The Warning Track: Josh Donaldson Delivers Once Again
Posted Sep 28, 2015 12:30:29 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
You could not have scripted the end of the Toronto Blue Jays final regular season home game of the season any more perfectly.
Tied game, bottom of the ninth and the team’s best hitter, Josh Donaldson is at the plate. And as many kids dream of being the hero on the sandlot, Donaldson was the hero once again for the Toronto Blue Jays. It was a dramatic finish to what has been an incredible season for the Blue Jays.
On Sunday, it was “Fan Appreciation Day” at the Rogers Centre, and I can’t think of a better way to honour Blue Jays fans than an ending like that. Even minutes after Josh Donaldson secured the win for the Blue Jays, fans stood and cheered as if they didn’t want to leave the ballpark.
Donaldson’s clutch performance was just yet another display of his MVP calibre season. And with that walk-off home run, he ended any question as to whether he is the Most Valuable Player in the American League.
Josh Donaldson has been the definition of clutch for the Blue Jays this season. Whenever they needed a big hit, Donaldson often bailed them out. Whenever the Blue Jays needed somebody to make a tough defensive play, there was Josh Donaldson leaping into the stands to help preserve a no-hitter.
Statistically speaking, Josh Donaldson is having a season for the ages as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. And at his pace, his 2015 season could very well stand as the best overall season by a Toronto Blue Jay ever.
28 of his 41 home runs this season have either been game-tying or go-ahead home runs. 68% of Donaldson’s home runs this year have put the Jays ahead or got them right back in the game. It’s an astounding figure if you really think about it.
Admittedly, many of those home runs are early-game home runs, but often the timing of Josh Donaldson’s home runs come at the most crucial times. And that’s just one reason why he’s the best player in the American League.
So with one week left to play in the regular season, Josh Donaldson will continue to carry this team on his back as they aim to secure an American League East title, and perhaps even a best overall record in the AL.
But it simply cannot be stated how huge of a season Josh Donaldson has put forth for the Blue Jays this year. Subtract his contributions from this team and it’s difficult to picture them in a playoff picture.
And the best part? This is just the beginning; Josh Donaldson will be with the Blue Jays for the next three seasons as well.
