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Rookie of the month
Of course, I am excited about the Stanley Cup playoffs. When Chicago takes the ice against the Ducks, we will see Ameliasburgh’s Andrew Shaw playing against Matt Belesky. Belesky, the former Belleville Bull, had a great series against the Calgary Flames. He scored a goal in every game in the series—five in total—establishing a team record. He had 22 markers in the regular season, and will double his salary no matter where he plays next year.
Shaw will no doubt play with the passion that he always demonstrates. It has earned him fan-favourite status in the Windy City.
But I did take time out from hockey last week to watch the Yankees and the Jays at the Rogers Centre. I took my grandson, Hunter with me. It was a fine time for an eight-year-old. He is enjoying his baby brother, born last week on the May 7. As I have indicated in the past, the trip up to Toronto is a piece of cake: drive to the GO station in Oshawa, walk from Union Station to the game. Round trip for the pair of us was only $20. Likely cheaper than parking in downtown Hogtown.
Hunter is not the cheapest date I have ever encountered. He has a list of items that he calls necessities when we arrive at the game: Cracker Jacks ($8), dogs and drinks ($28). I always have to drag him away from the concession booths. We were presented with souvenir t-shirts upon arrival, with “Come Together” as a theme. The song stuck in my head all night. We sat in the outfield behind the Yankee bullpen.
I always enjoy those seats, especially when the game enters the final innings. There is a sense of urgency, when the Jays string together a few hits and walks. The Yankees led the entire game, but were tested slightly in the ninth, when the Jays scored a couple of runs. You cannot duplicate the sound of the pitches hitting the catcher’s glove, as they warm up. Once the final out was recorded, the bullpen staff scurried off to the dugout to head to their next venue. I leaned over the railing and politely asked the bullpen coach for a souvenir baseball. He flipped a ball up to me and, I might add, I made an outstanding grab.
I was delighted to watch Devon Travis for the first time. I knew he had been honoured with Rookie of the Month for the American League. He certainly is the brightest spot in the Jays lineup thus far. Many of the other Jays have struggled. There have been catastrophic injuries—particularly the one to Marcus Stroman—and the pitching has been inconsistent.
Travis knocked the cover off the ball in April. He homered in his first Major League game, and had six home runs and 19 RBIs in April. He leads the team in those categories. Considering he was a 13th round draft pick, his start is truly remarkable. He is from West Palm Beach, and attended the University of Florida. The Jays picked him up prior to the season, in a trade with the Tigers. He played Double A ball last year for the Erie Sea Wolves of the Eastern League. Certainly, no one in the Tiger organization would have predicted he would have such an auspicious debut with the Jays. His batting average has slipped in the last 10 games, but he is hitting .288, trailing only Valencia, Donaldson and Martin.
Travis is thrilled to be in Toronto, according to the Jays official program: “I’m just so thankful I ended up here in Toronto. I mean, it’s been great so far from the coaches, the players, everyone.”
The Jays are playing .500 ball. Win a few, lose a few. That is the nature of a long and difficult season. With the return of Reyes, and improved performances from the starting pitchers, they should be in the hunt in late September.
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