ESPN MLB Insider Compares Toronto Blue Jays to NBA's Boston Celtics

Like the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Blue Jays are loaded with a young and talented core, but they haven't won a championship yet. Is the Blue Jays window already closing? Buster Olney of ESPN discusses the comparison.
ESPN MLB Insider Compares Toronto Blue Jays to NBA's Boston Celtics
ESPN MLB Insider Compares Toronto Blue Jays to NBA's Boston Celtics /

In the NBA, the Boston Celtics are a rollercoaster. The team is loaded with a young, exciting nucleus and has experienced a lot of success, but they've never gotten over the hump and won a title.

The core of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart has been to three Eastern Conference finals together -- and one NBA Finals --, but has consistently come up short.

And with the C's trailing the Miami Heat, 3-2, in the Eastern Conference Finals this year, plenty of speculation has occurred about the C's future: Namely, if the Celtics don't win the title this year, is it time to break up the core and go in a different direction?

You might wonder why this is relevant to baseball, but it is. ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney was recently asked on 'The Brady Farkas Show' if there is an MLB comparable to the Celtics: A team with a young core that just hasn't gotten it done yet, and could eventually need to pivot. 

He mentioned the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays have some of the best young talent in the league with Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. They've also built with Alek Manoah through the farm system, and Cavan Biggio, who has disappointed in his career to date.

With this young nucleus, the Jays made the playoffs in 2020 and 2022, but have failed to even advance to the ALCS.

You can hear Olney's thoughts below:

"I think the Toronto Blue Jays are a team that might be fast approaching that time. We've talked about the Blue Jays being this team of great potential, with a dynamic offense built around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. And let's face it, to date? That hasn't all come together for them in a postseason run."

The Blue Jays will open up a series with the Minnesota Twins on Friday at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Jays are 26-25 and in last place in the American League East.

Follow Fastball on FanNation in social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.


Published
Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.