Some of God’s Children Are Just Naturally Wild
It is time for my favourite post of the year. It is fun to read about where everyone who comes here is from and their answers to the various questions.
The second title is from Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Naturally Wild. I was going to use the line ‘Rock and Roll is such a corporate racket’.
Back in the day, Hugo used song lyrics as post titles on the site, giving it personality. But at some point, SEO concerns led SB Nation to complain about the practice. Complain isn’t the right word. It drove them crazy.
But I found several bands I would have never heard of if Hugo hadn’t mentioned them.
Anyway, your mission, if you choose to accept, is to copy and paste these questions into the comment thread and give us your answers.
Name:
Location:
Favourite Current Jay:
Favourite All-Time Jay:
Favourite Non-Jay:
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect:
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:
Favourite Baseball Movie:
What was the best thing about your past year:
When Not Bantering, I:
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am:
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:
Walkup Music:
Here are answers from the people who write here:
Name: Tom Dakers, surprise.
Location: Calgary, in the ‘family room’ with guitars all around me. I haven’t been playing enough, so my mission this summer is to pick out 10 songs and learn them well.
Favourite Current Jay: Vlad or Kirk. But on any given day it could be anyone on the roster, especially whoever drove in the last run.
Favourite All-Time Jay: There are so many, but Pat Hentgen.
Favourite Non-Jay: All time, Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans.
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Arjun Nimmala. Or Addison Barger.
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Second base, especially now that runners can’t slide through them. I don’t have the metaphysical arm for short.
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Kauffman Stadium, but that is going have to wait for four years.
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham. When I play tennis, I repeat as my mantra, ‘Don’t think it hurts the team.’
What was the best thing about your past year? We just returned from an amazing holiday in Africa. And I’ve been playing better tennis this year. I’m still playing crappy squash, but I enjoy it.
When Not Bantering, I try to ignore the line in my SB contract that says I’m not allowed any non-bantering time. But I play tennis and squash a fair bit. I’ve been trying to work out more regularly. I’ve been known to have a beer on occasion.
On Twitter or Bluesky, I am: @Bluebirdbanter.
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I have my name on a bowling trophy. Yes, that surprises me.
Walkup Music: If I’m a pitcher? Going with Naturally Wild, Ray Wylie Hubbard, last year’s answer, because I’m lazy.
Name: dexfarkin
Location: Toronto
Favourite Current Jay: Bo Bichette
Favourite All-Time Jay: Lloyd Moseby
Favourite Non-Jay: Gunner Henderson
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Jonatan Clase
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Low Leverage Reliever
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Wrigley Field
Favourite Baseball Movie: Sugar
What was the best thing about your past year: Considering how low the bar for anything good happening last year can be, I’d have to say my last quiet and non-political trip to NYC.
When Not Bantering, I: Write for a living, write for several side hustles including trivia and journalism, write for pleasure and read everything I can get my hands on.
On Twitter, I am: Non-existant. But I can be found under @dexfarkin on Bluesky.
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I met Joe Niekro as a kid during a sports expo in Detroit. He showed me exactly how he gripped his knuckleball. I have thrown a pitch with that grip thousands of times and not once did it ever knuckle for me.
Name: Kate Stanwick
Location: Los Angeles CA
Favourite Current Jay: Up for grabs this season!
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Up for grabs this season!
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: currently on maternity leave
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC & PetCo! Honestly anything that’s not the neighborhood little league ballpark
Favourite Baseball Movie: Sandlot
What was the best thing about your past year: I gave birth to a baby in January, and am now a beaming boy mom
When Not Bantering, I: am the milk lady, cleaning up spit up, doing laundry and going for lots of stroller walks
On BlueSky, I am: @kstan, but not on much due to the above two responses
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: If my son ever becomes a major league middle reliever, it will be because Minor Leaguer said his name sounds like it (and he’s not wrong)
Name: Tom Mullie
Location: Calgary
Favourite Current Jay: Vlad
Favourite All-Time Jay: Jose Bautista
Favourite Non-Jay: Mookie Betts
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Alan Roden
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Crafty lefty #4 starter
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Fenway
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham
What was the best thing about your past year: got to check out spring training (Arizona, not the Jays) in person for the first time
When Not Bantering, I: run, hike, take pictures
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: @expo45@bsky.social, mostly silent
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I’ve been to games in Denver, San Diego, Oakland, and Seattle on back-to-back days without flying
Walkup Music: Work To Do, Average White Band
Name: Leo (Minor Leaguer)
Location: Toronto
Favourite Current Jay: Richard Lovelady (actual answer: probably Vladdy)
Favourite All-Time Jay: Roy Halladay
Favourite Non-Jay: Kyle Schwarber
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Big man Peyton Williams
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Postseason outfield umpire
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Kauffman Stadium
Favourite Baseball Movie: Angels in the Outfield (1994)
What was the best thing about your past year: Saw a solar eclipse and the Northern Lights for the first time
When Not Bantering, I: Work too much
On Bluesky, I am: @minorleaguer.ca
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Has pooped in stadiums in short season-A (RIP), low-A, high-A, triple-A, and MLB. Still have not pooped in a double-A stadium.