Game 7 Reflections: Baseball, Life, and the Power of Resilience - A Letter From Bob File

Game 7 of the World Series last night was everything baseball is meant to be. Momentum swings. Pressure pitches. Big moments that define players and franchises. The Blue Jays jumped ahead, the Dodgers battled back, and an extra inning home run sealed a championship that will be remembered for a long time.

Watching it brought me right back to the mound in my playing days with Toronto. There is nothing like the intensity of those moments. The stadium shaking. Every pitch feeling like it carries the weight of the world. Heart rate spiking, but mind needing to stay quiet. You learn quickly that talent alone does not carry you. Mental toughness, belief, and preparation are what keep you locked in when everything feels like it is moving at 100 miles per hour.

Game 7 Reflections: Baseball, Life, and the Power of Resilience

Last night, I saw a lot of that same mental strength on the field. When the Jays jumped out early, they played fearless. When the Dodgers fought back late, they trusted their preparation. That is baseball at its purest. Not perfect. Not predictable. A test of who can stay composed the longest and who can respond when adversity shows up.

I remember facing those moments on the mound. Bases loaded, two outs, tying run at third, power hitter stepping in. There were times I dominated and times I got hit. What mattered most was how I responded to the next pitch, and the next outing, and the next season. That is the lesson baseball teaches you over and over. You never lose unless you stop learning and stop showing up.

Life works the same way. We all go through extra-inning battles. We all give up a late home run at some point. The scoreboard does not always reflect the work you put in. Sometimes it does not feel fair. But greatness never comes from a smooth path. It comes from the willingness to compete again tomorrow, even when yesterday hurt.

What stood out last night was not only the talent, but the courage to stay in the fight. Young players stepping up. Veterans are staying calm. Teams refusing to let the moment break them. That is what sports are really about. It is why I still love this game as much today as I did when I first put on a Blue Jays uniform. Baseball reminds us that pressure is a privilege. It means the moment matters.

Today, I carry those lessons into everything I do. Stay poised. Stay competitive. Trust your training. Lift your teammates. Respond stronger than before when life knocks you down. And always swing for something worth fighting for.

Congrats to both clubs for a game and a series that showed the heart of baseball. And to every person chasing big goals, remember this: champions are not defined by the trophies. They are defined by the preparation, the perseverance, and the belief that no matter the count, you always have another pitch in you.

Thanks,

Bob