Why I Love the Game: Jays Need Victories in Chicago to Keep Pace in AL East

It began with a neighbor kid who lost their ball in my father's backyard.  That kid either didn't know where his ball went, or was too scared to retrieve it.

The visit to help my father with his yard quickly stopped as we noticed the ball; before long my father and I had gloves on and were tossing the ball.  We spoke about Toronto's upcoming schedule; the 2012 Blue Jays had my father interested in baseball again. 

It's another tough week coming up for the Jays; two away series against strong teams in the White Sox and the Braves.  The White Sox are the hottest team in baseball right now winning 14 of their last 16 games, and the Braves are not pushovers either, competing in the toughest division in the NL.  Splitting the two series 3-3 would be a positive for the blue birds.

The White Sox will have Humber, Paulino and ace Jake Peavy on the mound; the Jays are currently on a five-game road losing streak and will counter with Romero, Morrow and Alvarez, hoping to snap that skid.

Edwin Encarnacion is still listed as day-to-day after being hit on the right hand by a struggling Daniel Bard.  The Jays will miss his offense, but Jose Bautista has seemed to have shaken off the dust from earlier this season, most recently homering in back-to-back games.

"Do you think they'll make it this year?"  My father asked.

I didn't want to answer.  The Jays are still in the thick of things in the wildly competitive AL East, and there are still 108 games to go.  With the additional wild-card spot this season, they certainly have a chance to make the playoffs.

After cleaning the yard, my father asked me to watch the opening game of the Chicago series with him.  I obliged.  How could I not?  The ability of baseball to bring sons and fathers closer is one of the reasons I love the game. 

Everyone remembers where they were when a significant event occurs.  On Saturday, October 23rd, 1993, I was only 10 years old when Joe Carter hit that series-clinching home run.  I was watching the game with my father. 

I'll be watching Tuesday's game with him as well.  I don’t quite know who the winner will be, but I know I'll enjoy watching it.