003
Here is a short piece on the Jays in the BP Triple Play. COMN
Named For Hank - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:13 AM EDT (#55315) #
http://www.battersbox.ca/archives/00001975.shtml
When's the parade? Sunday is Brunch With Moffatt day, everyone's invited: COMN
_Andrew Edwards - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#55316) #
Parade starts at 2:00 pm.

Which is to say 3:00 pm at Yonge & Dundas.

I think I'll skip the game after brunch, so that I can spend time just wandering Church street, getting painted wwith rainbows, etc.

http://www.pridetoronto.com/parade/index.htm
_Max Parkinson - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:30 AM EDT (#55317) #
Does anyone have an updated signing list for the Jays?

Obviously Yates and Thigpen haven't had a chance yet, but other than the 1st rounders, who are we missing?
_Mike in CT - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:40 AM EDT (#55318) #
Does anyone know whatever happened to Mike Sirotka? I haven't seen his name mentioned in years.
Mike Green - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:46 AM EDT (#55319) #
http://www.baseballamerica.com/draftdb/xteam.php?team=TOR
Max, COMN for the Baseball America list. It's a little out-of-date. Klosterman has been playing for Auburn for the last 4 days or so, but missed the opening game or two.

As you can see, Purcey, Jackson, Thigpen and Patton remain unsigned from the top 15 picks.
_Max Parkinson - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 11:54 AM EDT (#55320) #
Thanks, Mike!

I'm actually a BA subscriber, but I never trust the lists in the first few weeks after the draft.

So of the top guys it's the 1sts and Patton. What the hell is holding Patton up? You're a 6th rounder. Sign for your 150 or 200, and get going at Auburn. Try and impress enough to see Dunedin by the end of the summer.
_Ryan01 - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 12:13 PM EDT (#55321) #
http://www.battersbox.ca/archives/00001955.shtml
Ryan Levy pointed out in his Cory Patton article (COMN) that Patton has been playing with a stress fracture in his left foot and may need to sit awhile to let it heal. That could be holding up his signing.
Pistol - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 12:19 PM EDT (#55322) #
So of the top guys it's the 1sts and Patton. What the hell is holding Patton up?

And Thigpen.

I don't think players not signing yet means anything much. In most rounds only half the players have signed.
Craig B - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 12:23 PM EDT (#55323) #
Again, Thigpen cannot sign until his college season is complete or he forfeits his amateur status. He's still playing in the College World Series.
_Marc - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#55324) #
Patton also turned down signing last year (also as a sixth round pick) so let's hope he doesn't pull a Matt Harrington and try to go back in the draft six or seven times.

Because the Jays are working with a fairly tight draft budget, they probably want to find out how much it is going to take to sign their top three picks before offering up the money to Purcey and Jackson so they have enough to sign Patton and Thigpen. So I wouldn't be surprised if you don't see Purcey and Jackson sign until the Jays have a chance to talk to Thigpen after the CWS. It looks like the market is pretty clear what the two will get: Purcey about $1.5, Jackson between $900,000 and $1 million.
_Ryan01 - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 12:58 PM EDT (#55325) #
BTW, the College World Series (best of three series) starts tomorrow as Thigpen and the Longhorns take on, interestingly enough, Kurt Suzuki and the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
_MatO - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#55326) #
As mentioned earlier, the Jays have also signed No.26 Brian Bormaster (Tulane) since he's been in a couple of Pulaski games. Also the Pulaski roster shows No.30 Cory Hahn (also from Tulane) but he hasn't pitched yet. That would bring total confirmed signings to 27 and the probable to 28.
_Ryan01 - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 02:05 PM EDT (#55327) #
Of course Castro, Cooper, Scott, Wice, Litsch and Franko are all draft and follows. So of the top 39 picks only Purcey, Jackson, Thigpen (CWS), Patton (foot) and Yates (CWS) are unsigned. That's actually quite remarkable.
_alsiem - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#55328) #
http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?id=88947
TSN is reporting that Aarone Boone is going to sign with the Indians.

COMN
_Ryan Day - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 05:02 PM EDT (#55329) #
Totally OT, but I love this city: I was just on my way home from work, walking up Pape, when everyone starts running out into the street waving Greek flags. Took me a second before my brain got around to "oh, Greece must have won." I can still hear honking and hooting from my apartment.

This sort of thing bugs me when it's about the Leafs, but for some reason it's cool when it's football.
_Jim - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 05:12 PM EDT (#55330) #
I have a bad feeling that the Blue Jays won't sign Purcey and Jackson, and they won't be able to sign Patton. It's time for Toronto management to pull this together and sign the top players because they are their future.
_Rob - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 06:03 PM EDT (#55331) #
Just heard on the FAN, some of tonight's lineup:

Clark DH, leadoff
Gomez 1B
Berg LF
Mike D - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 06:14 PM EDT (#55332) #
An improbable destination for Boone, but there you go. I was formerly confident in my bet with Robert Dudek about Cleveland finishing below .500 this season. It looks like that'll go down to the wire!
_Rob - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 06:37 PM EDT (#55333) #
Huh. Someone added Boone to their team (in The Leftovers) two days ago. He must have known something we didn't at the time. :)
_Blair - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 06:39 PM EDT (#55334) #
Ruben Mateo was DFA'd by the Pirates today. Might be a good option for the Jays; he came up with a lot of potential, and even though he fizzled a bit with the Pirates lately, he was mashing down in AAA. He can cover center and would improve the Jays line-up quite a bit I'd think. I'm not fully aware of how the DFA rules work; does the waiver priority remain the same all year (based on last year's standings)?
Craig B - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:22 PM EDT (#55335) #
No, Blair, waiver priority after May 15 (May 1?) is based on the current standings. Every NL team gets a shot at Mateo first, then the AL teams, so the Jays will be about 20th in waiver priority.

Problem is, who do you knock off the 40-man roster to bring Mateo in?
Craig B - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:25 PM EDT (#55336) #
For those who are worrying that the Jays won't sign their draft picks : YOU. MUST. CHILL.

They're getting it done. They always have; they always will. They are well ahead of schedule. Relax and enjoy the current guys!
_MatO - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:32 PM EDT (#55337) #
Checking BA 4 of the 15 players selected ahead of Purcey have signed and I think they were all HS players. It's really slow this year.
_Ryan Day - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:36 PM EDT (#55338) #
No, Craig, the Jays have to sign their top picks right now. Just think: Maybe Purcey or Jackson is thinking "okay, I'll let my agent handle the negotiations; meanwhile, I'll take advantage of this time off!" So he goes on a camping trip with a few friends, but the compass breaks and the canoe springs a leak, and the next thing you know your first-round draft pick has been eaten by a bear.

But if the Jays sign him now, he'll be at Auburn in a couple days, where there are no bears.

Do you want David Purcey to be eaten by a bear, Craig?
_Justin B. - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:39 PM EDT (#55339) #
Regarding Mateo, with the way the current roster is constructed I'd imagine that he'd add more value to the team than Estallela and/or Clark do.
_Rob - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:45 PM EDT (#55340) #
I'm still laughing from your post, Ryan. Good stuff.
_Rob - Friday, June 25 2004 @ 10:51 PM EDT (#55341) #
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040625.wandro25/BNStory/Sports/
Anyone else notice this story (COMN)?

MLB finally bans andro. My favourite part:
The ban, which began this season, was never announced by the commissioner's office or the players' association.
Jays Roundup: Shake My Head and Scream and Shout | 46 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.