News and notes from Toronto
The outside of Rogers Centre includes large portraits of Toronto-area stars. (That includes Buffalo.) Trent Edwards of the Bills is flanked by Cito Gaston and B.J. Ryan. To the left of Ryan are Scott Rolen, Roy Halladay. Alex Rios is pictured elsewhere around the dome.
Ryan’s gone, Rolen’s gone, Rios is gone and Halladay might be gone this winter. Presumably this offseason there will be some redecorating on the exterior. The Blue Jays — who’ve weathered 12 disabled list stints by 10 pitchers this season — haven’t spent money wisely and don’t have as much as they’d like to spend. That’s toxic.
Meanwhile, on the interior, fans are few and far between. The sparse crowd here – on Ladies Night, no less — follows three nowhere-near-capacity gatherings in Baltimore.
That’s the awful part of baseball season when a team is out of it by Labor Day. Or Independence Day.
Mariano Rivera: He knows panic could ensue whenever his health is in question. He said he’ll be fine. But his left groin is “sore.” In Seattle last month, it “grabbed” and resulted in one appearance over a week’s time as he rested and underwent treatment. This time, Mariano said it might be a few days. He will be cautious. Girardi said it is uncomfortable — “like walking on hot coals” uncomfortable — to think about not having the Hall of Fame closer.
Jonathan Albaladejo: Have you seen his face? He looks like he was in a fight and lost. Big-time. Actually, he was playing catch with Edwar Ramirez on Monday and missed the ball, which hit him just above his left eye. He got a Band-Aid. Within 30 minutes, he had two shiners that are now a mixture of black, blue, purple and pink. The Yankees waited until he pitched in a game — an inning last night for AAA — to recall him. He arrived today and got a lot of ribbing. “Catch the ball!” Joba yelled, just as Albaladejo finished chatting with some reporters. Albaladejo laughed. “They were giving me a hard time in AAA,” he said. “I’d rather they give me a hard time here.”
Phil Hughes: In his locker here are two souvenirs from Baltimore, a Nick Markakis bobblehead and an Adam Jones figure. Hughes is collecting with a purpose. “I don’t want just regular stuff,” he said. “These are funny. Markakis is making a sliding catch, and Jones is jumping and blowing a bubble.” He’s right. The Orioles apparently know how to do give-away nights.
Joe Girardi: Joe’s wife, Kim, and Kid Styles of Bedford Hills are hosting an event on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Stadium to support awareness of stomach cancer. Blue hair extensions will be sold at two booths as will raffle tickets to win one of four items signed by the manager. All proceeds go to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer of Northwestern University. Joe’s sister-in-law was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and he says she’s doing well. He also says he’ll be wearing a blue extension that day.
Jim Leyland: His Tigers have a five-game lead over the Twins. But Leyland objected to the suggestion today that his team is in the “driver’s seat.”
“I don’t like comments like that,” he said. “There’s no reason for them. Our players should feel good about themselves and what they’ve done, but there’s no need to talk. Just go out there and keep doing it.”
The Kimberly Jones Blog 
Kim must be exciting to see the Yanks up close and personal at a time like this. I’m like Leyland…can’t say it’s in the bag until it’s in the bag. Although the Boston newspapers are telling Sox fans don’t even think about the division…that ship has sailed..Yeeeehaaaa!! Go Yankees!!!
Hi Kim,
I love the blog and all the work you do at YES. Also, great job on WFAN earlier this summer.
I just wanted to let you know that I will definitely wear jeans and donate to fight against women’s cancer on National Denim Day. Swisher’s story struck a chord because I lost my grandmother suddenly last year to lung cancer as well. We were very close, and she became a diehard Yankee fan a few years ago as a way for us to have something to talk about. She loved watching the Yankees play, and would frequently have me come over to watch the games- staying for the entire duration even during those long ‘Sox affairs. Joba was her favorite player because she said he seemed to enthusiastic and emotional…she got such a kick out of watching him play. Swisher wasn’t on the team yet, but I bet she would’ve loved watching him play too!
If you care to share that story with Mr. Swisher, you certainly may. If you do, please let him know that I know how hard it is to lose a loved one to cancer, and appreciate his effort to help fight it.
On a lighter note, you can also tell him I love watching him play. Great to see guys having fun out on the field.
Sincerely,
John C.
jfctiger@aol.com
Ladies night, huh… Lost my mom, a huge Yankees/Jeter fan Monday. Took 2 teenage girls to the game tonight and sat on the 3rd base line. Even paid a lot of money for the tix. What did we experience? Rude Jays fans…
Yankees fans are tough, we take the jeers for ARod, Jeter, et al while cheering on our team. But f-bombs and other rude language are uncalled for. When I subtetly let on to the usher the language being used was unacceptable, he issued them a warning. OK. Then an inning later more ushers came and escorted two of the offenders (there were at least 6) out. And then they came back. And accused us of blowing them in (it was others in the crowd, Jays fans all). And then tried to intimidate us. We left bottom of the 8th and stayed up top to watch ARod homer. Where we would have been sitting. Huh.
We love Rogers Centre because were upstate fans and that is a great place to watch our favorite team. We will go again but sit behind the Yankee dugout where we usually sit. But then again, it that “safe”? Ask Alfredo.
Not that it is going to happen (I could be wrong) but how sweet would Roy Halladay look in Yankee pinstripes.
Mike
mkenny@kennersonvideo.com
Love your blogs…not often can we read baseball stories and smile and feel good after reading them….great inside info, great human interest….please keep them coming
Hey Kim, Love reading your comments. Just wondering if you do tweeter also?
Kim, Tell the Yankees upper management its time to take off the kids gloves and let Joba pitch. They are messing with his head, we already have a head case with AJ we don’t need another with Joba. October is around the corner, and we need to get it all in order. They other playoff team will be ready for the Yankees, so if we want to go all the way we better fix the problem with Joba and AJ.
I just want to comment on the talk about Joe Mauer as an MVP candidate. Nobody can deny he’s a great player BUT, #1, the Twins aren’t going to win anything, #2, correct me if I’m wrong, but he doesn’t play every day being benched against many, if not all, left hand pitchers. Go Tex and Derek!!!
Joe Girardi: Joe’s wife, Kim, and Kid Styles of Bedford Hills are hosting an event on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Stadium to support awareness of stomach cancer. Blue hair extensions will be sold at two booths as will raffle tickets to win one of four items signed by the manager. All proceeds go to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer of Northwestern University. Joe’s sister-in-law was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and he says she’s doing well. He also says he’ll be wearing a blue extension that day.
Hair Extensions were graciously donated by SO.CAP USA HAIR EXTENSIONS. For more information about SO.CAP. USA visit http://www.socapusa.com
Can the hair extension be purchased on-line if I’m not going to the game? My husband’s cousin has Stage 4 and I’d like to send him one! Thanks