TORONTO – Late Friday night, a large structure on wheels blocked the pathway connecting the home clubhouse at Rogers Centre to the stadium exit preferred by most players: the stage that would have been wheeled onto the field if the Toronto Blue Jays had won the World Series.
Somewhere nearby, cases of beer, champagne and swag bearing celebratory inscriptions must have been ready. That’s how close the Blue Jays were.
But a double play ended their Game 6 comeback attempt abruptly, forcing gameday operations workers to reorganize and Blue Jays players to recalibrate ahead of their biggest challenge yet. With Game 7 of the World Series looming, legacies will be secured and missed opportunities lamented.
It’s just a question of who gets to step on that stage and who has to watch.
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It all comes down to Game 7 as the Blue Jays try to win their first World Series title since 1993. Watch Game 7 on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be three or four or five hours of mayhem and great baseball,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “But these guys are going to be ready for it. Hopefully they get to slow some things down but enjoy it. It’s Game 7 of the World Series at your home stadium. I mean, what the hell else do you want?”
Two weekends ago, Schneider managed the Blue Jays to a Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. A little over a month ago, he managed the Blue Jays to a season-ending sweep over the Rays to secure an AL East title. Now the stakes are even higher.
For Schneider and his players, this is a second chance to win the sport’s ultimate prize. There was no epic speech from the manager after Game 6, just a walk through the clubhouse with quick messages of encouragement at the lockers of Andres Gimenez, who lined into the double play, and Addison Barger, who was caught at second base.
“We’re going to absolutely play our butts off and give it all we got,” Barger said.
And after beating the Mariners at home in another Game 7 a couple weeks ago, there’s recent experience on which to draw.
“The atmosphere in the clubhouse was the same as it was all year,” recalled catcher Tyler Heineman. “We were down 3-1 in the seventh and we weren’t even thinking about it. There was nobody that really even had a thought that we were going to lose.”
Looking back at the ALCS finale, outfielder Myles Straw recalls a relaxed atmosphere ahead of first pitch. Some players were playing cards while others were watching TV.
“It’ll be the same thing,” Straw predicted. “I’ll probably drink a Coke. Ernie (Clement)’s going to have a coffee. Barger is going to be doing the same. We’re all going to be doing our thing, and I think we’re all looking forward to it.”
Straw joked Friday night that Game 7 starter Max Scherzer looked ready to pitch already, but not everyone thrives on adrenaline and intensity the way the three-time Cy Young winner does. For others, it’ll be important not to hype themselves up into a state of heightened anxiety.
“I think it’s going to be normal,” Heineman said. “Everyone’s going to be playing cards, watching TV, talking, basically just cracking jokes. No matter what, there’s no baseball on Sunday.”
Eventually, the relaxed pre-game atmosphere may give way to a few brief words from key players. Schneider and his coaching staff typically stay out of it, leaving the floor open to team leaders like George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Before Game 6, they asked the room for a favour.
“Vladdy said it today, he’s like ‘give me four hours: four hours for the rest of your lives,’” Heineman said. “George said, ‘One day for the rest of your life.’ Give it everything you have and let the chips fall where they may.”
Result aside, it’s a message the group heard loud and clear. Game 5 starter Trey Yesavage will be on two days’ rest Sunday, but he says he’s available for Game 7. While he hasn’t said as much to Schneider or pitching coach Pete Walker yet, the 22-year-old rookie said it’s “kind of obvious” he can pitch on what would have been his next bullpen session.
“There’s no tomorrow after tomorrow, so whoever’s name’s called if I’m a part of that, I’m going to be ready,” he said.
In fact, Schneider expects everyone on the roster to be available, maybe even Game 6 starter Kevin Gausman.
Whatever it takes to create a collective legacy. It’ll come down to who plays the best. And maybe, counterintuitively, to who can do the best job at keeping an exceptional game ordinary.
“At the end of the day, we’re still playing a game,” Straw said. “It means a lot to all of us, but you just got to settle things down. Obviously, we’re playing a great team, and we know we’re a great team. May the best come out, win tomorrow. I mean, it’s going to be fun.”
