Harper and Mulcair blamed for Blue Jays losses on social media
Haydn Watters | CBC News | Posted: September 1, 2015 4:57 PM | Last Updated: September 1, 2015
The Jays lose both times federal leaders bring their campaigns to the Rogers Centre
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper took his campaign to the ball game Monday evening, touring a Toronto Blue Jays batting practice, interviewing baseball great Roberto Alomar and staying for the game against the Cleveland Indians.
The Blue Jays had a monumental August, with the debut of ace lefty David Price, sold-out games at the Rogers Centre and their rise to the top of the American League East standings.
- Conservative Leader Stephen Harper spotted at Toronto Blue Jays practice
- Blue Jays' bats silenced in loss to Indians
"It's like the '90s all over again. People are back into it, they are back into the Blue Jays," said Harper, in his one-on-one interview with Alomar, which was posted to his Twitter account.
"I don't think this team's ever looked stronger."
But the Indians beat the Blue Jays 4-2, ending a landmark month with a loss.
Many on social media pegged the loss on Harper's attendance — a correlation that morphed into causation.
After the loss, there were plenty of calls for Harper to stay away from the winning team.
Some tied the loss to the bad economic news that's dominating campaign news on Tuesday.
Others seemed to think the team's loss was all part of Conservative Party election policy.
Harper met with Blue Jays general manager John Gibbons, who is apparently a big fan of the Conservative leader.
Gibbons said Harper seemed like a "great guy" during a post-game press conference, according to the Blue Jays website.
"I told him I love his politics. We're both probably outnumbered in town here, but I told him I love his politics."
Those comments got people talking.
Some thought it was no surprise Gibbons supported Harper's politics.
It's not the first time the Jays have choked with a federal leader at a game. The Jays also lost when NDP Leader Tom Mulcair was in attendance.
Mulcair took in the Aug. 14 game against the New York Yankees, where the Jays lost 4-3. The loss ended an 11-game winning streak.