Band-Aids Don't Fix Bullet Holes: Stro Minus Chez
You know what is way more fun than thinking about Encarnación being introduced to Cleveland and seeing pictures of him in a Chief Wahoo hat? You know what's more fun than wondering what's up with the front office? You know what's more fun than wondering why you feel dead inside?
Endless, baseless speculation about the end of the biggest bromance the Jays have seen since it looked like A.J. Burnett wanted to build a life with Roy Halladay.
So, apparently, Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez aren't pals anymore. I've been hearing rumours of this for months. I took this information in stride. But then, because it's January 5th and everyone is bored or sad or bored/sad, it came up on Toronto Blue Jays Reddit.
As mentioned, around the time that it was announced that Sanchez had become a client of super agent Scott Boras, Stroman tweeted this:
An oblique reference to Stroman inviting Sanchez to train with him at Duke this time last year? Training that eventually had Sanchez have the lowest ERA in the AL last year and establish himself as a young pitcher to watch. I don't know.
It's a completely different tone than:
And this:
The piece also featured a comment from John Gibbons that is so prescient that it made me gasp:
Shoot, Gibby. Wise.
Some have speculated that Stroman is jealous that Sanchez took such a step forward and the friction is from that. That it looks like it'll Sanchez who gets a massive deal. I would hope, for Stroman's sake, that it isn't anything as petty and small as that. One of things about becoming on adult is realizing that what other people do or don't do shouldn't be what concerns, drives or motivates you. You have to be alright with you.
I will say that I broke up with my university best friend when I was a few years older than Stroman and it was rough. Really, really rough. And it was more complicated than just jealousy or insecurity. Sometimes people just grow apart. You don't get what you need from each other anymore and it might just be better to not be as close.
Just to balance out petty sounding Stroman theories, I'm just going to say that I've decided this rift is because the 6'4" Sanchez just realized that Stroman's HDMH personal motto and brand is sizeism and it needs to stop.
Almost exactly a year ago:
I'm neutral. I love watching both pitch. Stroman's energy and Sanchez's dominance. I don't think they need to be friends, just be cool enough to pitch like the beasts they are.
But Marcus Stroman has sold me hard of late. I've been addicted to Biosteel since they gave out samples at the Stroman signing in November. The kid told me the concept of my blog was "awesome" and was generally a positive and open guy with the kids waiting ahead of me in line. And then there was this:
Marcus Stroman just quoted The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
An album that came out 19 years ago that is still on heavy rotation in my life. It means a lot.
Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem.
Maybe this guy can talk them through it.
It's not like he doesn't already have their ears.
"Listen Stro, camme toé."
"Sanchie, accouche qu’on baptise."
Yup, yelling at them in Joual should fix it.
As far back as June, Stroman's appeared to have a new bestie:
I mean.....
Look:
I don't know what an Italian dinner wave is, but it sounds both messy and delicious.