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No dog days for these guys
The Toronto Blue Jays came north this past Spring with the intention that they would win the World Series. In fact, all Major League baseball teams have the same intent when they break camp. As the season wears on, through May and June, teams begin to realize that they either have the right stuff, or that they will have to wait a year or two— or 100. There will be injuries, contract difficulties, locker room squabbles and highly rated prospects that don’t pan out. The fans slowly realize that their team just does not have the right stuff that particular year. As the dog days of August approach, it does not look good.
Fans become impatient and start demanding action from the team officials. In the case of the Blue Jays, general manager Alex Anthopoulos likely heard the rumblings. The fans are armchair quarterbacks. They seem to think they know more about the team and its players than does the management, and they have the solutions. They become impatient. They demand better pitching, better fielding, better hitting.
In the case of the Blue Jays this year, there have been great games, and times of great pain. They have shown that they can knock the cover off the ball and build up substantial leads, only to see them dissipate, and lose by a run or two in the late innings. Run production was never a problem.
In the past two weeks, the team has taken the action to become a true contender for the playoffs. Because of the divisional format in baseball, the teams that win their divisions automatically qualify for the playoffs. The rest of the contenders qualify in a wild card format. But the ultimate goal is to be at the top of the league in October. In the case of the Blue Jays, they have one team in their sights: the New York Yankees.
Enter David Price. At 29 years old, Price is generally recognized as a premier pitcher in the Major Leagues. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2004, in the 19th round, but decided to attend Vanderbilt University. Following his time at Vanderbilt, the Indiana native re-entered the draft. He was chosen first overall by the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent part of this season with the Detroit Tigers, and made his debut with the Blue Jays on Monday.
From the moment he trotted onto the field, he knew he would find the confines of the Rogers Centre most comfortable. The place was sold out, and the fans were there to cheer on their latest acquisition. Price did not disappoint. The 2012 Cy Young Award winner pitched a gem, allowing one run in eight innings. He stranded runners, had 11 strikeout victims, mixed pitches to frustrate the Kansas City Royals. He is now 10-4 for the season. Blue Jays management now must figure out what it will take to get Price to stay in Toronto. He becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
Another recent addition to the Blue Jays roster is Troy Tulowitzki. Tulo, as he is known, is a shortstop, perhaps the best in the Major Leagues. He is a career .300 hitter, with power to all fields. The 30-year-old Californian is signed for several years, and Toronto fans will be able to enjoy his baseball skills for many seasons. As is the case with Price, he has been an all-star five times.
Josh Donaldson is also having a great first year for the Jays. He has provided timely hitting, and great defence. He was recently selected as the Player of the Month by the Toronto baseball writers.
I have barely scratched the surface recording the names and faces of the 2015 edition of the Toronto Blue Jays. Winning is infectious. You can see it on the face of every member of the team. Losing is no longer an option with these guys.
You had best reserve a seat now for the home stretch. It is going to be exciting.
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