The Toronto Blue Jays will unveil a statue of Joe Carter outside Rogers Centre later this month, honoring his World Series-winning home run in 1993. However, the decision has ignited debate about whether Carter deserves such an honor over other franchise legends.
Carter's Stats and Hall of Fame Chances
According to Steve Simmons, Carter is not among the top five Blue Jays greats. Players like Roberto Alomar, Carlos Delgado, Dave Stieb, Roy Halladay, and Jose Bautista are ranked higher. Alomar and Halladay are in the Baseball Hall of Fame, while Stieb and Delgado remain viable candidates. Carter has been considered for the Hall twice: he received only 3.8% of the vote from writers (75% needed) and fewer than 5 votes out of 16 from the veteran's committee (12 needed).
In Blue Jays history, Carter ranks fifth in home runs and RBIs, 19th in OPS, 27th in on-base percentage, ninth in slugging, and 24th in batting average. His WAR in Toronto was 8.4, tying him with Adam Lind, who is not considered statue-worthy. Simmons argues that while Carter had a solid career, he was not a transformative figure like Michael Jordan or Bobby Orr, who have statues elsewhere.
The Debate Over the Statue
Simmons questions whether Carter's 1993 home run was more significant than Roberto Alomar's 1992 home run in Oakland or Ed Sprague's pinch-hit homer in Atlanta, noting that without those, there might have been no 1993 World Series. He calls the choice "easy" but "probably wrong," suggesting it prioritizes a single moment over overall career contributions.
Maple Leafs Goalie Comparisons
Shifting to hockey, Simmons compares the Maple Leafs' signing of Sergei Bobrovsky to their 2002 signing of Ed Belfour. Belfour, then 37 and coming off a poor season, had two stellar years in Toronto. Simmons notes that Florida GM Bill Zito let Bobrovsky walk, trading for Jacob Markstrom, raising questions about Bobrovsky's future. He also criticizes Leafs GM John Chayka for calling Bobrovsky "possibly the best in that position of all-time," ignoring legends like Dominik Hasek, Patrick Roy, and Martin Brodeur.
Data-Driven Decisions Questioned
Simmons questions the Leafs' data-driven approach, pointing to the $4.2 million annual salary for Colton Sissons, who scored only 11 points last season. He also expresses concern about free-agent additions like Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger, and Zack MacEwen, calling them "garage-sale pickups."
World Cup and Soccer Viewership
The World Cup has drawn enormous TV audiences in Canada and the US, with Canada games outperforming the Grey Cup and Stanley Cup finals. Simmons notes that Canada's Round of 16 exit is an accomplishment, but questions how we would view a 16th-place finish in other sports. He laments the lack of calls for simulation (embellishment) in soccer, which he says should be penalized five to 10 times per game.
Raptors and Kawhi Leonard
Simmons suggests the Raptors should manage Kawhi Leonard's workload to keep him healthy for the playoffs, aiming for 60-65 games and home-court advantage. He also notes the lack of NBA update on the investigation into Leonard's signing in Los Angeles.
Other Observations
Simmons criticizes Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra for urging parents to keep kids in class instead of attending sports tournaments, arguing that team sports offer more value than some academic classes. He also notes that Sheldon Keefe is under pressure as Devils coach, and that team ratings after the NHL or NBA draft are meaningless until five years later.
