Hope

What else could the Nationals have asked for from Strasburg in his major league debut. After what was dubbed "Super Tuesday", Strasburg made it a truly special day. Debuting against the Pirates, the guy with the 100mph fastball finished with an impressive 14K's and more importantly a win for the Nationals in his first major league game.

I could go on and on about how great this guy is but everything has been said over and over since he signed after being drafted so I'll just leave it at this...he is the real deal.

Jealousy does not usually creep into my body but today, I'm am absolutely jealous of the Nationals, yes the Nationals. They have a legit #1 pitcher Cy Young pitcher in their rotation who was born in 1988. Go do the math and you'll just see why I'm jealous of the Nationals. Hope is a great thing and the Nationals finally have some hope.

Not only do the Nats have Strasburg but they just drafted another young phenom. You know the dude with black paint on his face? Harper, Bryce Harper is his name. The guy can flat out hit! I'll do the math on this guy's age, which adds up to...17! Wow, hope is a great thing.

Going back to the jealousy issue. The Jays have some prospects but nothing compared to Strasburg and Harper. With the likes of Snider, Lind, and Brett Wallace, we're kind of sitting on some good players but nowhere near the likes of the two guys from the Nationals.

I'll leave you with this last bit of trivia. If Strasburg strikeouts 5001 more batters, he'll break Nolan Ryan's all time K's record.

Still 2nd Something

Ouch!

Do I have anything else to say? For all of those Jays fans out there who were completely in love with the '09 Jays and their chances at the playoffs, I'm sorry to say that it just doesn't seem like it is going to happen. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of time left in the regular season for a run at the division or wildcard but realistically speaking, it just ain't happening.

There is a reason why averages are used for almost everything in the world. Anyone know where Snider is? How about Hill? Wells and Rios anyone? As I was stating at the start of the year, for the Jays to succeed and make a run at the division and the playoffs, they would need career years from most of their players. At the start of the season they were getting it. Think back to Hill, Snider, Lind, and Scutaro playing over their heads. Again, the law of averages. They were playing over their heads and now they are just playing at a level that brings them back to their career averages.

There is a playoff itch that I can't seem to get rid of. Toronto needs the playoffs. The Jays need the playoffs. I need the playoffs. Looking at the Jays through an unbiased view, I don't see a playoff team. They are at best a plus-500 team. Their pitching is sketch (what else can you say with so many injuries), the hitting is hit or miss (mostly miss), and the bullpen...let's say we went a little overboard with the signing of AJ and BJ during that one off-season. I can only say that because I'm looking into the past. For the record, I was happy watching the Jays spend some money and sign some high profile free agents.

For teams like the Jays, they need career years from a majority of their players for them to contend and win a World Series ring. For teams like the Yanks/Red Sox their players have so called off years see lines of .286avg, 36hrs, 106rbis, and 28 sb's. Just guess who I am talking about.

That is just the life I live as a Jays fan.

Look on the bright spot, we're still second...second last.

Snider/Lind

The Jays started the season in a big way and guess who led the charge, the rookies! Okay, Wells and Rios pitched in with some hits and runs but in my eyes the big story here are the two youngins, Travis Snider and Adam Lind. Both chipped in with a bomb a piece. Just look at the numbers that they posted in their first game.

Adam Lind - 4/5, 2Rs, 1HR, and 6RBIs.
Travis Snider - 2/4, 1R, 1HR, and 1 RBI.

I will and have always rooted for the Jays but I still don't see them making the playoffs this year. This was great opening the season with a victory but the boys have the keep this going for another 161 games, the baseball season is nothing but a marathon especially through the hot/humid/hazy days of summer coming up.

They have plenty of places they need fixing, cough cough, pitching.

Looking on the positive side, the Jays do have a bright future with Rios, Wells, Snider, and Lind in the mix.