TORONTO — The federal election is dealing with a late curveball hurled by the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays.
Blue Jays fans in the vote-rich 905 and 416 regions - studded with ridings that could help determine who becomes Canada's next prime minister - are certain to tune into the Jays game on Monday night while possibly tuning out the election.
The first pitch in the third game of the Jays' American League showdown against the Kansas City Royals is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Monday, 90 minutes before the polls close to end an election campaign that's been almost as enthralling to Canada's political junkies as the Jays post-season run has been to their sports fans.
The team's post-season games have earned huge ratings, with overnight numbers for the first three outings against the since-defeated Texas Rangers suggesting an average audience of 2.8 million for the Rogers-owned Sportsnet.
Scott Moore, president of Sportsnet and NHL Properties for Rogers, tweeted that more than nine million Canadians watched Wednesday night's thrilling nail-biter that ended with a 6-3 Jays victory and elimination for the Rangers.
"Seriously. Elections Canada should consider setting up polling stations in sports bars on Monday night," Conway Fraser, a self-described communications strategist, tweeted shortly after Major League Baseball announced the timing of the game.
The choice is rather easy. Watch the Jays game, and switch channels during commercial breaks.
You don't even need to do that. Watch the game, and keep the thread open on CP. There are plenty of posters here that DGAF about baseball, and will be keeping the election GDT updated.
That's my plan, anyway. Baseball haters better come through for the rest of us!
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I'll watch the Jays if they make it to the world series. I'm pretty sure Joe Carter's home run was the last time I watched them and I don't feel like I've missed anything since. I do hope they can win it all again though.
As for the election, gotta think that Jays game will hurt the conservatives more than others as I imagine those most motivated for change will have been proportionally taking more advantage of advanced voting.
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"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?"
The Jays are already getting annoying with the over exposure they are getting and the obnoxiousness of their fans. I know people complain about TSN being the Toronto Sports Network when it comes to the Leafs but personally I think the Jays coverage, from Sportsnet especially, has been much worse and more off putting than anything the Leafs coverage has had.
Also this is a really interesting election and it will be interesting to see what happens in certain regions (Ontario and Quebec especially) so I will want to see those results and those trends as they happen.
And now that I wrote all that I just realized I will be scruntineering that night so will miss it all anyways. lol
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Jays for sure. The series against the texans was unforgetable. This election on the other hand has been boring. Mike Duffy, to wear a niqab or don't, should we let more refugee's in? Meh.
Jays, especially because that's the only scheduled game in Toronto this series that your average 9-5er out west are allowed to watch. Baseball playoff schedules are the dumbest thing ever.
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I've made three posts on the subject. One of them defending Bautista's bat flip.
But it has had a significant impact on my life, I have to listen to QR770 now. Do you know how dumb Kincaid and Brekenridge are? Danielle Smith is probably the best host they have and she mostly just pats herself on the back for her past accomplishments.