September 3
Toronto Star
columnist Chris Zelkovich
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Betty Tucker has been a loyal Toronto Blue Jays fan since the team was born in an April snowstorm in 1977. Now that she's 82 and not as mobile as she used to be, watching the Jays on TV has become one of her favourite pastimes. She seldom misses a game and her love of the team has never wavered, despite the team's spotty record since the glory years. Until now. She's feeling a lot less love for the Blue Jays and their corporate master these days."
September 1
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
"
Much of the Blue Jays' positive buzz in 2010 has come from the development of a young, mostly homegrown starting staff, a surprising six- or seven-man rotation that has jump-started many fans' expectations of seeing a contender in Toronto in the near future. The starters are young, talented and cheap, but what of the veterans in the bullpen, especially in middle relief, an area considered the team's strength all winter? With many of their thirtysomething relievers placed on waivers through the final weekend of August, dangled by GM Alex Anthopoulos as trade bait if the price was right, what is the bullpen's future? The 'pen's fate cleared up overnight. Regarding the waiver wire and those"
August 31
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
"
The Jays have been criticized and second-guessed as an organization of arm-killers due to the number of pitchers in recent times who have gone down with elbow or shoulder issues requiring surgery. Now, with a steady stream of talented young starting pitchers on the way through the system ready to feed into a raging river of live arms, they're finally doing something about it. The Jays' decision to shut down 25-year-old right-hander Brandon Morrow, healthy and effective, following a start against the Yankees on Friday is controversial. Though the team may technically remain on the periphery of 90 wins with five weeks to go, it tells you everything you need to know about the organization's"
August 26
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
"
For the Jays and their young GM Alex Anthopoulos, the current season is not as much about challenging the Yankees and Rays for the post-season as it is about identifying those players who will remain part of the organization when the Jays eventually can challenge for a division title. First it was DH Adam Lind signing long-term, $37.5 million for six years, on the eve of opening day. Then it was Ricky Romero, on the recent West Coast trip, coming to terms for a lucrative five years and $31.1 million guaranteed. They join outfielder Vernon Wells, second baseman Aaron Hill and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria as the five current Jays inked through 2013 or beyond. The next logical step"
August 25
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
"
It has felt for most of the summer that as Jose Bautista goes, so go the Jays. Such was the case again Tuesday night as the major leagues' leading home run slugger contributed quietly with a groundball single and a pair of walks in the Yankees' 11-5 trouncing of the Jays at the Rogers Centre. A Bautista-oriented Jays wasn't the plan this season. It was supposed to be Vernon Wells' team. The first day he reported to spring training, the 31-year-old centre fielder expressed his belief that the clubhouse finally belonged to him with the departure of Roy Halladay. But with Bautista garnering the lion's share of attention and performing daily heroics, does Wells still feel the same way? "I"
August 24
Toronto Star
columnist Richard Griffin
"
The curtain call, tip of the helmet and chants of "MVP, MVP" for Jose Bautista after he hit his second homer of the game and 40th of the season in the eighth inning of Monday's 3-2 win over the Yankees were a fitting tribute for the Jays' team leader in this, his breakout season. But beyond the numbers, there was an underlying leadership Bautista showed the Yankees on this night. The Jays will not be intimidated by the Yankee logo or their dominating history. In the sixth inning, Bautista ducked low as a 96 m.p.h. fastball from rookie Ivan Nova sailed over his head. He angrily started towards the mound, yelling in Spanish and looking for the reaction that would tell him the brushback was"