TORONTO — Starting Tuesday, the 2023 Blue Jays have an opportunity to be something different.

Against the Twins in the wild-card series this week, they can distinguish themselves from the previous iterations of this team that went winless in the playoffs (2020, 2022) or failed to reach the post-season altogether (2021). 

.acf-block-preview .br-snippet {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 200px 1fr;
gap: 20px;
width: 100%;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 16px;
border: 1px solid #CECECE;
background-color: #FFF;
border-radius: 4px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info a {
text-decoration: none;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-title {
color: #343434;
font-family: ‘roboto’;
font-size: 20px;
font-weight: 600;
line-height: 22px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
top: -3px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-body {
color: #343434;
font-family: ‘urw-din’;
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-link-title {
display: inline-block;
font-family: ‘urw-din’;
font-size: 16px;
list-style-type: none;
width: auto;
}
.acf-block-preview .br-snippet-info .br-snippet-link-title:not(:last-child):after {
content: ‘ | ‘;
color: #343434;
}

But set aside what happened years ago, the Blue Jays also get a shot to distance themselves from a 2023 regular season that was more of a means to an end than a joyful romp. After a summer that players themselves described as frustrating, they can flip the tone of this season in Minneapolis this week. Not every team gets that chance. 

“I mean, baseball is hard, right?” manager John Schneider said after his team clinched. “This division is hard. I think getting here probably takes a lot of weight off of the players’ shoulders. Looking back at spring training, there were very high expectations. People can say we either met them or fell short of them. But the fact that we are in, the guys (are) really looking forward to it.”

Somehow this team underwhelmed for most of the year, never seriously competing for the division title with their division rivals in Tampa Bay and Baltimore. Making matters worse, the Blue Jays were especially mediocre in big moments in Toronto, where they had trouble scoring all year (they ranked 23^rd out of 30 teams in runs scored at home).

The low-point of their season came at Rogers Centre, when they lost four straight to the Rangers in September. And even on Saturday when they had a chance at a walk-off clincher on the season’s final weekend, they ended up losing in extras and clinching rather anticlimactically via a Mariners loss later that night.

Typically, the best seasons are full of magic moments, and this year just hasn’t offered all that many of them — at least so far. Maybe that was a product of the high expectations from within and outside of the organization. After all, it’s harder to emerge as a pleasant surprise when you start the season with established players, a franchise record payroll and hopes for a division title.

(It’s not impossible to meet or exceed high expectations, though, as Atlanta and the Dodgers can attest). 

Whatever the case, this Blue Jays season was often a trying one. But now, none of that matters if they win. Today, they’re a good team with an elite pitching staff that’ll be well-rested by Tuesday. Outside of a first-round bye, it’s hard to ask for more. These Blue Jays could absolutely win a playoff series. All that matters is what happens next. 

.acf-block-preview .br-video-thumbnail::before {
content: “”;
position: absolute;
top: 45%;
left: 50%;
transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-moz-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-ms-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-o-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
-webkit-transform: translate3d(-50%, -50%, 0);
width: 20px;
height: 0px;
border-top: 14px solid transparent;
border-left: 22px solid #fff;
border-bottom: 14px solid transparent;
margin-left: 3px;
}

“Just leave no tables unturned,” said shortstop Bo Bichette. “Give everything we got. We’ve given ourselves a chance to win the whole thing. And that’s all you can hope for as a team, so we’re definitely excited for the opportunity.”

All season long, the Blue Jays have prioritized winning series. Now, that takes on a different meaning. Win their next three, and they’re in the World Series. Win four more and they’ll be the last team standing.

“The confidence is so high in the clubhouse amongst the (players) and the staff,” Schneider said. “We just needed to get in. Getting there was hard. So, going forward, this team is built for the playoffs between pitching and defence and offence …  we feel confident.”

After six challenging months, the opportunity for redemption is there. As Schneider says, this team has the pitching and defence to win in October, as long as they get some well-timed home runs. Win a series or two, and the narrative around this team changes for the better and some of the season’s pain would fade.

There’s even a chance to erase some of the sting from last year’s loss to the Mariners.

“Not just that one,” Vladimir Guerrero Jr. clarified. “I’ve still got 2020 against Tampa on my mind, (too).” 

But as long as we’re talking about opportunity, we should also note that this group only has so many chances together. After this season, Kevin Kiermaier, Whit Merrifield, Brandon Belt, Matt Chapman, Hyun Jin Ryu and Jordan Hicks all hit free agency. That’s a lot of talent nearing the end of their deals.

After next year, Yusei Kikuchi and Danny Jansen are slated to hit the open market. And after 2025, it’s Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who would become free agents. Win, lose or draw, significant turnover is coming.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. That’s a conversation for this off-season, at the earliest. The point for the time being is this: the Blue Jays may have an opportunity to rewrite a frustrating 2023 season in the coming weeks, but these chances aren’t endless. All the more reason to stay present this October and make the most of this one.

“Last year was cut short,” said Merrifield after Sunday’s win, cigar in hand. “This year I hope we can play for a lot longer. I’m thrilled for the moment.”

“If we’re going to win,” added Bichette, “it’s going to be a long grind and it’s going to be difficult at times, you know? So I’m just excited for that.”

More from Sportsnet

Advertisement

Blue Jays Roundtable: Who should make wild-card roster vs. Twins?

Blue Jays will face Twins in wild-card round: ‘Now we’ve got to put it together’

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
gap: 20px;
}

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
color: black;
}

Source link

The Dallas Cowboys are coming off another massive victory, their second win of the season of 30+ points.

While they were doubted by many analysts heading into the season, the Cowboys have started the year on the right foot.

Whether this dominance can continue remains to be seen, given their recent early playoff exits.

Dak Prescott has remained confident in his team’s abilities, which he detailed to Erin Andrews in a postgame interview.

“When we put it all together and score to our standard, it’s gonna be dangerous,” Prescott said.

"When we put it all together and score to our standard, it's gonna be dangerous."@ErinAndrews spoke with Dak Prescott after the @dallascowboys' impressive 38-3 victory over the Patriots pic.twitter.com/G2me1kdllK

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 1, 2023

The Cowboys have gotten elite production on both sides of the ball.

Their defense hasn’t allowed more than 28 points in a game this season, including a zero and three-point outing.

If they can stifle some of the league’s best offenses, they could be a force to be reckoned with moving forward.

Prescott has also led their offense to strong performances, scoring at least 30 points in three of their four games.

It is early in the year, and there are still plenty of games yet to be played.

However, the public opinion might be shifting on Prescott and the Cowboys, who look to keep this train moving.

The Cowboys face a tough test in Week 5, a Sunday Night Football matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

If they can come away from this game with a well-needed victory, it could be a sign that the Cowboys are not messing around.

Prescott has a lot to prove this season, and a win over the 49ers could certainly help his case.

The post Dak Prescott Sends A Warning To The NFL After Cowboys Win appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source link

John Herdman will be surrounded by some familiar faces in his new role as Toronto FC head coach.

The MLS club announced Monday that Eric Tenllado, Simon Eaddy, Robyn Gayle, and Alex Dodgshon, all part of Herdman’s Canadian national team staff, will join Herdman’s staff.

Tenllado will serve as assistant coach and “performance lead,” while Eaddy becomes the club’s goalkeeper coach and “tech coordinator.” Gayle’s role is performance and wellness coach and Dodgshon takes over as scouting and analytics coach.

“This group of people have experienced winning many times at BMO Field in the biggest moments for Canada in front of many of these fans and are highly motivated to experience that feeling with Toronto FC,” Herdman said in a statement. “We feel privileged to be able to work for the people of this city and will, as always, give our all to bring the success our fans deserve.”

Herdman, whose tenure at TFC officially started Sunday, has said he and his staff will spent their first week at the MLS club primarily observing while interim coach Terry Dunfield and his staff prepares the 4-17-10 team for away games Wednesday at Charlotte FC and Saturday at the New York Red Bulls.

Herdman and his staff will then take over the team during the international break that precedes the Oct. 21 season finale against Orlando City at BMO Field.

Dunfield will stay on as an assistant coach. The former Canadian international and TFC player was part of Herdman’s staff with the Canadian men’s team and served as a technical assistant and performance analyst at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Herdman’s ties with Eaddy date back to his days with New Zealand before taking over the Canadian women’s team in 2011.

A native of New Plymouth, New Zealand, Eaddy served as goalkeeper coach for the New Zealand under-20 and senior women’s team before joining Herdman with the Canadian women and then men.

Between the two countries, Eaddy has coached at two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups (Russia 2006, Chile 2008), three Summer Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016), four FIFA Women’s World Cups (China 2007, Germany 2011, Canada 2015, France 2019), two CONCACAF Nations Leagues (2019-2020, 2022-2023) and one FIFA World Cup (Qatar 2022).

As a player, Eaddy had goalkeeping stints with Australia’s Football Kingz FC, New Zealand’s Waitakere United and Auckland City FC of the New Zealand Football Championship and Ottawa Wizards of the Canadian Professional Soccer League.

Tenllado spent more than five years with Canada Soccer and was Herdman’s assistant coach with the Canadian men. The Spaniard began his career in his native Barcelona as an academy coach at RCD Espanyol de Barcelona from 2009 to 2016.

He moved to Toronto in 2016, serving as director of coaching and coach development manager for Toronto High Park Academy

Gayle, a former Canadian international, has spent the last eight years working with both the Canadian men’s and women’s programs, most recently as the mental and cultural manager at Canada Soccer. She worked with Herdman at the 2016 Summer Olympics, 2019 Women’s World Cup Games and 2022 Men’s World Cup.

The Toronto native was part of the Canada squad that won Olympic bronze in 2012 and gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. 

Dodgshon spent more than two years with Canada Soccer, working as lead opposition analyst for the Canadian men under Herdman. A native of Liverpool, England, he began his coaching career as a head coach of the U-15 and U-17 boys at Fredericton District Soccer Association from 2018 to 2020.

More from Sportsnet

Toronto FC striker Lorenzo Insigne gets into heated exchange with fans at BMO Field

Advertisement

New TFC coach Herdman on leaving Canada’s national team: ‘This is the time to step off’

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
gap: 20px;
}

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
color: black;
}

Source link