George Springer

 
George Springer: Monday night's difference-maker.  He met his moment in the 7th inning with his Blue Jays down 3-1, two men on and one man out — and crushed the first pitch he saw from Seattle reliever Eduardo Bazardo. That 381-foot blast to the left center field seats didn't just turn the game around.  

It was the biggest Toronto home run since Joe Carter's that ended the 1993 World Series.  One big swing propels the Blue Jays back to baseball's Fall Classic, with a chance to make more history as they face the Dodgers beginning Friday night at Rogers Center.

Not that the past accurately predicts the future, but the New Britain, Connecticut native has a track record of productive post-seasons.  In 78 games, he's slugged 23 homer runs and driven in 47 with an OPS of .880.

So, it's onto the World Series with maybe a hint of 2017 -- when  Springer, then with the Astros, earned Series MVP honors with a record-tying five home runs, as Houston outlasted the Dodgers in seven.

(My images of George Springer are from the Blue Jays/Nationals game in Toronto on August 28th, 2023 and the Yankees/Astros game in the Bronx on April 6th, 2016.)


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