Dear Matt Stairs,
You’re quite a guy. You’re without question one of the best baseball players to ever come out of Canada. You’ve hit well with power your entire career, yet never found a long-term home. Finally, you got the chance to play for the only team in your home country, and my guess is that retiring in Toronto wouldn’t be the worst thing to you. But unfortunately, you won’t get that chance.
As a Jays fan, you’ve given me so many great memories. Hitting .289 with 21 HR back in 2007 and becoming arguably the best impact hitter on the team that year, you made Jays fans and Canada proud. Finally, a great ballplayer in Toronto who was one of us. You’re not six and a half feet tall, you’re pretty much the size of me. I can relate to that. But I’ll never forget that brawl between the Jays and the Yankees where both teams swarmed the pitcher’s mound. Not you, though. You had your eye on A-Rod the whole time, because like all of us, you can’t stand the guy. Because he’s got a history of jackassery in almost every city and in every ballpark. Because his ego could fill a dump truck. Because a simple bean ball just wouldn’t get the point across. Because when he messed with Howie Clark’s routine catch, he scheduled a meeting with your fist and he never showed up.
When I heard the news that you were traded, I was shocked. Ironically, I was at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ontario. The guys at the Hall tried to convince themselves it was a bad dream, but somehow I knew it wasn’t. We both know about Ricciardi’s insatiable lust for utility infielders and left handed relievers, and you’re the latest victim.
Shortly thereafter, I was looking at the plaques of all the inductees that lined the hall, and I pictured another silver plaque on that wall. This plaque was for the man with the second most home runs by a Canadian in MLB history. The only baseball player I’ve ever seen who plays baseball as if he were playing hockey. It was yours. Sure, it’s just a figment of my imagination right now, but with your skill, pride, determination, and class, you’re a lock for being inducted. And when you are, I’ll be there to witness it and congratulate you on an excellent career.
Keep your head up, Matt.