Opening Night

It has proven difficult to escape the copious amounts of negativity - whether in print, on blogs, on radio, and on television - that surrounds the 2009 edition of our Toronto Blue Jays. It is in abundance. It is everywhere. And I'm tired of it. Sick of it. Done with it, actually.

You will find none of it here. No sir. My glass is half full. 

Here you'll find someone who will be on his feet to welcome back Aaron Hill when he steps to the plate for the first time tonight; who can't wait to see what Travis Snider, only 21 years old, can do over the course of a full season; who thinks the Gastonian One can build on his half-season success of 2008; who can't wait to see how the Jays' young arms - Jesse Litsch, David Purcey, Ricky Romero, Casey Janssen, and eventually Brad Mills and Brett Cecil - respond to the monumental challenge at hand; who is looking forward to again watching Scott Rolen patrol the hot corner better than anyone in this city before him; and who will appreciate every single, solitary pitch Roy Halladay throws.

I could go on. I haven't even mentioned Alex Rios, Vernon Wells, or Lyle Overbay. And I won't, because there's really only more thing you need to know; that there's been a slight change to the Toronto Blue Jays' 2009 to do list. Here it is, amended:

Before I depart, I'd like to thank everyone who's taken a second to vote in the "Will the Blue Jays Win the Pennant?" poll currently up and running. I must admit, I'm most pleased with the results so far. It's heartening to know that, somewhere, there exist those who are as bullish on the Jays' chances as I am.

Remember, a little hope never hurt anybody.