SPORTS
Monday, September 14, 2015 13
Toronto New Jays
kareem webster › staff writer
T
hirty-one.
Thirty-one days from now marks the
beginning of the postseason in Major League
Baseball (MLB).
October is a huge month, as it is one of only two
months that will have regular or post-season games
from the four major professional sports leagues (and
Major League Soccer). More importantly, October is
the month with the most optimism for sports fans
here as the Raptors and Leafs begin their respective
seasons while the Jays may possibly enter the postseason for the first time in twenty-two years.
Let us revisit the fall of 1993, when I was just a
child. The Blue Jays had just won their second World
Series in as many years. Joe Carter was a household
name. Toronto was on top of the baseball world.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
We can discuss the woeful Jays years ad nauseam, but this season is the first time that Jays fans
have a reason to be optimistic (some may argue
that is the story every year). We have yet to sniff the
playoffs since we won the World Series. No wonder
Torontonians are presuming that a postseason
berth likely means that the Jays will be triumphant.
Moreover, the Jays roster this season is starting to look
like it is arguably the most complete in franchise history—with in-season acquisitions of Troy Tulowitzski
and David Price helping tremendously.
At the same time, relax.
The Jays had quite an impressive August, winning twenty-one out of twenty-seven games, highlighted by an eleven-game winning streak that had
some analysts calling for their coronation. Just to
recap, this team entered August just one game above
the .500 mark and began September as the American
League (AL) East leaders with a record of 74-57. By the
way, these wins were against the likes of the Yankees,
Royals, and Rangers so it is not like the Jays had the
most fortuitous schedule during this span. Critics
may point out that some wins were against the bottom
feeder teams, but this is nothing but a misnomer as
the Jays have been eviscerating opponents left, right,
and centre, regardless of prowess.
Notable DH Edwin Encarnacion took home AL
Player of the Month honours, as he went on an insane
hitting streak and led the league in hitting percentage, along with eleven homers. Josh Donaldson was
not too shabby either, with eleven bombs and thirtyfive RBIs. Forgive my “not too shabby” hyperbolic
statement; Donaldson has been a monster; currently,
he leads the league in RBIs and runs scored, with his
share of plays on the highlight reel. Obviously, he is in
heavy consideration for Most Valuable Player (MVP)
honours. What a beast.
Things are about to change, at least in the American
League race, right?
Temper expectations.
As of 3 September 2015, the Jays had a ninety-nine
percent chance of making the postseason, according
to sports odds. Playoff certainty? That seems like an
oxymoron if you have been a Toronto sports fan over
the last twenty years. Now, the Raptors are a shoein to win their division and the Leafs—although they
probably will not make the playoffs this season—are
pointed in the right direction. Even after today’s win
against Baltimore, the Jays are still l