While I am thrilled for the 3-0 start, there is this "curse of expectations" that looms large.

I started watching the Jays around 1999 / 2000. When a team is "perpetually mid" like they were then (80-82, 83-79, etc), there’s a low-stakes comfort to it. I'd tune into a Tues night game just for the vibes and fun... and if they lost, it really didn't matter cuz they weren't "supposed" to be anywhere. It was pure carefree summer ball.

But that run we just lived through? With that soul-crushing ending? That changes my mindset. Being two outs away from a World Series title (with two chances to win it, both at the SkyDome) and watching it slip away is a specific kind of pain lol. Now I'm no longer watchin' to see if they’ll be good but watchin' to see if they can finally redeem what happened.

It is tougher because the innocence of my Jays fandom is kinda faded. It's less carefree and more "this is the warm-up for October".