Clinched!

[Hoopstarr]

I was with Buehrle that they went overboard with the celebration until I learned that this is a common thing when clinching a playoff berth.

[Boogie!]

We'll know whether this was worth it by November.

AA gambled hard. And I don't think he was shooting just for the playoffs. So we'll see where the dice rolls for AA's big play in the next month. It's one of the biggest "All In" gambles by a Toronto sports GM in decades, something that is both terrifying and exhilarating. Because of this city's awful sports luck, we're trained to want to play it safe. Draft well, think of the future, make low risk trades, don't lose great players for nothing, etc,. We're not used to Toronto executives throwing all our chips in for a boom or bust future--we're used to either treadmilling or selling hope.

i thought they should go all in at the deadline because i thought it would be stupid to waste the elite offense that we had. im glad they did and im happy with the result.

[LLJ]

I was with Buehrle that they went overboard with the celebration until I learned that this is a common thing when clinching a playoff berth.

Because I'm eyeing a different prize I would agree with you, but teams can't maintain constant intensity without some breaks in between to take the pressure off. Everyone in Toronto and on the team knows that they weren't built just to make the playoffs--and the most important battles are still to come--but you have to let the players feel good about their smaller accomplishments on their quest for the bigger prize.

[SharoneWright]

Best thing Barry Davis ever said (unintentionally, I'm sure)....

"Jose, I'm soaked with champagne. Are you gonna pay for the dry-cleaning on my suit?"

LOL!

Jose: "No. Absolutely not."

("You should be thankful I'm even talking to Rogers...")

[Santoki]

Haven't been on the forums for a while so I'm curious whether any of the more vocal opponents of clearing out the farm for this run in the present have vocally come around as enjoying this ride since? Anybody come around? Anybody feel that even just seeing the Jays in this race again after so many years of irrelevance has made the decision worth it?

As a more casual fan it seems like anything that happens next is a bonus. Seems to me that this run has completely reinvigorated the franchise and baseball fans accross the country regardless of what happens next.

I was against the Price trade at the time because I didn't think they could make up so many games. I'm of course enjoying the ride but there's still that part of me that knows there's probably more bad than good ahead of us.

I think the moment this team slips again the fans will leave. Unfortunately we're a bandwagon fan base and everyone that's suddenly a diehard fan won't be around if this team struggles next year. I don't think the fan base has been reinvigorated. I think they're riding the wave of a team finally doing well. It's just like the Raptors. Suddenly we had the best fans in the NBA and everyone I knew was suddenly a huge Raptors fan. Since that Nets series it's been pretty quiet. Don't think I've talked much Raps with anyone since January.

That was the issue I took with personal friends calling me too pessimistic about the deal. To be fair two of them were proper diehards but the rest are casuals who I know will never talk Jays again once this run ends.

Your intuition is probably right. So just enjoy the ride. Live in the moment. So much crap we have endured through the years that we all forgot how to.

All my friends were celebrating clinching the playoffs and I was that one dude saying "guys, we haven't done ****. I'll celebrate when we wrap up the AL East". I know...I'm a buzzkill. But, when I saw the Jays celebrating today it warmed my heart a bit. I'll let them have their fun. They deserve it. It was definitely nice to see. But, yah, let's get back tomorrow and when we clinch the division I'll buy some Bud Light and pour it all over myself Chris Bosh style.

[LLJ]

It wasn't even that big a celebration by most standards anyway. It seemed about appropriate amount of celebrating for the occasion.

For fans of the SNES game Earthbound, I equate the Jays' celebration to that game's "coffee break".

[raptors2019]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/royhalladay/status/648006175875842048[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/carlosdelgado21/status/647922947328315392[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/fcat27/status/647922732622065664[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/lamelaza_7/status/647901502627975168[/tweet]

[Scott Hall]

Good thing Kawasaki isn't an every day player dude looked hammered and stoned rotten when I saw him

[RalphWiggum]

Best thing Barry Davis ever said (unintentionally, I'm sure)....

"Jose, I'm soaked with champagne. Are you gonna pay for the dry-cleaning on my suit?"

LOL!

Jose: "No. Absolutely not."

("You should be thankful I'm even talking to Rogers...")

I actually think Barry knew exactly what he was doing there, as a rogers employee I'd be shocked if he didn't. Barry sucks but that question was sorta funny.

[PurplePJs]

Haven't been on the forums for a while so I'm curious whether any of the more vocal opponents of clearing out the farm for this run in the present have vocally come around as enjoying this ride since? Anybody come around? Anybody feel that even just seeing the Jays in this race again after so many years of irrelevance has made the decision worth it?

As a more casual fan it seems like anything that happens next is a bonus. Seems to me that this run has completely reinvigorated the franchise and baseball fans accross the country regardless of what happens next.

Life is short. Play to win. Win now, cry later.

[LittleOzzy]

I AM PUMPED!!!

[And1Skip]

Notice that in most of the pics and alcohol craziness did not include the likes of Tulo, JD, Hawkins, Burhle and Martin. They were there but more toned down...bc these guys have been there before.

I'm happy to see guys like Bautista and Encarnacion celebrating bc finally they are in. Hilarious to see guys like Hague, Barney, Kawasaki, Thole, Pompey, Delabar, Jenkins and Tupera partying hard now as they won't be on the playoff roster.

[Hoopstarr]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RoyHalladay/status/648006175875842048[/tweet]

[Greatness]

I know it's just the wildcard, but there was a point where I thought I'd never get to see the Jays make the playoffs in my lifetime (was born in 92 so didn't get to see those years). This team is special regardless of how the rest of the season plays out.

[spykelee]

Meh I don't care about the politics in this thread.

Just **** ecstatic were in! Go jays go!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[xAIRNESSx]

Kind of feels weird celebrating now, knowing that we're going to win the division and will be celebrating again in a few days.

[metafisical]

OH ****!!!!! You know what? I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I was inspired by the post in the Tampa Bay game thread asking if Osuna broke any US drinking laws by drinking in Canada.

And then it suddenly dawned on me. I think the Blue Jays broke Ontario smoking laws by smoking cigars inside Rogers Centre! LMAO, I think they broke the Smoke-Free Ontario Act!

Here's a link to a Government of Ontario website:
http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/en/smoke-free/legislation/in-brief.asp

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act:
- Bans smoking in enclosed public places and all enclosed workplaces as of May 31, 2006, including restaurants, bars, schools, private clubs, sports arenas, work vehicles, offices and entertainment venues, including casinos, bingo halls, bowling and billiard establishments

Rogers Centre was enclosed, and is a workplace (for the Blue Jays players), is a public space, and is a sports arena.

I'm sure police and the Ontario Government will overlook this, but the Blue Jays did technically break the law.

[Skin Blues]

First thing I thought of when I saw the cigars. It's a stupid law anyway, and I'm sure it'll be overlooked. Also, Edwin is drenching himself in beer and champagne and then an hour later is taking selfies while driving on the Lakeshore. If only everybody else was given the same leeway as these guys...

[Flight33]

Haven't been on the forums for a while so I'm curious whether any of the more vocal opponents of clearing out the farm for this run in the present have vocally come around as enjoying this ride since? Anybody come around? Anybody feel that even just seeing the Jays in this race again after so many years of irrelevance has made the decision worth it?

As a more casual fan it seems like anything that happens next is a bonus. Seems to me that this run has completely reinvigorated the franchise and baseball fans accross the country regardless of what happens next.

I was against the Price trade at the time because I didn't think they could make up so many games. I'm of course enjoying the ride but there's still that part of me that knows there's probably more bad than good ahead of us.

I think the moment this team slips again the fans will leave. Unfortunately we're a bandwagon fan base and everyone that's suddenly a diehard fan won't be around if this team struggles next year. I don't think the fan base has been reinvigorated. I think they're riding the wave of a team finally doing well. It's just like the Raptors. Suddenly we had the best fans in the NBA and everyone I knew was suddenly a huge Raptors fan. Since that Nets series it's been pretty quiet. Don't think I've talked much Raps with anyone since January.

That was the issue I took with personal friends calling me too pessimistic about the deal. To be fair two of them were proper diehards but the rest are casuals who I know will never talk Jays again once this run ends.

Debbie Downer smh.

[Dennis 37]

Haven't been on the forums for a while so I'm curious whether any of the more vocal opponents of clearing out the farm for this run in the present have vocally come around as enjoying this ride since? Anybody come around? Anybody feel that even just seeing the Jays in this race again after so many years of irrelevance has made the decision worth it?

As a more casual fan it seems like anything that happens next is a bonus. Seems to me that this run has completely reinvigorated the franchise and baseball fans accross the country regardless of what happens next.

I was against the Price trade at the time because I didn't think they could make up so many games. I'm of course enjoying the ride but there's still that part of me that knows there's probably more bad than good ahead of us.

I think the moment this team slips again the fans will leave. Unfortunately we're a bandwagon fan base and everyone that's suddenly a diehard fan won't be around if this team struggles next year. I don't think the fan base has been reinvigorated. I think they're riding the wave of a team finally doing well. It's just like the Raptors. Suddenly we had the best fans in the NBA and everyone I knew was suddenly a huge Raptors fan. Since that Nets series it's been pretty quiet. Don't think I've talked much Raps with anyone since January.

That was the issue I took with personal friends calling me too pessimistic about the deal. To be fair two of them were proper diehards but the rest are casuals who I know will never talk Jays again once this run ends.

It is all about the willingness to invest. From 82 through 91 the Blue Jays were willing to invest, but had difficulty attracting free agents. When the team got close free agents came. Attendance gradually grew to the point where sellouts were the norm. When 92 happened it was mostly hardcore fans, minority were wagon jumpers. What killed attendance and killed of tens of thousands of hardcore fans was the purchase of Labatts by Interbrew. Interbrew did not invest and the fans got fed up and left. If Price leaves, other free agents will want to take his place. If Rogers is willing to invest, whether Price or other, the fans will stay. If Rogers holds a fire sale and halves the budget, you can say goodbye to me. You simply cannot compete in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees if you go cheap. I'll reappear when I sense ownership is willing to invest.