PR disaster for Dunedin Jays

Jays v Boston Sunday March 21.

Jays game rained out this afternoon but it was a disastrous day for Dunedin Jays customer service. Now it may be a case for not being accustomed to rain delays, this is Florida after all, but there are other reasons for today’s list of mishaps. Whatever the reasons it was not a class act for customer service and a black eye for the Jays organization.

Batting practice for Jays was over and the rain started at 11.45 am but it was 1.00pm before ANY announcement was made by the organization to the public. This was a game against Boston and a very large crowd of supporters judging from their colours. At 1.00pm obviously with the covers still on the game was not going to start, but it would have been much better public relations for the Jays to inform the crowd of just what was going on. And not only to let them know but to have quarter hour updates for other fans arriving. We knew it was raining but many of us had no idea whether it was storm system all afternoon? or was blowing through, what were the chances of a game etc, etc… The weather radar could see the Gulf situation and estimate storm and rain situations.

The problem is that this is such elementary customer service for a classy organization such as the Jays that other reasons were offered by the group I was with. Well they have a thousand hot dogs still to sell. And all that food and beer. Although this had not crossed my mind being the innocent naïve fan that I am, but it was interesting to see the food tents and beer concessions filled with fans who had nothing to do but wait it out for another hour.

The announcement at 1.00 stated that the postponement of the game would be until 2.05pm which was excellent news and certainly surprised many as it looked a hopeless situation. Sure enough true to form there were no more announcements as several hundred fans waited it out and of course spent lots more money!(my cynical friends).

At 2.00pm the covers were still on but there lots of positive signs, the grounds crew were gathering on field and almost right on time the rain stopped and fans started to take their seats. Cito and the crew chief make an inspection of the outfield followed by Boston and then the announcement the game is called.
Not even another hour of clean up and a five inning game?
As I write this two hours following, it is still clear. Not good my friends, we expect far better customer service than that.

Kudos however to a Boston player today. From my vantage point it looked like number 80, who stood outside in the rain signing autographs for about fifteen minutes before 2.00pm, and not only signing, but made sure everyone in that line received an autograph before he ran into clubhouse. He was the ONLY player on either side to be outside in the rain, THAT is class to make sure that every child in that line had an autograph. I wish I had your name son, good on you whomever you were. You may not be a superstar but you are definitely one in the eyes of those little kids that you acknowledged today and were the only classy thing that I saw today and Boston should be proud of you.

Probably not a good time to print the Jays half-term Report so that will wait until tomorrow.

But before I sign off today answer to the question yesterday who is Michael McDade? The young 20 year old Jays player who won the game is such dramatic fashion. Carole Jay sent me this background.(Thanks Carole)
Michael was a 6th round pick in 2007 out of high school from Las Vegas. Six foot one listed at 270 but he looks a lot less than that now. He hit 16 home runs in 108 games in Lansing this year one more than Travis Snider did when he was at Lansing although a year older than Snider.
Switch-hitter better from left side .293, .395, .498. than right .234, .355, .498. And as we said yesterday, still only 20. One to look out for in a couple of years and to follow his progress through the organization. Certainly yesterday he burst on to the scene in dramatic fashion with a 2-2 game but the two run double in the bottom of the tenth to win the game will define him to me.
His beaming face as he was mobbed by his teammates makes one realize why we all follow this great game. Thank you Michael.