As we slowly edge into spring after a long winter of much economic turmoil it is once again time to focus in on more simple pursuits. The economic tsunami has engulfed the world, and its reach and effects extend to all corners of the global village. With that in mind, we begin our annual baseball journey with the recently completed World Baseball Classic (WBC), and look for wider answers in some perhaps unlikely places. Then we consider "baseball as microcosm," to probe underlying fault lines that may have rumbled the US economy too. We go on to look at the increasing number of Latin American ballplayers — as a case of what's called the outsourcing trend in other branches of American business. Then we explore the theory that baseball will be the first of the major sports to be hurt by the general economic downturn in North America. Finally we turn directly to our beloved Blue Jays. We start with a review of the mediocre life and times of general manager JP Ricciardi. Then we offer our Blue Jays outlook 2009. We have to happily note that they have already won their season opener against the Tigers at the Rogers Centre, on a snowy night in early April (and their second game as well). But our sense is still that the 2009 Jays are mostly trying to get their youngsters ready for 2010 and beyond. They are willing to sacrifice this season for a hopeful later harvest.

Are you ready for some baseball? As we now finally hang up the thick coat and put away the toque and mitts, after a winter that has battered and bruised this land from coast to coast to coast, it is time to focus on more summery pursuits. This season promises to be one with many storylines — and one which could potentially provide Canada with a team reminiscent of those of the 80s and early 90s, when competitive and exciting fall baseball was a yearly ritual. There has been some broader stirring that must be looked at first — the steroid era and all that! And even if you set this aside, it has been a strange offseason in the American League East. Then there are the all too formidable Blue Jays' rivals in their own backyard — the Yankees and the Red Sox (who are also starting off the season, home and away). As the Jays tune up we can only ask: will youth be served? Finally, we ponder the defining season of the seven-year itch. What can be said about J.P. Ricciardi’s seven years at the helm of the franchise? And will this be the season when the Toronto Blue Jays compete with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees for first or second place, and possibly the wild card? Or is that just another impossible dream?

Comments

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 1.0 beta 2!

What can a person who resides elsewhere in the Greater Toronto Area really say about Stephen Colbert Day in Oshawa, Ontario — Tuesday, March 20, 2007? Even (or especially) if you know Oshawa a little, and support the business concept that such places, in all regions of North America, should try to do a bit more with themselves? On the intelligent teenager level at which Mr. Colbert’s own remarkable TV show is pitched, there is little doubt that the verdict must be harsh. From that side of the tracks, Colbert Day in Oshawa can only be judged pathetic. But when you ponder the more mature depths into which the real Stephen Colbert is presumably finally urging our teenage minds to look, there was some local political satire. And at least hockey icon Don Cherry showed up. As one resident put it: "stuff like this just never happens around here." Now it has, and it must be good for something.

Comments

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment 1.0 beta 2!