"My shit doesn't work on in the play-offs. My job is getting us to the play-offs. What happens after that is fucking luck."- Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane
Holy shit. I think A.J. Burnett is finally, finally, putting it all together. We're not even halfway through August, and Burnett registered his 14th win of the season last night. I'm like, giddy.
Burnett! With 14 wins! In August! Two more than his previous career high! Sigh. Our A.J. is all grown up.
I get the feeling Burnett is enjoying pitching for Cito Gaston. Since the Gastonian one returned to the Toronto dugout, A.J.'s won eight of 10 starts. He made it four dubyas in a row yesterday to complete the four-game sweep of the hapless Athletics of Oakland.
What made yesterday's win so sugary sweet was the fact that Burnett didn't have his best stuff, and had to battle. Oakland jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, which led to a mound visit from Cito in only the second inning. Whatever Gaston said, it worked. Burnett worked his tail off the rest of the way, going six innings and giving up four earned runs on the night. But most importantly, he kept his team in the game, and his offence responded by bringing out the brooms.
Again, I must reiterate that I absolutely love how Gaston goes out to talk to his pitchers during the game, instead of sending pitching coach Brad Arnsberg to do the deed. Cito's just heavenly.
Speaking of Gaston, he's coming back next year. And I couldn't be happier about it. It's a celebration, bitches!
Back to Burnett. It's apparently only a foregone conclusion that he's going to opt-out of the final two years of his contract with the Jays come seasons end. I wouldn't be surprised if he does. Nobody should be. He'd be an idiot not to, really. He's having a career year at the most opportune time in his life, and everyone knows pitchers get grossly overpaid on the open market (hello, Carlos Silva).
A part of me, however, is hoping, and praying, that A.J. proves all of us wrong. With $24 million left on his contract, it's not like he's going to have trouble feeding his family if he sticks around. Perhaps, as crazy as it sounds, A.J. is content here in Toronto, along with his best friend forever Roy Halladay, his mentor Brad Arnsberg, and his favourite manager Cito Gaston. Perhaps A.J., after years of searching, and after years of trying to harness his amazing potential, has finally found his happy place. And it happens to be right here with the Toronto Blue Jays.
I don't think there'd be anything better in the whole wide world than A.J., at the end of the season, coming out and saying: "You know what? Fuck it. I'm staying. We have unfinished business here in Toronto."
A man can dream...
I leave you with a phenomenal post from The Tao of Stieb, on the douchebags known as bandwagon Blue Jays fans. Do yourself a favour and read it. No, really, read it. I'll wait. No, I insist.
Back? Cool. I know, I told you it was great. It's the perfect example of why I read, and why I love, The Tao of Stieb, probably the best Toronto Blue Jays blog that exists out here on Al Gore's internet.
It was his fourth start since coming off the disabled list a couple of weeks ago, but Shaun Marcum, the real Shaun Marcum, returned last night. It was a pleasure to see him on the mound dominating the opposition once again.
Marcum was lights out against the pathetic Oakland A's, who've dropped nine in a row and are finally playing like the craptacular team most of us thought they were.
North of Steeles was hit hard in his previous three starts. He'd given up 16 earned runs, as well as a disturbing six home runs, in 14.2 innings of work. I'll admit it, I was beginning to grow a little concerned. Marcum had been so lights out up until his injury (a 2.65 ERA in over 98 innings pitched), and we need him more than ever if we have any hopes of making something out of the rest of this season.
Well, Shaun took the ball last night and quelled my fears. He shut down the A's over seven innings, giving up only three hits, walking two, and striking out seven. Oakland's only run did come via the long ball but, hey, I'm not complaining after a pitching performance of that calibre.
The Jays hitters didn't exactly light up Gio Gonzalez in his first big league start (shocking!), but Rowdy Rod Barajas hit a three run dinger in the first inning, and it was all the Jays would need. Now, I'm not sure how many three run bombs the Jays have hit this year and I'm too lazy to actually check, but I would think that they haven't hit more than seven (let's not kid ourselves, I'm probably wrong). So, it's always fun and special when it happens.
Our beloved birds, winners of three in a row and four of their past five (including a come from behind walk-off!), once again continue the severe cock-teasage of their most loyal fans. With a record of 58-56, and trailing the Boston Red Sox by 7.5 games in the race for the wild card, yes, it certainly is going to take a miracle.
As my man WillRain points out over at The Southpaw, the Blue Jays are one of the hottest teams in the game since June 22nd, playing over .600 baseball. In all effectiveness, two brutal 14 game stretches have ruined Toronto's season and have made the playoffs the longest of long shots.
To everyone out there who bitches and moans that the baseball season is too long, read the above-linked-to post over at The Southpaw and let it sink in. Every game, every single God damn mother fucking game, whether it's number one or number 162, matters.
Of course, there will be no throwing in the towel from this corner. Not yet, at least. The Blue Jays still control their own destiny. With a rotation that features the zen-like Roy Halladay, a healthy A.J. Burnett, and the Shaun Marcum who chucked last night, I'll take, and actually like, our chances.
Believe. Really, what do you have to lose?
