OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - A Major League season is like Alberta weather: wait 10 minutes and it's bound to change. Few teams exemplify this notion like the current assembly of Blue Jays.
Think back about two weeks when their situation was a mess. On a Thursday night at the Rogers Centre, the Jays rallied to tie with three runs in the ninth against Tampa Bay. A 10th-inning Alex Rios triple with none out set the table for what should have been a stolen victory. But Rios was still standing there when the third out was recorded, and the Rays won in 13. Over the next three games in Cleveland - all losses - they racked up a grand total of one run.
Suddenly, things changed. With a sweep of the Royals secured Monday, the Blue Jays have won 11 of their last 14 games, and the load hasn't been carried by one or two men. Many of the victories can be traced to a single, successful plate appearance from a buffet of different players. For example:
- Aaron Hill's 2-out, 2-run, 10th-inning single in Cleveland.
- Matt Stairs' grand slam against the Twins' Boof Bonser.
- Rod Barajas' grand slam in Philadelphia.
- Shannon Stewart's critical 2-out, 2-run double the next day against the Phillies.
- Lyle Overbay's solo home run ensures a one-run triumph over the Angels.
- Brad Wilkerson's grand slam helps Jesse Litsch defeat Kansas City.
As for pitching, well, little has changed; note Roy Halladay and Litsch twirling back-to-back complete games on the weekend, or B.J. Ryan's refusal to blow a save.
A day after posting an entry from Cleveland two weeks ago, I poured over your responses and noticed a consistent taste of frustration and disenchantment. How do you feel now? Let me know below.
