As I’m sure you know, the Toronto Blue Jays have made the playoffs and I for one could not be more excited.
After a 22-year playoff drought, the Blue Jays have made the post season for two straight years.
Blue Jays fans all across Canada are hoping for a long playoff run that results in a third World Series championship for the club.
With 35 million plus people in Canada, I think it’s a fair bet that a large number of us are Blue Jays fans and it shows when the team is on the road.
No other team in the MLB has a following quite like the Blue Jays.
I think the answer can be found in our love of hockey.
I don’t think anyone can argue that hockey is our game but the only time we all rally together is when there is an international tournament.
During the regular NHL season everyone’s loyalties lie with different teams, whether they be from Canada or not.
The Blue Jays are the only MLB team from Canada and no matter what anybody says, Canada loves baseball.
The Jays are averaging 928,000 people watching on TV this regular season, 50 per cent more than last year. During the wild card game, over four million people watched according to Sportsnet.
They also had the best attendance in the American League, beating out teams like the Yankees and Red Sox.
The fans not only attend home games though as they travel extremely well, especially in Seattle where it seems like the entire western provinces go to the games.
Jays fans are a loud bunch too as you can always hear “go Jays go” chants in most of the stadiums.
Hockey may be our game but people are rallying around the Blue Jays.
Just goes to show when Canadians get behind a team, they go all out no matter the sport.
Even after getting eliminated by Cleveland in the American League Championship Series, Canadians are still showing appreciation to what they did this season.
Making the postseason for two straight years is something to be excited about, even with a big offseason looming for the Jays.
Now all we can do is just sit back and watch to see who Cleveland faces in the World Series as the Cubbies and Dodgers are tied at two a piece.