Toronto Blue Jays Forced to Fly South: Unchecked

Canada won't allow Blue Jays to play in Toronto because of safety issues flying in and out of United States due to COVID-19, causing an embarrassing situation.

Welcome to Major League Baseball’s most embarrassing new team, the Buffalo Blue Jays. Or maybe it’ll be the Pittsburgh Blue Jays. They haven’t worked that part out yet.

Sources: Prohibited from playing in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking at PNC Park as a potential site for some home games in 2020.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) July 20, 2020

The only thing we know for sure is the team won’t be playing in Toronto, as the Canadian government doesn’t think it is safe for players to travel back and forth from the United States. Which means it's safe to say America’s pastime has come face to face with its present, with no guarantee either is wearing a mask.

This decision by Canada on the Blue Jays is a pretty embarrassing moment for our country. I hope we can improve from here.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 18, 2020

Good thing the Jays don’t have to worry about selling tickets and that the Raptors are playing with everyone else in Orlando.

Look, I’m happy sports are back, but this Blue Jays ordeal is kind of a reminder of why they were gone and why there has been apprehension around their return. It’s also why I credited the NBA for the plan it put together to deal with the situation at hand. 

But I can’t really put responsibility at the feet of the leagues, they have been put in a tough position by the response of the country—which basically struck out looking in handling this thing. And that’s why the commissioners of professional sports are being looked at for leadership beyond what we’re used to seeing.

If #AdamSilver can respect the voices and protect his @NBA players why can’t @NFLcommish do the same? Listen to your players. If we want to have a full season it will have to look different with OUR safety as the priority. @NFL make the necessary changes. #WeWantToPlay

— DIGGS (@stefondiggs) July 19, 2020

So, as fans, let’s not take the return of sports for granted, even if we can’t be in the stands. The NFL still doesn’t have its protocols in place, the NBA is at Disney World, MLB players are hitting home runs in masks and the Blue Jays have been forced to fly south.

If Clint Frazier can hit an absolute bomb of a home run wearing a mask, then you can wear a mask. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4Fsn2BYbO8

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 19, 2020

Here’s a plea, please do your part...because I do want to get back to reading stats that have to do with touchdowns, field goals and at bats; and not the ones showing we Trump other countries when it comes to coronavirus cases.

United States recorded 63,872 new #coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, Johns Hopkins University tally shows.

That puts the total number of cases in the US, the nation hardest hit by the global pandemic, at 3,762,081

📸 Johannes Eisele pic.twitter.com/1SHWlpPrNi

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 20, 2020