Not Giving Up Hope

Living in Rochester, I've grown a resentment towards the city of Buffalo and the fans of it's sports franchises as Rochestarians are treated as second class citizens of western New York. However, they have offered shelter to my Toronto Blue Jays since last year.

While it's nice to know that with the Blue Jays playing an hour away, and that I might actually be able to attend a game, it's just not the same as the Blue Jays playing in Sky Dome. Yes, I know the name has changed but it will forever be the Toronto Sky Dome to me.

Mark Shapiro and the front office are still holding out for the team to be able to return to the nest in Canada. However, Canada has been slow to allow travel from the United States across it's borders.

Being an American, I get many of my countrymen are entitled and irresponsible. I have read and heard statements from my fellow citizens that, "My liberties come before your life because I have the right to be happy," when talking about mask and social distancing mandates. Business owners have even said they "got into business to make money, not to be socially responsible." So again, I get it. Allowing people to come up from America poses a risk to the Canadian people.

However, Shapiro is still clinging to a chance. Saying, "Just focus on the border, recognizing anything around that is going to be a challenge -- not impossible -- but a challenge. But the only clarity exists around the border being open."

On June 1st, the Associated Press wrote, "On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his nation won't be rushed into reopening its border, which has been closed since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020. Canadians returning to their homeland are required to immediately spend 14 days in self-quarantine."

Whither it's popular or not, Trudeau has a duty to keeping his people safe. That includes the irresponsible ones bitching because they're country is in lockdown and they have to wear masks and et-cetra. 

While the players are focused on trying to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs, the front office has divided focus. As getting the team home is a top priority. Shapiro won't give a guesstimation of when he thinks that will be.

Shapiro said, ""We want to get home. I think that's the overarching feeling, that desire to be back in Toronto. But it's hard to answer that hypothetical."

Shapiro would later add, ""We'd gladly endure hardship and burden to get home."

Whenever the Blue Jays do get home, Trudeau and the entire nation of Canada needs to make it a national holiday just for that year. The Blue Jays are Canada's team. Even if hockey is the major sport on the northern side of the great lakes.

Blue Jays nation, It's just one game.

The Blue Jays' Steven Matz had a good day on the mound versus the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched three innings, striking out three and allowing only one hit. These are the type of performances Blue Jay fans have longed for since the days of Dave Stieb, David Cone, David Wells, and Juan Guzman. Not to say that the Jays haven't had good pitchers since the world series years, just they struggle to get a staff.

The team doesn't appear to know what to do when the mitts and ball are in there hands. The team is constantly having to put up, four, five, six, or more runs on the board just to keep up with the defensive side of the ball. 

Matz looked good in his outing today but this was his first start of 2021. People shouldn't get excited yet for him. Two of his main three pitches are a sinker and a change up. Instead pitching to the lower corners of the strike zone, Matz pitches to the center - upper center of the strike zone, and is prone to fly balls and game day souvenirs for the fans on the other side of the outfield wall.

The Birds need reliable arms behind Ryu but It's too early to start to think that the Jays' staff is more than a bunch of batting practice and homerun derby guys. It's nice to have guys that can find the plate but what good is it if they can't avoid the bats. Someplace over the last 30 years, the team forgot how to develop anything besides long ball hitters. It's not likely that the Rodgers have improved the coaching staff. So while Matz put up a good outing, it wouldn't be wise to expect a repeat performance anytime soon.