ARLINGTON, TEX. - United Airlines flight 6210 had just landed at LAX International airport early on Thursday morning.
The flight attendant made the usual announcement that passengers could turn on their electronic devices.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos turned on his BlackBerry.
“All the titles read ‘Congratulations,’ ” Anthopoulos said after arriving at his hotel in Los Angeles. “I had no idea so many people were tracking my winless streak.”
Anthopoulos’ Jays finished the 2009 season with two losses and his Jays dropped the season opener Monday afternoon. And Wednesday, with Anthopoulos somewhere over Nevada air space, Vernon Wells hit his second homer and Jason Frasor recorded the final out for the save in a 7-4 win over the Texas Rangers.
The text messages and e-mails began to arrive.
Tony LaCava, the Jays assistant GM, sent a message. So did Jays scouts Jim Beattie and Tom Clark.
As did travelling secretary Mike Shaw, trainer George Poulos and director of security Ron Sandelli.
“And I received one from Dr. Glenn Copeland, one from our team physicians, visiting his daughter in Australia,” said Anthopoulos who didn’t leave DFW until 8:24 p.m., but was unable to see any of the game at DFW.
“Paul Beeston told me the other day: ‘You don’t win any firsts, you lost your first game, you lost your first spring training game and you lost your first opening day,’ ” said Anthopoulos, who asked president Beeston if he had won his first home opener. Beeston replied: “Oh yeah, you’ll win that one.”
“I smiled when I read the first message,” Anthopoulos said from the hotel bar, where he was celebrating with a Coke. “It felt good for the team, when you win the food tastes better and you sleep better.
“It’s a tough way to live when you play 162 games, but you know you’re going to win at some point. It’s not that big a deal really, you play 162 games, you’re going to win eventually.”
Once he read his e-mail, Anthopoulos hooked up and found the Jays boxscore to see that Wells had a memorable night in his hometown with two homers and three RBIs, how Kevin Gregg pitched a hitless 11/3 innings, with a strikeout, Frasor had a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts and starter Brian Tallet had a “pretty good line.”
Anthopoulos read the game story on ESPN, which explained Frasor began the bottom of the ninth by giving up a leadoff double to Chris Davis.
“I can imagine what it would be like sitting there,” said Anthopoulos, who will accompany his scouts for three days before returning to Toronto.
bob.elliott@sunmedia.ca
