It was just past 11:10 PM EST last night when I was watching Sportscenter, resting after four days and five games of hell (I am a Yankees fan, but those four days were still hell regardless). Given the opportunity, I was tempted not to even stay up for the eleven o’clock Sportscenter, but just listening to Tony Kornheiser was enough to keep me awake longer than expected. And it’s a good thing I did because I have a message I’d like to send to Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons: I love you big man. Now, personally I think the whole “Gibbons thinks he’s too good for Blue Jays” routine is pretty damn cool. But honestly, it needs to end now. This can’t continue to happen if Gibbons gets another job in the near future because let’s face it; he doesn’t have a job in Toronto for the 2007 season anymore. If it was
still up in the air after the Shea Hillenbrand incident, then it was definitely put to rest after last night’s alleged fight with starting pitcher Ted Lilly.

Gibbons has already challenged then IF/OF Shea Hillenbrand to a fight all the way back in, oh yes, July, after the infielder wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the “ship was sinking.” Hillenbrand, who I guess is now looking smarter then maybe we first thought of him, declined to fight, and was later traded to the Giants.

Maybe Shea knew Gibbons had a nasty left hook?

Or maybe Shea just simply saw last night’s bizarre event take place before anyone else did?

“Ted Lilly’s a great guy. Ted Lilly’s an intense competitor,” Hillenbrand said. “He was a great teammate when I was over there. So I’m surprised that confrontation happened with Ted Lilly.”

Come on Shea, how surprised could you be?

Shea later added: “Stuff like that’s been going on all season over there. I had my issues with the manager. … They say I’m the cancer of the team and things are still happening, so I don’t know how you can make that assumption or that statement. Things like that begin to come out when times get tough.”

Ah, there’s a more sensible answer. It is no accident you are in San Francisco.

Given Ted Lilly’s history as a pitcher, he does not seem like the kind of hard ass that is going to give his manager a hard time when he comes out of the dugout for the ball.

But this is the same Ted Lilly, who if he throws one more time at former catcher Jorge Posada, will have a bloody nose just like the one he allegedly gave his manager Monday night in Toronto.

Lilly was most definitely wrong for showing up Gibbons last night. The Blue Jays gave him an 8-0 lead after only two innings and by the third, Lilly had given seven of those runs back.

One thing still has me stumped. What was Lilly pissed about? If I was Gibbons you can be sure I would have done the same thing.

But I also don’t get why, after the game and confrontation, Gibbons apologized? The same dude who will knock any player the f*** out if he has a problem with his philosophies, is apologizing like a little kid who got caught stealing little Johnny’s cookies at lunch.

No cookies for you Big John.

“I overreacted, no question about that,” Gibbons said Tuesday during his weekly radio appearance on Fan 590.

“I’m not proud of that. That’s not who I am. But I am a passionate guy. … It should never get to that point, but it did happen. I can’t run from that, I can’t make excuses. I’ve got to live with it now.”

If you are going to “chew” out your pitcher on the mound during the middle of a pennant race, in a season where your team is supposed to win the division, at least show some confidence in what you are doing and stop second guessing yourself. It’s not like the team has been winning much lately in the first place.

The real heat of this problem should however, be put on the shoulders of Team President Paul Godfrey, who by the way, doesn’t think any discipline of any kind should be given out to Gibbons or Lilly.

“My opinion is that it’s a one-night skirmish,” Godfrey said. “I don’t see any need for discipline. Ted and the manager worked it out between them.”

Yeah, a few punches here and there and your manager gets exposed to national television with a bloody nose and your starting pitcher has risked injury, DURING A PENNANT RACE, while also making it clear he doesn’t even want to be in Toronto anymore.

“Who knows how long I have left here,” said Lilly, who is eligible for free agency after this season. “Maybe a month. Maybe longer. It was a bad day. I embarrassed the organization.”

Good call there Godfrey. I guess it’s no surprise anymore as to why the Blue Jays haven’t won the American League East since 1993. You are basically telling America it is fine for managers and players to fight. There is no harm.

That is, until someone gets hurt. Or, just for kicks and giggles, it happens again. Maybe in September?

Maybe Vernon Wells will confront Gibbons after John states how Wells doesn’t deserve the MVP honor because of his lack of hustle during a 13-5 rout of the Yankees?

Vernon did after all open his mouth and state his opinion on the incident.

“Two guys were upset,” he said. “It happens at home and it happens here. That’s life. You just have to deal with it.”

But is that any of your business, man?

How about Major League Baseball? Where have you been lately Bud? Are you just going to sit back and let this slide?

That’s right, I almost forgot. No steroids, no consideration on the agenda of Bud Selig.

Congrats John Gibbons. You are the new bad ass of Major League Baseball. Who knows, maybe this has tempted Joe Torre to come out of his hypnosis during games and he will start bashing Alex Rodriguez with a bat next time the reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP what???) makes an error at third base.

Until next time, will it be “Gibbons promises to attend Anger Management classes” or “Paul Godfrey Made Me Do It: The Story of John and His Baby Jays”? We’ll find out soon, I’m sure.

Same Jays’ station, same Jays’ channel.

In case you can’t get enough…

In case you really can’t get enough, here’s a link to the video: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2557329

Quotes courtesy of the Associated Press.

Copyright ©2006 Colin Cerniglia. All Rights Reserved.

The Toronto Blue Jays are 12+ years removed from a trip to the World Series (1993).  Their heroes are long gone.  The names of Joe Carter, Pat Hentgen, and Juan Guzman are long gone.  Even Carlos Delgado left Toronto for the Florida Marlins after the 2003 season.  That marriage would last just one year.

Blue Jay fans have had to endure a long streak of subpar, losing seasons.  However, 2006 is looking brighter for the team north of the border.  2006 might just be the year that the Toronto Blue Jays fly their way back to respectability.Last year, the Blue Jays finished a respectable 80-82, just 2 games below .500.  Quite an accomplishment for a team just one year removed from losing Delgado’s bat.  Before breaking his leg in a freak accident in Texas (batted ball), Roy Halladay was on his way to contending for the AL Cy Young.  Vernon Wells put together a 28 homerun, 97 RBI season, and rookie pitcher Gustavo Chacin was able to go 13-9 in his first year in the big leagues.

Blue Jay fans should start thanking General Manager J.P. Ricciardi for the effort he put in to help bring the organization back onto the baseball radar.  The offseason moves have been tremendous, and the Blue Jays may actually be fighting for a wild card spot in 2006  As of right now, I compare them to the young Cleveland Indians of last year: a team just a few years (if not one year) away from competing fiercely for the playoffs.

Now, in no particular order, I’ll let you examine the moves GM Ricciardi has made and why the Blue Jays are close to contention:

First and foremost, the Jays got the big bat they needed since the departure of Delgado to Florida.  That bat belongs to ex-Diamondback Troy Glaus.  Glaus is exactly what the Blue Jays need in the middle of their lineup, providing protection for Vernon Wells.  Glaus is coming off of a 2005 season in which he hit 37 home runs, despite playing with nagging injuries during the last few months.  Glaus was acquired along with youngster Sergio Santos for Miguel Batista (the team leader in saves last year) and second baseman Orlando Hudson.  Glaus may be shaky defensively at times, but his bat more than makes up for that.  He was the AL homerun champ in 2000 for the Anaheim Angels and the MVP of the 2002 World Series while playing for Arizona.  Keep in mind that he may be the team’s designated hitter, thereby decreasing his chance for injury.

Batista was able to be traded to the Diamondbacks because the Jays were able to grab ex-Baltimore Oriole closer B.J. Ryan, considered to be one of the top free-agent closers of this offseason.  Did they overpay for him at 5 years, $47 million?  Perhaps.  However, a solid closer may be worth the paycheck.  Despite a 1-4 record last year in Baltimore, Ryan compiled 36 saves and had a 2.43 ERA.  Not bad for a closer.  While Batista struggled at times in the closer role, Ryan gives the Blue Jays a 9th inning option that they won’t shy away from.  I would expect the Jays to win a lot more games if they have a lead heading into the 9th inning.

Of course, winning starts with starting pitching.  Ricciardi came through again when he signed A.J. Burnett away from the Florida Marlins.  Burnett was 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA last year, but that was after he faltered down the stretch, losing his last 6 decisions over one month.  The signing of Burnett now gives the Jays a solid 1-2-3 combo of Roy Halladay, Burnett, and Gustavo Chacin.  Add in Josh Towers (13-12) and Ted Lilly (10-11) and the Jays rotation is solid.

The acquision of Glaus gave the Jays an excess of third basemen, so Ricciardi traded Corey Koskie to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league pitcher Brian Wolfe.  That gives the Jays three potential third basemen: Glaus, Eric Hinske, and Shea Hillenbrand.  Plan on one playing first base, one being the DH (Glaus), and one playing third base.

The Jays were also able to add another big bat when they made another trade with the Brewers, acquring Lyle Overbay for pitcher Dave Bush, outfielder Gabe Gross, and a minor leaguer.  Overbay is a first baseman by trade, perhaps complicating the excess number of first and third basemen in Toronto.  However, Overbay’s 19 homers and 72 RBI in 2005 are a welcome addition to a team who would love more offense.

When you add that many quality players (Glaus, Ryan, Burnett, Overbay) and you have Orlando Hudson and Corey Koskie as your biggest losses, you have come out ahead of the game.

Here’s another fact to consider: the Boston Red Sox have actually gone downhill since the end of the 2005 season, losing the likes of Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria.  They have gaps at the closer position, as well as in center field and at shortstop.  They are also lacking a leadoff hitter since Damon left.  Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays (remember: just 2 games short of .500) are able to pass the Red Sox and finish in 2nd place next year.  Who knows, if the Yankees suffer the injuries they did last year (especially to their pitching), the Blue Jays may challenge for the division.

Don’t look now, but J.P. Ricciardi has made the Blue Jays a dangerous team for 2006 and look for the fans to finally start “flocking” to the SkyDome.