Comments on: Baseball Players Who Like Baseball http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/ Curiously Long Posts Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:52:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark P http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-21153 Mark P Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:36:40 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-21153 Re: the poster who claims that Toronto is a 'hockey town.' While that is true to some extent, it doesn't mean Torontonians (and by extension, Canadians since he mentioned Montreal) don't love baseball. It's just that the Jays have done nothing to earn the fans' love since 1993. They're the masters of winning between 81-85 games so they can claim they're competitive, but the Jays haven't been in a pennant race in 15 years. The Expos, as well, had a great fanbase in Montreal that just got beaten down by years of underachieving, followed up by ownership dealing away their best players. Believe me, there is nothing that Toronto fans want more than to whole-heartedly love their Blue Jays again. But it's hard when everyone knows that the current bunch in management isn't capable of delivering a contender. Re: the poster who claims that Toronto is a ‘hockey town.’ While that is true to some extent, it doesn’t mean Torontonians (and by extension, Canadians since he mentioned Montreal) don’t love baseball. It’s just that the Jays have done nothing to earn the fans’ love since 1993. They’re the masters of winning between 81-85 games so they can claim they’re competitive, but the Jays haven’t been in a pennant race in 15 years. The Expos, as well, had a great fanbase in Montreal that just got beaten down by years of underachieving, followed up by ownership dealing away their best players.

Believe me, there is nothing that Toronto fans want more than to whole-heartedly love their Blue Jays again. But it’s hard when everyone knows that the current bunch in management isn’t capable of delivering a contender.

]]> By: Leo E http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20441 Leo E Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:59:22 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20441 I was in Toronto when Gibbons and Lilly got into their fight. When it happened I thought no way the manager can stick after his second fight, actual fight, with a player on his team. Then I listened to J.P. say "if you can't play for Gibbons you can't play for anybody." Thats the stupidest thing I've heard because Hillebrand and Lilly never had problems anywhere else. But J.P. stuck with his guy... sorta. When Gibbons got his extention for ONE year it was obvious J.P. was preparing his scapegoat. J.P. should have been fired after the '06 season but after his Dunn comments he should really be fired now. Nothing like pissing off hitters when your lineup has no professional hitters in it. I've felt sorry for Toronto fans for a while and Riccardi is the reason why. And to the Rowand basher, please enjoy the regular season because the only title the 2008 Cubs will celebrate is the anniversary of the 1908 Cubs. Go White Sox! Start the site www.firejpriccardi.com maybe the Rogers family will get the hint. I was in Toronto when Gibbons and Lilly got into their fight. When it happened I thought no way the manager can stick after his second fight, actual fight, with a player on his team. Then I listened to J.P. say “if you can’t play for Gibbons you can’t play for anybody.” Thats the stupidest thing I’ve heard because Hillebrand and Lilly never had problems anywhere else. But J.P. stuck with his guy… sorta. When Gibbons got his extention for ONE year it was obvious J.P. was preparing his scapegoat. J.P. should have been fired after the ‘06 season but after his Dunn comments he should really be fired now. Nothing like pissing off hitters when your lineup has no professional hitters in it. I’ve felt sorry for Toronto fans for a while and Riccardi is the reason why. And to the Rowand basher, please enjoy the regular season because the only title the 2008 Cubs will celebrate is the anniversary of the 1908 Cubs. Go White Sox! Start the site http://www.firejpriccardi.com maybe the Rogers family will get the hint.

]]> By: Anthony Z http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20425 Anthony Z Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:53:38 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20425 I remember that I used to think J.P. was a smart guy because he was mentioned in Moneyball. However, this guy is completely done. I'll take talent over passion any day of the week. Talent wins, enthusiasm does not. Unless we're talking about Bull Durham. Best Blog on the Net I remember that I used to think J.P. was a smart guy because he was mentioned in Moneyball. However, this guy is completely done. I’ll take talent over passion any day of the week. Talent wins, enthusiasm does not. Unless we’re talking about Bull Durham.

Best Blog on the Net

]]> By: Dusty http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20410 Dusty Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:28:10 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20410 mark grace is the most annoying announcer ever. i would give up just about anything to never hear him say "gasssss" about a pitch again. mark grace is the most annoying announcer ever. i would give up just about anything to never hear him say “gasssss” about a pitch again.

]]> By: Centerfield13 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20405 Centerfield13 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:27:31 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20405 I stand corrected...he was already in Toronto... my bad! I stand corrected…he was already in Toronto… my bad!

]]> By: Centerfield13 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20404 Centerfield13 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:20:26 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20404 I guess JP would never trade for Keith Foulke, because he <i>is</i> somebody -- if there's anybody -- who definitely gives people the impression that he doesn't like baseball. Wait... wasn't JP working in Oakland when they traded for him? I guess JP would never trade for Keith Foulke, because he is somebody — if there’s anybody — who definitely gives people the impression that he doesn’t like baseball.

Wait… wasn’t JP working in Oakland when they traded for him?

]]> By: Harry http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20403 Harry Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:46:42 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20403 Mark Grace once remarked, while utilizing a Wrigleyville mens room, that Jeff Blauser was a terrible drag to hang-out with, because he couldn't hold a conversation about anything other than baseball. Mark Grace once remarked, while utilizing a Wrigleyville mens room, that Jeff Blauser was a terrible drag to hang-out with, because he couldn’t hold a conversation about anything other than baseball.

]]> By: Adam http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20380 Adam Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:18:37 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20380 JP is losing his mind. He now sounds like a meathead fan instead of a GM with sabermetric tutelage. Adam Dunn 2008 OPS+ = 134 > anybody on the Jays. Sounds actually like a player you and your awful offense could really use JP. JP is losing his mind. He now sounds like a meathead fan instead of a GM with sabermetric tutelage. Adam Dunn 2008 OPS+ = 134 > anybody on the Jays. Sounds actually like a player you and your awful offense could really use JP.

]]> By: Chuck http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20373 Chuck Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:24:41 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20373 Forget hockey, forget the Patriots, forget everything else: Ricciardi has a future in politics. Ran his mouth and got in trouble, so he dumps Gibbons and three coaches. Even better, manages to pull the firing on a Friday, one of the least vigorous news days of the week, sure to be overshadowed by things like the White Sox-Cubs series and the probable end of Curt Schilling's career. That was one smooth CYA job. Forget hockey, forget the Patriots, forget everything else: Ricciardi has a future in politics. Ran his mouth and got in trouble, so he dumps Gibbons and three coaches. Even better, manages to pull the firing on a Friday, one of the least vigorous news days of the week, sure to be overshadowed by things like the White Sox-Cubs series and the probable end of Curt Schilling’s career. That was one smooth CYA job.

]]> By: Creston http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/baseball-players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20369 Creston Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:19:42 +0000 http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/06/19/players-who-like-baseball/#comment-20369 I was going to mention the travel / staying in hotels too in my previous post, which is apparently by far the biggest drain on these guys. Although I've flown from Amsterdam to Washington to Amsterdam to LA to Amsterdam to Houston to Amsterdam to Madrid to Amsterdam to Rome to Amsterdam to Dublin to Amsterdam in a month's time, in Cattle Class, and it didn't bother me that much, so I'm not really sure why getting on a private plane and sitting in first class for a few hours every day is such a burden for a professional athlete. I had to work 10-12 hours a day during those trips too. As long as a guy is good at baseball, I don't really care if he likes it or not. For all the whining about how soulless JD Drew is, I think Boston fans are sure happy to have him this year (and last year too, if they're honest.) I was going to mention the travel / staying in hotels too in my previous post, which is apparently by far the biggest drain on these guys.

Although I’ve flown from Amsterdam to Washington to Amsterdam to LA to Amsterdam to Houston to Amsterdam to Madrid to Amsterdam to Rome to Amsterdam to Dublin to Amsterdam in a month’s time, in Cattle Class, and it didn’t bother me that much, so I’m not really sure why getting on a private plane and sitting in first class for a few hours every day is such a burden for a professional athlete. I had to work 10-12 hours a day during those trips too.

As long as a guy is good at baseball, I don’t really care if he likes it or not. For all the whining about how soulless JD Drew is, I think Boston fans are sure happy to have him this year (and last year too, if they’re honest.)

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