Godfrey Keeps Molding Blue Jays

By Jon Dwyer
Love of Sports Correspondent

The 500 level at Toronto’s Rogers Centre can make one feel a bit like Icarus flying dangerously close to the sun.

Wings parched, I cared little as I made my way down to the executive suites; led through a Labyrinth even Daedalus would mire at. Like a sun-soaked minotaur, I thirsted at the chance to meet Jays President and CEO Paul Godfrey in the sanctity of his air conditioned private box recently.

Like a modern day Homer, Mr. Godfrey began our interview by answering a question most every journalist would surely ask: “What’s your mission as Jays President and CEO?”

“To put the most competitive team on the field, so that Toronto fans can continue to renew their pride in Jays baseball,” he answered.

Walking into the president’s suite I was greeted by a man who somewhat resembled Gordon Gecko; a well-manicured suit hung easily on his thin frame, his shoes shined with a military keenness, Godfrey looked and acted the part with only one exception … he legitimately loves the city and his team almost to the point of obsession. (If you’ll remember, Gecko rarely parted with the ideals of buying, dismantling and selling anything he could; I suppose that’s more of a Maple Leafs tactic.)

Admitting the Jays fan base was at its strongest during the championship years of ‘93 and ‘94, though not one to seek shelter from the storm, Godfrey hastens to add that recent numbers are promising, with the Jays expecting to play in front of nearly 2.5 million people at home this year.

“Toronto baseball has never taken a back seat, but there has been a lot of development in the Toronto sports industries. The Raptors have energized the city’s love of basketball and, more recently, the Toronto Football Club has really done well.”

Operating on a stricter budget then some other teams in the American League, East or otherwise, Godfrey maintains the Jays are as competitive as any team and possess a roster that shows a variety of talent. That being said, at the team I talked to him, the Jays sat pensively in third place in the division. They now they lie second-to-last place, despite owning an even .500 record (54-54). Paul stood next to me looking out over the field as B.J. Ryan stood on the mound with two men on base and one out.

“Who is you’re favorite Blue Jay currently?” I asked stupidly.

“Jon, I don’t have a favorite. That wouldn’t be very fair, would it?,” he said looking at me like I was an unwanted nephew. “Listen, we’re capable of being one of the best teams in the league. Look at our roster and recent acquisitions, and you’ll see a lot of promise ...”

Cutting himself off, he threw his hands in the air, “GO, GO, GO … yeaaahh, he got him, double play, did you see that? That’s what I mean, double play. These guys are good!”

Sounding eerily similar to the Jays commercials on Sportsnet, Godfrey straightened his suit and looked back at me as I stood at the top of the three stairs he jumped down in excitement. Meeting him at the foot of the stairs, we walked to the waist high barrier as Felix Hernandez and the Mariners took to the field. As we began to talk about the city, Godfrey stood noticeably easy, a veteran with guys like me, though I’m sure not recording the interview allowed for a more “buddy buddy” atmosphere.

“I’ll tell ya, though, my favorite Jay of all time has to be Pat Hentgen. He’s the nicest all-around guy and was a real favorite in the clubhouse and with the fans. Still is.”

Tactfully avoiding some of the more difficult questions I asked, he stuck mostly to Jays nostalgia and, before I could say “can I have a press pass?,” his attention shifted to his new guest, Pat Hentgen.

After a quick handshake and photo opportunity, I find myself in the hall in front of a buffet tray headed for the HSBC box. Grabbing a handful of food and eyeing the cart for a beer, I make haste to the elevator and the open chance to get a 100 level seat.

Making my down aisle 120, I looked up at Godfrey’s box and saw him chatting with the former Jays great, surely discussing me.

It may not have been the most groundbreaking interview I’ve conducted and, to tell ya the truth, I didn’t even get to ask many of the questions I’d set out to, but he was genuinely a good guy. It was like hanging out with the dad in high school who would buy you and your buddies beer and let you drink it in the basement (not that the Jays condone underage drinking, of course).

With the Jays forming into the new “fixer-upper” of the MLB, I tend to think the fault may not lie on the guy at the helm ... then I took a peek at the current roster.

Designated hitter Matt Stairs is one of the few luminaries on the team’s roster, and he’s 40 years old! In fact, 72% of the team is 30 or over, compared to 48% in Boston, 28% in Tampa Bay, 56% in New York and 36% in Baltimore.

What’s going on here, Toronto? The entire city’s sports scene seems to be aging exponentially. It’s not only the Jays. The Leafs are filled with older players as far as the lockerroom eye can see, Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan is 31, which is getting on up there in soccer years, and with the retirement of the Argonauts’ 43-year-old Damon Allen earlier this summer, Toronto teams need to get younger, quickly.

The retirement of the Argos quarterback great brings me to my final question(s).

Why is Toronto so comfortable with its mediocrity? And is it the fault of the leadership?

Paul Godfrey is a very competent president and, nice guy persona aside, he does a fantastic job of running the Jays (with the exception of re-signing J.P. Riccardi). But there seems to be an across the board deficiency restricting the (rational) decision making ability of the management(s). They can’t seem to get rid of the old guys and bring in some new blood (TFC is an exception, as most the good young players scoff at the opportunity to play in the MLS).

Toronto teams, namely the Jays and Leafs, are in the same boat the Pittsburgh Penguins were in about five years ago. Will they have the leadership to make the sacrifices Pittsburgh did in order to facilitate their turnaround? Only time will tell, but if being a nice guy with savvy business acumen helps, we should hold on to Godfrey.