July 15, 2025 • 54 mins
We interview Blue Jays Dad who's been a life long Jays fan. We talked about the moment he became a Jays fan, who were his favorite players growing up, his 1st game at Exhibition Stadium, the Jays winning the division for the 1st time, the 1987 season collapse, Barfield getting traded to the Yankees, and many more!
Where you can find Blue Jays Dad:
- X: @BlueJaysDad
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:30):
Welcome to another edition of the Blue Jays Ave.
Podcast. We have a celebrity guest who is
a fan of the Blue Jays, who's been a long time fan of the Blue
Jays. Blue Jays Dad, welcome.
We are honored to have you here,introduced to yourself, to the
fans out there, what you're about.
(00:51):
All right, well, my name is BlueJays Dad and I'm happy to be on
your podcast. This is great.
I love doing stuff like this from time to time.
It's pretty fun to connect with other Jays fans, baseball fans.
And So what about me? I've been a Blue Blue Jays fan
for most of my life. My mom was a big baseball fan.
(01:12):
She grew up running home after school to try to listen to
Jackie Robinson play on the radio.
And that's kind of the roots of my baseball fandom.
And and then now I am a dad of five grown adult children.
I'm a granddad of one grandson. I got a second on the way in a
(01:36):
few months. It's actually going to be my
10th anniversary of my Blue Jaysdad Twitter account at the end
of July. Like, and if you ask me
questions about how that was born, I can I can let you know.
And then guys, I'm going to be 50 years old in September.
So my 50th birthday is coming upand trying to make some plans
(01:56):
for out of celebrate that. That's awesome, man.
It's we wanted to celebrate yourstory because you know, every,
all the Blue Jays fans know BlueJays stats.
So and back in the day when we used to run spaces, used to join
our spaces once in awhile. So it's been a while since we
talked man. So but we love to get to get to
(02:19):
hear what makes you tick. And and you know, it's an
exciting time to be a Blue Jays fan.
So we're just excited to have him and and honored.
Well, thank you. So what was the moment that you
said that? I'm a Blue Jays fan.
I know that you've been, you know, one of the longest Blue
(02:41):
Jays fans out there, probably out of the Blue Jays community
itself. You're a well known guy.
Give me your first moment that that made you a Blue Jays fan.
Huh, that's a really great question.
I it's funny, you know how in your life you can remember
becoming conscious that you werealive?
You know, like you're like 5 years old and you're like, wait
(03:01):
a minute, I'm, I'm alive. My Blue Jays fan moment happened
during the 1985 All Star game. Now I was my I have a sister,
she's three years older than me.She was babysitting me during
the All Star game. We were in my parents room and
they had a small black and whiteTV.
(03:23):
Do you guys remember black and white TV's?
Yeah, yeah. OK, so we had this one in my
parents bedroom and I was watching I believe the All Star
game was in the Metrodome that year.
You can Fact Check all this stuff if you want 85 Metrodome.
And I remember sitting there watching the All Star game with
my sister and noticing all the Blue Jays that were on the team
(03:44):
that year. Dave Steve was on the team.
Ernie Witt was catching and I believe Damaso Garcia, who my
sister had a crush on. He was playing as well
representing the Jays. And that was the moment that I
realized that I was a Jays fan. And I can't remember did we
watch games before that like an 858483 like when I was growing
(04:08):
up? I can't remember, but that's
when I because back then, it's not like how it is now.
Every game was not televised. Now we're all spoiled to where
Apple TV takes one game and and we all get upset.
Back then you used to get this little fold up TV schedule with
what 20 games is, is TSN going to cover this season?
(04:31):
And you planned your lives around it.
You got to Shoppers Drug Mart calendar that also had the, the,
the scheduled TV games. And that's what you lived with.
And you also hope that maybe yougot some cable channels from the
US, maybe a Tiger station, a Chicago station where you got
some overlap in some of the games.
(04:52):
But for me it was 85 All Star game, black and white TV.
So give us a you say that it waskind of you don't really
remember, but do you have any memories in this in like the,
you know, like the late 70s whenthe Blue Jays began became
A-Team were born. No, I don't have.
(05:13):
I don't have any of those memories.
All of my memories start with 85and then maybe a little bit of
8483 as a kid, not really knowing what was going on at
all. OK then, yeah, Rocky asked the
next question. Then you're up, man.
(05:34):
Who is your first favorite Blue Jays player that caught your
eye? Like who is that flashy sexy guy
you like? I love this player.
Yeah, Jesse Barfield and Willie Upshaw was a close second.
And I'll tell you what I have. That's probably one of the
greatest things about Twitter for me is being able to interact
(05:55):
with Jesse Barfield, my childhood hero, still my
favorite player. If I had to pick one player that
is my favorite to this day, all time, it's him.
And I thought he was a obviouslya great player on both sides of
the diamond. I like this style.
I love to sweat bands and his Franklin batting gloves.
(06:16):
I loved his stance. I tracked everything.
And yeah, it was the day he was traded to the New York Yankees
for Al Lighter. I showed up at school like an
elementary school and it was like a press conference of
people waiting for me, for my. I was like just a kid, and
(06:39):
students and teachers were gathered on the playground
waiting for my response to JesseBarfield being traded.
And I tried to be a Yankees fan.I said I'm a Yankees fan now,
and I was a Yankees fan until lunchtime.
And then I went back to the Jason.
So, so, so exhibition existed from night from 1977 to 89.
(07:05):
What experiences do you have at that stadium and how is the
atmosphere? Because I mean, I've seen the
videos on on on YouTube and stuff, but I mean, you, you were
there. So tell us about some of those
experiences and what they were like.
Yeah, honestly, I wish it's something that you could go back
to because those obviously it's not an ideal ballpark stadium at
(07:28):
all. When you look at it now, it
looks so funny, like Major League Baseball was played in
that thing. But when my first time going
there, I remember my family, my mom, my mom's like the biggest
baseball and Blue Jays fan and Jesse Barfield fan, and I
remember she took me to my firstgame and Exhibition Stadium, had
(07:53):
to walk up these long kind of ramps or whatever.
I believe I'm trying to remembercompared to the Skydome, Rogers
Centre. But I remember finally getting
into the concourse and it was anevening game, so the lights were
on. And I remember getting a glimpse
of the green Astroturf through the, the hallway, like through
(08:16):
the, you know, the different sections that lead out to the
state, to the, to the seats. And I felt like I, I glimpsed
heaven. It really felt like seeing the,
the lights, the grandstand, the that old green turf that was so
bright and person under the lights.
And I just fell in love with theplace immediately.
(08:37):
Our first, my first time at Exhibition Stadium, we did sit,
sit on the right field bleachers.
So they were like a single bench, like aluminum and you had
your spot. And that's what they've done
with whatever they're calling the the bullpen area.
What's that area now called withthe new Rogers Centre
improvements? They have some of those aluminum
(08:59):
aluminum benches by the bullpen.It's like the the bullpen zone
or something like that or, or orsomething along those lines.
But. Yeah, that's the tip of the cap
to those seats and probably the best moment I had at Exhibition
Stadium. We were at A4 game set, a
(09:22):
four-game series versus the Rangers.
They had won the first three games and it was a Sunday
afternoon game. And I can't remember it was if
it was the bottom of the ninth or extra innings, but George
Bell hit a walk off, I believe it was a walk off Grand Slam.
It was at least a walk off Homer.
And we were sitting in the left field bleachers in the cheap
seats, the tickets you got for $2.00 at Dominion.
(09:44):
And we were sitting out there and our sign barely got on TV.
I mean, back then it was, you know, the pixels weren't that
great, but we could see our little blur of our sign going up
when the home run went out. And so having a, that sweep and
the walk off Grand Slam that wasin 1988.
(10:05):
So that was the, the, you know, the last full season in
exhibition Stadium and that was a good memory to walk away with.
And I, I believe George Bell hita walk off to end exhibition
stadiums days as well. So definitely George Bell that
he was that theatrical, heroic player of the 80s.
(10:26):
That's awesome that you could buy tickets for at at a grocery
store. It's like the clerk is like hey
would you like some Jays ticketsfor 2 bucks each?
Throw it in your groceries next to your bag.
Milk. Good old memories.
So you, you did talk about 1985 when they want they won the
(10:49):
division for the first time. Like what were those memories
like this? That was your first score round
as a Jays fan. Then you said you grew up with
Barfield Upshaw and you talked about David Steep.
Like what else can you remember in that, in that year itself?
Like what was the atmosphere like?
What was the crowd level like? What was what was the energy
(11:10):
like in that first go round? Yeah, so that I I just witnessed
over TV and you know how how there's a lot of commentary
today on the games being so late, like World Series games
starting so late at night that kids can't stay up and watch
them. I remember staying up and
watching those ALCS games because back then postseason was
(11:34):
so short, right? You had one seven game series
for the league champion for the league Championship Series and
then a seven game series for theWorld Series.
And I remember the Jays being upthree games to 1:00 and you're
really felt like they were goingto win it.
And I remember they lost a Game 5 and I was at some sort of
(11:58):
family function. And I remember one of our family
friends, you know, some dad of afamily walked out to me and
goes. So do you think the Jays are
just going to try to lose until they can get back home and when
it in Toronto? And that was my first kind of
question of like debating sports, right?
(12:20):
Like where it gives you something to think about.
Like I remember my little kid mind was like, would they try to
not win in order to win it in Toronto?
And I, I definitely, I, I think I said to him, I go, I don't
think so. I think they just want to win
it. And obviously we're all familiar
with that. They did drop the final three
games of that series and and George Brett proved to be too
(12:43):
much leading the Kansas City Royals to that that league
championship. And I remember probably the most
heartbreaking moment for me was when Jim Sundberg, the Royals
catcher, hit that off opposite field, bases loaded, bases
clearing, triple over and outstretched Jesse Barfield's
(13:07):
glove jump, diving into the wall, jumping into the wall.
And when you were at Exhibition Stadium and Jesse Barfield, you
know, crashed up against that right field wall that was like a
portable wall, right? You could just hear it, like
chain link, like hear the crunchof the whole wall moving when he
(13:27):
would leap against it. And so I could remember that.
And anyway, just that feeling ofseeing my hero helpless to catch
that ball and bring it down. And they ended up losing that
Game 7. So talk about the 1987 season
when they were up in September and then they lost it.
Detroit Tigers, What happened there?
(13:48):
Yeah, what happened is injuries.So Ernie Witt, I think he like
pulled a rib cage or oblique or something like that.
Tony Fernandez injured, his elbow falling.
Someone took him out at second, I think Bill Madlock on the
Tigers. Fernandez fell to the ground and
there was like a wooden board orsomething that was there in the
(14:11):
turf or something and he came down hard on that.
So Fernandez and wit, those weretwo of the most valuable players
on that team. And they had they were without
them the final week. And I mean, the Jays didn't
really have a backup catcher that year.
I think they had Charlie Moore, I think was their backup catcher
and he was not worthy of playingfull time at that point.
(14:33):
Manny Lee took over shortstop, great defender, but he made a
big error in that final series against the Tigers like so they
lost that those last seven gamesblew a three-game lead going
into the final week. And guys, that's also the same
week my childhood dog died and our family lost our childhood
(14:56):
home because my dad had been laid off and so we had to move
into a rental that was terrible and all of that happened in that
week. So that's some trauma there that
Blue Jays dad has had to work through.
So talk about 1989. They were off to an abysmal
(15:17):
start at 12 and 24 and they fired Jimmy Williams after 36
games and they hired a well known manager's name was
Clarence Cito Gaston and they ended up going 77 and 49 and won
the Division I think on the lastgame of the season I believe.
(15:39):
Talk about the roller coaster season that went down in the
experiences that got them back to winning the division once
again. Alright, great question.
And that was the season that Jesse Barfield was traded early
on. So during their struggles, they
had traded him. So that was the low point for
me. But then I think Jays fans got
(16:01):
excited when Sedo Gaston accepted the offer to become the
interim manager. He was originally hired as the
interim manager, shifting over from batting coach, hitting
coach when Jimmy Williams was let go.
And yeah, it was a magical season, but you know, there's a
lot of great things that happened.
(16:22):
One of them was the acquisition of Mookie Wilson.
And so that was a he was kind ofthe spark plug back then.
They weren't always picking up sluggers and and, you know, big
power arms all the time for the stretch run.
Sometimes they wanted just a spark plug, you know, some sort
of gritty player that could, youknow, steal some bases and get
(16:44):
some key singles and things likethat.
And Mookie Wilson was that player for the Jays also in 89,
that final weekend where they played the Orioles.
It was the Orioles and the Jays for the division down to the
final weekend. Remember, no wild card.
So it's absolutely you win the division or you go home and that
(17:05):
final weekend, a lot of good memories, especially with Buck
Martinez commentary even then and seeing the Jays come through
and you know, a couple of other key players rants Mullinix was a
really key player in that seasonwhen it came to pinch hitting.
So by then he wasn't a full timeor even a halftime platoon
(17:29):
player. He was primarily a a pinch
hitter and he came up with just a lot of key singles to drive in
runs. And you know, to today, that's
probably why I'm such a big proponent of the RBI, because I
think it's whatever you gotta doto get that run across the
plate, you do it. And that 89 season was really
(17:49):
about timely hitting and doing what needed to be done to win.
And then of course, they just totally got steamrolled by the
A's. Conseco, McGuire, Dave Stewart.
Anderson. Ricky Henderson.
Yeah, all of. That.
So the so the so there was a trade in the winter of 1990 that
changed the franchise forever was Almar and Joe Carter to the
(18:14):
Jays for Frederick Griffin and Tony Fernandez going to the
Padres talk about that trade andhow it changed the franchise and
and and what they became to be in the coming years.
Yeah, personal experience. I remember the morning in my
house waking up hearing the newsbecause there was no Twitter,
(18:34):
right? So you didn't get things
immediately. It was in the newspaper, on the
radio that Fred McGriff and TonyFernandez, two players in their
prime with, you know, a lot morewhen you want to say, yeah,
still like, especially McGriff, like under contract and all
those types of things. And I was a big fan of Fred
(18:57):
McGriff and Tony Fernandez. And to hear that they acquired
Joe Carter, I knew that name. I knew that player.
I knew that was 100 RBIs guaranteed a season.
Honestly, Roberto Alomar I had not heard of at that time.
And I just had the trust that Pat Gillick knew what he was
doing. Also that offseason they did let
(19:19):
George Bell go. They did not resign him.
Also in that offseason. What was the other deal They.
Made going to Angels to the BlueJays.
Yeah, Junior Felix, they traded and got Devon White also Lloyd.
Was Lloyd Moseby let go too? I don't think they resigned
(19:40):
Lloyd Moseby. Like it was a real transition
year when it came to the face ofthe roster and the core of the
lineup. And so 91 was really an exciting
year where all of a sudden you had a team that would come in
first or second every season andnow you've changed the the top,
you know? 40% or 44% of their lineup
(20:05):
getting White and Alomar and Carter, yeah, that was exciting
to see that overhaul. And as we can see that it really
did make a lot of sense as it brought us the World Series
twice in a row. So since you talked about that,
like we said, that changed franchise in so many ways,
(20:27):
probably forever, even till thisday, 33 AL East titles to ALE
Pennant titles and back-to-back World Series champions.
Rob and I lived in that. That was our childhood.
You were probably in your teens,you would say, or your early
adult years. So you're more vivid, vividly
(20:47):
remembered about those experiences.
What was that feeling like when,you know, the team just became a
juggernaut all of a sudden? Oh, it was amazing.
It was night and day because forso many years, like since 1985,
remember, like they won in 85, lost that final week of 87, one
in 89. But we're steamrolled by the
(21:10):
A's, came in second, eliminated in 1990 to the Red Sox, 91 won
the East. And that that was good, you
know, with the IT kind of built confidence that, hey, this team
can do something. And I remember in 91, they just
were not prepared, you know, having the players that put them
(21:34):
over the top. And so DH was a weak position.
I remember they had Dave Parker for a month.
He recently just actually passedaway.
But he was a Blue Jay for I think 30 days.
He could not play in the postseason because he was
acquired after the trade deadline.
But they really, they needed help.
And and that that hurt them in 91 when they lost to the Twins
(21:57):
in five games. But then, yeah, 9293, you know,
they won all four of those series in six games, right?
They won all series, four games to two, I believe, if my memory
doesn't fail me. So that was exciting to have the
World Series champions back-to-back, and it kind of got
(22:17):
spoiled. I think a lot of Canada got
spoiled like OHT, hey, we could get used to this and then.
I have a question for you. SO during those Championship
years, what was the bigger tradeduring that trade deadline or
even the waiver deadline that David Cohen trade to the Blue
Jays to win the first championship?
Or Ricky Henderson, probably thebest leadoff hitter of all time.
(22:41):
That's a great question. I loved both deals, very excited
about both of them. But I'll tell you this, I have
to say that David Cohen was the bigger deal.
Why? He was the power arm, the swing
and miss that they needed when they faced the A's in the 92
ALCS. So it was David Cohen that shut
(23:04):
them down. And I remember Ricky Anderson on
the A's that year flailing, swinging and missing at David
Cohen stuff. And that's why I mean to today,
David Cohen is at least top three.
If not, he's probably my second favorite Jays pitcher of all
time. Number one is Jimmy Key.
But David, David Cohen because of his dominance and how he got
(23:28):
us over the hump when it came todefeating the A's and and
silencing or at least overcomingsome of their at bats where
other pitchers just could not dothat.
Now the next year when they got Ricky Henderson, I still think
that was awesome, even though hehad a pretty poor performance in
his own compared to himself. But I mean, look at that on base
(23:50):
average and all the runs that hescored, all he needed was to
walk and do his business on the base paths and and let the other
guys drive him home. So both deals were great and
really exciting that they did that to put the teams over the
top. I gotta question for you though,
do do you remember when after they won the World Series there
like the craze that was like like they came out with that OK
(24:14):
Blue Jays song and, and and thatdo you remember that cassette
tape full of Blue Jay songs? That was just like I, I'm just
wondering if you remember that because I remember going to my
aunts house and she used to playthat.
She was a big Jays fan and she used to play that cassette tape
all the time, man. Oh yeah, I had like cassette and
the DVD or the CD. So it was like a long came Joe
(24:37):
with Robbie and Evo. Yeah, you know, and there's even
the earlier one that came up before the World Series that had
like help with Mookie help help with Smokey, like all that
stuff. Yeah, that was great.
I mean, OK Blue Jays that goes way back in the in the teams
history, but that album had somegreat bangers on on it
(24:59):
definitely. I just wonder if you if you
remember that or not. So 22 years without the
playoffs, unfortunately in a life change for you moving to
Minnesota, when did that happen?Tell us about that experience.
Yeah, so I just mentioned the 22years like with no World Series.
Did you know that perfectly corresponds with Derek Jeter's
(25:20):
career? Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Like as long as there is a Derek
Jeter, the Jays, yeah. So yeah, we, I ended up moving
to the US in 2014, 2014, 2015 and we first were in the Pacific
(25:47):
Northwest, in Washington state for four years.
That's Missus Blue Jays, dad's home state.
We had lived 16 years in Canada and we wanted to another
adventure for our family and forher to be closer.
Otto her neck of the woods. So we were there four years and
it's actually during my first year there as when Blue Jays dad
(26:09):
was born. And so a Blue Jays dad was born.
Actually, I I had to come back from the US to stay with my mom
while my dad had heart surgery and my mom, once again huge Jays
baseball fan. So it was uh, I visited her,
right? Like when I was leaving to get
(26:30):
the the plane to leave Washington State, I had just
seen that the Jays had acquired Troy Tulowitzki and I couldn't
believe it. And so I'm while I'm traveling
is when all this news is going on.
And that was the the four-game set where the Jays played the
(26:51):
Royals and all that drama and David Price and all of that.
And it was those four games thatI have the Blue Jays dad idea
saved in my back pocket for a while.
And I thought, you know, let's start it then, because there's
probably going to be a ton of new accounts starting with the
Jays getting popular. So Blue Jays dad was born then.
(27:12):
And then it kind of novelty of it was here's this Jays fan
living in the USA representing the Jays.
And I'll tell you what, it's been really fun to just meet a
lot of other baseball fans in the US to be the Blue Jays guy
here, but also to I've made so many great friendships around
(27:32):
the game of baseball and other fans and other opportunities
that I've had. So it's, and it's the, the
account kept me connected with Canada and with even some
friends and family who are on Twitter as well.
So, yeah. And then we were in Spokane, WA
for four years and then we endedup moving to the Twin Cities,
(27:54):
Minneapolis, specifically Bloomington.
And I think we've been here for like 6 or 7 years, something
like that. And I'll tell you what, it's
great to have Major League Baseball an 18 minute drive from
my house. Like literally 18 minutes.
That's something that you can't emphasize enough, especially
(28:17):
when the Jays come to town in Minnesota on a yearly tradition,
right? And you would be televised on
television like you did when theJays were in Minnesota a few
weeks ago, right? So, yeah.
And, and you became, you were inthe known guy, right?
You were the star in that stadium.
So, um, so the next question is,so the Jays are finally playoff
(28:41):
bound for the first time in 22 years on even better, they ended
up winning the division. And what was that experience
like? Because I could tell that I I
went through it. Rob's been through it and man
it. It felt different in 15 when,
when that, you know, when Alex Anthopoulos just went for the
(29:04):
final year as a GM for the Blue Jays.
But what what was on your mindset?
When where were you in Minnesotaat that time?
Or were. You on?
That was in Washington then, yeah.
OK, so yeah, what would that mindset like?
The yeah, I mean, obviously really exciting to for that
stretch run when they got too low and David Price and then,
(29:26):
you know, Revere and and other guys they stocked up on it made
it really fun to have this PowerPack team.
And and remember they had just acquired Josh Donaldson earlier,
you know, great trade. You know who I mean Brett Laurie
and handful of other guys. So yeah, that's amazing.
And then that team, really, my son and I were just on a walk
(29:49):
this afternoon after the Jays game, talking about how with
guys like Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, you'll love them
if they were on your team. Right.
Because they have a Jays team that had that type of attitude.
I think that was new, like the attitude that you can back it up
(30:10):
with your play and that you don't mess with these guys.
I think that was that was the first time that Toronto, that
the Jays had a club like that. And then it was, you know, you
just think of all the walk off home runs from Edwin in
Carnassial, Donaldson, Batistas heroics, just unbelievable.
(30:31):
And then winning that division. I remember Stroman's return and
that Yankee series that he came back for his first start in
September and the fact that I think they swept the Yankees,
that's that series. And that just solidified it.
Again. It's like these guys are going
all the way. And so, yeah, and then we all
know what happened with that, that postseason and the bat
flip. Felt like deja vu again.
(30:53):
But let me ask you this question.
When you saw Alex making all those trades, what was that?
What was that trade that you felt like, OK, we're here now
this this team is going for likewould you say that David Price
child deal changes scenario or was it Troy tool whisky?
(31:15):
I think they were expecting to make the deal for David Price.
I think the two low deal like was what put him over the top
because they just needed to solidify their defence at
shortstop. Like Reyes had injured his ankle
I think the year before and he was never the same.
And to get too low just to solidify the defence, like
(31:36):
strong defence and then his bat was just, you know, icing on the
cake. So to for the to you know what
they said that he emptied out the cupboards to make those
deals. Nobody amounted to anything.
I I really just don't believe that narrative.
The Jays talked up their own prospects and people wanted them
(31:59):
and they made those deals. They're willing.
Jays took on a lot of money and a lot of the deals that they had
made around that era, and that was great to to see so that they
could put that winner on the field.
So I probably go, yeah, you don't win it without either of
them. But it's the fact they did both
like adding the Tulo to it that I think put them over the top.
(32:21):
So after a little bit of a mini rebuild with two second
generational talents in the Miners and and Vladimir Guerrero
Bouchette and the third one, if you want to include Cabin Visio
at the time, let's talk about that a little bit and how that
set up the landscape now for forfor going into the new era of
(32:43):
Blue Jays baseball. Yeah, so you mean just like
building on Vlady and Bo? Yeah, like, like, like just just
the rebuild that was and how that team became together during
the rebuild. Yeah, it's a that that was
exciting. I I think that the Jays went
(33:04):
through some dark years, right? And we're just like waiting for
these guys to be called up and whether that's Beau, Vladdy or
even Visio to have something to look forward to, a promise of
the future and some excitement in the present, because things
got pretty dark for a bit after that. 2016 ALCS and then 2017
(33:27):
horrible out of the gate. But yeah, Vladdy, Bo building on
that. And then the the great moves
that were made with like gettinglike Marcus Simian, like for one
season and how he just brought out the best in that whole
lineup. I mean, they had one of their
best lineups of all time that season.
(33:48):
And so it's it's been great. You know, my joke is that why
don't you just draft all the sons of former major leaguers?
You know, you'll probably just don't even scout, save money on
scouting. Just draft all, you know, kids
of of former professional players and I'm sure you'll get
some stars. So it's been fun to watch and
(34:11):
it's interesting. Doesn't it feel like so quickly
that now we're looking at, you know, I mean Vladdy extended So
what we are looking at the possibility of him leaving now
Bo looks like a strong possibility.
He's gonna be moving on. We've already passed through
that era. I hope the Jays can win it all
(34:31):
this year with Bo and a really put that complete that ERA much
like they did in 2015 and 16 with Jose Bautista, right?
Like those were her his last tworeally great years and they made
him count for him. So I hope the same thing happens
with with Vladdy and Beau getting the play this season
(34:52):
together in real special way. I think I'm just have to wait
and see approach to see what this team is because I think
ownership wants to win. Like I think this could be a new
era of this young fan base with the Bargers and we'll we'll get
into that. But I wanna talk about 2021 and
what could have been. We talked a little bit.
(35:14):
Blood of Beau and we talked a little bit what that team was.
They had the best offence in baseball that year.
Pitching was very leaky at the time.
You know, they were playing in three stadiums.
They didn't play at the Rogers Centre for 500 days I believe,
which is a significantly amount of time.
So they had to move from Dunedinto Buffalo to I believe what
(35:37):
Toronto by late July, which is insane to think like you don't
see that transaction or transition in such little time
in one season. Like what were your thoughts in
that year? What?
What a strange year, but it was exciting for Blue Jays baseball.
(35:59):
I mean, they in the midst of a pandemic, they definitely
provided entertainment for people.
And I just think about the strange things that happened,
the cardboard cutouts of fans inthe stands, like that's just
weird, weird stuff. And then like what you mentioned
them going from ballpark to ballpark, not really having a
(36:21):
home. And what they did they, they
turned out a a decent year and Ithink more importantly, gave the
fan base something to, to celebrate and focus on on a
period of time that was very, very dark in our, our recent
history. So let's talk about the 2022
(36:43):
Four Seasons and 22. They lost 202 to the Mariners,
you know, and then this the following year, they lost O2 to
the Twins. And then last year, of course,
you know, with the with the whole taking a step back,
selling at the deadline, just just just a year where they just
needed to just reset. And, and let's talk about those
(37:07):
years and what what ultimately became to be and how it's kind
of setting ourselves up for the year that we're having right
now. Yeah, So I that collision
between Bouchet and George Springer, obviously that was the
(37:27):
the pinnacle of like literal pain, but also the pain felt by
the fan base blowing that 8 to 1lead.
So that was a so many, so much wrapped up just in that one
play. But also I think that was the
year we saw some strange managerial moves.
Remember what Schneider brought in?
(37:49):
Was it Maza to face? What's his face?
That's on the the Guardians now,and he was on the Indians
before. And Oh yeah, Carlos Santana.
Yeah, to put him on the right hand side when that's his power
side and then he hit the whole like stuff like that.
I think that's the introduction of, I don't know if you call it
(38:09):
a curse or not, but just the Jays not being able to win a
game in the postseason. And then obviously 2023 when our
family was just reflecting aboutthis the other day, the crazy
math that had to happen for the Jays to play here in Minneapolis
for the Wild Card Series. And that all happened in a
(38:31):
matter of like 30 minutes that afternoon that that everyone won
and lost in the right way that all of a sudden they're going to
be here. And to witness that once again,
some painful moments, Audi beingpicked off second base, Bo
trying to score. And Carlos Correa makes a
(38:52):
fantastic play, picking up that overthrown ball and throwing at
home, making a perfect throw. And then also, you know, what
I'm known for on Twitter is justthe the the early removal of
Jose Berrios when he was dealingwhen that once again, the
management just got too fancy. And I'll tell you what, I was at
the ballpark, so I'll tell you this.
(39:14):
But it was Game 2 and the Twins fans were like, Oh no, Berrios
is on his game, we're not gonna win.
The feeling in the stadium was that it was over.
Even though the Jays hadn't scored any runs yet, as soon as
they came out and they took out Barrios, life came in that
stadium. Life came in the other side of
the the other side of the field,the other dugout.
(39:36):
And that changed everything. And I think the Jays players
were demoralized at that point. You know, I don't know what Beau
whispered to Barrios, but it wasevery, you know, the players
were shocked. And that does affect offence.
So anyway, that's one of my hobby horses is that I really
(39:57):
did see that play or that managerial strategy, the weird
stuff that Jay has been doing lately.
Now this year, obviously it's totally different story.
No one's talking about strategy anymore because it seems like
everything's working. Yeah, since since it's a perfect
Sedway to to talk about this current season, like I think the
(40:22):
Jays were off to a 25 and 27 start.
There were eight games out of first place and a lot of people
thought that maybe they might besomewhat sellers with few
rentals with Bow Bassett shirts or he had there no trade clause.
Chad Green But they've turned this season around and and
(40:43):
looking at what they did againstthe Yankees in the history of
the franchise in the 48 years ofthis organization, they have it
swept the New York Yankees in a four games series ever.
What are your thoughts about this season?
Recapping and talk about that series, man.
(41:04):
Now I'm still in Cloud 9 on that, so yeah.
Yeah, and, and rightfully so. I mean, this team has the magic
and I, I don't like every team needs that, that thing that is
not about individual stats, whether it's RBI's or, you know,
WRC plus or whatever, It's it's not about those things.
(41:28):
Those are all great ways to evaluate players, but a team is
way different than any of those things.
And I think that's what we're seeing this year is just there's
a lot of ways that Jays can get you.
And I don't know if you saw my tweet this afternoon, but I
tweeted the Toronto bunt Jays because bunting.
(41:50):
I love sacrifice bunts. Now I know I'm not answering
your question right now, but I'll tell you why I like
sacrifice bunts. Sacrifice months change the
focus of the game when it's a close game and no one scoring
runs. When you bunt a player over,
you're demanding everyone's attention on to what's going on
(42:10):
on the base paths. The Rays are the best added over
the years. For decades they've been doing
it. And I just love to see the Jays
doing everything. They got power, a home run,
power, power alley. They're making contact.
They're one of the hardest teamsto strike out.
They're getting the bunts down for the most part when they need
(42:33):
to there. They seem to be patient at the
plate. I don't know what George
Springer is doing, but he's he'sdone something.
He's recognized something in hisswing or in pitch recognition.
That's amazing. And I just think, you know,
Addison Barger, all of a sudden we have this really bright
future in him. And all of the guys to give
(42:54):
credit to Ross Atkins, who have criticized the lot over the
years, to give credit, the guys that he picked up, the Miles
straws, the Eminem is these guysthat maybe have glaring
weaknesses in parts of their game.
They really, they've really begin to shine in the areas that
(43:17):
they're strong in. And then whatever else you get
from them, it's it's icing on the cake.
And so I think this, I don't know if this is if you compare
this team to 2015 or if you compare it to 9293.
Honestly, I feel like this team is more like 19851987 where they
(43:37):
have a really well-rounded team.And I was thinking about this
today on my walk as well after the game.
Addison Barger reminds me of like a Jesse Barfield, Willie
Upshaw, a kind of a mid 80s typeof player that can do it all
both sides of the field. He's smart, athletic and there's
(43:58):
lots of ways that he's going to help you win a ball game.
So, yeah, very exciting and really great to sweep those
Yankees in Toronto four games for the first time.
And that seems to be somewhat ofa litmus test, isn't it?
Can you beat the Yankees when itcomes to sweeping them?
That shows you that that there'sthat you're a force to be
(44:18):
reckoned with. And there's a lot of heart on
this team and no doubt about it,you kind of answered my next
question when you kind of compared which team this year's
iteration of the Blue Jays wouldwould be compared to.
So let's talk about the trade deadline.
What did the Jays need to do at this trade deadline?
(44:39):
What do they need to target? Who are some guys that you would
like to see in Blue Jays uniforms maybe next year?
But what should their focus be on?
Yeah, I think focus is you don'twant to disrupt what's going on
now. I think you got some magic there
right now. Some of these guys are probably
(45:01):
going to get exposed, meaning the more they play, the more the
legal make adjustments. So you got to be ready for that.
And we also got some players coming back, Santander, Varsho,
maybe even Alec Manoa. So I don't even know how you
work in I, you know, Santander took up a lot of that bats the
(45:23):
first third of the season, right, Batting in key
situations, just automatic outs.It seem like.
I don't know that you want to insert that back into your
lineup. Like how you do that, I'm not
sure. So, but looking at these guys
coming back, that's like the oldyeah.
That's like they're like player acquisitions.
(45:43):
Obviously, Varsho, I don't know why people hate on Varsho so
much. He's been terrific in the field
and great power numbers this year for the little ladies
played. So you get Marshall back in
there immediately. Great recent pitching
performance from some of the arms in the bullpen, but that's
where I would stack up. I would.
(46:04):
I would like power arms in the bullpen and yeah, starting
pitcher. I don't know how you get 1.
You know, those are really costly.
Like people say, well, the Jays need a number 2 starting pitcher
in there. I don't know how you get that.
I don't want to see them trade like a boba Chet right now.
I think they gotta ride, bow outfor the rest of the season.
(46:28):
And so I would say bullpen arms and if you can get a bat, but I
don't know, I'm just kind of riffing like I thought the other
day. Is there a way they could trade
Santander? Like, is there a way you do a
reset on that and just say, yeah, we kind of want to go in a
different direction now? I I don't know.
So yeah, bullpen arms number onestart top starting pitcher if
(46:53):
you can get one. I just don't know how you do it.
And um, and then like a bat if it, if it fits and doesn't
disrupt. So yeah, I guess I'm, I'm
playing it safe, right? Everything I just said.
I'm I mean with their offence, Imean, I don't even think they
need about like you said, right,could be starting pitching.
(47:13):
I mean you can never have enoughpitching.
I mean, but like I did like theydid in 93 were talking about
Ricky Henderson. They added them.
If you can go get another bat that can that can make the
lineup more of a murderers row like like they did in 15.
I mean, anything is possible. I'm curious to see what they do.
(47:33):
But to wrap up this episode and the final question here is what
do you think of this franchise moving forward?
This farm is great again with all of a sudden they talk, but
we got some guys coming in the miners that could be be up by
next year and probably the year after.
There's guys locked up with Vlad.
(47:55):
Probably Santander's here for a while.
Jimenez is here. Bargers now all of a sudden
became a thing. He's here a long term like they
have a whole bunch of guys also like and financial flexibility.
And Edward Rogers said this during the blood pressure.
I want to win a World Series right now and he seems
determined and financially flexing the money.
(48:16):
What are your thoughts about that?
It all, all of a sudden the Jaysseemed to be in a great position
to bridge from one ERA to another successfully, meaning
that it looked like they were going to have to maybe bottom
out or something. But right now it looks like no,
look at Springer, like we thought we were gonna be stuck
(48:37):
with Springer and his contract. Now it's like he's the MVP of
the team, it seems. So this is a great problem to
have. And as you're saying, money
coming off the books, money being willing to be invested,
Maybe this season does begin to attract some of those bigger
names that kind of seem to just have used the Toronto Blue Jays
(49:00):
recently. You know, the Otani is the Sotos
and things like that, Guys like that.
Maybe the Jays, if they win, they do become more of another
kind of Dodgers destination where it's like, hey, if we're
there, we got a really good chance at winning.
We're the favorites. So.
But at the same time, do you need those guys?
(49:21):
Like, do you want those guys? I don't know.
I like this team. I like having a well-rounded
team where people are fighting for the fighting for the team,
fighting to do what they can do to put the team over the top.
You really don't get this sense that these players are fighting
for playing time. It seems like they're fighting
to win. Doesn't it seem like that?
(49:41):
No. Like I, I don't, I don't get the
sense that like Ernie Clements trying to outplay so he gets to
play more than Schneider. It feels like everyone's trying
to do their best to help the team win.
I I that's just what it looks like.
It's so funny that you say that,but that's why I said like 1516.
You had like star heavy guys in that lineup and you had to
(50:04):
depend on them one way or another.
Because if you remember that collision between Polara and
Tulowitzki against the Yankees in 15 and they had to go get
Cliff Pennington and then more injuries happened.
They had to go get Darwin Barney.
I feel like they don't need to do that because the depth is
strong here and in the miners like like last year's trade
(50:26):
deadline benefited so much for this year as well.
If you look at it like Jonathan Clause has become a player too.
And some of the guys in the mines like a yohandry Penango
where RJ Shrek is become valuable assets for this team
too. And they could be trade shipped
if they want to upgrade. So I feel like the leverage is
there. And also like, that's why I
compare this team to like the 90s Jays more because of the
(50:47):
youth movement. And I think that's something
that this organization wanted and it's great.
I, I love where this is going all of a sudden and you know,
and Chaparral, Chaparral and Ross Atkins had a phenomenal
job. So I'm looking forward to see
how this season plays out. But Blue Jays dad, it was great
(51:09):
having you here being a guest and talking about your
livelihood as a Blue Jays fan. Where can we find you on social
media? But I'm really famous on
Twitter, but nowhere else. So I Twitters or ex, I never
call it XI, never probably will.But yeah, Twitter at Blue Jays
(51:30):
Dad. And once again, I mean, the
reason I started Blue Jays Dad is I wanted to have an account
that really engaged with everybody.
And I think back in 2015, there were some top accounts that
really just wouldn't engage withpeople unless you were in the
club. And I want to Blue Jays Dad to
not be able to club, but to be about connecting his fans.
(51:54):
And I'm really happy to have that platform now and welcome
anyone aboard that would like tobe part of it.
Well, you've certainly accomplished that, my friend.
Um, it wasn't it was real fun, man.
This is really fun episode to have you here talking about the
past, the present, the future. So thanks for joining us today,
(52:14):
man, It was really fun. Hey, well, I appreciate it.
I always loved doing this stuff and way to go guys.
I'd anyone who has a podcast that does this, I just tip my
cap to you. I know the amount of work it
takes and how many hangups you can pick up so you can have in
the system, but that you guys keep doing this.
It's just great and a lot of admiration your way, so thank
(52:37):
you. Yeah, like we appreciate, we
appreciate you. But one thing before I sign off
where we sign off here is that you did post on Instagram saying
that I have it's, I can't even say it on the street.
You on Instagram, you say I'm pretty famous on Twitter.
(52:57):
I, I, I couldn't stop laughing, man.
I was like, goodness, man. I think he says I'm.
I'm really famous on Twitter. Yeah, that's what it says, Yeah.
So when you see I have like 50 Instagram followers, that's
just, you know, trying to save some face.
I'm gonna steal that live next time, but we'll place their
(53:18):
description below where you can find the one in Famous Blue Jays
Dad on Twitter. But till next time, take care,
be kind to each other. Signing up for the Blue Jays
Ave. Podcast on Saturday, July 5th,
2025. Yeah.
Welcome to another edition of the Blue Jays Ave.
Podcast. We have a celebrity guest who is
a fan of the Blue Jays, who's been a long time fan of the Blue
Jays. Blue Jays Dad, welcome.
We are honored to have you here,introduced to yourself, to the
fans out there, what you're about.
(00:51):
All right, well, my name is BlueJays Dad and I'm happy to be on
your podcast. This is great.
I love doing stuff like this from time to time.
It's pretty fun to connect with other Jays fans, baseball fans.
And So what about me? I've been a Blue Blue Jays fan
for most of my life. My mom was a big baseball fan.
(01:12):
She grew up running home after school to try to listen to
Jackie Robinson play on the radio.
And that's kind of the roots of my baseball fandom.
And and then now I am a dad of five grown adult children.
I'm a granddad of one grandson. I got a second on the way in a
(01:36):
few months. It's actually going to be my
10th anniversary of my Blue Jaysdad Twitter account at the end
of July. Like, and if you ask me
questions about how that was born, I can I can let you know.
And then guys, I'm going to be 50 years old in September.
So my 50th birthday is coming upand trying to make some plans
(01:56):
for out of celebrate that. That's awesome, man.
It's we wanted to celebrate yourstory because you know, every,
all the Blue Jays fans know BlueJays stats.
So and back in the day when we used to run spaces, used to join
our spaces once in awhile. So it's been a while since we
talked man. So but we love to get to get to
(02:19):
hear what makes you tick. And and you know, it's an
exciting time to be a Blue Jays fan.
So we're just excited to have him and and honored.
Well, thank you. So what was the moment that you
said that? I'm a Blue Jays fan.
I know that you've been, you know, one of the longest Blue
(02:41):
Jays fans out there, probably out of the Blue Jays community
itself. You're a well known guy.
Give me your first moment that that made you a Blue Jays fan.
Huh, that's a really great question.
I it's funny, you know how in your life you can remember
becoming conscious that you werealive?
You know, like you're like 5 years old and you're like, wait
(03:01):
a minute, I'm, I'm alive. My Blue Jays fan moment happened
during the 1985 All Star game. Now I was my I have a sister,
she's three years older than me.She was babysitting me during
the All Star game. We were in my parents room and
they had a small black and whiteTV.
(03:23):
Do you guys remember black and white TV's?
Yeah, yeah. OK, so we had this one in my
parents bedroom and I was watching I believe the All Star
game was in the Metrodome that year.
You can Fact Check all this stuff if you want 85 Metrodome.
And I remember sitting there watching the All Star game with
my sister and noticing all the Blue Jays that were on the team
(03:44):
that year. Dave Steve was on the team.
Ernie Witt was catching and I believe Damaso Garcia, who my
sister had a crush on. He was playing as well
representing the Jays. And that was the moment that I
realized that I was a Jays fan. And I can't remember did we
watch games before that like an 858483 like when I was growing
(04:08):
up? I can't remember, but that's
when I because back then, it's not like how it is now.
Every game was not televised. Now we're all spoiled to where
Apple TV takes one game and and we all get upset.
Back then you used to get this little fold up TV schedule with
what 20 games is, is TSN going to cover this season?
(04:31):
And you planned your lives around it.
You got to Shoppers Drug Mart calendar that also had the, the,
the scheduled TV games. And that's what you lived with.
And you also hope that maybe yougot some cable channels from the
US, maybe a Tiger station, a Chicago station where you got
some overlap in some of the games.
(04:52):
But for me it was 85 All Star game, black and white TV.
So give us a you say that it waskind of you don't really
remember, but do you have any memories in this in like the,
you know, like the late 70s whenthe Blue Jays began became
A-Team were born. No, I don't have.
(05:13):
I don't have any of those memories.
All of my memories start with 85and then maybe a little bit of
8483 as a kid, not really knowing what was going on at
all. OK then, yeah, Rocky asked the
next question. Then you're up, man.
(05:34):
Who is your first favorite Blue Jays player that caught your
eye? Like who is that flashy sexy guy
you like? I love this player.
Yeah, Jesse Barfield and Willie Upshaw was a close second.
And I'll tell you what I have. That's probably one of the
greatest things about Twitter for me is being able to interact
(05:55):
with Jesse Barfield, my childhood hero, still my
favorite player. If I had to pick one player that
is my favorite to this day, all time, it's him.
And I thought he was a obviouslya great player on both sides of
the diamond. I like this style.
I love to sweat bands and his Franklin batting gloves.
(06:16):
I loved his stance. I tracked everything.
And yeah, it was the day he was traded to the New York Yankees
for Al Lighter. I showed up at school like an
elementary school and it was like a press conference of
people waiting for me, for my. I was like just a kid, and
(06:39):
students and teachers were gathered on the playground
waiting for my response to JesseBarfield being traded.
And I tried to be a Yankees fan.I said I'm a Yankees fan now,
and I was a Yankees fan until lunchtime.
And then I went back to the Jason.
So, so, so exhibition existed from night from 1977 to 89.
(07:05):
What experiences do you have at that stadium and how is the
atmosphere? Because I mean, I've seen the
videos on on on YouTube and stuff, but I mean, you, you were
there. So tell us about some of those
experiences and what they were like.
Yeah, honestly, I wish it's something that you could go back
to because those obviously it's not an ideal ballpark stadium at
(07:28):
all. When you look at it now, it
looks so funny, like Major League Baseball was played in
that thing. But when my first time going
there, I remember my family, my mom, my mom's like the biggest
baseball and Blue Jays fan and Jesse Barfield fan, and I
remember she took me to my firstgame and Exhibition Stadium, had
(07:53):
to walk up these long kind of ramps or whatever.
I believe I'm trying to remembercompared to the Skydome, Rogers
Centre. But I remember finally getting
into the concourse and it was anevening game, so the lights were
on. And I remember getting a glimpse
of the green Astroturf through the, the hallway, like through
(08:16):
the, you know, the different sections that lead out to the
state, to the, to the seats. And I felt like I, I glimpsed
heaven. It really felt like seeing the,
the lights, the grandstand, the that old green turf that was so
bright and person under the lights.
And I just fell in love with theplace immediately.
(08:37):
Our first, my first time at Exhibition Stadium, we did sit,
sit on the right field bleachers.
So they were like a single bench, like aluminum and you had
your spot. And that's what they've done
with whatever they're calling the the bullpen area.
What's that area now called withthe new Rogers Centre
improvements? They have some of those aluminum
(08:59):
aluminum benches by the bullpen.It's like the the bullpen zone
or something like that or, or orsomething along those lines.
But. Yeah, that's the tip of the cap
to those seats and probably the best moment I had at Exhibition
Stadium. We were at A4 game set, a
(09:22):
four-game series versus the Rangers.
They had won the first three games and it was a Sunday
afternoon game. And I can't remember it was if
it was the bottom of the ninth or extra innings, but George
Bell hit a walk off, I believe it was a walk off Grand Slam.
It was at least a walk off Homer.
And we were sitting in the left field bleachers in the cheap
seats, the tickets you got for $2.00 at Dominion.
(09:44):
And we were sitting out there and our sign barely got on TV.
I mean, back then it was, you know, the pixels weren't that
great, but we could see our little blur of our sign going up
when the home run went out. And so having a, that sweep and
the walk off Grand Slam that wasin 1988.
(10:05):
So that was the, the, you know, the last full season in
exhibition Stadium and that was a good memory to walk away with.
And I, I believe George Bell hita walk off to end exhibition
stadiums days as well. So definitely George Bell that
he was that theatrical, heroic player of the 80s.
(10:26):
That's awesome that you could buy tickets for at at a grocery
store. It's like the clerk is like hey
would you like some Jays ticketsfor 2 bucks each?
Throw it in your groceries next to your bag.
Milk. Good old memories.
So you, you did talk about 1985 when they want they won the
(10:49):
division for the first time. Like what were those memories
like this? That was your first score round
as a Jays fan. Then you said you grew up with
Barfield Upshaw and you talked about David Steep.
Like what else can you remember in that, in that year itself?
Like what was the atmosphere like?
What was the crowd level like? What was what was the energy
(11:10):
like in that first go round? Yeah, so that I I just witnessed
over TV and you know how how there's a lot of commentary
today on the games being so late, like World Series games
starting so late at night that kids can't stay up and watch
them. I remember staying up and
watching those ALCS games because back then postseason was
(11:34):
so short, right? You had one seven game series
for the league champion for the league Championship Series and
then a seven game series for theWorld Series.
And I remember the Jays being upthree games to 1:00 and you're
really felt like they were goingto win it.
And I remember they lost a Game 5 and I was at some sort of
(11:58):
family function. And I remember one of our family
friends, you know, some dad of afamily walked out to me and
goes. So do you think the Jays are
just going to try to lose until they can get back home and when
it in Toronto? And that was my first kind of
question of like debating sports, right?
(12:20):
Like where it gives you something to think about.
Like I remember my little kid mind was like, would they try to
not win in order to win it in Toronto?
And I, I definitely, I, I think I said to him, I go, I don't
think so. I think they just want to win
it. And obviously we're all familiar
with that. They did drop the final three
games of that series and and George Brett proved to be too
(12:43):
much leading the Kansas City Royals to that that league
championship. And I remember probably the most
heartbreaking moment for me was when Jim Sundberg, the Royals
catcher, hit that off opposite field, bases loaded, bases
clearing, triple over and outstretched Jesse Barfield's
(13:07):
glove jump, diving into the wall, jumping into the wall.
And when you were at Exhibition Stadium and Jesse Barfield, you
know, crashed up against that right field wall that was like a
portable wall, right? You could just hear it, like
chain link, like hear the crunchof the whole wall moving when he
(13:27):
would leap against it. And so I could remember that.
And anyway, just that feeling ofseeing my hero helpless to catch
that ball and bring it down. And they ended up losing that
Game 7. So talk about the 1987 season
when they were up in September and then they lost it.
Detroit Tigers, What happened there?
(13:48):
Yeah, what happened is injuries.So Ernie Witt, I think he like
pulled a rib cage or oblique or something like that.
Tony Fernandez injured, his elbow falling.
Someone took him out at second, I think Bill Madlock on the
Tigers. Fernandez fell to the ground and
there was like a wooden board orsomething that was there in the
(14:11):
turf or something and he came down hard on that.
So Fernandez and wit, those weretwo of the most valuable players
on that team. And they had they were without
them the final week. And I mean, the Jays didn't
really have a backup catcher that year.
I think they had Charlie Moore, I think was their backup catcher
and he was not worthy of playingfull time at that point.
(14:33):
Manny Lee took over shortstop, great defender, but he made a
big error in that final series against the Tigers like so they
lost that those last seven gamesblew a three-game lead going
into the final week. And guys, that's also the same
week my childhood dog died and our family lost our childhood
(14:56):
home because my dad had been laid off and so we had to move
into a rental that was terrible and all of that happened in that
week. So that's some trauma there that
Blue Jays dad has had to work through.
So talk about 1989. They were off to an abysmal
(15:17):
start at 12 and 24 and they fired Jimmy Williams after 36
games and they hired a well known manager's name was
Clarence Cito Gaston and they ended up going 77 and 49 and won
the Division I think on the lastgame of the season I believe.
(15:39):
Talk about the roller coaster season that went down in the
experiences that got them back to winning the division once
again. Alright, great question.
And that was the season that Jesse Barfield was traded early
on. So during their struggles, they
had traded him. So that was the low point for
me. But then I think Jays fans got
(16:01):
excited when Sedo Gaston accepted the offer to become the
interim manager. He was originally hired as the
interim manager, shifting over from batting coach, hitting
coach when Jimmy Williams was let go.
And yeah, it was a magical season, but you know, there's a
lot of great things that happened.
(16:22):
One of them was the acquisition of Mookie Wilson.
And so that was a he was kind ofthe spark plug back then.
They weren't always picking up sluggers and and, you know, big
power arms all the time for the stretch run.
Sometimes they wanted just a spark plug, you know, some sort
of gritty player that could, youknow, steal some bases and get
(16:44):
some key singles and things likethat.
And Mookie Wilson was that player for the Jays also in 89,
that final weekend where they played the Orioles.
It was the Orioles and the Jays for the division down to the
final weekend. Remember, no wild card.
So it's absolutely you win the division or you go home and that
(17:05):
final weekend, a lot of good memories, especially with Buck
Martinez commentary even then and seeing the Jays come through
and you know, a couple of other key players rants Mullinix was a
really key player in that seasonwhen it came to pinch hitting.
So by then he wasn't a full timeor even a halftime platoon
(17:29):
player. He was primarily a a pinch
hitter and he came up with just a lot of key singles to drive in
runs. And you know, to today, that's
probably why I'm such a big proponent of the RBI, because I
think it's whatever you gotta doto get that run across the
plate, you do it. And that 89 season was really
(17:49):
about timely hitting and doing what needed to be done to win.
And then of course, they just totally got steamrolled by the
A's. Conseco, McGuire, Dave Stewart.
Anderson. Ricky Henderson.
Yeah, all of. That.
So the so the so there was a trade in the winter of 1990 that
changed the franchise forever was Almar and Joe Carter to the
(18:14):
Jays for Frederick Griffin and Tony Fernandez going to the
Padres talk about that trade andhow it changed the franchise and
and and what they became to be in the coming years.
Yeah, personal experience. I remember the morning in my
house waking up hearing the newsbecause there was no Twitter,
(18:34):
right? So you didn't get things
immediately. It was in the newspaper, on the
radio that Fred McGriff and TonyFernandez, two players in their
prime with, you know, a lot morewhen you want to say, yeah,
still like, especially McGriff, like under contract and all
those types of things. And I was a big fan of Fred
(18:57):
McGriff and Tony Fernandez. And to hear that they acquired
Joe Carter, I knew that name. I knew that player.
I knew that was 100 RBIs guaranteed a season.
Honestly, Roberto Alomar I had not heard of at that time.
And I just had the trust that Pat Gillick knew what he was
doing. Also that offseason they did let
(19:19):
George Bell go. They did not resign him.
Also in that offseason. What was the other deal They.
Made going to Angels to the BlueJays.
Yeah, Junior Felix, they traded and got Devon White also Lloyd.
Was Lloyd Moseby let go too? I don't think they resigned
(19:40):
Lloyd Moseby. Like it was a real transition
year when it came to the face ofthe roster and the core of the
lineup. And so 91 was really an exciting
year where all of a sudden you had a team that would come in
first or second every season andnow you've changed the the top,
you know? 40% or 44% of their lineup
(20:05):
getting White and Alomar and Carter, yeah, that was exciting
to see that overhaul. And as we can see that it really
did make a lot of sense as it brought us the World Series
twice in a row. So since you talked about that,
like we said, that changed franchise in so many ways,
(20:27):
probably forever, even till thisday, 33 AL East titles to ALE
Pennant titles and back-to-back World Series champions.
Rob and I lived in that. That was our childhood.
You were probably in your teens,you would say, or your early
adult years. So you're more vivid, vividly
(20:47):
remembered about those experiences.
What was that feeling like when,you know, the team just became a
juggernaut all of a sudden? Oh, it was amazing.
It was night and day because forso many years, like since 1985,
remember, like they won in 85, lost that final week of 87, one
in 89. But we're steamrolled by the
(21:10):
A's, came in second, eliminated in 1990 to the Red Sox, 91 won
the East. And that that was good, you
know, with the IT kind of built confidence that, hey, this team
can do something. And I remember in 91, they just
were not prepared, you know, having the players that put them
(21:34):
over the top. And so DH was a weak position.
I remember they had Dave Parker for a month.
He recently just actually passedaway.
But he was a Blue Jay for I think 30 days.
He could not play in the postseason because he was
acquired after the trade deadline.
But they really, they needed help.
And and that that hurt them in 91 when they lost to the Twins
(21:57):
in five games. But then, yeah, 9293, you know,
they won all four of those series in six games, right?
They won all series, four games to two, I believe, if my memory
doesn't fail me. So that was exciting to have the
World Series champions back-to-back, and it kind of got
(22:17):
spoiled. I think a lot of Canada got
spoiled like OHT, hey, we could get used to this and then.
I have a question for you. SO during those Championship
years, what was the bigger tradeduring that trade deadline or
even the waiver deadline that David Cohen trade to the Blue
Jays to win the first championship?
Or Ricky Henderson, probably thebest leadoff hitter of all time.
(22:41):
That's a great question. I loved both deals, very excited
about both of them. But I'll tell you this, I have
to say that David Cohen was the bigger deal.
Why? He was the power arm, the swing
and miss that they needed when they faced the A's in the 92
ALCS. So it was David Cohen that shut
(23:04):
them down. And I remember Ricky Anderson on
the A's that year flailing, swinging and missing at David
Cohen stuff. And that's why I mean to today,
David Cohen is at least top three.
If not, he's probably my second favorite Jays pitcher of all
time. Number one is Jimmy Key.
But David, David Cohen because of his dominance and how he got
(23:28):
us over the hump when it came todefeating the A's and and
silencing or at least overcomingsome of their at bats where
other pitchers just could not dothat.
Now the next year when they got Ricky Henderson, I still think
that was awesome, even though hehad a pretty poor performance in
his own compared to himself. But I mean, look at that on base
(23:50):
average and all the runs that hescored, all he needed was to
walk and do his business on the base paths and and let the other
guys drive him home. So both deals were great and
really exciting that they did that to put the teams over the
top. I gotta question for you though,
do do you remember when after they won the World Series there
like the craze that was like like they came out with that OK
(24:14):
Blue Jays song and, and and thatdo you remember that cassette
tape full of Blue Jay songs? That was just like I, I'm just
wondering if you remember that because I remember going to my
aunts house and she used to playthat.
She was a big Jays fan and she used to play that cassette tape
all the time, man. Oh yeah, I had like cassette and
the DVD or the CD. So it was like a long came Joe
(24:37):
with Robbie and Evo. Yeah, you know, and there's even
the earlier one that came up before the World Series that had
like help with Mookie help help with Smokey, like all that
stuff. Yeah, that was great.
I mean, OK Blue Jays that goes way back in the in the teams
history, but that album had somegreat bangers on on it
(24:59):
definitely. I just wonder if you if you
remember that or not. So 22 years without the
playoffs, unfortunately in a life change for you moving to
Minnesota, when did that happen?Tell us about that experience.
Yeah, so I just mentioned the 22years like with no World Series.
Did you know that perfectly corresponds with Derek Jeter's
(25:20):
career? Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah. Like as long as there is a Derek
Jeter, the Jays, yeah. So yeah, we, I ended up moving
to the US in 2014, 2014, 2015 and we first were in the Pacific
(25:47):
Northwest, in Washington state for four years.
That's Missus Blue Jays, dad's home state.
We had lived 16 years in Canada and we wanted to another
adventure for our family and forher to be closer.
Otto her neck of the woods. So we were there four years and
it's actually during my first year there as when Blue Jays dad
(26:09):
was born. And so a Blue Jays dad was born.
Actually, I I had to come back from the US to stay with my mom
while my dad had heart surgery and my mom, once again huge Jays
baseball fan. So it was uh, I visited her,
right? Like when I was leaving to get
(26:30):
the the plane to leave Washington State, I had just
seen that the Jays had acquired Troy Tulowitzki and I couldn't
believe it. And so I'm while I'm traveling
is when all this news is going on.
And that was the the four-game set where the Jays played the
(26:51):
Royals and all that drama and David Price and all of that.
And it was those four games thatI have the Blue Jays dad idea
saved in my back pocket for a while.
And I thought, you know, let's start it then, because there's
probably going to be a ton of new accounts starting with the
Jays getting popular. So Blue Jays dad was born then.
(27:12):
And then it kind of novelty of it was here's this Jays fan
living in the USA representing the Jays.
And I'll tell you what, it's been really fun to just meet a
lot of other baseball fans in the US to be the Blue Jays guy
here, but also to I've made so many great friendships around
(27:32):
the game of baseball and other fans and other opportunities
that I've had. So it's, and it's the, the
account kept me connected with Canada and with even some
friends and family who are on Twitter as well.
So, yeah. And then we were in Spokane, WA
for four years and then we endedup moving to the Twin Cities,
(27:54):
Minneapolis, specifically Bloomington.
And I think we've been here for like 6 or 7 years, something
like that. And I'll tell you what, it's
great to have Major League Baseball an 18 minute drive from
my house. Like literally 18 minutes.
That's something that you can't emphasize enough, especially
(28:17):
when the Jays come to town in Minnesota on a yearly tradition,
right? And you would be televised on
television like you did when theJays were in Minnesota a few
weeks ago, right? So, yeah.
And, and you became, you were inthe known guy, right?
You were the star in that stadium.
So, um, so the next question is,so the Jays are finally playoff
(28:41):
bound for the first time in 22 years on even better, they ended
up winning the division. And what was that experience
like? Because I could tell that I I
went through it. Rob's been through it and man
it. It felt different in 15 when,
when that, you know, when Alex Anthopoulos just went for the
(29:04):
final year as a GM for the Blue Jays.
But what what was on your mindset?
When where were you in Minnesotaat that time?
Or were. You on?
That was in Washington then, yeah.
OK, so yeah, what would that mindset like?
The yeah, I mean, obviously really exciting to for that
stretch run when they got too low and David Price and then,
(29:26):
you know, Revere and and other guys they stocked up on it made
it really fun to have this PowerPack team.
And and remember they had just acquired Josh Donaldson earlier,
you know, great trade. You know who I mean Brett Laurie
and handful of other guys. So yeah, that's amazing.
And then that team, really, my son and I were just on a walk
(29:49):
this afternoon after the Jays game, talking about how with
guys like Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, you'll love them
if they were on your team. Right.
Because they have a Jays team that had that type of attitude.
I think that was new, like the attitude that you can back it up
(30:10):
with your play and that you don't mess with these guys.
I think that was that was the first time that Toronto, that
the Jays had a club like that. And then it was, you know, you
just think of all the walk off home runs from Edwin in
Carnassial, Donaldson, Batistas heroics, just unbelievable.
(30:31):
And then winning that division. I remember Stroman's return and
that Yankee series that he came back for his first start in
September and the fact that I think they swept the Yankees,
that's that series. And that just solidified it.
Again. It's like these guys are going
all the way. And so, yeah, and then we all
know what happened with that, that postseason and the bat
flip. Felt like deja vu again.
(30:53):
But let me ask you this question.
When you saw Alex making all those trades, what was that?
What was that trade that you felt like, OK, we're here now
this this team is going for likewould you say that David Price
child deal changes scenario or was it Troy tool whisky?
(31:15):
I think they were expecting to make the deal for David Price.
I think the two low deal like was what put him over the top
because they just needed to solidify their defence at
shortstop. Like Reyes had injured his ankle
I think the year before and he was never the same.
And to get too low just to solidify the defence, like
(31:36):
strong defence and then his bat was just, you know, icing on the
cake. So to for the to you know what
they said that he emptied out the cupboards to make those
deals. Nobody amounted to anything.
I I really just don't believe that narrative.
The Jays talked up their own prospects and people wanted them
(31:59):
and they made those deals. They're willing.
Jays took on a lot of money and a lot of the deals that they had
made around that era, and that was great to to see so that they
could put that winner on the field.
So I probably go, yeah, you don't win it without either of
them. But it's the fact they did both
like adding the Tulo to it that I think put them over the top.
(32:21):
So after a little bit of a mini rebuild with two second
generational talents in the Miners and and Vladimir Guerrero
Bouchette and the third one, if you want to include Cabin Visio
at the time, let's talk about that a little bit and how that
set up the landscape now for forfor going into the new era of
(32:43):
Blue Jays baseball. Yeah, so you mean just like
building on Vlady and Bo? Yeah, like, like, like just just
the rebuild that was and how that team became together during
the rebuild. Yeah, it's a that that was
exciting. I I think that the Jays went
(33:04):
through some dark years, right? And we're just like waiting for
these guys to be called up and whether that's Beau, Vladdy or
even Visio to have something to look forward to, a promise of
the future and some excitement in the present, because things
got pretty dark for a bit after that. 2016 ALCS and then 2017
(33:27):
horrible out of the gate. But yeah, Vladdy, Bo building on
that. And then the the great moves
that were made with like gettinglike Marcus Simian, like for one
season and how he just brought out the best in that whole
lineup. I mean, they had one of their
best lineups of all time that season.
(33:48):
And so it's it's been great. You know, my joke is that why
don't you just draft all the sons of former major leaguers?
You know, you'll probably just don't even scout, save money on
scouting. Just draft all, you know, kids
of of former professional players and I'm sure you'll get
some stars. So it's been fun to watch and
(34:11):
it's interesting. Doesn't it feel like so quickly
that now we're looking at, you know, I mean Vladdy extended So
what we are looking at the possibility of him leaving now
Bo looks like a strong possibility.
He's gonna be moving on. We've already passed through
that era. I hope the Jays can win it all
(34:31):
this year with Bo and a really put that complete that ERA much
like they did in 2015 and 16 with Jose Bautista, right?
Like those were her his last tworeally great years and they made
him count for him. So I hope the same thing happens
with with Vladdy and Beau getting the play this season
(34:52):
together in real special way. I think I'm just have to wait
and see approach to see what this team is because I think
ownership wants to win. Like I think this could be a new
era of this young fan base with the Bargers and we'll we'll get
into that. But I wanna talk about 2021 and
what could have been. We talked a little bit.
(35:14):
Blood of Beau and we talked a little bit what that team was.
They had the best offence in baseball that year.
Pitching was very leaky at the time.
You know, they were playing in three stadiums.
They didn't play at the Rogers Centre for 500 days I believe,
which is a significantly amount of time.
So they had to move from Dunedinto Buffalo to I believe what
(35:37):
Toronto by late July, which is insane to think like you don't
see that transaction or transition in such little time
in one season. Like what were your thoughts in
that year? What?
What a strange year, but it was exciting for Blue Jays baseball.
(35:59):
I mean, they in the midst of a pandemic, they definitely
provided entertainment for people.
And I just think about the strange things that happened,
the cardboard cutouts of fans inthe stands, like that's just
weird, weird stuff. And then like what you mentioned
them going from ballpark to ballpark, not really having a
(36:21):
home. And what they did they, they
turned out a a decent year and Ithink more importantly, gave the
fan base something to, to celebrate and focus on on a
period of time that was very, very dark in our, our recent
history. So let's talk about the 2022
(36:43):
Four Seasons and 22. They lost 202 to the Mariners,
you know, and then this the following year, they lost O2 to
the Twins. And then last year, of course,
you know, with the with the whole taking a step back,
selling at the deadline, just just just a year where they just
needed to just reset. And, and let's talk about those
(37:07):
years and what what ultimately became to be and how it's kind
of setting ourselves up for the year that we're having right
now. Yeah, So I that collision
between Bouchet and George Springer, obviously that was the
(37:27):
the pinnacle of like literal pain, but also the pain felt by
the fan base blowing that 8 to 1lead.
So that was a so many, so much wrapped up just in that one
play. But also I think that was the
year we saw some strange managerial moves.
Remember what Schneider brought in?
(37:49):
Was it Maza to face? What's his face?
That's on the the Guardians now,and he was on the Indians
before. And Oh yeah, Carlos Santana.
Yeah, to put him on the right hand side when that's his power
side and then he hit the whole like stuff like that.
I think that's the introduction of, I don't know if you call it
(38:09):
a curse or not, but just the Jays not being able to win a
game in the postseason. And then obviously 2023 when our
family was just reflecting aboutthis the other day, the crazy
math that had to happen for the Jays to play here in Minneapolis
for the Wild Card Series. And that all happened in a
(38:31):
matter of like 30 minutes that afternoon that that everyone won
and lost in the right way that all of a sudden they're going to
be here. And to witness that once again,
some painful moments, Audi beingpicked off second base, Bo
trying to score. And Carlos Correa makes a
(38:52):
fantastic play, picking up that overthrown ball and throwing at
home, making a perfect throw. And then also, you know, what
I'm known for on Twitter is justthe the the early removal of
Jose Berrios when he was dealingwhen that once again, the
management just got too fancy. And I'll tell you what, I was at
the ballpark, so I'll tell you this.
(39:14):
But it was Game 2 and the Twins fans were like, Oh no, Berrios
is on his game, we're not gonna win.
The feeling in the stadium was that it was over.
Even though the Jays hadn't scored any runs yet, as soon as
they came out and they took out Barrios, life came in that
stadium. Life came in the other side of
the the other side of the field,the other dugout.
(39:36):
And that changed everything. And I think the Jays players
were demoralized at that point. You know, I don't know what Beau
whispered to Barrios, but it wasevery, you know, the players
were shocked. And that does affect offence.
So anyway, that's one of my hobby horses is that I really
(39:57):
did see that play or that managerial strategy, the weird
stuff that Jay has been doing lately.
Now this year, obviously it's totally different story.
No one's talking about strategy anymore because it seems like
everything's working. Yeah, since since it's a perfect
Sedway to to talk about this current season, like I think the
(40:22):
Jays were off to a 25 and 27 start.
There were eight games out of first place and a lot of people
thought that maybe they might besomewhat sellers with few
rentals with Bow Bassett shirts or he had there no trade clause.
Chad Green But they've turned this season around and and
(40:43):
looking at what they did againstthe Yankees in the history of
the franchise in the 48 years ofthis organization, they have it
swept the New York Yankees in a four games series ever.
What are your thoughts about this season?
Recapping and talk about that series, man.
(41:04):
Now I'm still in Cloud 9 on that, so yeah.
Yeah, and, and rightfully so. I mean, this team has the magic
and I, I don't like every team needs that, that thing that is
not about individual stats, whether it's RBI's or, you know,
WRC plus or whatever, It's it's not about those things.
(41:28):
Those are all great ways to evaluate players, but a team is
way different than any of those things.
And I think that's what we're seeing this year is just there's
a lot of ways that Jays can get you.
And I don't know if you saw my tweet this afternoon, but I
tweeted the Toronto bunt Jays because bunting.
(41:50):
I love sacrifice bunts. Now I know I'm not answering
your question right now, but I'll tell you why I like
sacrifice bunts. Sacrifice months change the
focus of the game when it's a close game and no one scoring
runs. When you bunt a player over,
you're demanding everyone's attention on to what's going on
(42:10):
on the base paths. The Rays are the best added over
the years. For decades they've been doing
it. And I just love to see the Jays
doing everything. They got power, a home run,
power, power alley. They're making contact.
They're one of the hardest teamsto strike out.
They're getting the bunts down for the most part when they need
(42:33):
to there. They seem to be patient at the
plate. I don't know what George
Springer is doing, but he's he'sdone something.
He's recognized something in hisswing or in pitch recognition.
That's amazing. And I just think, you know,
Addison Barger, all of a sudden we have this really bright
future in him. And all of the guys to give
(42:54):
credit to Ross Atkins, who have criticized the lot over the
years, to give credit, the guys that he picked up, the Miles
straws, the Eminem is these guysthat maybe have glaring
weaknesses in parts of their game.
They really, they've really begin to shine in the areas that
(43:17):
they're strong in. And then whatever else you get
from them, it's it's icing on the cake.
And so I think this, I don't know if this is if you compare
this team to 2015 or if you compare it to 9293.
Honestly, I feel like this team is more like 19851987 where they
(43:37):
have a really well-rounded team.And I was thinking about this
today on my walk as well after the game.
Addison Barger reminds me of like a Jesse Barfield, Willie
Upshaw, a kind of a mid 80s typeof player that can do it all
both sides of the field. He's smart, athletic and there's
(43:58):
lots of ways that he's going to help you win a ball game.
So, yeah, very exciting and really great to sweep those
Yankees in Toronto four games for the first time.
And that seems to be somewhat ofa litmus test, isn't it?
Can you beat the Yankees when itcomes to sweeping them?
That shows you that that there'sthat you're a force to be
(44:18):
reckoned with. And there's a lot of heart on
this team and no doubt about it,you kind of answered my next
question when you kind of compared which team this year's
iteration of the Blue Jays wouldwould be compared to.
So let's talk about the trade deadline.
What did the Jays need to do at this trade deadline?
(44:39):
What do they need to target? Who are some guys that you would
like to see in Blue Jays uniforms maybe next year?
But what should their focus be on?
Yeah, I think focus is you don'twant to disrupt what's going on
now. I think you got some magic there
right now. Some of these guys are probably
(45:01):
going to get exposed, meaning the more they play, the more the
legal make adjustments. So you got to be ready for that.
And we also got some players coming back, Santander, Varsho,
maybe even Alec Manoa. So I don't even know how you
work in I, you know, Santander took up a lot of that bats the
(45:23):
first third of the season, right, Batting in key
situations, just automatic outs.It seem like.
I don't know that you want to insert that back into your
lineup. Like how you do that, I'm not
sure. So, but looking at these guys
coming back, that's like the oldyeah.
That's like they're like player acquisitions.
(45:43):
Obviously, Varsho, I don't know why people hate on Varsho so
much. He's been terrific in the field
and great power numbers this year for the little ladies
played. So you get Marshall back in
there immediately. Great recent pitching
performance from some of the arms in the bullpen, but that's
where I would stack up. I would.
(46:04):
I would like power arms in the bullpen and yeah, starting
pitcher. I don't know how you get 1.
You know, those are really costly.
Like people say, well, the Jays need a number 2 starting pitcher
in there. I don't know how you get that.
I don't want to see them trade like a boba Chet right now.
I think they gotta ride, bow outfor the rest of the season.
(46:28):
And so I would say bullpen arms and if you can get a bat, but I
don't know, I'm just kind of riffing like I thought the other
day. Is there a way they could trade
Santander? Like, is there a way you do a
reset on that and just say, yeah, we kind of want to go in a
different direction now? I I don't know.
So yeah, bullpen arms number onestart top starting pitcher if
(46:53):
you can get one. I just don't know how you do it.
And um, and then like a bat if it, if it fits and doesn't
disrupt. So yeah, I guess I'm, I'm
playing it safe, right? Everything I just said.
I'm I mean with their offence, Imean, I don't even think they
need about like you said, right,could be starting pitching.
(47:13):
I mean you can never have enoughpitching.
I mean, but like I did like theydid in 93 were talking about
Ricky Henderson. They added them.
If you can go get another bat that can that can make the
lineup more of a murderers row like like they did in 15.
I mean, anything is possible. I'm curious to see what they do.
(47:33):
But to wrap up this episode and the final question here is what
do you think of this franchise moving forward?
This farm is great again with all of a sudden they talk, but
we got some guys coming in the miners that could be be up by
next year and probably the year after.
There's guys locked up with Vlad.
(47:55):
Probably Santander's here for a while.
Jimenez is here. Bargers now all of a sudden
became a thing. He's here a long term like they
have a whole bunch of guys also like and financial flexibility.
And Edward Rogers said this during the blood pressure.
I want to win a World Series right now and he seems
determined and financially flexing the money.
(48:16):
What are your thoughts about that?
It all, all of a sudden the Jaysseemed to be in a great position
to bridge from one ERA to another successfully, meaning
that it looked like they were going to have to maybe bottom
out or something. But right now it looks like no,
look at Springer, like we thought we were gonna be stuck
(48:37):
with Springer and his contract. Now it's like he's the MVP of
the team, it seems. So this is a great problem to
have. And as you're saying, money
coming off the books, money being willing to be invested,
Maybe this season does begin to attract some of those bigger
names that kind of seem to just have used the Toronto Blue Jays
(49:00):
recently. You know, the Otani is the Sotos
and things like that, Guys like that.
Maybe the Jays, if they win, they do become more of another
kind of Dodgers destination where it's like, hey, if we're
there, we got a really good chance at winning.
We're the favorites. So.
But at the same time, do you need those guys?
(49:21):
Like, do you want those guys? I don't know.
I like this team. I like having a well-rounded
team where people are fighting for the fighting for the team,
fighting to do what they can do to put the team over the top.
You really don't get this sense that these players are fighting
for playing time. It seems like they're fighting
to win. Doesn't it seem like that?
(49:41):
No. Like I, I don't, I don't get the
sense that like Ernie Clements trying to outplay so he gets to
play more than Schneider. It feels like everyone's trying
to do their best to help the team win.
I I that's just what it looks like.
It's so funny that you say that,but that's why I said like 1516.
You had like star heavy guys in that lineup and you had to
(50:04):
depend on them one way or another.
Because if you remember that collision between Polara and
Tulowitzki against the Yankees in 15 and they had to go get
Cliff Pennington and then more injuries happened.
They had to go get Darwin Barney.
I feel like they don't need to do that because the depth is
strong here and in the miners like like last year's trade
(50:26):
deadline benefited so much for this year as well.
If you look at it like Jonathan Clause has become a player too.
And some of the guys in the mines like a yohandry Penango
where RJ Shrek is become valuable assets for this team
too. And they could be trade shipped
if they want to upgrade. So I feel like the leverage is
there. And also like, that's why I
compare this team to like the 90s Jays more because of the
(50:47):
youth movement. And I think that's something
that this organization wanted and it's great.
I, I love where this is going all of a sudden and you know,
and Chaparral, Chaparral and Ross Atkins had a phenomenal
job. So I'm looking forward to see
how this season plays out. But Blue Jays dad, it was great
(51:09):
having you here being a guest and talking about your
livelihood as a Blue Jays fan. Where can we find you on social
media? But I'm really famous on
Twitter, but nowhere else. So I Twitters or ex, I never
call it XI, never probably will.But yeah, Twitter at Blue Jays
(51:30):
Dad. And once again, I mean, the
reason I started Blue Jays Dad is I wanted to have an account
that really engaged with everybody.
And I think back in 2015, there were some top accounts that
really just wouldn't engage withpeople unless you were in the
club. And I want to Blue Jays Dad to
not be able to club, but to be about connecting his fans.
(51:54):
And I'm really happy to have that platform now and welcome
anyone aboard that would like tobe part of it.
Well, you've certainly accomplished that, my friend.
Um, it wasn't it was real fun, man.
This is really fun episode to have you here talking about the
past, the present, the future. So thanks for joining us today,
(52:14):
man, It was really fun. Hey, well, I appreciate it.
I always loved doing this stuff and way to go guys.
I'd anyone who has a podcast that does this, I just tip my
cap to you. I know the amount of work it
takes and how many hangups you can pick up so you can have in
the system, but that you guys keep doing this.
It's just great and a lot of admiration your way, so thank
(52:37):
you. Yeah, like we appreciate, we
appreciate you. But one thing before I sign off
where we sign off here is that you did post on Instagram saying
that I have it's, I can't even say it on the street.
You on Instagram, you say I'm pretty famous on Twitter.
(52:57):
I, I, I couldn't stop laughing, man.
I was like, goodness, man. I think he says I'm.
I'm really famous on Twitter. Yeah, that's what it says, Yeah.
So when you see I have like 50 Instagram followers, that's
just, you know, trying to save some face.
I'm gonna steal that live next time, but we'll place their
(53:18):
description below where you can find the one in Famous Blue Jays
Dad on Twitter. But till next time, take care,
be kind to each other. Signing up for the Blue Jays
Ave. Podcast on Saturday, July 5th,
2025. Yeah.
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