As the Blue Jays continue their nosedive to the bottom of the American League standings, the focus has shifted from the field to a beleaguered front office that is quickly running out of time.
Everywhere you go these days, people are talking about Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins. In coffee shops and restaurants, on talk radio and through social media, the No. 1 baseball topic is job security - or the lack thereof- for the architects of a failed team.
The Jays entered this season expecting to contend for a World Series. Nearly halfway through the year, they are instead sitting dead last in the division and 6/2 games back of the third wild card. Their odds of making the playoffs have slipped to 3.8 per cent.
Toronto baseball fans are understandably angry and looking for someone to blame. Members of the media, myself included, have been doing the same and since the underperforming players can't be fired, it's only natural that the spotlight shines on those responsible for bringing them here.
Atkins, who is in his ninth season, has been given ample time and resources to make this work. Under his leadership, the Jays have seen increasingly diminished returns during each of the last two years and with most core players set to hit free agency by the end of 2025, the window of opportunity has started to slam shut.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 26, 2024-Ausgabe von Toronto Star.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 26, 2024-Ausgabe von Toronto Star.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Rookie's dominant starts offer hope
Blue Jays still look like trade deadline sellers, but righty Rodríguez just might be a keeper
England perfect in shootout
Alexander-Arnold nets winner to reach semifinals, redemption for Saka
How did Shanaplan Leafs lose their way?
Potential, sure, but so few results, promises unkept
ULTIMATE GOAL
Why Canada's run to semifinals means so much
Do Canadians want more or less government in their lives?
In a recurring feature, Susan Delacourt, a small-I liberal, and Matt Gurney, a small-c conservative, bring their different perspectives - and shared commitment to civil disagreement to the political debates of the moment.
Rescued cub finds new life
Freya, a six-month-old lion cub rescued from the wildlife trade in Lebanon, poked a curious nose out of her transport crate and sniffed the air. Satisfied, she took her first cautious steps in her new forever home in a sanctuary in South Africa.
Theories about coup abound
A plan to stage a coup against Bolivia's president was not what Gen. Tomás Peña y Lillo was expecting when he entered the military headquarters in La Paz last Wednesday.
'It takes them many days to secure even a respite beď
A year ago, a funding spat left asylum seekers on the streets. So what's changed and what hasn't?
Flight from justice
After the bloody murder came a panicked getaway across Ontario and a pursuit over three European countries, ending in capture. In the second of three parts, the Hamilton Spectator's Nicole O'Reilly retraces the fugitives' steps
Path cleared for possible ceasefire
Militant group in Gaza has dropped key demand to end war, officials say