Clean, green, and picturesque, Seattle has to count as one of Canada's finest cities.
You must think I've been slurping tainted Starbucks, but over the last three days, I met a hundred people with Canadian passports. And they didn't just represent BC's lower mainland. There were many Albertans, and several from Saskatchewan. One couple proudly claimed to have driven from Saskatoon; ultra-impressive, considering they support a last place team.
Rance Mulliniks suggested the energy at Safeco Field – specifically during Roy Halladay's gem on Monday night – was greater than most home games at Rogers Centre. This is understandable, as those who attend routinely in Toronto may not feel the excitement of people who only get to see the Jays once a year.
Unfortunately, the collective will of a rabid western Canadian fan base cannot hit a double with runners in scoring position. What seems to be lacking from the Blue Jays' lineup is one man who can cause an opposing pitching staff to loath his presence on-deck. What they are lacking is a legitimate No. 4 hitter.
That player used to exist, but Carlos Delgado hasn't been a Jay in four years. Right now, Vernon Wells hits fourth most nights. At his current pace, Wells would hit fewer than 20 home runs, but some leniency is due a man who played most of last year with a bum shoulder, and may still be feeling the effects of a broken wrist suffered in May. Still, even in full health over a complete season, Wells has never hit more than 33.
Every good team has a proven clean-up hitter. In Boston, it's Manny; in Philadelphia, Ryan Howard; in New York, it's Alex Rodriguez, and in Minnesota, it's Justin Morneau. And since the Blue Jays don't appear to have a player in their system that can simply step into a major league lineup and bash 40 homers, they may need to get a little creative.
Other teams certainly have.
The Rangers pried Josh Hamilton away from Cincinnati. Carlos Quentin joined the White Sox from Arizona for a minor leaguer, and now he's among the American League's premier power bats. And don't forget Florida's Dan Uggla, who may not be anyone's idea of an ideal clean-up man. But that hasn't stopped him from hitting 23 homers before the All-Star break. Not bad for a guy whose acquisition as a Rule 5 pick in 2005 was newsworthy only to friends and family.
Hey, we all love small ball. The hit and run, stealing a base, moving runners over; it's an enjoyable form of baseball. But as Terry Francona pointed out recently, every team needs a guy who can hit a three-run shot to steal a game that appeared lost. That the Blue Jays have not won a single game while trailing after seven innings all year tells us they are missing that man.
As always, your opinion is encouraged.
