October 2010
The Games I’ve Seen With The Season Pass – July 2010
Record for the month when I attended a Blue Jays game: 4-1 (9-7 overall for 2010.)
July 26 – Blue Jays 9, Orioles 5
Barfield knew how to throw down a beat; but, Shaker, don't give up your day job.
Did I sit in the 500 Level? Yes, in section 518 – first base side, row five at the aisle.
Roof status: Open.
Player printed on ticket: 2B Aaron Hill, who would go 2-for-4 with a three-run home run.
Love that 80's video game font!
Noteworthy because: Tonight’s game was deemed as 80′s night (to replace the now-discontinued Flashback Fridays), as the ballclub would don their baby blue road uniforms from that time period, as well as reminders from that era – along with the Pac-Man video game font - on the big screen! This would be the fourth straight game I would see RF Jose Bautista hit a home run – this one was a 426-foot bomb to left field, scoring three runs. I would see this game in its entirety, since it was my day off. This would be the fourth time I’d see Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow (second straight game for me) and the third time he’d win. My presence a good luck charm? I’d like to think so.
July 10 – Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 5
Gonzalez hits his last home run as a Blue Jay; he'd be traded less than a week later.
Was I in the 500 level? Yes, but not via the season’s pass – I had gone with two friends, and we had bought seats from a scalper (who actually charged us less than face) outside Rogers Centre.
Roof status: Open.
Player printed on ticket: CF Vernon Wells (who would go 0-for-4 with a walk.)
Not a great outing for Brandon. There's always To-Morrow. (Sorry.)
Noteworthy because: This would be the last time I would see SS Alex Gonzalez play in a Toronto uniform, as he would be traded during the All-Star break following this Red Sox series. He went out with a bang, getting three hits (including a two-run home run) and driving in three runs. This would also be the first and only time I would see the Blue Jays defeat the Red Sox in person this year. I went with two buddies – Yves, a co-worker and Yankees fan who cheered against the Red Sox, and fellow Blue Jays booster Paul (we both went to the same high school). Yves may be a Yankees fan, but he knows his baseball. He also cheered for the Blue Jays – but then again, they were facing the Red Sox. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow only lasted one batter into the fifth inning, unable to qualify for the win when Toronto scored in the bottom frame.
July 8 – Blue Jays, 8, Twins 1
Was I in the 500 level? Not today; my friend Marco let me use his company’s season tickets and I got to sit down the third base line, five rows up! I took my dad with me.
Roof status: Open.
Player printed on ticket: DH Adam Lind (who hit a 412-foot home run and struck out three times.)
Noteworthy because: Blue Jays starting pitcher Brett Cecil was quite efficient, going seven innings of four-hit ball, only allowing one run. The offence was five solo home runs – one each from Lind, LF Fred Lewis, 1B Lyle Overbay, C Jose Molina, and RF Jose Bautista – and a three-run double by SS Alex Gonzalez. All homers (except Lewis’ dinger) travelled at least 384 feet. Being the day off, I got to see the game in its entirety, but I encountered many an obstacle to pick up the tickets from Marco. First, I confused Wellesley for the street I was supposed to meet Marco at, then I had a hard time figuring out the name of the restaurant where he was standing in front (Ki?). Nevertheless, Marco and I go way back, and I was glad he thought of me when he wasn’t able to make today’s matchup. Unfortunately, I forgot to put my memory stick in my camera, thus depriving me of duplicating the view from the posh seats. Thanks, Marco!
July 7 - Blue Jays 6, Twins 5
Did I sit in the 500 level? Nope – hung out at the railing by Gate 128.
Roof status: Closed.
Player printed on ticket: Second baseman Aaron Hill (who did not play for the second straight game).
Noteworthy because: It was the return of the alphabet starter, as lefty Marc Rzepczynski toed the bump for Toronto in making his 2010 debut. Former Blue Jays second baseman Orlando Hudson fell a double short of the cycle; O-Dog was also caught stealing on the back end of a strike-’em-out-throw-’em-out double play in the first inning. Nice peg on that play by catcher John Buck. Jose Bautista continued his monster season by hitting his league-leading 22nd home run, an inside-the-park-job that eluded Twins outfielders in the left-centerfield gap. Since it was my night off, it was the first game I saw in its entirety since June 2nd. This game was also the final appearance (though no one knew it at the time) in 2010 for Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who suffered a concussion while sliding into second base and John McDonald’s leg. The effects of that innocent-looking play caused Morneau to miss the remainder of the Twins’ regular season and subsequent playoff series.
July 6 – Twins 7, Blue Jays 6
Did I sit in the 500 level? Yes. 15 rows up, behind home plate, in the aisle.
Roof status: Open.
Player printed on ticket: Second baseman Aaron Hill (who did not play).
Noteworthy because: This was the first game I’d see the Blue Jays with a losing record (they had a 41-42 record before playing Minnesota). It’d also be the first time I’d see Blue Jays starting pitcher Jesse Litsch pitch since 2008. The pudgy right-hander threw well for four innings, but was scored on five times by the Twins offence in the second and sixth innings to depart said game with a no-decision. New Westminster (B.C.) native and Twins first baseman Justin Morneau hit a homer in the sixth inning to satisfy the Can-Con portion of the game. This was also the day that the reserves were announced for the American League All-Star team that was to play the National League next week in Anaheim. Catcher John Buck, centrefielder Vernon Wells and MLB home-run leader Jose Bautista were the Blue Jays representatives headed to the All-Star Game; the trio combined to go 0-for-9 during the game. I left shortly after the Twins broke a 6-6 tie in the eighth inning because I had to get to work for my 11 pm shift.
The Games I’ve Seen With The Season Pass – June 2010
June 1 – Rays 7, Blue Jays 6
Did I sit in the 500 level? Yes. I arrived in the bottom of the first inning, in time for LF Fred Lewis to lead off the game with a home run.
Roof status : Open.Player printed on ticket: CF Vernon Wells (2-for-5 with an RBI; just missed tying the game in the last inning with a drive that missed clearing the fence by two feet.)
Noteworthy because: First #twittertuesday game I’ve attended – though lack of a smartphone left this fan wanting. This game also showed me closing pitcher Kevin Gregg ain’t no Tom Henke, despite the common use of specs on the mound. The home side ran out to a 5-0 lead against Tampa Bay after six innings, staking their claim to contention against one of the tougher teams in their division. Entrusted with a one-run lead the previous night against the Rays, Gregg gave up a leadoff triple but stranded that runner to earn the save. Tonight, with a two-run lead, Gregg became unglued and brought back “fond” memories of incumbent closer B.J. Ryan (who the club is still paying for, despite no longer being on the team this season!) Gregg gave up four runs, as he committed seppuku by being slovenly in the strike zone (five walks allowed) and not helping his own cause (throwing the ball away on a pickoff move). He only allowed one hit, but it was a doozy, a three-run double to the Rays’ Sean Rodriguez with two out. After allowing his last free pass, Gregg was finally taken out, but not before being ejected by the home plate ump for arguing ball-and-strike calls. “Four batters too late,” I screamed out loud, to no one in particular, after Gregg was turfed from the game.
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June 2 – Rays 7, Blue Jays 3
Did I sit in the 500 level? Yes, down the third base line in the fourth row at section 527.
Roof status: Closed.
Player printed on ticket: Wells (rough night – got caught stealing after a leadoff double, and grounded into a DP.)
Noteworthy because: This was the second straight Blue Jays game at home I’d seen in its entirety this year. Usually I’d be leaving early for work, or arriving late because of it. Luckily, these last two games of the Rays series took place on my days off. Unluckily, these were the two games where the Blue Jays’ ninth-inning leads disentegrated to dust against the patient & powerful Rays’ batters. The Blue Jays were in their powder blue finery with Opening Day starter Shaun Marcum toeing the bump. He was excellent for eight innings – but couldn’t finish off the Rays in the ninth. The Rays broke it open after Marcum’s departure with a grand slam by the Rays’ Carl Crawford off lefty extrordinare Scott Downs, which was the eventual margin of victory. RF Jose Bautista showed off his excellent arm by tossing out Rays catcher Dioner Navarro at home plate. In another test to show if this team’s competitive start was for real or like last year’s mirage, the Blue Jays get a C- for the series due to their inability to hold a ninth-inning lead for two straight nights.
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June 22 – Cardinals 9, Blue Jays 4
Did I sit in the 500 level? Yes, at section 529, ninth row, aisle seat.
Roof status: Open and overcast.
Player printed on ticket: Wells (again!) – who went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
Noteworthy because: Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols – the most prodigious and powerful hitter of the last decade – was in Toronto, and I wasn’t going to miss him wreak havoc in Rogers Centre. And ultimately, this would be the only interleague game I would watch in 2010. A couple of sluggers would overshadow Pujols tonight – Bautista would hit two home runs tonight (I missed the second because I had left Rogers Centre for work at THAT moment) and Pujols’ teammate, left fielder Matt Holliday, who was a triple short of the cycle. You see, any guy named Holliday can perform in this town. The Cardinals socked four homers to take the opening game of this three game interleague series. I left in the middle of the seventh inning in order to make it in time for work that night.
Record for the month while I attended: 0-3 (5-6 in 2010 overall.)
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