OPINION | Why the Blue Jays Need Canada’s Support

Photo Credit: David J. Phillip/The Associated Press

For the first time since 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays made the American League Championship Series. But their recent performance against the Seattle Mariners has fans across the country wondering, “Will the Blue Jays be able to get it together in time to advance to the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series?” Well, not with that attitude they won't! 

I can't stress enough how important it is to support your team instead of turning into cynical fans who boo their pitchers off the mound. They will never survive this series against the Mariners if we don't support them every step of the way (although if they lose, you're very welcome to unleash your rage upon them). 

Let's start with the facts. The Seattle Mariners have never been to the World Series, so it shouldn't really be that hard to beat them. But in all fairness, the Jays have only won the Series twice, in 1992 and 1993.

According to Baseball Reference, the Blue Jays won 94 games and lost 68 games in the regular season, while the Mariners won a total of 90 games and lost 72 games in the regular season. All in all, the two were a pretty even match. Additionally, if you take a look at the team stats, there is no clear domination between the two teams. During the regular season, the Blue Jays hit a total of 294 doubles, 13 triples, and 191 home runs, and the Mariners hit 234 doubles, 9 triples, and 238 home runs. 

But no matter who has more home runs or triples, or who has more fans or more candidates for the MVP award, there is one incredibly important reason to root for the only Canadian team in all of MLB. I'm sure everyone reading this article is aware of our recent estrangement from the USA (if you aren't, you could use some more time reading the Griffins’ Nest or the daily newspaper). And while baseball and politics are two very different subjects, they sometimes interfere with opinions and decisions made in the major league sports industry. 

Racism in the 1900s prevented players of colour from joining the MLB until Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) in 1947. 

Earlier in this year’s playoffs, when the Yankees barred Canadians from buying tickets to their games, it felt to Canadian fans online and in our very own Eric Hamber community that the team was discriminating against fans based on their nationality.

So to combat this negative vibe we're getting from the other side of the border, we need to cheer harder, louder, and prouder, because if we win it all this year, we get the most glorious reward. And what I mean by “the most glorious reward” is that the winner of the MLB World Series is invited to visit the White House. You know, the President’s 55 thousand square foot semi-private residence. So, in my ideal world, the Blue Jays win the World Series and go to the White House wearing red and white face paint with Canadian flags tied around their necks as capes. I mean, come on, wouldn't you like to see that? I can already see the look of disdain on President Trump's face as he’s forced to congratulate the team that represents the country that has zero interest in becoming his 51st state. 

So, you know, to make my beautiful dream come true, you should root for the Blue Jays during the World Series, as they did in fact beat the Seattle Mariners while I was taking my sweet time making this article. Sorry, Seattle. The Mariners will just have to try again next year. 

As the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, think of me and my dream to bring realization and acknowledgement of other people's opinions to the White House, and joy, ecstasy, and a sense of our strength to Canadians all across the world through baseball.