Until 2018, Josue Peli was immersed in the day-to-day life of the Blue Jays as an interpreter. Anyone who still maintains contact with many members of the organization is floating on a cloud.
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It must be said that in addition to enjoying the Jays' first World Series appearance in 32 years, he also eventually became friends with Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez.
So some might think that Peli's heart is wavering, but the former player, who today manages the Charlesbourg Alouettes in LBJEQ, quickly puts everyone in order by re-enacting his dream scenario.
“I'm 100% Blue Jays. I just want Teoscar Hernandez to hit four homers in a game the Blue Jays win 5-4. If he hits .1000 and the Jays win the World Series, that would be 100% positive,” he said.
“Theoscar and I even talked this week. He came to the Jays after being traded to the Astros. He made such an impression on me when he came with us. Not only did he show great strength, but he was always a really good person, a good family man.”
Behind Vlad
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Josue Peli were in Montreal for friendly matches in March 2018.
Ben Pelosse / Prime Minister of Scotland
Beyond those lingering friendships, Pili calls his three-year stint with the Jays “a veritable doctorate in baseball.” The former Nationals and Pirates member says he learned a lot in Toronto, particularly by working regularly with young Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Most notably, he served as his interpreter during the famous exhibition game on March 27, 2018, when he hit a home run to give the Jays the win at Olympic Stadium, where his father began his storied career with the Expos.
“He hadn't played in Major League Baseball at the time, and I've said before that this is a superstar, a special player. He's very emotional today thinking about his father, who never played in the World Series. He deserves everything that happens to him. We see how much of a team player he is who wants to win,” Peli said.
Key against starters
The Montrealer, who retired from the Quebec Capitals in 2015, then headed to Toronto, where he met with several members of the organization still in office, including president Mark Shapiro, general manager Ross Atkins and pitching instructor Pete Walker.
“It’s disgusting, it’s crazy that the team got to this point!” – he remarked.
Josue Peli and his daughter Nyla, proud members of the Blue Jays, 2016.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSUE PELI.
While he admits that on paper the team of his heart should be considered underdogs, he has seen enough this season not to bury them prematurely.
“The Dodgers have been great since the beginning of the series,” he initially agreed.
“You have to win four games, so you have to beat Blake Snell twice, or beat Yoshinobu Yamamoto twice, or beat Shohei Ohtani twice. I don't think a major league baseball team can do that at 4-for-7.”
“However, the Jays will struggle in every at-bat, and the Dodgers' biggest weakness is their rotation. Jays hitters are known for going deep and putting the ball in play. The only chance the Jays have is to get to 7. But damn, it's going to be tough to beat the Dodgers,” Pili concluded.
