VERNON DOUSES SHEA'S BRIDGE-BURNIN'

Various things you noticed as you Garth Snowed your buddy a six-pack of Sleemans.

If Blue Jays centre-fielder Vernon Wells was upset about the Jays dumping his buddy Shea Hillenbrand, he chose a very good way to channel his anger, crushing a Mariano Rivera pitch in the 11th inning last night for a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees in what must rank as the most biggest Toronto win since ... by gar, it's been a while.

This had a little bit of everything -- Mike Mussina falling apart, A-Rod making an error that opened the door to a big Jays rally and the Jays bullpen ultimately keeping them in the game after the damn Yankees tying the game late off B.J. Ryan. The Jays showed a lot of fight, and fortunately for most of the 42,000 on hand, it didn't involve the manager fighting one of his (ex) players.

In the end though, Wells did what he's supposed to do: made the game all about himself.

This space has talked before about V-Dub needing to be a leader, both in action and deed, and he seemed to have come through on that count big-time last night. (Wells also had a hit during a four-run Jays rally in the sixth inning before delivering against the future Hall of Famer Rivera in the 11th.) Some cynics might remark that he can save the casual approach for 2008 when he signs with the Texas Rangers as a free agent and finds out what it's like to play for a team where no one cares, but let's leave for a little later.

It's a little hard to outdo this week for the Jays, what with the Hillenbrand firestorm, three extra-inning victories and the normally reliable bullpen blowing five straight save opportunities. Oh, and there's still three more games against the Evil Empire to be played? You don't say.

Related:
Shea Ya Later (July 20)
Wells Sounds Off Like He's Got A Pair (June 11)

OTHER BUSINESS

• Tyler Dellow of mc79hockey dug up a photo of Oilers rookie Rob Schremp that makes you wonder how it ever got out in the first place. (Via James Mirtle.)
• Happy anniversary to the Official Parents of Out of Left Field, Dan and Kathie Sager.
• Have you read about Girlfriend-Friendly Sports Movies? If not, why?
• Garth Snow that link to all your friends.
• Note to readers: in addition to this space, yours truly will now be posting regularly at Armchair GM. Sooner or later, people will start reading my bon mots.
• Bill Simmons has picked his English Premiership team, and in doing so provided a handy-dandy primer for anyone who's decided to take the next step as a soccer fan by finding a team in Europe to follow. Yours truly is still split; my friend Neil Acharya is actually suggesting I pick Celtic in the Scottish Premership.

That's all for now. Just a note that Out of Left Field may not be updated much over the weekend as yours truly takes in the Jays-Yankees games in T-Dot. Have an average weekend. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.