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Sorry Cubbies, you are no longer special.
鈥淭he Cubs are not mystical anymore. They are not lovable losers anymore. It is not mystical anymore,鈥� said Sportsnet baseball analyst Gregg Zaun.
As soon as sweet victory in the World Series arrived after a 108-year wait for the Chicago Cubs, daylight intruded upon magic.
Zaun, a 16-season MLB veteran, was the guest speaker Saturday at the Victoria HarbourCats second annual Hotstove held at the Yates Street Taphouse.
鈥淚 am happy for the Cubs finally winning the World Series,鈥� said Zaun.
鈥淏ut it changes everyone鈥檚 perspective. The Cubs are now just another large market team with a big payroll.鈥�
Zaun said the new-found Canuck national passion for the Toronto Blue Jays continues unabated after having made the playoffs for the first time since the World Series years of 1992 and 1993, and having reached the AL finals the past two years.
鈥淲hen I was on the Island last year [for the inaugural Hotstove], you could see the level of passion for the Blue Jays and you could see it again this year across the country,鈥� Zaun said.
鈥淚t helps that the Jays are the only MLB team in the country and there is tremendous focus because of that -- even on the Island, which is so close to Seattle and the Mariners.鈥�
That was evident when almost all of sa国际传媒 got behind Jays left fielder and slugger Michael Saunders of Victoria to vote him into the 2016 MLB all-star game over the summer. That was sporting Canadiana at its best.
But all good things must end.
鈥淢ichael Saunders had a rough second half of the season,鈥� Zaun said. 鈥淚t is tough to justify that huge raise. Michael will land on his feet. I am not sure if it will be with the Jays.鈥�
Zaun believes the Jays will be fine next season, regardless of roster tweaks. 鈥淭he rotation has a nice nucleus,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey have enough on the roster coming back to be very competitive. And they have some young players they can trade in good positions.鈥�
In other words, Canadians can keep riding the blue wave for a while yet.
