It's about time for a new post, huh? This weekend the Toronto Blue Jays are in town for an interleague series with the Braves. This is significant not only to each team this year, but also to their shared history.
Cito Gaston, the manager of the Jays, started his major league playing career with the Braves, and was Hank Aaron's roommate while with the team. He also played minor league ball with Bobby Cox, and later worked on Bobby's coaching staff with the Braves, so he has a personal connection with the team.
There is a bigger significance that that though. While they don't seem like likely rivals the Braves and the Jays have been just that since 1992. Remember, 1991 was our cinderella season when we went from worst to first in the National League and lost to the Minnesota Twins in the World Series. Toronto beat us in '92 to win their first World Series. They have been rivals ever since.
I have to admit, with the way each team has been playing this year I was very pessimistic about this match up. The Jays have the best record in the American League and the Braves are hovering around .500. But last night we sent out a struggling rookie pitcher in Kenshin Kawakami to face their ace, Roy Halladay, and we won 1-0. Tonight we put our ace on the mound, Derek Lowe, against Casey Janssen who has been on the DL since 2007. So hopefully the Braves will take advantage of the pitching match up and lock in the series win tonight setting up for a sweep tomorrow afternoon.
Here's an update, the Braves won tonight! Now they just need to win tomorrow afternoon to sweep the best team in the American League! That is as long as the game isn't rained out.
ReplyDeleteI watched the game, actually, and was really thrilled. I got to catch bits and pieces of it while I was in the living room during the cookout at Katie's. (Which, at four in the morning, I am still awake and at.)
ReplyDeleteI replied to your comment on my blog on your other before I realized you had updated. Night.