A night at the ball park ...

Not even the good Doctor himself can win them all. Allowing an uncharacteristic two home runs sealed Roy Halladay's fate last night, but it's all good; it was still a pleasure to be in the building to watch him do what he does.

The Blue Jays did have their chances to win. In the 8th inning, with the bases juiced and only one out, Rod Barajas lined out to third on an absolute screamer. Travis Snider then sent the first pitch he saw into center field. (Patience, young Jedi warrior. Patience.) 

In the bottom of the 9th, Alex Rios, the tying run, stood only 90 feet away. Alas, Vernon Wells couldn't bring him home. Cue the jokes about Vernon's: (a) contract; (b) weight; and (c) laissez-faire attitude.

For Wednesday, April 22, based on the Homeland Security Advisory System, Toronto's Vernon Wells hatred level is High, or Orange; there's a high risk of juvenile and unsubstantiated attacks on the centre fielder. Don't say I didn't warn you ...

Mission: Doc   It's my goal to be in attendance every time Halladay takes the mound at the Rogers Centre this year. So far, I'm two-for-two. Thanks to my boy 40 I was in a seat I totally can't afford last night, able to watch Doc do his thing up close and personal. It was a beautiful thing, let me tell you, even in a losing cause. Swoon ...

"Viva La Vida"   I couldn't help but shake my head every time Scott Rolen walked up to home plate. For the love of God, man, pick another song ...

Thanks, Mr. Blair   Back in March, before the season started, I sent a Twitter message (I refuse to call it a "tweet") to our good friend Jeff Blair, asking him to tell Lyle Overbay that it's 2006 and not, in fact, 2009. Clearly, Mr. Blair obliged. After going two-for-two with two walks yesterday, Overbay's batting .333. His nine walks are second to only uber-leadoff hitter Marco Scutaro (13), and he's rocking a team-leading .467 OBP, and a team-leading 1.078 OPS. Welcome back, Lyle. I missed you ...

Fuck. The. Wave.   I used to be apathetic towards it. Now I'm with the Drunks; I can't bloody stand it ...

A Short Story   The following has nothing to do with last night's game, but much to do with the pennant the Jays will be winning a few months from now. My friend "Dave Schultz," who blogs over at I Mean, We Got Guys, is a teacher out west, in Oregon. She sent me an email yesterday saying a kid walked into her classroom wearing a Ken Griffey Jr. Seattle Mariners jersey. Schultzie isn't a baseball fan, but she's an incredibly smart woman, and she reads this here blog (they go hand-in-hand). So she told the misguided youth, "Ppfftt, the Jays are gonna win the pennant." Amazing, eh? She's doing her part. Anyway, apparently a factual statement like that is comedy out in Oregon. The kids laughed, she said. A lot. Yeah, I know; kids are stupid. Especially American kids. But the moral of the story, you see, is that word is spreading. Pennant. Say it. Shout it. Tell your friends. More importantly, believe it ...