‘They’re a playoff team’: Toronto Blue Jays fans aren’t ready to give up on the season just yet

With the Blue Jays sitting at 62-65 and just half a game out of the final American League Wild Card spot, the question facing the team is simple, push for October, or start looking towards the future?

For the fans, at least, the answer appears to be clear.

Despite sitting below .500, Toronto has made a late push up the standings, going 7-3 over its last 10 games and climbing back into the playoff conversation. On Tuesday night, the Blue Jays defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 10-5.

That recent surge has made the idea of tanking difficult to sell to fans, particularly with the team still within striking distance of a postseason spot. 

One fan had no hesitation when asked whether the Jays should be a playoff team or tank.

“Playoff team. Playoff team.”

That desire to compete is understandable for a team that reached the World Series last season. But Toronto’s current position is complicated by a long list of injuries. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is currently on the seven-day concussion injured list, while pitchers Trey Yesavage and Jameson Taillon are also on the injured list.

Another fan rejected the idea of intentionally tanking altogether.

“You should never tank it. This isn’t a rebuilding year. We made the playoffs last year, the World Series, so it’s not going to be a rebuilding year. We tanked, but we shouldn’t purposely tank the rest of the series.”

For that fan, simply reaching the postseason is valuable, regardless of what happens once Toronto gets there.

“Make it. Always make it. You got to watch them in the playoffs. You got your team, make the playoffs. You always got to make the playoffs. Making the playoffs. That’s all I got.”

But when asked whether they would rather see Toronto make the playoffs and get bounced or miss out and build a better team for next year, the answer changed.

“I know I just said they’re a playoff team, but I do think maybe miss the playoffs because they are missing some of their players that are hurt this year, so I think they could have a case of the bad news bears, and they could run all the way to the championship.”

That fan even offered an extreme prediction for how Toronto could pull it off.

“Dylan Cease throws a no-hitter for the rest of the season every game.”

Whether or not that happens, the Blue Jays have given their fans a reason to believe. Toronto remains within one game of the Wild Card despite its record, and its recent 7-3 stretch has brought the team back into the conversation. 

For now, at least, the fans aren’t interested in tanking.

As one fan put it when asked for a prediction: “Win.”