About a month ago, while travelling the internetz, I stopped by a
live chat being run by the fine folks at
Big League Stew. Cliff Lee was the topic of conversation at the time and, as I involuntarily do whenever I read or hear Cliff Lee's name, I commented that Roy Halladay, and certainly not Lee, should have won the 2008 American League Cy Young Award.
That was enough to set off Passan. Here's what he had to say:
"I have a feeling that if the Blue Jays are ever good again, they're going to give Red Sox fans a run for their obnoxious money.
"I love Roy Halladay -- picked him to win the CY this year -- but come on. How can you make that argument?
"I'm just saying: Toronto fans are tremendously parochial, to the point that it becomes annoying. They are funny and cool and I'd definitely love to drink a beer with them, but their homerism is way over the top."
It's been a few weeks - I am arguably the world's greatest procrastinator - but allow me to respond.
Well, Mr. Passan, the
Jays are good again. And while I'm the last person in Toronto to argue a charge of over-the-top homerism, to say that Blue Jays fans could ever be as obnoxious as the Massholes is flat-out ridiculous. That's a whole other level of douchebaggery.
Oh yeah, Halladay. Look, Doc faced the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees a combined 16 times last season. Six starts against New York, and five each against Boston and Tampa Bay. Cliff Lee faced those three teams four times. One start against Boston, one against New York, and two versus Tampa Bay. The only team Lee faced five times last season: the 75-87 Kansas City Royals.
I know the schedule is largely to blame, but that's why I can make that argument, Mr. Passan. Because that disparity has got to mean something.
But it's all good. The beer's on me, Passan. Enough about 2008, and Cliff Lee.
How about
Brian Tallet? The much maligned J.P. Ricciardi has somehow put together an embarrassment of riches on the mound for the Blue Jays, and you probably won't find him getting much credit for it.
With guys like Casey Janssen and Ricky Romero set to return in a week or so, and Jesse Litsch not far behind, questions abound. Such as: how the heck do you return Tallet to the bullpen?
And while I hate to overlook the second edition of
Cecil Time this afternoon, Tuesday night looms large: Roy Halladay vs. A.J. Burnett.
Be there. I need not say more.
