Heading to the Blue Jays games in Seattle? Here's what you need to know
The Toronto Blue Jays open a four game series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field tonight. Here's what you need to know if you're heading south to take in a game.
Will driving across the border be a traffic hassle?
Driving across the border is always a hassle but maybe less so for these games than in past years.
According to Seattle Mariners spokesman Tim Hevly, ticket sales for this series are tracking lower, mostly because at 11 games under .500, Jays fans are super bummed out.
"With every visiting team, how hot or successful that team has been, impacts attendance. That's true of the Jays as well," said Hevly.
Two years ago, when Toronto was a legitimate world series contender, the borders were clogged with invading Canadians with the sellout crowds at Safeco estimated to be two-thirds Blue Jays' fans.
What a difference a couple of years makes.
Will Ladner's James Paxton throw another no-hitter against the Jays?
One can hope.
Even if you bleed Blue-Jays blue, how can any Canadian baseball fan cheer against the local kid known as The Big Maple? And who doesn't want to witness baseball history?
Paxton is scheduled to pitch Saturday night, three months after his sensational no-hitter in Toronto.
Five days ago he threw seven shutout innings against Houston after missing a couple starts with a back injury. So the big lefty seems back on track.
Expect Paxton's rabid fan club, The Maple Grove, to be out in force. The "Grovers" can be found under the maple tree in left field.
Will that guy with the anti-Canadian signs be there?
You mean the passive aggressive Mariners superfan whose sardonic sign-making has taken aim at some of our country's most sacred icons, including but not limited to the metric system, Mr. Dressup, hockey, the maple leaf, official bilingualism and the Canadarm?
Yes, he will be. And with new material.
His name is Dan Carroll and his felt pens cut deep. Rumour has it all-dressed chips may be in the crosshairs next.
Should I switch allegiances from the Blue Jays to the Mariners?
We couldn't possibly comment.
Besides The Big Maple, Seattle is 18 games above .500 and threatening to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Fun fact: the M's 16 year streak of post season futility is currently the longest in any of the big-four North American pro sports — MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA.
Remember those long Canuck playoff droughts? Remember how good it felt when they ended?
Jumping on the Mariners' bandwagon buys you the chance to be a part of another slaying of the dragon while solidifying your claim on Cascadia citizenship. And who wouldn't want that?
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