It's the first week of August and the Toronto Blue Jays are within striking distance of capturing their second straight American League East title. If you cup your ear and listen closely, you can hear a distinct squeaking sound in the distance. What is that sound you ask? It's the sound of the wheels of the Blue Jays Bandwagon attempting to bear the weight of hundreds of thousands of new passengers.
After starting off the month of July with eight wins in their first ten games, the Jays ended up with a record of 16-9, good enough to keep them in the hunt for October baseball, allowing fans to continue dreaming of a pennant race in 2016. As every sports fan knows, with success comes a steady influx of new fans. There's genuinely nothing wrong with a fan getting caught up in the wave of excitement around a team. There are different levels of fandom, some are hardcore while others are casual, and in the end, an expanded fan base only stands to benefit a team. So to fans who may be new to the Jays bandwagon, we've decided to update our "unofficial guide" so that you may smoothly assimilate into the fanbase. While we've kept a number of entries on the list the same, we've added a few others to reflect new plot points in the narrative of both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
1. Should be able to name at least four players in the squad
(Image Credit: Getty Images)
With the bulk of the Blue Jays core still intact from last year, this one should be pretty easy for fans who went along for the ride on the bandwagon in 2015. Sure, new favourites have emerged this season, but with Jose Bautista still flipping bats, Josh Donaldson constantly closing the dome with his swings, Edwin Encarnacion giving his parrot a trip around the bases and Marcus Stroman still repping the six on his jersey as well as in his heart, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with four names.
2. When asked which Blue Jays have won the AL MVP Award, two names should ring a Bell.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Alright, so even the freshest of Blue Jays fans probably know that Josh Donaldson won the American League MVP award in 2015 -- or maybe they don't and both these names we'll be new -- but it should be known that the Bringer of Rain was definitely not the first slugger to snatch the honour in franchise history. Before Joey Bats, EE and Donaldson were mashing in the Dome, Blue Jays legend George Bell was hitting the cover off the ball at Exhibition Stadium. Back in 1987, Bell hit 47 home runs and led the league in RBIs with 134 on his way to AL MVP honours, a first in Jays history. The Blue Jays most definitely have a long, illustrious history of absolutely crushing baseball.
After starting off the month of July with eight wins in their first ten games, the Jays ended up with a record of 16-9, good enough to keep them in the hunt for October baseball, allowing fans to continue dreaming of a pennant race in 2016. As every sports fan knows, with success comes a steady influx of new fans. There's genuinely nothing wrong with a fan getting caught up in the wave of excitement around a team. There are different levels of fandom, some are hardcore while others are casual, and in the end, an expanded fan base only stands to benefit a team. So to fans who may be new to the Jays bandwagon, we've decided to update our "unofficial guide" so that you may smoothly assimilate into the fanbase. While we've kept a number of entries on the list the same, we've added a few others to reflect new plot points in the narrative of both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
1. Should be able to name at least four players in the squad
(Image Credit: Getty Images)
With the bulk of the Blue Jays core still intact from last year, this one should be pretty easy for fans who went along for the ride on the bandwagon in 2015. Sure, new favourites have emerged this season, but with Jose Bautista still flipping bats, Josh Donaldson constantly closing the dome with his swings, Edwin Encarnacion giving his parrot a trip around the bases and Marcus Stroman still repping the six on his jersey as well as in his heart, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with four names.
2. When asked which Blue Jays have won the AL MVP Award, two names should ring a Bell.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Alright, so even the freshest of Blue Jays fans probably know that Josh Donaldson won the American League MVP award in 2015 -- or maybe they don't and both these names we'll be new -- but it should be known that the Bringer of Rain was definitely not the first slugger to snatch the honour in franchise history. Before Joey Bats, EE and Donaldson were mashing in the Dome, Blue Jays legend George Bell was hitting the cover off the ball at Exhibition Stadium. Back in 1987, Bell hit 47 home runs and led the league in RBIs with 134 on his way to AL MVP honours, a first in Jays history. The Blue Jays most definitely have a long, illustrious history of absolutely crushing baseball.
3. Must own at least one piece of Jays paraphernalia
(Image Credit: Amazon)
One common mistake bandwagon hoppers (term of endearment) make is thinking that they have to dress to the nines in their team's official shop gear. Jerseys, hats, sandals, team branded fleece; none of these items are a required purchase when getting into a nestling yourself into a fan base. With that being said, you should at least own something with a Blue Jays logo on it, even if it is something as small as a key chain, or as bizarre as a lawn gnome.
4. Must follow both Stroman-Sanchez on Instagram
This entry is even more important this year than it was last year. Although Marcus Stroman has under performed as of late, the young hurler is still a vital piece of the Jays rotation, while Aaron Sanchez has steadily become one of the top young pitchers in all of baseball this season. This is a pitching tandem that not only entertains on the field, but off it as well. In between chronicling the Jays road trips, showcasing their expansive shoe collections and just publicly displaying their bromance, both Stroman and Sanchez have proven that they're both definitely worth a follow.
5. Be able to identify which Jay summoned rain when it gets cloudy
Thank goodness the Blue Jays have the ability to close the dome, because Josh Donaldson has continued to make it pour this season, batting .296 with 25 home runs and 74 RBIs under his belt as of this posting. As Cabbie found out earlier this season in his one-on-one with Donaldson, the Bringer of Rain knows exactly when and where he's going to make it pour. With Donaldson's current form, the forecast definitely calls for rain in October.
6. Be able to recite at least one verse of the 'OK Blue Jays' song
Sure 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a surefire classic and staple at every ballpark in the majors, but as Blue Jays fans know, there's really only one song worth getting up, brushing the pretzel salt off your pants and dancing to -- OK Blue Jays. You've got a diamond, you've got nine men and that's not all. You've also got a ton of new fans flocking to home games to watch the Blue Jays play, and they better start studying up on these lyrics before they make their way there.
7. Be aware of the bonafide superheros in the Jays' clubhouse
Can you imagine if your favourite team had not just one, but two superheros playing for it? Don't let Marvel and DC fool you, its not often that you see two heroes with extraordinary abilities join forces, especially on a baseball field. With Kevin Pillar successfully covering ever inch of the outfield whilst donning a cape and Josh Donaldson continuing to bring the rain and drop the hammer on pitcher's in 2016, the Blue Jays will need to start thinking of a name for their superhero alliance, because they're clearly here to stay.
8. Stay the whole game and don't ask if we all get pizza if they win
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Listen, we all love pizza, but there's more to attending a sporting event than the prospects of leaving the building with a ticket that magically transforms itself into a voucher for a free slice at a local pizzeria. Also, while purchasing a ticket grants you the right to arrive and leave a game whenever you would like, just know that it's a bit disruptive for those who plan on staying the full 9 innings.
9. When someone quotes "touch em' all Joe," must know Joe's last name.
"Touch em' all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life." That line delivered by legendary Jays radio broadcaster, Tom Cheek, stands as one of the most recognizable quotes in Toronto sports history. It's those very words that have kept the fire burning inside Jays fans for decades, hoping one day that a player on the Jays current active roster will have an eponymous moment of their own. The quote carries a lot of weight with Jays fans, spanning generations, so if you wanna be part of the inferno that is the team's fan base in 2016, you ought to know who started the fire in 1993.
10. Must know that there's not just a doctor who drops beats, there was a Doc that spun gems for the Jays
(image credit: Getty Images)
One of the biggest critiques of the Blue Jays roster entering the 2015 season was that the starting rotation seemed to lack the oumph that the power packed lineup had. While the Jays rotation has a number of sturdy arms, the lack of a definitive ace caliber starter drew a large amount of criticism from baseball analysts. Well, in the early 2000's that was one area that would've never been questioned, not with the Doc on the hill. In an AL East division packed with huge bats, Roy Halladay managed to silence them all, posting ridiculous pitching lines that would make your head drop off quicker than his immaculate curveball. So take some time to learn a little bit more about one of the greatest pitchers in Jays history, doctor's orders.
11. Must recognize this man as the 21st century version of Pinocchio
Just like the Baltimore Orioles have their Jeffrey Maier, the Blue Jays have their Caleb Humphreys. In the second inning of Game 6 of the American League Championship, Humphrey's leaned over the wall and snatched up a drive from Royals slugger Mike Moustakas, gifting the KC with a crucial home run. To make matters worse, Humphreys was then interviewed by Fox Sports' Erin Andrews and asked to show where his glove was when he caught the ball. The facts didn't end up. Some say that with every lie, Humphreys beard grows.
(Image Credit: Amazon)
One common mistake bandwagon hoppers (term of endearment) make is thinking that they have to dress to the nines in their team's official shop gear. Jerseys, hats, sandals, team branded fleece; none of these items are a required purchase when getting into a nestling yourself into a fan base. With that being said, you should at least own something with a Blue Jays logo on it, even if it is something as small as a key chain, or as bizarre as a lawn gnome.
4. Must follow both Stroman-Sanchez on Instagram
This entry is even more important this year than it was last year. Although Marcus Stroman has under performed as of late, the young hurler is still a vital piece of the Jays rotation, while Aaron Sanchez has steadily become one of the top young pitchers in all of baseball this season. This is a pitching tandem that not only entertains on the field, but off it as well. In between chronicling the Jays road trips, showcasing their expansive shoe collections and just publicly displaying their bromance, both Stroman and Sanchez have proven that they're both definitely worth a follow.
5. Be able to identify which Jay summoned rain when it gets cloudy
Thank goodness the Blue Jays have the ability to close the dome, because Josh Donaldson has continued to make it pour this season, batting .296 with 25 home runs and 74 RBIs under his belt as of this posting. As Cabbie found out earlier this season in his one-on-one with Donaldson, the Bringer of Rain knows exactly when and where he's going to make it pour. With Donaldson's current form, the forecast definitely calls for rain in October.
6. Be able to recite at least one verse of the 'OK Blue Jays' song
Sure 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a surefire classic and staple at every ballpark in the majors, but as Blue Jays fans know, there's really only one song worth getting up, brushing the pretzel salt off your pants and dancing to -- OK Blue Jays. You've got a diamond, you've got nine men and that's not all. You've also got a ton of new fans flocking to home games to watch the Blue Jays play, and they better start studying up on these lyrics before they make their way there.
7. Be aware of the bonafide superheros in the Jays' clubhouse
Can you imagine if your favourite team had not just one, but two superheros playing for it? Don't let Marvel and DC fool you, its not often that you see two heroes with extraordinary abilities join forces, especially on a baseball field. With Kevin Pillar successfully covering ever inch of the outfield whilst donning a cape and Josh Donaldson continuing to bring the rain and drop the hammer on pitcher's in 2016, the Blue Jays will need to start thinking of a name for their superhero alliance, because they're clearly here to stay.
8. Stay the whole game and don't ask if we all get pizza if they win
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Listen, we all love pizza, but there's more to attending a sporting event than the prospects of leaving the building with a ticket that magically transforms itself into a voucher for a free slice at a local pizzeria. Also, while purchasing a ticket grants you the right to arrive and leave a game whenever you would like, just know that it's a bit disruptive for those who plan on staying the full 9 innings.
9. When someone quotes "touch em' all Joe," must know Joe's last name.
"Touch em' all Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life." That line delivered by legendary Jays radio broadcaster, Tom Cheek, stands as one of the most recognizable quotes in Toronto sports history. It's those very words that have kept the fire burning inside Jays fans for decades, hoping one day that a player on the Jays current active roster will have an eponymous moment of their own. The quote carries a lot of weight with Jays fans, spanning generations, so if you wanna be part of the inferno that is the team's fan base in 2016, you ought to know who started the fire in 1993.
10. Must know that there's not just a doctor who drops beats, there was a Doc that spun gems for the Jays
(image credit: Getty Images)
One of the biggest critiques of the Blue Jays roster entering the 2015 season was that the starting rotation seemed to lack the oumph that the power packed lineup had. While the Jays rotation has a number of sturdy arms, the lack of a definitive ace caliber starter drew a large amount of criticism from baseball analysts. Well, in the early 2000's that was one area that would've never been questioned, not with the Doc on the hill. In an AL East division packed with huge bats, Roy Halladay managed to silence them all, posting ridiculous pitching lines that would make your head drop off quicker than his immaculate curveball. So take some time to learn a little bit more about one of the greatest pitchers in Jays history, doctor's orders.
11. Must recognize this man as the 21st century version of Pinocchio
@ErinAndrews PLEAAASSSEEEE go back and interview him again and show him this!
Just like the Baltimore Orioles have their Jeffrey Maier, the Blue Jays have their Caleb Humphreys. In the second inning of Game 6 of the American League Championship, Humphrey's leaned over the wall and snatched up a drive from Royals slugger Mike Moustakas, gifting the KC with a crucial home run. To make matters worse, Humphreys was then interviewed by Fox Sports' Erin Andrews and asked to show where his glove was when he caught the ball. The facts didn't end up. Some say that with every lie, Humphreys beard grows.
