More Blue Jays, less COVID in 2021! Who’s with me?

Hope the holiday season treated you well, given the circumstances.

This is my last post for 2020. Before I started writing it, I read my final entry from 2019. Safe to say I had different things to be angry about this year.

As we approach the new year, I’m aiming to focus on the path ahead of me. Obviously, this path involves the Blue Jays.

I hope the Jays will play a full 162-game schedule, with all their home games occurring at SkyDome (figured I should capitalize the ‘D,’ even though I won’t be staying on-brand) and some fans in attendance.

Wishful thinking, eh?

Perhaps I should be a lot more realistic:

I’m expecting the Jays will use Buffalo or Dunedin as their home stadium for – at least – the first half of the season. If things are safer by the All-Star break, I’m hoping the Federal Government will let them play the second half of their schedule at SkyDome with no fans.

Finally – and this is a stretch – if things are much better by September, maybe a few of us will be allowed to purchase tickets and watch from inside the ballpark.

However, even if the vaccine has been widely distributed and cases are very low, it wouldn’t surprise me if government officials take extra precautions and restrict fans from watching live sporting events until 2022.

Also had this wacky alternative idea that’s similar to a plan considered this past spring:

MLB creates three regular-season bubbles in cities where there are two stadiums in close proximity. Additionally, the league fuses the regional divisions to create three ten-team conferences.

For example, the AL/NL East bubble would be in New York and utilize Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. Each ballpark would host 1-3 matches per day at staggered times; 12pm, 4pm and 8pm starts in the Bronx, 1pm and 7pm starts in Queens.

The Central bubble could be in Chicago, while Los Angeles hosts the West bubble.

Of course, this would take an incredible toll on the players and stadium staff. So, pretend I didn’t write it. 😉

All kidding aside, as long as there is baseball next year, I’m happy.

When sports resumed this past summer, I was skeptical and concerned. But once the matches began, the escapism was intoxicating.

60-game schedule? Didn’t matter. Home games in Buffalo? Didn’t matter. Cardboard cutouts of fans and fake crowd noise? Didn’t matter.

It was a much-needed distraction.

I need that. We all need that.

I’m praying for it.

Meanwhile, I want to wish you a very happy, healthy and safe new year. Once again, thank you for your continued support and interest. Looking forward to producing more DNJT content in 2021. I might even bring the podcast back.

Fingers crossed.

ER

PS: Check out my latest collection of microstories, currently being featured on Ari Shapiro’s website.

BEHOLD! My illegitimate hall-of-fame ballot.

I decided to take a break from watching Vladdy work out on Instagram and exercise my right to vote.

Of course, my vote doesn’t count because I am not a card-carrying member of the BBWAA. I have zero say in who will take their rightful place in Cooperstown alongside Larry Walker and Derek Jeter (hopefully) next year.

Nevertheless, I shall pretend.

As with previous years, the names I selected are based on memories, feelings, emotions, bias and a little bit of Baseball-Reference.com.

Feel free to applaud or lambaste my choices.

Ballot/Image: Ryan Thibodaux, Anthony Calamis, Adam Dore & John Devivo

ER