“A
Wild Crazy Way to Win”
stated Neil Davidson of The Canadian Press
about
the 5th
and final game of the series against the Texas Rangers.
As an ardent Toronto Blue Jays fan, I state that it was
the Toronto Blue Jays' team effort ~ with a 25-man roster!
General
Manger, Alex Anthopoulos,
had over this past year rebuilt the team, engineering incoming
players, not only of skill, but of personalities that would 'gel
with the existing gung-ho players'...in the clubhouse and on-field
play...each contributing to the success of games to be played.
John
Gibbons, Manager of the team
took these pieces (as in a jig-saw puzzle) and assembled them game by
game to be played...with 'moves' of various players from one position
to another as needed.
Step
One
was winning the American Baseball East Division
.
Step
Two was the best of 5 games against the Texas Rangers.
With 'home advantage' the first two games were played in
Toronto...unfortunately the Jays lost both...then went to Arlington,
Texas to play the next two with a MUST to win each game to tie the
series. The fifth and deciding game was back in Toronto at Rogers
Centre...this being the game to which Neil Davidson referred, “A
Wild Crazy Way to Win!” There were controversial plays that
demanded “Video Replay” before final decisions were accepted
regarding...weird in-field plays rarely seen, It was a total 'bench
clearing' incident by both teams when a Ranger run was scored...now
3-1 with the Jays were behind in the score.
Quite
irate over the decisions and angry 50,000 fans in the stadium, the
Jays came to the plate at the bottom of the 7th
inning determined to overcome and win this game! The expertise of
the Texas Rangers 'became unglued' with 3 infield errors allowing 2
Jays players on base. Jose Bautista hit a Home Run into the upper
deck giving Jays the lead. Leaving 'home plate', he flipped his bat
before running the 4 bases. Edwin Encarnacion, one of the Jays'
sluggers, also hit a home run with Toronto Blue Jays winning the
series....game score was 6-3! It
was Toronto's first playoff win since Joe Carter's Home Run secured
the 1993 World Series.
Later, when interviewed about his
'tossed bat'. Jose stated,
“I
really can't remember what went through my mind after I made contact.
I didn't plan anything I did (except to watch for my pitch).
I
knew I did something great for the team at the moment of ball/bat
impact.”
Russell Martin, Blue Jays catcher, stated after the game,
“That
umpiring crew did a great job...amidst turmoil,
playing by the book rules very seldom applied.”
The
Toronto Blue Jays benefitted from some sparkling fielding by Kevin
Pillar, Ryan Goins and Josh Donaldson. Offensively,
they benefitted by home runs from Encarnacion and Bautista and a bunt
single. Basically, they won by superb play both at the plate and on
field.
Neil Davidson concluded by saying, “Baseball Karma was delivered to
Toronto
in a wild 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.”
The Blue Jays' Attitude has always been Positive!
Win This Game Today! And One Game at a Time!
In the words of Josh Donaldson (Third Base) when being interviewed,
OUR BUSINESS IS BASEBALL.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS PLAYERS IS TO WIN GAMES!
Of the Blue Jays' success, Alex Anthopoulos said,
“Making
the playoffs as a wild
card team
would have been 'wild card success'.
Winning the Division was a 'dog fight' and it feels more rewarding
than anything else.
In a playoff series, anything can happen ~ teams can slump.
No matter what happens from this point forward, we've already
achieved great things. Do we want to win the World Series? We all
do! Our organization has come so far and I'm satisfied with what
we've done. We win one game at a time.”
Michael Friscolanti said about Alex on October 15, 2015
The Jays General Manager may never sleep,
but it does not stop him from dreaming.
Step
3
begins today, Friday...now one step closer to the World Series:
The Toronto Blue Jays play a series of games with the Kansas City
Royals for the American League Championship. They play the first two
games in Kansas. The following three games will be played at Rogers
Centre in Toronto on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday if needed to
establish the championship team to represent the American Baseball
League against the National Baseball League winner.
Step 4: The World Series.
Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...October 16, 2015
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