After their incredible run in 2025 and unfortunate game 7 of the World Series heartbreak I was very optimistic about the Blue Jays going into this season. I expected them to contend for first place in the East and one of the first round Byes in the playoffs.

Everything has gone wrong.

99 games into the season the Jays are last in the AL East and 4.5 games behind the final wild card spot. Yikes. The season isn't over but playoff hopes are fading fast especially since the team can't seem to put a stretch of more than 2 quality games in a row together.

I have seen this movie before and I probably should have seen this coming but I fooled myself into believing their would be no World Series hangover.

Now I am resigned to accepting the 2026 Blue Jays are the 2024/25 49ers.

Here are the parallels:

• Both teams faced off against dynastic opponents trying to win back to back championships. (Chiefs and Dodgers were both going for their 3rd championship in 5 years)
• Both the 49ers and Blue Jays outplayed their opponents for the overwhelming majority of the game/series
• Both the 49ers and Blue Jays are haunted by a handful of plays where they could have sealed the deal but didn't. Both teams got incredibly unlucky(Chiefs fumbled 5 times and recovered every single time) (Blue Jays were a few inches away from winning multiple times)
• Both teams were considered championship contenders going into the subsequent season
• Both teams suffered significant injuries to key players early in the season.
• Both teams started slow and were mired by horrible late game collapses (49ers lost 3 games to division opponents where they had over 90% win probability in the 4th Quarter) (Blue jays have the most blown leads after the 7th inning in all of MLB)
• Both teams suffered from bad vibes (Campbell quit on the team and was released immediately by 49ers) (Lauer complained about his role as a starter and was traded immediately by Jays)
• Both teams strung the fanbase along making it look like they could maybe find a way to sneak into the playoffs before collapsing (Blue Jays are in the collapsing process)
• Both teams needed major roster changeover (49ers kept their core players but changed over 38% of their roster between 24 and 25) (Blue Jays will likely be sellers at the deadline and have many pending free agents who they will likely not bring back)

It seems 2026 is a lost season for the Blue Jays like the 24/25 season was for the 49ers. Hopefully we get a good draft pick and come back strong next season.

Sats for all,
GR