If you have been following the Toronto Blue Jays’ playoff run, you have likely heard time and again that they are an incredibly close-knit team.
Of course, they have several superstars – e.g., Vladimir Guerrero Jr.., Bo Bichette, Shane Bieber – who are doing all the right things under the bright lights of the World Series, but the role players are equally responsible for an amazing postseason run. And 22-year-old rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage has been a real difference-maker.
But to a man, they will tell you that a team-first approach is the biggest reason for the Blue Jays’ success this year. Egos are checked at the door. They are always looking to pick up their teammates, particularly in adversity.
It obviously takes a lot of hard work to reach this level, but I am quite certain that the Bluebirds are also leading the league in fun. You see it in their interviews, their post-game antics, and even goofing around with the opposition.
The fact is, it is a lot of fun to be part of a team that is committed to excellence and to each other.
In my career – mostly basketball and beach volleyball – I have been on some great, cohesive teams that knew how to have fun.
But the organization that I believe best embodies the team-first principles of the Blue Jays is BIG Media Ltd., which is pursuing the world title in news accuracy and integrity.
Before I introduce my lineup, it is important to note that you, the reader, can actually join this team – and not just as a fan … and you need not be able to hit a 100 MPH fastball. You can be directly involved in our mission to be world champions – as a subscriber with a direct connection to the bench boss (who listens to all feedback and story ideas), a promoter, a funder, or even an editorial contributor. It’s an opportunity to participate as a member of an incredible, tight-knit team.
This is the starting roster that I believe will take us to the top:
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- Dr. Brad Hayes – ideal for the leadoff position, Brad is always on base with his writing and has considerable power to all fields (e.g., climate change, energy transition, geology, water management, education) … Recognizing roots of global energy crisis might help us move toward solutions
- Lee Hunt – an accomplished pro whose field of dreams includes many highlight-reel-worthy dives infield and out of his field – Mounting COVID frustration is no reason to abandon fundamental principles,
- Dr. David Vickers – the Paul DePodesta (former assistant GM of Oakland A’s whose analytic excellence inspired the movie Moneyball) of the BIG team, David puts his statistical prowess and PhD in theoretical epidemiology to use in swinging for the fences that constrain practical analysis of medical research, policies, and practices … COVID-19 double standards – scrutinize data for me, not for thee
- Laurie Weston – the ultimate batter (you should try her pancakes!), Laurie cleans up numbers and drives home game-changing points as if she were in a league of her own – Detailed analysis of 2021 death data reveals disturbing trends, COVID-19 is definitely not the flu
- Dr. Joseph Fournier – called up from the farm (his Alberta ranch), Joseph shows incredible might (Today’s arms race – a new era of great power conflict and hybrid warfare ) and endless energy (Technology is the path to near limitless hydrocarbons
- Mark Jennings-Bates – excels on artificial turf, with an 8-game hitting streak in AI … The truth about AI — why artificial intelligence cannot really ‘understand’ context
- Dr. Kaase Gbakon – Kaase is African (in this case, also pronounced a-frickin’) genius in the field who consistently puts up big numbers … South Africa ranks first among fuel importers on the continent – is that a good thing?
- Grant Wilde – contrary to his surname, Grant has excellent control in delivering even-handed analysis, having backstopped several epic performances – Intelligent machines are taking over the modern battlefield, It’s time to axe the c(r)ap and start discussing our progress on emissions
- Brian Russell – guaranteed Hall of Famer singled out for doubling as a rock physics and rock music star (Having a little fun with thermal physics ) and pulling off this triple play … Music, mathematics, and physics , Music, mathematics, and physics Part 2 – musical scales, Music, mathematics, and physics Part 3 – harmony and chords
Coming off the bench:
- Edward Ostrowski – BIG’s utility player who shows off amazing pipes (Pipe problems – a detailed examination of what lies beneath us ), Edward takes his cuts through huge databases as if his hands were scissors.
- Dr. Chris DeArmitt – with a PhD in polymers and surface science, Chris ensures that misinformation about the plastics industry is ground out … Are you prejudiced against plastics?
- Stephen Heins – dugout the critical context in a beautiful piece about energy humanism … Energy humanism – power with a pulse, progress with a conscience
- Colleen Stewart – keeps the mood in the clubhouse light and fun with hijinx … The moving story of woman versus machine
Star-studded rookie class:
- George Mutero’s storied career continues with terrific tales from the African continent – Haiti – the tortured history of a once-sovereign nation
- Richard LeBlanc leads the league in trash talk – Recycling plastic – the beautiful deception
- Englishman Sam Clarke is bloody brilliant – Trump’s U.S.-first policies and what they mean for the EU, NATO, and Ukraine
- Kirsten Campbell comes through with the chips on the line – Chipping away – stakes are high as U.S. strives to short-circuit China’s semiconductor dominance
IR – chief legal correspondent and acclaimed litigator Kevin Burron is expected to be off of injured reserve and back in the starting lineup soon … The Canadian prime minister’s emergency act
The bullpen:
Unsung heroes include the dynamic duo of Ernest Granson and Muriel Protzer, whose production is off (and on) the charts in publishing league-best coverage, our beautiful platform builder Innovative Digital Solutions, marketing specialist Christina Driscoll, and her brother Benjamin Driscoll.
The starting pitcher will be yours truly. With that in mind, allow me to deliver the opening pitch BIG Media – membership.
Go Jays! And go facts and logic!
