WBC Recap, NHL Follow Up, Blue Jays Talk & More

 The Dominican Republic won WITHOUT Jose Bautista

How much better could they have been WITH him?

In case no one noticed, the World Baseball Classic just wrapped up a few days ago with the Dominican Republic becoming the first team to ever go undefeated in winning the tournament. Given how low the ratings were and the fact that Canada was knocked out early, despite playing 2 very entertaining games in beating the Mexicans (both on the scoreboard and with their fists in that wild brawl) and giving the Americans all they could handle until their bats woke up in the top of the 8th inning of their head to head confrontation, the tournament itself seemed to lack any real enticement for baseball fans in North America. For that simple fact, I blame the organizers who put Canada, Mexico and the US in the same group playing out of Arizona.

Yes, Arizona is close to the border, but given how the people of Arizona treat Mexicans, and have purposely imposed some blatantly racist immigration laws about people who even "look" like they could be "non-Americans". It would have been much more fair to the Mexican team to have their games in LA to make it fair for their fans as well. You know, so that they aren't unfairly stopped and searched by Arizona police because of how they "look".

Another issue I would say is why was Mexico not able to host a game? Arizona borders Mexico. Why was that not even a consideration? Canada hosted one in the first WBC but hasn't since (which is wrong) and then you throw salt on the wound for the Mexicans by playing just across the border in Arizona? That's just wrong.

 Canadians fighting in a sporting event? NOOOOOO!

One last thing that bothers me about the tournament is the same thing that led to the Canadian Mexican brawl. One of the first tie-breakers in this tournament is run differential. Canada lost by 10 runs to the Italians in their first game which meant that they didn't just have to win against Mexico, they had to win by a certain number of runs to make them truly even in the tournament. This led to some things you don't normally see in a blow out game, like a bunt by the Canadian Cather when they were up 6, and then stealing a base to try to get into scoring position. The Mexicans clearly took offence, not really understanding why the Canadians were doing what they were doing (I guess someone didn't take the time to explain the rules of the round robin format of this tournament to them properly) and tried to hit Robinson, the Canadian catcher, during his next at bat. They missed twice and were warned which meant nothing to the pitcher as he nailed him on his third try causing the brawl to begin.

I understand the reasons behind making 2nd tie-breaker run differential but they need to sit down each and every team manager and explain to them that this is not the same as the Majors where bunting with a big lead and trying to run up the score is frowned upon since it actually isn't by the organizing committee and the rules of the round robin itself.

As for the way the tournament played out, it was no real surprise that the Dominican Republic won by going undefeated. That small island boasts some of the most talented players in the game and, unlike Americans and some Canadians (Re: Martin, Russell), players actually care about winning this tournament. It's probably also a good thing that the US has not won the tournament yet. It might actually make the top US born players want to be a part of the team in the future.

We are almost at the NHL trade deadline and it's entirely possible that 6 of the 7 Canadian based NHL teams will make the playoffs this year, with only the lowly Flames flaming out and sitting well back in the West. Montreal is a total shock. There isn't a non-biased hockey prognosticator in the world who would have put them in the Playoffs at anything higher then the #8 seed, let alone leading the Eastern Conference. Their only 2 home regulation losses are to the Leafs from early on in the season, including a 6-0 beat down which seemed to ignite them more then anything else.

Many in Montreal have started calling him "Jesus" Price again

Ah, fickle Habs fans...They will "turn" on him again before it's all said and done...

Speaking of the Leafs, who would have said they would be sitting in 6th place in the East, looking a favorable match up with the best of the worst division in the East as a possible playoff match up (if things continue along the lines they have been). Shockingly to some, Nazem Kadri has been the key to the team all season long and has been red hot in the last 4 games, netting 9 points and seemingly resurrecting the careers of Nik Kulemin and Clark MacArthur (who have both played much better with Kadri then when they played with other players), he helped turn Matt Frattin's AHL start into a hot NHL call up when he was back with the team until he himself got hurt. Now with Joffrey Lupol playing on his line, the Leafs seem to have 3 solid lines with a 4th line center who get a ton of minutes killing penalties and winning key faceoffs when called upon.

Looks like all Reimer needed was to get rid of the "Monster" on his back 

to be the #1 goalie in Toronto

Ottawa shouldn't be playing as well as they are. It's a fact. It's also a fact that they are playing so incredibly well because they are playing as a team and because of their depth at goaltending. Ben Bishop and Robin Lehner have saved their bacon this year and made Bryan Murray look like a genius for having 3 quality goalies. Craig Anderson has been out for 5 weeks now with a high ankle sprain and I don't have to mention the fact that Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson is out for the year, and Jason Spezza has been out for weeks with a bad back that needed surgery (he won't be back until the Playoffs either). So yes, they are a shocking team given all the injuries. Paul MacLean is working magic with this team and he has had to.

Winnipeg is the one team that everyone kind of wrote off given their travel schedule, their youth, their lack of depth, etc, etc. Well, I guess everyone forgot to tell them they were done because there they are fighting it out for their division lead (which would be funny to see the last winner of the South East Division end up being Mid-West Winnipeg). They currently have a 4 point lead on Carolina, who lost both of their NHL goalies to long term injuries within a span of 10 days and are fading, and 5 points over surging Washington and the suddenly red hot Alex Ovechkin. If the Jets can hold on, it's possible all 4 Canadian teams in the East would make the Playoffs. Half of the 8 playoff teams in the East being Canadian sure would put Bettman's panties all in a bunch.

Out West, Only Vancouver looks like they will make it. But they have their issues. They really need to lower their expectations on a Roberto Luongo trade and deal him now before teams really come offering next to nothing when the Canucks will be really screwed with their salary cap situation. They have $63.5 million committed to 14 players next year and the cap is only $64.3 million. If this situation gets to the summer, Vancouver will be SOL when it comes to getting anything worth while for Luongo.

 I don't want to start a riot or anything but Vancouver might be the only 

Western Canadian team to make the Playoffs

Edmonton is an up and down team that sits in 13th right now but only 4 points behind the Dallas Stars who seem to have thrown up the white flag yesterday when they dealt Brendan Morrow to the Pens for next to nothing. There are 4 teams between them and the Stars, who sit in 8th right now in the West, but Edmonton is young and has a lot of home games left to play so there is still a chance they could pull it off, which would be a good thing for the Leafs as their trade of Mike Brown to the Oilers would see that pick go from a 4th rounder to a 3rd if they make the playoffs this year.

Calgary is all but out of it now, despite being only 1 point behind the Oilers. They are an aging team that seems to have finally said enough is enough, we don't want to be like the Leafs when they refused to deal Mats Sundin, and end up with nothing when he either walks away or retires, helping to keep them out of the playoffs for years to come. The rebuild is on and the "For Sale" sign is being affixed to the Flames dressing room as we speak and offers are being accepted for anything not bolted down right now, including Iginla, Bowmeester, Cammalari and even Kiprusoff. So we can pretty much look at only 1 of the 3 Canadian teams out west being in the playoffs by the end of the season.

The Blue Jays are starting to round into form and one thing has become abundantly clear; Ricky Romero is a mess and has failed to keep a spot in the starting rotation. He has been getting blown up just about each and every time out and his competition for the 5th starters spot, JA Happ, has been lights out. If Romero makes this team, then Gibbons hasn't been watching him pitch at all this spring. Brett Lawrie will start the season on the DL which means super utility and glue guy Mark DeRosa will be the opening day starter at 3rd base. This is a guy who everyone just gets along with right off the hop and has been on teams that have been in the playoffs in 7 of the last 8 years. Lawrie will be a star and doesn't need to rush back into the lineup as DeRosa will be able to handle to position until he is ready to go, full bore.

With a full year out of Easy E and POW-tista, the Jays look poised

to win the AL East for the first time in 20 years 

With their batting order almost set, and their back up catcher now selected (with Josh Thole sent down to Triple A, Henry Blanco makes the team in that role), the only position left to figure out is 2nd base which has been a dog fight between Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonifacio. Both have played very well all spring but Bonifacio would be the better fit in terms of the batting order as he can be put into the 9 spot and, with his speed and Reyes at leadoff, they could be stealing, bunting and causing all kinds of havoc for opposing pitchers, while filling the bases for #2 hitter Melky Cabrera, Bautista in the 3 hole and Easy E hitting clean up. Adam Lind looks like he may have re-found a semblance of his past self so he will be in the 5 with Arencibia in the 6 (for now) and Rasmus in the 7 with Mark DeRosa hitting 8th until Lawrie returns from his oblique strain.The back up players would be Rajai Davis, Maicer Izturis and Henry Blanco.

The man had a plan, now it's time to see the plan unfold...

With the pitching rotation set at Dickey, Morrow, Buerhle, Johnson and JA Happ (with Romero sent down to re-invent himself in the minors), that leaves 8 spots in the bullpen to round out the roster of what will be the AL East Champs. Reliable lefties in the pen would be Darren Oliver and Aaron Loup. Righties would be Steve Delabar, Casey Janssen and Sergio Santos. With Esmil Rogers getting the 6th position, that leaves 4 pitchers fighting it out for 2 spots; Brett Cecil and Jeremy Jeffers are out of options so they need to make the team or they will be exposed to waivers with former Jay David Bush and (possibly healthy) Dustin McGowan in the mix as well. I would guess Bush and Cecil will make the team out of camp with Jeffers and McGowan going to Triple A Buffalo. Jeffers has electric stuff but is not ready for the bigs yet as he is too erratic and McGowan needs to build the arm strength.

That my friends, is a solid team, top to bottom. Once Lawrie returns, one of the bullpen arms will have to be sent back down and, depending on how things pan out, I would guess someone like Rogers might be the first one to go as (hopefully) he will hardly be used in the first week or so.

 He only knows how to play 1 way....balls to the wall, all out, all the time

A couple of other things that caught my eye lately. The Miami Heat are on such a role that it doesn't appear anyone can really stop them. They are now up to 27 straight wins and only have 1 difficult team to play as they continue to march towards a record that no one even fathomed could be touched. They play the San Antonio Spurs in a few days when they will be going for win #29 in a row. I think they can pull it off and actually have a shot at breaking the old Lakers record from 1971. Even Hall of Famers from that team, including Jerry West, think that they will do it. If they think that and they did it, then who am I to argue?

A new pope is selected and nothing seems to be any different so far. It reminds me of a saying that I have been hearing a lot more often lately (mostly from one of my favorite new shows, Banshee); Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Replacing an 85 year old with a 76 year old isn't change that really will mean anything to the world. It's a temporary band aid solution for an institution that doesn't seem to understand that they have a crisis of leadership at the top of their command structure not to mention a growing pandemic of pedophiles within the clergy and all the cover ups they have had over the years.

I have no faith left in this crumbling institution simply because they don't understand nor do they even follow the values that they want all of us to adhere to. I always have that picture in my mind now of the Pope sitting on a golden throne with a 2nd picture beside it of a poor boy begging for food, with the caption below in bold print saying "You are doing it wrong A$$hole!"

Kind of says it all, doesn't it...

I think it's time to petition the Government for some kind of mandatory law with regards to regulating the colour and strength of beam of headlight lamps re-sold to the general public. I am tired of having these ultra strong, blue-ish and purple-ish coloured headlights in my rear view mirror, blinding me because they are stronger then most car high beams. How they are allowed, I will never know but it's time that the Government stepped in and did something about them.

Still on Government action needed, this new area code thing that is about to happen would be so much simpler if they just made the area from Mississauga to Hamilton the "905" area and changed the area code for Markham, Concord, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Ajax, Pickering and every other small city to the East of Toronto take the new area codes. It would simplify things and is not impossible as it was done when 905 was first added to Mississauga (I remember having my home number switched from 416 to 905 back in the early 1990's. I guess it makes too much sense so it won't happen.

Some new shows that made an impact lately and I would suggest people take a look at include Banshee (extremely violent, almost grotesque and vulgar at times but, if you can watch Spartacus, you can watch Banshee), Homeland on Bravo has been great so far (I'm dreading Season 2 as I have not heard good things) and Dallas (JR's funeral episode is still saved on my PVR). Strikeback is another show from the same people who make Banshee (HBO sub-division Cinemax) and had it's first 2 seasons hook me. When they return (If?) is unknown but it too is being re-broadcast on Showcase from the beginning. The Newsroom and Game of Thrones are both due to return soon as well as Dexter and I can't wait for any of them as all 3 are what I would consider top drawer entertainment. Spartacus only has 2 episodes left and you know it's true when 2 of the min characters were killed off in the last episode Sunday night. I won't say anything else but I still believe the only survivor will be Gannicus.

 "Fall to purpose and watch as we make Rome Tremble!!!"

It's late and time to get some sleep. If you have any comments or agree/disagree with anything, please feel free to let me know. Until next time...