For the first time since 2015, the American League East belongs to the Toronto Blue Jays. After seeing their 5-game lead over the New York Yankees quickly disappear over the last week and a half, the Blue Jays found themselves tied with New York Yankees on the final day of the season. A win would not just award them the division, and a much-needed bye into the Divisional Series, but it also secures them the top overall seed in the American League and homefield advantage throughout the entire AL side of the postseason.
The Jays were down 1-0 before they even came up to bat, but that would not last long as they quickly responded with an RBI from Guerrero Jr. and then Alejandro Kirk launched his first career grand slam to flip the script and take a 5-1 lead. The Rays would try to make things close, but a second homerun by Kirk, followed by homeruns from Barger and Springer would quickly put the game out of reach. The Jays would go onto win 13-4 and finish the regular season with a record of 94-68; their best record since that famous 2015 team who won 93 games, and their last division title.
Division titles are always a big accomplishment and exciting to win, but there is something even more satisfying to do it in a year, when let’s be honest, no one expected much. After finishing 74-88 and last in the East a year ago, there were a lot of questions surrounding this team when the season began. The pitching was older, the bullpen was unproven, and it remained to be seen what the offence would give you. Even the most optimistic Jays fan would have told you that if things broke right, the team could be fighting for a wildcard spot. At the time, it wasn’t farfetched to say that this team could’ve been out of it by July as well.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs, losing, crying, happiness, but thank God, we did it this year,” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said.
Vladdy is right, and that isn’t just about this year, it’s been about his entire time as a Blue Jay. The Jays have made the postseason three times since he and Bo made their debuts in 2019, but each as a wildcard team. Furthermore, they have 0 postseason wins, and a couple of those loses have been some of the most heartbreaking and controversial loses you could have. Those games could be all be forgotten now with a deep postseason run, and the Jays have taken the first step of their mission by winning the East.
“It’s the team, the aspect, the clubhouse. The way we play ball, it’s a tight knit group. We find ways to help each other out. Everybody does their role, and everybody finds a way to win.” Max Scherzer said during the clubhouse celebration when asked what makes this team special.
He’s right too. This team has shown resiliency, and every single player has bought into what the team is doing and how to do it. Whether you are a superstar or a bench player, John Schnieder has done a tremendous job at ensuring every player knows when they could be called upon and what they will be asked to do. The strong impact of the “supporting cast” has been a calling card for this team all year. The role players like Clement, Barger, and Lukes, have all been playing big parts throughout the entire season, even if they don’t play every day. There is an energy and belief amongst the players that they can go out there and beat anyone. While the 94 wins support that, the league leading 48 comeback wins also enforce the fact that they are never out of a game.
This team was questioned, doubted, and challenged all season long, but they all believed. Now, they have to win 11 more games to do what so few who play this game actually get to do, and what has only been done twice in this city, and that’s win the World Series. For a team that has been defined lately by meaningful games in September but meaningless Octobers, has a chance to be something special. The East was their first big celebration, now, they hope to have three more.