Alex Anthopoulos' departure from the Toronto Blue Jays sent shock waves through the baseball world Thursday morning, and nowhere was that more evident than on social media.
Amid the initial bedlam, there were some thoughtful reactions:
The minute Rogers hired a baseball man for this position, especially one with no relation with Anthopoulos, this became a possibility.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) October 29, 2015
I love AA, and I respect the hell out of him for his Cassell-esque cojones in the draft and in trades, but he's not irreplaceable. Sorry.
— Robemaster General (@KyleMatte) October 29, 2015
Seriously, I love AA, and him screaming to the team after clinching the division will stay with me forever, but you're all being nuts.
— Robemaster General (@KyleMatte) October 29, 2015
Has anybody ever won Executive of the Year and been unemployed? Because that's almost definitely going to happen now.
— Joshua (@House4545) October 29, 2015
Call it the AA paradox: He likely doesn't go all-in if he knew he was staying, but it's the Jays success afterwards fuelling the outcry.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 29, 2015
Very odd to let Anthopoulos make so many franchise-altering moves, see the team reach the ALCS and then allow him to walk away.
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) October 29, 2015
There was comedy:
We don't know why Alex Anthopoulos declined a contract extension. So you can say we are asking "Turn Down For What?"
— Minor Leaguer (@Minor_Leaguer) October 29, 2015
Should the Jays just promote bullpen catcher Alex Andreopoulos and hope nobody notices?
— Ben Ennis (@BennisSnet) October 29, 2015
Well, at least now AA can reveal what Twitter handle he’s been using all along.
— Chirpy McChirpson (@bluejayschirps) October 29, 2015
Some fans were simply in denial:
I am not ready for the Alex Anthopoulos era to be over.
— Isaac (@IB_BlueJays) October 29, 2015
I'm in absolute shock about this Anthopoulos news... I can't believe that. It makes no sense.
— Charlton Correia (@Correia47) October 29, 2015
I honestly can't believe that Alex Anthopoulos just left the Blue Jays.
— Greg (@Gregory_Pratt) October 29, 2015
Baseball executives were reportedly equally surprised:
Scouts/front office officials kinda shocked/dismayed by Alex Anthopoulos' departure in Toronto. "This is horrific" is how one describes it.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) October 29, 2015
Finally, gratitude prevailed:
I wish you could have stayed longer, but, thank you, Anthopoulos, for all you did for the #BlueJays while you were here. #ComeTogether
— Fredric Abalos (@thatasianfritz) October 29, 2015
I'll always be thanking Alex for bringing excitement back to the Jays, not all his moves worked but he got people interested.
— Bluebird Banter (@bluebirdbanter) October 29, 2015
