FARRELL: GOOD RIDDANCE.
I hate to say "I told you so", but didn't I mention over a year ago that John Farrell was the wrong guy for the Jays job? If he seemed distracted during the 2012 season, it's probably because he was thinking too much about the Red Sox job. Why else would he draft all Red Sox players in his Rotisserie baseball league? I'll bet he kept calling Edwin Encarnacion "Big Papi", and probably referred to the Gardner Expressway as the Mass Turnpike too. Maybe that's why it appeared as if the Jays were losing focus this year. Their manager was dreaming of New England Clam Chowdah and not paying attention to little details, like what his players were wearing on the field and what kind of message he was sending to the fan base. No, in the end, we were all "lame duck" fans, while Farrell plotted his imminent departure. We got taken for a ride. While using Toronto as a "stepping stone" to Beantown, Farrell also retarded the progress of many of his players, including Brett Lawrie, Ricky Romero, Yunel Escobar and Colby Rasmus. Rather then discipline them or make them sit out a game or two, he just let them be. And how did that work out? As for compensation, the Jays got the player with the worst on-base percentage of any regular in the majors, Mike Aviles. He's a 31 year old utility infielder who had a .282 OBP, but he'll be cheaper than Kelly Johnson and is probably the same type of a player. Great. Something to look forward to (not). As for the Jays next manager, maybe Bobby Valentine would like to come here. He can't do worse than Farrell.
I've seen teams find new ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but I don't think I've ever seen a team lose because of a slippery kicking tee. That's what happened to the Hamilton Ti-Cats on Saturday when they had a chance for the game winning 30 yard field goal in the snow against Calgary. Unfortunately, sure handed Andy Fantusz, the holder, couldn't properly put the ball on the slippery kicking tee and no kick was even attempted. Had the Cats tried this on second down and failed, they would've had another shot at it, but coach George Cortez didn't consider that there might be a problem with the weather, and maybe they should play it safe. As for the Cats playoff chances, they are slim and none, and slim just left town.
Went to Woodbine yesterday with several family members, three of whom were celebrating a birthday. A good time was had by all, especially my Aunt, Uncle and two cousins, who had never been to the track before. I had to explain the various nuances of handicapping and betting, and they were so excited, they barely took time to eat lunch. It's amazing to see somebody who has never WON money win a bet on a horse. Even though it was only a few bucks, it was as if they had won the lottery. The excitement, the jumping around, the running to the cashier to collect 2 dollars and 90 cents. What a great day. Big crowd on hand at Woodbine for the Bunty Lawless Stakes. We even got our picture taken down in the winners circle.
We celebrated my wife's birthday on Saturday by going shopping at Mississauga Square One. Now, normally we go to about a dozen shoe stores, and they're all pretty much the same. You walk in, and the sales clerk goes right to the woman to show her what's what, while the guy finds a place to sit, or lean or look awkward. Kind of like those Wiserhood commercials. But on this day, at Brown's Shoes, a young lady actually asked me, the husband, if everything was OK and if she could get me anything. That has never happened to me before in a woman's shoe store. It's as if the guys are invisible to staff. I mean, what are we, the one's who decide which pair of boots our wives like? Hardly. But the fact that this girl recognized that maybe the husband would like to be part of the process impressed me. More businesses should be like that. Her name is Joanna and if the company doesn't know it yet, she made my experience at Brown's a good one. I'll go back there for excellent customer service. Oh yeah, and the boots she recommended were the absolute right choice.
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