Alek Manoah against the Orioles (Mark Blinch / Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays were supposed to be a good team this year. In fact, they were the favorites to win the AL East to start the season. It was the first time in nearly a quarter-century that it had happened. The Yankees are always in the way.
Fast forward almost two months into the season. The Blue Jays are in last place in the AL East. They’ve won two of their last eleven games and they’re just on the other side of another losing series, this time to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Bad years often start with finger pointing
The Blue Jays surprised everyone with a random 19-run victory that stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the growing pile of recent losses. Another win against the Twins meant they had a shot at their first back-to-back wins in two weeks. It wasn’t meant to be. Even Daulton Varsho’s attempted athletic catch pushed a home run out for the other team.
Bad years often start with finger pointing when things don’t go as planned. Throwing people under the bus is usually a last resort, or what happens before people get moved. That hasn’t really happened yet, but patience is wearing thin.
He was one of the best pitchers in baseball
Let’s start with the struggles of the imposing Alek Manoah. He’s 6,6”, 285 lbs., and supposed to be their ace pitcher. Last year he was moving as rapidly in the direction of stardom as you would think is possible for the then 24-year-old. He was one of the best pitchers in baseball and ended with a 2.24 ERA. So far this season, Manoah has a single win in 11 appearances with two quality starts. His ERA is a dreadful 5.53 through 53 innings.
Compared to Manoah, Chris Bassitt is having a much better season to date. He was rocking a cool 3.03 ERA before getting roughed up by the Twins last night. Now he’s sitting at a 3.80 after giving up seven runs. Bassitt was forced out in the fourth inning.
Their hitters just aren’t hitting
The Blue Jays are exceptional at swinging the bat and rank second in the league in hits. Their hitters just aren’t hitting when they need to. They’re currently ranked last in the league with runners left in scoring position.
Despite the lack of faith by certain media outlets and fans, Vaursho’s optimism knows no bounds. “Obviously, it’s just a rough stretch right now, but there’s a lot more baseball.” He said. “We’re going to get out of it.”
The team is at a crossroads. Blue Jays manager John Schneider has been feeling the heat as underperforming managers do. Quitting isn’t an option (yet) so we expect he’ll regroup and get this team over the hump.
I am 75 and diagnosed as having something they call autism. I have followed baseball for 70 years but I still can’t hit a ball off a tee. I think I understand the Problems the Blue Jays are encountering. The power of negative thinking is as powerful as the power of negative thinking.
I believe in Darwin and that my genomes narrate human history; baseball is about magic.
Tomorrow in Toronto I would have a ceremony at Rogers featuring Shamans , exorcists, holler rollers, Imans, Buddhist Monks, Cabbalists and those who know what baseball is all about. Baseball is about magic.
It is a long season and the new rules are revolutionary.
I watch the minors and I know the changes demand revolutionary changes in thinking. I am thinking a flexible roster of 40 with weekly call ups and down and a 26 man MLB roster. The ABS three challenge rule is a winner for me and a loser for many. Bill James would have his own HOF and the theme song would be That Life. Statistics only tell us about yesterday.
There would be very few players from Buffalo on my roster I want the future not the past. I want to see the Fisher Cats given a chance at a week in the majors I want to see the Canadians at triple A learning defense. Baseball is all about “potential” and that begins at conception.
There are no regular ballplayers playing in the minors they are the best of the best already.