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Blue Jays fans should pay their respects to Joey Bats during final home stand
Toronto Blue Jays fans need to get out of their seats and pay their respects to slugger Jose Bautista for the remaining five home games of the 2017 season and in all likelihood his final games as a member of the home team.
Jose Bautista put baseball on the map in Canada once again at a time when it was not the hottest ticket in town. The native of the Dominican Republic embraced the country and its people for the past 10 seasons like they were own. Unfortunately, Father Time has snuck up on Joey Bats as the outfielder has struggled to find consistency this season.
Bautista just tied the franchise single-season record for most strikeouts in a season however fans need to reminisce about the 50-homer seasons, the gun-slinging cannon from right field and the bat flip that united a nation during this final homestand.
Joey Bats will undoubtedly have his name enshrined on the “Level of Excellence” one day as he sits near the top of the most offensive categories in Blue Jays history. His 287 home runs while in a Jays uniform is the most by any player not named Carlos Delgado.
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The Bautista bat flip is arguably the most memorable and clutch home run ever hit with the exception of Joe Carter‘s World Series-winning smash. Every real Blue Jays fan has replayed and analyzed that epic inning more times than they can count and still gets chills when Joey Bats launches the lumber after the swing and a drive.
When asked about Jose Bautista's bat flip home run, John Gibbons said it's in the discussion for his best memory as #BlueJays manager
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) September 19, 2017
Bautista has been a legend and was acquired in one of the most lopsided trades in Blue Jays history with they stole him from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Robinzon Diaz in 2008.
So from now through to Sunday, throw on your Bautista swag, haul your family to the Rogers Centre and get out of your seat and proudly pay your respects for the slugger in his remaining 15 at-bats north of the border.
Next: Blue Jays: Looking ahead at the FA outfield market
You were a true leader Jose and you will be missed. Best of luck wherever you land next. Thanks for the memories.