That the Blue Jays took the easy way out by moving the G20 series to Philadelphia. Considering Citizens Bank Park routinely sells out all it’s 44,000 seats these days and the Jays are poised to split the gate with the Phillies (it will technically be a Jays “home game”), of course they were going to go for the green. The odds of getting three straight crowds of 43,000+ at the Rogers Centre at any point this season are non-existent. It’s a good thing I never said out loud that they should have played a neutral site game at 19,000-seat Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, because I would have been laughed at.
Just take a look at where this franchise stands right now. The night of the Carter home run in 1993, did you think you would see the day where attendance could barely crack 11,000 some nights and the organization would gladly concede a three-game venue switch to those very Phillies, the same Phillies they just traded the greatest pitcher in franchise history to?
You’ve gotta love this city’s lot in life right now. With Doc’s return is out of the way, we can now focus on what’s going to happen in Toronto that weekend. Anarchist riots.
As DJF points out, this June’s G20 summit in Toronto is likely to wreak havoc with at least two games the Phillies-Jays series scheduled for June 25-26. “Who gives a shit?” is a layman’s response, until said layman is informed that there’s a decent chance Roy Halladay will start one of those games for Philly. There are rumors these games will have to be moved – and I for one am certain they are going to be moved. The summit, which includes leaders from the world’s 20 leading economic powers, takes place at the Metro Convention Centre on the Friday and Saturday.
Do you think you’ve seen heavy security before? You blunt-rollers out in B.C. think policing is heavy during this little upcoming nordic sport tournament? Barack Obama travels with a detail of Secret Service guys 100+ strong. Maybe cut that in half, but multiply by 19. And that’s not taking into consideration the police necessary to deal with the anarchists who we know are coming, for the sole purpose of inciting riots beyond the security perimeters. The Skywalk will be closed, my friends.
Seems Domonic Brown is not involved in the Halladay trade – apparently the deal is for up-and-coming pitching stud Kyle Drabek (son of Doug Drabek), catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, and OF Michael Taylor, who some rave about. But wait – word has it Taylor will then be traded to Oakland for infielder Brett Wallace.
Whatever. The Jays already made their biggest move in 15 years when they removed Jamie Campbell and replaced him with Buck Martinez.
Halladay to Philly in a 3-way, Cliff Lee to Seattle. Highly-touted OF prospect Domonic Brown, Philippe Aumont and other prospects coming to Toronto. Sayonara Roy, was a nice decade-plus. Sorry your team couldn’t have been more competent in building around you.
