Gotta love the Dorritos ad campaign

Wade Belak

On this momentous occasion, we must salute Mr. Wade Belak

Baseball Salaries by Position

On my wonderful commute home I was thinking about this.....

Money doesn't buy championships right? But it does get you to the playoffs... Lets compare the Bluejays, by position, how much money these rich bastards make.....

Catcher

Jorge Posada: 13,000,000 per year
Greg Zaun: 3,500,000
Jason Varitek: 11,000,000

First Base

Doug Mientkiewicz: 1,500,000
Jason Giambi: 23,428,571
Combined 24,928,571
Kevin Youkilis: 424,500
Lyle Overbay: 1,350,000

Second Base

Robinson Cano: 490,800 (due for a big increase)
Miguel Cairo: 750,000
Combined 1,240,000
Aaron Hill: 395,000
Dustin Pedroia: 380,000

Third Base

Alex Rodriguez: 22,708,525 (WHO NEEDS THIS MUCH MONEY??)
Mike Lowell: 9,000,000
Troy Glaus: 10,500,000

Shortstop

Derek Jeter: 21,600,000
John McDonald: 750,000 (The Prime Minister of Defence)
Julio Lugo: 8,250,000
Alex Cora: 2,000,000
Combined 10,250,000


Outfield by team

Johnny Damon: 13,000,000
Hideki Matsui: 13,000,000
Melky Cabrera: 432,400
Bobby Abreu: 15,000,000
Yankee's Total: 41,432,400
(Higher than the total payroll of the Pirates, Nationals, Rays and Marlins)

Reed Johnson: 3,075,000
Vernon Wells: 8,787,500
Alex Rios: 2,535,000
Matt Stairs: 1,625,000
Bluejays Total: 16,022,500

Manny Ramirez: 17,016,381
Wily Mo Pena: 1,875,000
JD Drew: 14,000,000
Co Co Crisp: 3,833,333
Red Sox Total: 36,724,714
(That's not including Eric Hinske's ridiculous salary)

As you can see there are some contrasts.... This isn't counting designated hitters... David Ortiz vs Frank Thomas vs Jason Giambi or one of the Yankee's 4th outfielders.... or the pitching staffs... I'll save that for another day.

Yes, you can argue that 4 of the 8 teams last year don't have HUGE payrolls, BUT, how often does that happen? And do you really expect the Rockies to repeat? Or the Padres? Or the D'Backs? The Red Sox and Yankee's are there every year. I compared them to the Jays, not just because I'm a Jays fan, but because the Jays are in the middle of the pack when your looking at the least spending teams vs the Yankee's and the Red Sox. Not to mention, the Jays are in their division.

Another interesting note, ever since the birth of the wild card, there hasn't been another team that has won more games and not made the playoffs than the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yes, money may not buy you championships in the Yankee's case, but it sure as hell keeps the stadium full, and a playoff appearance every year.

A Party in my stomach....

This guy has just got it so right.....

Bowman a Leaf?

The editors here at Givener have just got wind that Scotty Bowman has been contacted by the Leafs Brass. We've also heard that he was an option before the season started, but he wanted to clean house with the Leafs. Sending all management packing, where he could have full control over Maple Leaf management. If this is the case, what are they waiting for? I like Maurice, but he's just not doing it. 9 time Stanley cup Champion. One more and he has a ring for every finger.

BRING HIM IN

apology

We would like to take this opportunity to apologize to our readers for the lack of new posts. It's been a hectic few months here for the givener editors, and we sincerely apologize for our absence. Problem is, we had to clean house. I had some writers defect to parts of still soviet Russia, and then try and post some communist propaganda. Once again, I apologize if any of their writings were seen on this credited publication. I've also found another individual who was taking money from Givener funds, and for that... I kicked the shit out of him.

With that all out of the way, I would like to comment on my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. I think it would be safe to sum up their entire season with three letters....

WTF?!?!

How can you shut out the mighty Ottawa Senators on a nationally broadcasted game on Hockey Night in Canada, and then go out and stink it up versus Boston? To their former number 1 pick I might add. As bad as the Leafs have drafted over the years, they have made some decent picks, Rask being one of them. Here's hoping Pogge hits the scene in two years time and wins the Calder.

Three more words....

Vesa Fucking Toskla







Priceless... bloody priceless, attaboy Robertson - IDIOT

Erik Mongrain on Guitar

I'm not sure if I've seen this on another blog, or a website... regardless, this is pretty damn awesome. Creativity in music, and the way you produce it - There is nothing better.

Deftones - Opera House - July 27th, 2007

Just a small clip from another awesome show I've been to lately.

My Own Summer - The Deftones

MUSE

MUSE
Wednesday August 1, 2007
Arrow Hall, Toronto

If you were at this show, or have seen MUSE in any small venue on their North American Tour you will probably have realized that these guys do not belong in these small venues. They are way too good for just 6000 people. This show was amazing. A good friend of mine told me that the concert site, pollstar.com voted MUSE best performers two years running, and with good measure. If you don't know MUSE or have not heard of them, check them out, you will not regret it.

Vacuum Cleaners at the Daily Dyson?

I knew that the Daily Dyson was a reputable publication, but I had no idea that the writers over there were investment guru's and put there name all over a vacuum line. Genius.

I can't rob you of this one...

So all this baseball talk, and the blue jays leaving something like 50 runners on in four games has got me all emotional and sentimental. I started thinking of how much I used to love going to games and bashing the hell out of some of the players that I just cannot stand. I still do, usually just to the Yankee's, cause I can't stand Derek Jeter. It's just not right that he keeps from the world that he is a homo. It's false advertising for the ladies, and besides, it's probably best that things are put out there in the open. Disclaimer, calling all blue jays fans to help with me to celebrate Derek Jeter's homosexuality when the Yankee's visit Toronto next, and chant HO-MO, HO-MO, HO-MO.

Got side tracked there. With the crap-tacular two series the blue jays just played, it has brought memories back from when I used to be more, lets say vocal, at the games (which is soon to return this weekend by the way). My friends and I used to go to every series the the Jays played the Royals, and later on, the White Sox. We didn't miss one game in any of those home series. Why? To help my favourite player realize that BO actually doesn't know a damn thing. God I hate Bo Jackson. One of MLB's biggest tool's ever. Neon Dion was WAY better. I'll give it to Dion just based on hair.

The story goes, that these 3 young men - 13-15 years old to be exact loved to jeer Jackson. We were civil. We dropped F'bombs only by mistake, and the people around us got to know us with our passion for hating on BO. After all, he had to run by us on his way to left field every inning, and had to hear us scream every time a pitch was on it's way. It's no secret, Bo Jackson sucked when he played against the Jays, and the Blue Jays have myself and my comrades to thank for that. From '92 to '94, Bo Jackson went 2 for 23. That's right... 2 for 23. That's a .087 Batting average. Bo obviously didn't like 11-14 year olds. What a tool. Actually, in the final game that I ever saw Bo Jackson play in, we actually got him to give us the middle finger. On his jog back from making an alright catch against the wall to end the inning, we continued to jeer him, cause all he did was close his eyes and hope for the best. On his way in, he blocked his dugout's view, and gave us the bird. In all it's glory, we lost it. As well as, I'd say, about 30-40 spectators around us, all gave us a standing O. Bo Jackson let some kids get to him. A true ambassador of the game, gave us the bird.

Dear Bo Jackson, thank you.

Scots will even get the all blacks nervous...

Greg Zaun

Can't believe I missed it....
Greg Zaun

Seasons: 13
Games 967
AB 2694
Hits 679
HR 65
RBI 343
BA .252
OPB .343
SLG .384

Key Stat? ummmmm 65 homeruns in 2694 at bats? How about 2 at bats, in 3 post season games, and no hits. Lookout Gehrig, Zaun is coming. Interesting fact about Zaun... He is Rick Dempsey's Nephew.... who knew









Is this not the face of a future hall of famer?

















Key Difference? Rick Dempsey was the 1983 World Series MVP

Goalie Masks.... Past and Present