By: Butch Galicia
“Not the ending any of us wanted, but I’m so proud and thankful for all my teammates and staff. Thanks to all the fans for their support!” tweeted Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, after the Jays flew home with wings clipped by a huge American League (AL) Championship Series loss to the Kansas City Royals on October 23. The Royals went on to claim the 2015 World Series title against the New York Mets.
A while later, Sporting News named Donaldson its Major League Baseball (MLB) Player of the Year. That was just the start. He went on to bag the AL Hank Aaron and Silver Slugger awards and the Players Choice Awards as MLB Player of the Year and AL Outstanding Player.
Donaldson also got the Esurance MLB Best Play, Defense Award. Meanwhile, teammate Jose Bautista, himself a holder of two Hank Aaron and three Silver Slugger awards, received the Esurance MLB Best Play, Offense Award.
On November 19, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America named Donaldson the 2015 AL Most Valuable Player, the second Blue Jay after George Bell (in 1987) to win the honor.
Just the ending fans in Toronto and across Canada wanted for Donaldson and the Blue Jays.
Avid followers may now place the past season’s sad memory on the backburner, look forward to another great season for the only Canada-based professional baseball team, and dream of a repeat of back-to-back World Series championships the Blue Jays had in 1992 and 1993.
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Baseball, admittedly, once more drew my notice only this year, when hopes and hype were high after the Blue Jays won the AL East division title against the Baltimore Orioles. From then on, the games were a family affair. The TV had only one channel; the remote control nowhere to be found. All eyes were glued to the boob tube, never missing a single pitch, fastball, curveball, change-up, strike out, bat, walk, steal, homerun, catch, slide, funny hand sign and facial twitch and a lot more the diamond had to offer.
Prior to that, I was not too keen on baseball, although I learned how to play its cousin sport softball while attending a Catholic seminary in the Philippines. That was in the 70s when I could run, catch the softball with a mitt and throw it accurately to a teammate six feet away.
I loved being an outfielder who had all the time to dream about the birds and the bees. I did not worry of out-of-the-fence hits, because I always sided with the only seminarian who could slug the softball to parts unknown. Swinging the bat was not my cup of tea. When called on deck, I made excuses to do a washroom run. One more thing, whether in softball or karaoke, I never had been pitch perfect.
Only once did I see a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre, courtesy of a very good friend. As we watched a rather dragging game, a foul ball suddenly flew fast towards us. Instinct told me to catch it. But, alas! Instinct also told me not to let go of the sandwich I held on my left hand and, more importantly, a big plastic cup of beer on my right. The ball whizzed past, hit my seat, and rolled to a pair of eager hands waiting nearby.
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I salute Mayor John Tory, his sports-minded advisers and sponsors for putting up the Bird’s Nest at the Nathan Philips Square fronting the Toronto City Hall. It was a very apt project to carry out at the height of the Blue Jays craze. It was a project that stepped up to the plate.
Bashers, losers and trolls (BLT) badmouthing the Bird’s Nest may just have to trash their case. How much the nest cost, to make thousands of Blue Jays fans happy in a city the team represented, is no longer relevant. What is important is that the Bird’s Nest has spread so much hope, gladness and goodwill that will long be remembered until Toronto’s … ooops, Canada’s … only major league pro baseball team plays anew. Just to let the BLTs know: Those at the Bird’s Nest make it a point to ignore worms.
Unsolicited advice: Move on, BLTs. Better yet, move about Toronto. Get fit. Sense and appreciate what this great North American city has to give.
Go gaming, stop blaming. Sports can teach idle souls a lot more about life.
Great idea: Be at Jurassic Park (a.k.a. Maple Leaf Square), at the west side of the Air Canada Centre, for the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs a few months away. If the Toronto Raptors make it that far in the 2016 season, cheer for Toronto’s … ooops, Canada’s … only team in the NBA.
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Let’s talk about something else? Are you kidding me?
What do I know about the daily dose of violence and death across the globe? What do I know about Russia and Turkey and NATO? What do I know about the mass of refugees fleeing the ravages of war? What do I know about Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and the elections down south? What do I know about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to London? What do I know about the 4th Impact, Cyrus Villanueva or Amy Vachal? What do I know about the APEC meeting in Manila? What do I know about Rodrigo Duterte and Grace Poe and their controversial bids to be President of the Philippines? What do I know about the recent fatal vehicular and pedestrian collisions in Toronto? Really, what do I know about … so on and so forth?
You want to know? Well, here is my answer: As far as I’m concerned, I only know what I’ve read and heard.
With all the filth and lies, assumptions and insinuations, fear-mongering and propaganda speedily spreading here and thereabouts, I don’t have any idea what floating information is real and true. Thus, I can’t make an intelligent assessment and pass sane judgment until I see the full picture and understand the complete story.
Yes, guys. We live in an era of TMI, Too Much Information! TMI spreads so fast these days that comic book hero The Flash is made to look like a dazed turtle. And people are being manipulated to act like robots programmed to do things and act accordingly to the command of its masters. But do we really have to live with TMI?
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A friend suggested that I return to the arena of journalism.
I replied: Rest assured that I will do it, but only when I’m very sure and certain.
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While Facebook (FB) may be a source of TMI, it can be filtered.
I love seeing images of and reading posts about nature in all its glory, the bliss of partnership and family, the joy of friendship and togetherness, Bathala’s abundant blessings, the excitement of being in places and events, the thrill of personal achievement, and the greatness of living life to the fullest. I also like to see inspirational messages, hear unforgettable songs and watch videos that promote love and respect.
Other than those above, I unfollow and delete. I’d rather lose some FB fiends, before I lose myself.
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It’s December, folks. What’s on your mind? butchgalicia@yahoo.com