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Blue Jays fans are angry.
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Angry at at team that is under-achieving on pre-season promises and, barring a massive final two weeks of the season, will regress from the 91-win team of 2022.
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They’re angry at a group of highly touted players that has been frustrating to watch for far too much of this season, a fury that reached a breaking point on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.
By the middle innings of a game in which they were spanked 10-0 by a Texas Rangers team they supposedly are tussling with for an American League wild-card spot, the boos began.
They grew in volume with each passing failure at the plate and reached a crescendo at the end of the game, a third consecutive loss to the Rangers that tumbled the Jays outside of a playoff spot.
The anger is likely shown in poor attendance for this week’s critical series against the Rangers with games on Monday and Wednesday being the two least-attended games of the season.
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Sure, kids are back to school and money is tight, but is a fan base that filled the Rogers Centre through much of the summer fed up?
It certainly feels like a sizeable portion of Blue Jays nation is feeling that way, a sentiment expressed via social media reaction to many of our posts following the Wednesday debacle.
A sampling:
- “Maybe we fans are simply fed up with a team that overpromised in the spring and under delivered all season.
- “Won’t be attending next year due to higher ticket prices. Rogers Centre is becoming Scotiabank Arena. Playground for the well off and corporations to network, eat and sometimes watch the game. True fans getting pushed out.”
- “I have had a quarter (share) seasons ticket for 15 years — there have been some horrendous teams in the last 15 years and I have gladly went. This is the first year where it’s felt like pure torture to go and I can’t stand the thought of committing 6k for my seats next year.”
- “We’re broke and they’re not a very likeable team.”
- “The fans have given up. I think there is a strong sense of empathy. With Fall coming, fans can switch their loyalty back to the Leafs.”
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While it’s a fan’s prerogative to get fired up about substandard play and blowout losses (the Jays have been outscored 26-7 in the three games this week), a quick reversal could change the tune.
But with 16 games remaining, fans clearly are getting dismayed at a team with which there were much higher expectations. They let loose steadily with their jeers on Wednesday, noise impossible not to be heard and felt by the team and its coaches. And it had to feel a little like piling on.
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“We understand that fans want to see exciting, winning baseball,” manager John Schneider said. “Us as competitors, players and staff, you don’t like to hear it. But at the same time, we appreciate that they’re voicing their frustration when it is deserved.
“Hopefully (Thursday) is the exact opposite.”
Added Jays closer Jordan Romano: “I get it. (The fans) want to see a good competitive game. It’s a big series and they didn’t get what they wanted.
“I’ve been a fan of this team growing up. I’ve been there. I don’t know if I’ve ever booed, but I understand it for sure.”
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