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Stairs shipped to Phillies

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 7:22 PM EST 29/08/08

Fredericton, N.B., native and former Blue Jays outfielder will get chance to compete for a pennant in Philadelphia ...Read the full article

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  1. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: Good luck Matt, you've earned it.
  2. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: This comes as no surprise.Mr Stair among a number of the BJ's roster was a disappointment this year A 250 something batting avg with 10 HR's just doesn't cut it for a DH.
  3. Andrew Pakula from Caledon, Canada writes: Well I have always liked Stairs but his numbers just weren't as good this year compared to last year. The Jays at this point are out of it so if they can get a prospect or a good younger player in return for this trade then its worth it.
  4. Garry S from Canada, Canada writes: No surprise. Matt has lost a lot of swing speed. Probably nearing the end of the line. What is surprising is the call-up of Travis Snider, after JP stated that would not happen.
  5. Juan Valasquez from Canada writes: GL: Matt Stairs led the BJ's in homeruns most of the season.
    Though his average has sunk, he was a great pinch hitter, and could usually be counted in the clutch.

    We'll miss ya Stairsy!
    Bon chance mon ami!
  6. Captain Ontario from Canada writes: Gillick >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> JP (Just Pretend)
  7. joey Bananas from Victoria, Canada writes: He's from Fredericton, not St. John. More specifically, i think he's from Taymouth, which is just north of Fredericton.

    St. John, aka Stinktown, is in the south of the Province, on the coast. Fredericton is 150km to the north.

    Geography lesson maybe?
  8. mathew dick from moncton, Canada writes: stanley N/B. is a far way from st. john. and i don't think anyone from stanley would like to be called a saint johner.

    check your facts
  9. Patrick P-A from Canada writes: Joey, how does mistakenly thinking he's from St. John imply that they don't know their geography?

    If I believe Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in the US instead of that guy from Italy does that mean I don't know where each country lies on a map?

    I'm glad you were able to clear up Matt's origin but spare us the condescending, self-congratulatory tone.
  10. BB Freak from Canada writes: O.K. so now he brings up the 20 year old Snider for a look see..where does he play him? LF and make Lind the DH? Lind is not a great outfielder but he is a bit young to relegate to the DH position...seems like strange timing for the kid..but nothing surprises me anymore with this idiot running the team...so reckless, so needs to be fired
  11. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: Juan- He led the team with 10 HRS! My goodness that's nothing to get excited about is it A great pinch hitter?Mmmm.that's a stretch.Granted he was and is not the only one on this team that has under achieved this season. The good news for Mr Stairs is that he is going to a contender.who obviously felt he can help them down the stretch and depending upon his performance he will still be gainfully employed at the major league level. in the future. All blue jays fans including this one wish him well,but as I stated in my earlier posting a 250 something batting average and 10 HRS just doesn't cut it for a DH.nor might I add for a particulary starting catcher on this roster who has about the same stats.
  12. Foggytown Jones from Niagara, Canada writes: I grew up in Saint John and I can tell you that Matt Stairs is NOT from the Port City; I beleive he's from outside of Fredericton (Taymouth). I can just hear the conversation in the news room before they hit the 'post' button...'I dunno, I think he's from NB somewhere...ok, St John sounds good....oh make sure you spell it right..it's SAINT John...Whew that was close. Good thing we spelled the name of the city right...'

    Come on G&M, just for once, TRY
  13. Tony! Tony! from Canada writes: GL: If you look around the league at catcher batting statistics, having a catcher hit .250 with 12-15 HRs, and an OBP of around .335 would be pretty decent.
  14. A Realist from Canada writes: Stairs, a Canadian and fan favourite, under-perfoms and it's JP's fault. If Stairs was an American, which is where he now lives, he would have been crucified.

    I hope one day the NHL goes to a year round schedule and Leaf fans won't have to pay attention to baseball during the two months hockey isn't on the front page.
  15. U.S. Blue Jay Fan from NY, NY., United States writes: Looking forward to watching Travis Snider at the plate. Could be a good one ... in time.
  16. S Van GOOGLE from Wallis And Futuna Islands writes: Loved Watching Stairs'sy and will miss seeing him bat. The only Jay i'd want to share pints with, other than Zaunie..

    Good Luck Matt..
  17. joey Bananas from Victoria, Canada writes: Patrick Pa

    Go blow it out your hole buddy.

    The mistake they made is like saying Soandso from Ottawa, instead of being from Toronto, or a guy being from Calgary, instead of Edmonton.

    Obviously you probably couldn't pick out NB on the map of Canada.

    We'll miss ya Matt..
  18. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: yup will miss Matt

    drinking a beer in the locker.

    awesome.
  19. Neil No more last name from Canada writes: Sorry i read that "drinking a beer in the locker" line in another publication.
  20. Patrick P-A from Canada writes: Joey, I guess it comes down to reporting where the guy grew up vs what's written on his birth certificate.

    As for knowing where NB is, I think just about everyone who's gone to school in Canada knows where NB is.
  21. Spiny Norman from Georgetown, ON, Canada writes: "Tony! Tony! from Canada writes: GL: If you look around the league at catcher batting statistics, having a catcher hit .250 with 12-15 HRs, and an OBP of around .335 would be pretty decent."

    Those are perfectly average catcher stats, sure. Has Stairs ever caught a game? I mean EVER? Right now I'm looking at fifteen years of MLB stats where he's done pretty much everything except pitch. And catch.

    As for this St. John/Fredericton business, the Baseball Almanac has him listed as being born in St. John. I expect they're probably wrong, but it is an otherwise reputable source for all kinds of info, which means that a lot of sports writers who aren't his cousin or lived down the street from his folks would have to have got their info from somewhere (other than baseball cards, presumably).

    Anyway, Matt will be missed on some level. He always came to play and though his better days are behind him he could still light a spark under the team now and then. Hopefully he'll have success in Philly.
  22. Fred Draper from Kingston, Canada writes: 1. Stairs' numbers are way down this year. He used to devour righthanders. Not anymore.

    2. A lot of big leaguers' numbers are way down, due to being off the 'roids.

    Not that there's any relationship between 1 and 2.

    BTW, is he still outhitting Frank Thomas?
  23. Cole H. from Toronto, Canada writes: As per Buster Olney @ ESPN, the Jays will be getting LHP Fabio Castro in return for Stairs.

    Stairs had a wonderful year last year for the Jays & far & away exceeded expectations. Sadly, but predictably he wasn't able to reproduce those numbers.

    I'm incredibly excited to see Snider & from everything I've read, he's got the mental makeup to handle himself well if he doesn't succeed right away. He seems like an very strong kid & I hope he mashes the ball. I imagine he'll strikeout a fair bit but it'll definitely be interesting to finally see this guy.
    I imagine hearing his name announced at Yankee Stadium for his debut will be be a real treat.

    Go Jays.
  24. RJ Canuck from Canada writes: Sad to see Matt go, but left handed hitters at his age are tempting to contending teams in hitters parks. JP can't be slammed for this one, he deserves to go for many other reasons of course.

    Matt seemed to have trouble catching up to pitches that he used to drive last year. Good luck to him and I enjoyed his blue collar presence for the last couple of years. His being Canadian had something to do with his popularity, but we've always loved his type of player in town, no matter what the nationality. Ernie Whitt was similar.

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