Gibbons: I don't think we're perceived well by other teams

Sitting in his office in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium earlier this week, one of the most likable characters in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization opined that, well, his team isn't exactly that well-liked throughout the league.

"To be honest, I don’t think we are well perceived around the game by other teams," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told ESPN's Andrew Marchand. "Would you agree with that?"

Who wouldn't? Contrary to that stereotype of Canadian politeness, the boys from Toronto seem to find themselves in brouhahas wherever they go. Earlier this month, the Blue Jays were involved in one of the craziest baseball melees of the last quarter century that erupted when Rougned Odor clocked Jose Bautista in the face. Gibbons' crew didn't seem to make any friends this past weekend in Minnesota, either, with Twins right-hander Phil Hughes throwing at Josh Donaldson twice in Sunday's series finale. Last year, as they pummeled their way to an American League East title, the Blue Jays exchanged some hostilities with the Kansas City Royals during an acrimonious series in early August, too.

So, uh, what's the deal, skip?

"We have some big personalities, some of the better players in the league," Gibbons said. "I think they irritate people. I think there is some envy on the other side, too. We have some guys who wear their emotions on their sleeves. I'm trying to be politically correct."

According to backup catcher Josh Thole, though, there's more to it than that. It isn't just that the Blue Jays' emotional style of play grates on other teams. It can't be, he insisted, because he's seen opponents chirp at reigning American League MVP Josh Donaldson after grounding out.

"I'm sitting on the bench and I’ve seen guys when J.D. puts his head down and jogs and guys from the other bench, you can see their reaction, 'Nice hustle.' 'Way to go.' 'Nice job,'" Thole said, before defending his teammate. "That's the MVP last year."

Andrew Miller, the New York Yankees' closer-turned-setup-man, offered further insight into Toronto's PR problem, suggesting that the Blue Jays' combination of talent and overt confidence makes them an easy team to dislike.

"They are a good team, and they know it," Miller said. "Everybody is different. Not everybody is the Yankees. Not everybody is the Blue Jays. It works for them. Hey, they won last year. They got within striking distance of winning it all. They are doing something right. It fits their personalities over there."

Isn't it strange, though, for a 23-25 team to be so universally detested? Well, in the estimation of Marcus Stroman, Toronto's ebullient right-hander, the Blue Jays aren't actually the sub-.500 team that's currently mired in fourth place in the AL East.

"We are not exactly where we want to be right now, but I have a very strong feeling by the end of the year we’ll be exactly where we want to be," Stroman said.