Good morning. The World Series starts today, and the Toronto Blue Jays are up to bat. For those who haven’t been following the season, we have a primer to bring you up to speed. More on that below, plus movement in global trade and a high priority renovation. But first:
Today’s headlines
- Trump says he’s ending trade talks with Canada over Ontario’s anti-tariff ad
- Ottawa is proposing “sweeping” reforms to bail and sentencing laws
- Can Canada really double non-U.S. exports in a decade?
- Teachers protested at the Alberta Legislature while the fall sitting began
The World Series logo is placed near home plate as crews at the Rogers Centre in Toronto prepare the field on Thursday.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Sports
What you need to know for the World Series
Hi, I’m Graham Isador, I usually cover health and wellness for The Globe, but this season I’ve been diving into the world of baseball.
I started following the Blue Jays at the beginning of the playoffs. Before October my only real experience with the team was during loonie dog night, where I attempted to eat 20 hot dogs over the course of nine innings in a poorly thought out attempt at stunt journalism. It’s not that I’m anti-sports. But bad eyesight means actually watching a game doesn’t do a whole lot for me. When I expressed curiosity about checking out the Jays, some pals suggested the radio.
After hearing the team pick up some big wins, I went from a passing interest in the Blue Jays to basing the entirety of my social calendar around the team and scouring the internet for vintage merch. While writing the newsletter, I’ve been listening to this call of George Springer’s Game 7 home run on repeat. Like it’s a hit song. When spending time with my girlfriend, any silence of more than 30 seconds is punctuated with one or both of us saying “daaaa yankees lose.”
If you – like me – want to jump on the bandwagon, I put together an explainer of the basics. But if you want the quick version, here’s the bare bones to get you prepped before today’s game. Hopefully it’s enough to join in the conversation at the proverbial water cooler.
Why has this season been so exciting for the Blue Jays?
Basically it’s because no one thought they’d be successful this year. The Jays were coming off a disappointing season where they finished last in their division. Experts expected more of the same. But around Canada Day they picked up momentum and emerged as one of the league’s top teams. There’s also the fact that the games themselves have been very fun to watch, with the team mounting 49 comeback victories during the regular season.
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) speaks with the media on Thursday.Dan Hamilton/Reuters
Who are the players you need to know?
The biggest player on the Jays is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has been putting together a massive postseason run, living up to his franchise player potential and the staggering 14-year, US$500,000,000 contract extension he signed in April.
Other Jays players of note include outfielder George Springer, (who hit the Game 7 home run that sent the Blue Jays to the World Series) and rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, who broke a franchise record for most strikeouts in a postseason game.
How the Blue Jays compare with the L.A. Dodgers
The Blue Jays are coming in as underdogs. The Dodgers won two of the three games the teams faced off in this year and were last season’s World Series winners. We’re anticipating an uphill battle but we’ve been defying expectations all season.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is widely considered the best player in baseball, in the conversation for the greatest of all time. The biggest name in the sport, not only is he a massive hitter, he also doubles as an outstanding pitcher. A rare and dangerous combo.
In December, 2023, the Jays tried to get Ohtani, but missing him is what led to Toronto’s long-term signing of Guerrero a year later. Now the Jays look to derail what could be a dynasty in the making.
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with the media beside Blue Jays manager John Schneider (L) at the Rogers Centre.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Do we have a chance?
Baseball is a game of stats, The Decibel podcast explains. The Blue Jays actually won more games in the regular season than the Dodgers (one game, but it counts). The win gives them home field advantage, putting the first two games in Toronto. If it goes to the final two games, Game 6 and Game 7 will also be at home. The fans matter. There’s energy there.
Why should you jump on the Blue Jays bandwagon?
It’s been a really fun way to engage with the rest of the country and feel part of the momentum. There’s a great cast of characters on the team that are easy to root for. And who knows when this happens again? It’s been 32 years since last time. It might not be easy to win, but at the very least there’s going to be excellent baseball.
Keep reading:
- Game 1 is the must-win game in the series for the Blue Jays, writes Cathal Kelly
- Canada steps up to the plate with a World Series broadcast all its own
- The price of being a Jays fan, explained in the Business Brief Newsletter
- From foul balls to troll dolls, Canadians share their favourite pieces of Blue Jays history
- Looking for your Blue Jays theme song? Download I Want It All from SRE and Randy Bachman
The Shot
‘Just trust the process.’
Work continues on the demolition of a part of the East Wing of the White House.Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press
The East Wing of the White House, where first ladies created history, is now history itself. President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom renovation was announced as a $200-million project in July, a cost he has now updated to $300-million.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: Ottawa is scaling back the number of tariff-free vehicles Stellantis and General Motors can import from the U.S. to put pressure on the automakers after they walked back commitments to invest in Canada.
Abroad: U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized Israel’s parliament vote on the annexation of the occupied West Bank, calling move an “insult” and “political stunt.”
Ambitious: Meet the American exec trying to turn Bell Media into an international powerhouse.
Amen: King Charles and Pope Leo pray together in a 500-year first.