Climb slightly less steep

Split with the Orioles a reminder that playoff hopes are slim but not gone

- GREGOR CHISHOLM

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened the scoring with a three-run homer in the third inning Thursday. In a season that has often felt like it was on the brink of a collapse, the Jays have consistently found ways to keep hopes alive, Gregor Chisholm writes.

Professional athletes often draw motivation from their haters. Most championship runs include a player or two who claims the critics said it couldn’t be done. Similar tales are told after individual accomplishments.

A lot of times, it’s not true. In Marcus Stroman’s head, nobody believed he would make it to the big leagues. When telling the story, he conveniently leaves out the part about attending a well-respected program at Duke University and being selected in the first round of the draft.

There are examples, however, when players are stating the truth. Few expected an 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks team to make a run at the World Series last year. Even fewer thought a 32nd-round pick like Kevin Pillar would make it to The Show, let alone stay there for 12-plus years.

With a bit of luck, this year’s version of the Blue Jays hopes to fall into the second category. If they make a run at the third wild-card spot, it would be in spite of public opinion. While there might be a few diehards who still believe, the majority of fans and media remain skeptical, if not pessimistic.