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On the occasion of Canada Day, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons wanted to congratulate his Canadian friends on their "independence."

Owing to our limitless national small-man syndrome, it had to be pointed out that we are not, technically, independent. The Queen and all that. This involved a short primer about 1867.

Gibbons is an enthusiastic student of history. He was all solicitous attention until someone went there.

Someone: "That was about 50 years after we beat the Americans."

Gibbons: "I don't think you want to try that again."

Commence aux festivales! That's what Canada Day is all about at the old ballpark now – us trying to out-America America.

This year, they unfurled a flag so large, they could not open the roof of the Rogers Centre, for fear it would catch the wind like a sail and go flying into the rafters with several dozen unlucky bearers still hanging on.

Elsewhere, the twin polarities of the Canadian experience – Don Cherry and a guy in dress greens – were doing the opening honours. The soldier, Lieutenant-General Guy Thibault, gave Gibbons a medallion of his office – vice-chief of the defence staff.

Gibbons kept the bauble in his pocket for the entire game. For the next little while, he might want to hang on to it. On Wednesday, we saw the Blue Jays at the absolute best they can be in an 11-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

The win was so comprehensive, so lacking any need for explanation; Gibbons began his post-game presser with, "Are we going to start with the Phil Kessel trade?"

First, starter Mark Buehrle, who really ought to be given to science rather than allowed to retire. The years pass, and Buerhle just gets better.

Ahead of the game, general manager Alex Anthopoulos was musing about the future of touted prospect Daniel Norris, who may return from Buffalo in the next few days for a spot start. Though he's only 22 and ought to have expected it, Norris was apparently emotionally unwound by an early season demotion to the minors. Anthopoulos said he's only just starting to get over it.

Perhaps they ought to have Norris spend a little time in Buehrle's company. There wouldn't be any talking, but nor would there be any worrying. Buehrle wears his constructive apathy like armour. He's so blasé he might be legally deceased.

On Wednesday, Buehrle allowed only one run over seven innings, running his record to 9-4. He has the knack of not feeling the need to pitch to a score. Win or lose, Buehrle is indifferent to results. They pay him to pitch, so he pitches.

He's toweringly disinterested in engaging questions about why, aged 36, he is still so effective.

"I'm feeling good. I can't tell you why I'm feeling good," Buehrle shrugged. "I'm not going to try to figure out why … I don't like to ask too many questions."

Yes, questions. They ruin everything. In the words of one of the great men of our age: "You see, the problem is communication. Too much communication."

After taking a few days off, Buehrle's outing was overshadowed – again – by the offence.

The Jays scored seven runs in the first two innings – as many as they'd scored in the previous four games. If it were possible to feel sorry for anyone from Boston – and it isn't – you'd have felt sorry for Red Sox starter Rick Porcello. He gave up three home runs in those two innings, and looked like he was seriously considering pulling himself.

Toronto hit five home runs in all, the most remarkable of those by infrequent first baseman Justin Smoak. His second long ball of the day ended up in an empty luxury box on the fourth deck.

When Edwin Encarnacion pointed out the landing spot to teammate Dioner Navarro, Navarro crossed his arms over his chest in a 'Saints preserve us!' gesture. It was that long.

This was the 14th game of the year in which Toronto scored at least 10 runs. That matches its best mark since 2009. And we're still nearly two weeks from the all-star break.

"In 2010, when I was with Texas, being in that offence, it was really good [fifth best in the majors]. This one's a lot better than that one," Smoak said.

Toronto now leads the major leagues by nearly 70 total runs. Despite their up-and-down pitching, the Jays maintain the second-best run differential in the game.

While we're celebrating that, we might recall that the 1931 Yankees – Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, et al – scored 1,067 runs in 153 games. That's an average of nearly 7 runs a game (Toronto stands around 5.5 a game).

Those Yankees still finished 131/2 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics and missed the playoffs.

So … pitching.

On that score, Anthopoulos said he continues to explore trades. He is still more interested in a starter than bullpen help, but he'll take both if he can. He isn't inclined to exchange prospects for a rental, but he'll listen to all offers. He isn't close to doing anything. He anticipates nothing – and wouldn't tell us if he did.

So, as far as the future is concerned for this ball team, more of the same.

But it was easy to forget all that amid the ease of a sunny day at the ballpark, and a little harmless jingoism.

When it goes right for this team, man, they are fun to watch.

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