After two seasons of hardcore ballpark attendance (I went to well over 60 games at the Dome in '03, and about 50 last season), I'll be scaling back pretty significantly this year. I figure I should get out to between ten and twenty games, but I really don't know for sure. A lot depends on Theo, and since he's just two months old he's not freely communicating his wishes and desires quite yet. Well, aside from the desire to eat, which he gets across to us with a distinctive "llliiiiiiiiiiiiiiing" sound. But what I'm trying to say is that I don't know how he'll like the Rogers Centre experience, and as a full-time Dad starting next month, the Little Man will be determining just how often I get to go to the ballgame.
And that's why I bought a giant television. When Mrs. Hank and I decided that it was time to have us a kid, I began to catalog what we'd want to have at home that we'd no longer be able to afford, and I set about frantically acquiring as many of these items as I could before the blessed event. And, as if sensing my desire for a bigger TV, my faithful old idiot box, who had served me well for more than a decade, decided that it was time to make some sparks and smoke and be transported out to the curb. R.I.P., big fella.
We took delivery part way through last season, and the few times that I didn't make it to the park for a home game and got to watch the Sportsnet coverage, I was floored. Those games that they broadcast in HD, even when seen on a standard definition TV, were stunning. Mrs. Hank, not usually one to comment on such things, opined that we should stay home from the Dome more often to watch the Sportsnet coverage, that's how good it looked. And Rogers announced that they'd be broadcasting all of the Jays home games in HD this season, which is excellent news.
So anyways, one thing I'm looking forward to this year is watching more games on TV at home. That's a switch, ain't it? Plus, the new homestead here has a generous backyard, and once the weather is pleasant enough, I can't wait to get out there and sit in the grass and listen to games on the radio.
But enough blathering about me! This Friday will mark the first Game Thread of the new season, followed by the first Game Report on Saturday. For those of you who've been missing the threads where you can talk Blue Jays in a less-focussed manner, Friday marks their return. Yeah, we're not doing Roundups any more, but the Game Report is a lot like what the Roundups used to be -- except instead of being headed by a bunch of links to other articles, it'll be headed by an original writeup of last night's game.
I'm starting to get that buzz, that New Season buzz. Could be the coffee, I don't know. But I feel it. Suddenly, I don't care about off-season transactions or what happened last year. All I care about is this beautiful new season where all things are possible and where my favourite team is currently tied for first place.
Who's with me? What's going on in Jays-land?
