This is probably the highest my team sports hope will get all year.

In a few hours the Blue Jays, who finished atop the American League, will begin the ALDS against the Yankees. When they started the season I didn’t picture them winning the AL and getting a bye into the second round, but they made believers out of many as the season wore on. Oddsmakers have them losing to the Yanks, but I have hope.

In four days the Montreal Canadiens will begin their new NHL season. They surprised many by sneaking into the playoffs last year. The consensus seems to be that they might just sneak in again, but maybe they can take another step forward? I have hope.

Two days after that, the Raptors kick off their exhibition season. I’m under no delusion the Raps will even contend for the playoffs this year, but for growth and development…I have hope.

There’s a pretty good chance that my collective hope for these teams will never be higher than it is today. So I choose to be optimistic, even if cautiously so. For all the long shots out there today.