6ix Baggers — №80: Let Giménez Be Giménez
The Jays went into Seattle down 0-2. The fly out to Toronto this evening down 3-2 after deflating Game 5.
Dear Drink Carters and part-time playoff curious baseball fans
Today on a very special episode of 6ix Baggers. When the Blue Jays find themselves down in the ALCS, manager John Schneider turns to an unlikely spark plug. But sometimes the best strategy isn’t a new approach—it’s trusting someone to be exactly who they are. Andrés Giménez steps to the plate twice. And twice, he delivers. Because great leaders don’t change people. They let them be great. Or something like that.
(Cue the Snuffy Walden theme)
So I saw some people asking this question: “How many years of your life would you trade for your favorite team to win the World Series?” I love baseball but let’s be real, trading years of your life for that is absolutely wild. The guy’s answer was 20 years. 20 years. And he followed up that it was his, “low answer.” What’s your number?
I feel like that is akin to asking Justin Trudeau how many years he would give up to date Katy Perry.
Game 3
Where do you start? I think Jays fans were on life support after Julio Rodroguez blasted a 2-run shot in the bottom of the first.
But then Andrés Giménez hit a 2-run blast of his own. As others have said, Giménez going deep in a must-win game perfectly captures, “the essence of the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays.” Unexpected. Never out of it. Everyone steps up.
And the momentum shifts, again. As we all know, “teams that trail 2-1 after three games in a 7-game series have gone on to win the series 45 of 153 times (29.4%).”
Here’s another one for the Louvre. A sunset baseball home run really is the best.
Game 4
Was Max Sherzer having his Billy Chapel moment in Game 4? The 41 year old future Hall of Famer struggled down the stretch, was left off the ALDS line up, battled injuries all season.
Then managed to bend time and space against the Mariners through 5 innings. He wasn’t near to the perfect game in For the Love of the Game. But he picked off a batter, struck out five and even told Manager John Schneider to back off with some nice words at the bottom of the 5th.
He would strike out Arozerana after this exchange to end the inning. And then he returned in the 6th. With a short leash. Varland and Fluharty were up. Raleigh pops up. Strikes out Julio Rodriguez (his 5th). He’s still shoving at 95 mph. He gives up a walk to Polanco and that was that. But what an incredible performance. Will we see him pitch again?
And let’s not forget about Andrés Giménez. The terrifying face of the ALCS (and potential MVP) who hit another 2-run blast in the 3rd inning to get the offence going, again. And then, you’re not going to believe this. But in the top of the 8th Giménez drove in 2 more on a single. (and 8 runs in the Postseason).
And in the top of the 9th in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park (I still want to call it Safeco Field) you could hear the chants of “Let’s Go Jays.” When the dust settled in the bottom of 9, the Blue Jays evened up the series 2-2.
And you’re probably not going to believe this, but “Teams to lose Games 1-2 but then win Games 3-4 in any best-of-7 postseason series have gone on to win that series 10 of 23 times (43.5%)” That stat goes up to 56.7% for road teams playing game 5.
Game 5
Turns out this Mariners graphic was spot on. They seized the moment. And that moment was Brandon Little not getting an out, giving up a tying home run, then walking two. Seranthony Domínguez then hit a batsman to load the bases before giving up a grand slam. Mariners 6-2. The momentum shifts again.
Pretty much every commentator and arm chair coach on X called this outcome a mile away. Buck Martinez called it instantly. How we didn’t bring in Hoffman here makes no sense. Little must have some really good photos of Schneider on his camera roll given his “6.08 ERA & 1.88 WHIP over his last 21 appearances.”
They really missed that 3rd inning home run from Andrés Giménez tonight that’s for sure. Actually there was quite a few missed opportunities to capitalize on runs. So now we wait to hear if George Springer’s knee will be good to go on Sunday in Toronto. X-rays were negative. But time will tell.
The backs are against the wall, again. The season falls to 22-year-old Trey Yesavage to work some rookie magic on Sunday.
Walkoffs
A few more quick fastballs for you to enjoy until our next edition.
This pilot making the Jays logo on a flight path is insane.
Oh no! Ace from the top rope. Oh my Elvis hits a homer.
This Brewer’s fan van is incredible. This Royals jingle is more incredible.
I can’t believe the put the jacked muscle guy from behind home plate in an ad for Leons.
36 Years ago today, an earthquake hit the World Series
It’s a good baseball side quest checking out the broadcast and the live earthquake. Al Michaels was an instant legend.
Ghostbusters
So the Dodgers were staying at the Pfister Hotel while in Milwaukee during the NLDS. This is a known haunted hotel. With many accounts of ghosts. Back in 2023 A’s star, Brent Rooker noted, “We’re at the notoriously haunted Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee but the only thing the ghosts are doing to me is randomly turning off/on or changing the channel on my TV which all in all doesn’t seem too bad so I’m okay with it.”
Turns out Mookie Betts has stayed at an Airbnb every road trip here since 2022. Telling reporters last season, “I don’t believe in ghosts. But I don’t want to find out that I’m wrong.” Former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez also opted to stay clear after fellow Dodgers shared their own ghost stories before his arrival.
According to Bob Nightengale, “Teoscar Hernandez makes it clear he doesn’t believe in ghosts, but his wife does, so they have switched hotels in downtown Milwaukee.”
The Scoreboard at Exhibition Stadium Was Glorious
I mean look at it. And the ads.
Catfish
Here’s a little Bob Dylan ditty about the infamous Catfish Hunter.
The last out
See you next week for The Drink Cart’s Wednesday and Friday editions and who knows, maybe another baseball one after game 2. That is not a threat. Or is it?