Phenomenal announcement made regarding Blue Jays all-star George Springer
Photo credit: CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS
George Springer, who will celebrate his 36th birthday in September, is defying both age and expectations.
The red-hot Blue Jays are reaping the rewards of this unlikely breakout season from a player who seemed to be on the decline.
Blue Jays wouldn't be where they are without Springer.
Steve Simmons from the Toronto Sun asks, who improves at age 35 after battling to find their won and enduring three seasons of declining stats in Toronto?
Who transforms into one of the American League's most potent offensive forces after years of being solid, but never truly dominant?
"If the season ended today, Aaron Judge would win the MVP and Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh would likely finish second, but for the first time in five years, Springer would be deserving of votes.
Maybe a lot of votes. He's received MVP votes in only three of his 12 big-league seasons. Once, he finished as high as seventh in the voting. Twice in his career, he finished 13th in voting.
The first year he received votes also happened to be the same season in which he won World Series MVP in 2017. That was a long time ago." -Simmons
Maybe a lot of votes. He's received MVP votes in only three of his 12 big-league seasons. Once, he finished as high as seventh in the voting. Twice in his career, he finished 13th in voting.
The first year he received votes also happened to be the same season in which he won World Series MVP in 2017. That was a long time ago." -Simmons
The Jays brought Springer in to play center field and provide offensive firepower. He delivered on both fronts for a time, but then he was shifted to right field, and eventually saw very little playing time at all.
"In the recent four-game sweep of the New York Yankees, moving the Jays into first place in the AL East, Springer went 8-for-14 at the plate with four home runs and 11 RBIs. He out-Judged Judge in the four-game set.
The sweep may prove to be the absolute turning point in this unlikely and now possible run by the Jays. There are six games left before the all-star break after Sunday and Toronto plays the two weakest teams in the league." -Simmons
The sweep may prove to be the absolute turning point in this unlikely and now possible run by the Jays. There are six games left before the all-star break after Sunday and Toronto plays the two weakest teams in the league." -Simmons
Realistically, they might enter the break with a four-game lead, and honestly, who could have every predicted that, from this team or from Springer?
The MLB even announced that Springer was named the American League player of the week after going 12 for 28 with 5 homeruns and 13 RBIs last week.
George Springer is the American League's player of the week after going 12-for-28 with five homers, 13 RBIs, four walks and nine runs scored while the Blue Jays went 7-0.
"It's cool," he said, "but it's just more important and special because of the streak we're on as a team."
"It's cool," he said, "but it's just more important and special because of the streak we're on as a team."
Previously on Toronto Baseball Insider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 7|910 ANSWERS Phenomenal announcement made regarding Blue Jays all-star George Springer Would the Blue Jays be where they are without George Springer? | ||
| yes | 72 | 7.9 % |
| no | 838 | 92.1 % |
| List of polls | ||