A Kansas City Royals Special: Eh, Toronto?

Buy, sell or trade is the question for the Kansas City Royals. A three-gamer against Toronto—a team similarly treading water around .500—is a good litmus test for the Boys in Blue.

Top Five Reasons to (Choose Your Own Adjective, it could be positive or negative, don’t let me influence you) Toronto and the Blue Jays

1. Jose Bautista getting his face re-arranged by Rougned Odor will never stop being the funniest moment of 2016, baseball-related or otherwise; it went pretty downhill after that.
2. Since Canada is always the go-to socialized healthcare argument in this country, I’d hazard that you Canucks are at least partially responsible for the partisan bickering our country has experienced the last few [squints at history book] decades. Thanks, hosers.
3. What, exactly, is a hoser, anyway?
4. I actually can’t conjure up much beef with Canada or the Blue Jays. Some of my favorite people are Canadian, I would love to visit Toronto and I personally know two members of the Blue Jays organization.
5. That said, I like gravy, fries and cheese curds but poutine is weird as hell.

Opponent Most Likely to start a Brawl

The aforementioned Mr. Bautista, who likes to flip his bat and use his face as a punching bag. Here, let’s watch it again.

God, that’s good.

History of Bad Blood with the Kansas City Royals?

Thinking back on it now, I should’ve just titled this, “Reasons to hurl abuse at Jose Bautista,” but I doubt you need any. Between the bat flips, the constant bickering at umpires, the taunts of Kansas City Royals fans and his general demeanor, Bautista may want to bring a food taster with him if he heads over to Joe’s.

And of course, one can’t forget the 2015 game that got… a bit intense.

Toronto Player of Whom Much Was Expected and Less Was Produced?

Once a top-10 prospect in the Phillies organization J.A. Happ has taken on the life of a baseball nomad. To Houston as the centerpiece of a Roy Oswalt deal. To Toronto for a cast of thousands headlined by… Francisco Cordero? To Seattle straight up for Michael Saunders. To Pittsburgh for Adrian Sampson, whoever that is. And finally back to Toronto as a free agent in 2015.

All that for a guy who compares favorably to Wandy Rodriguez at this point in his career.

Kansas City Royals Player Most Likely to Light Up the Blue Jays?

Alcides Escobar, 2015 ALCS MVP. The throne is his until a usurper comes to claim it. Sorry, I’ve been binge-watching Game of Thrones a lot lately.

Will This Series Be Fun?

If not fun, then certainly interesting. Everyone’s favorite villain is back in town. There’s quite a bit on the line, as has been discussed practically everywhere on this site and others scattered across the far reaches of the internet.

Next: The Real Series Guide

But it should be a charged up atmosphere, against a quasi-rival with a recent history of both success and bad blood. Add in the stakes—there’s a pretty good chance a sweep either direction could set the wheels in motion to become buyers or sellers at the deadline—and this becomes a turning point in the Kansas City Royals summer.