TORONTO – In the two weeks preceding this 13-game, measuring-stick stretch leading into the all-star break, the Toronto Blue Jays went 5-7 yet still made up three games in the American League East standings. That’s why John Gibbons can say things like the division is “up for grabs,” and “we’re pretty fortunate to be where we’re at right now” earnestly.
Sometimes, there is little difference between such statements and manure. For the moment, Gibbons isn’t fertilizing lawns.
Pretty soon, though, he might be, as the questions about what to make of the 2017 Blue Jays, to some degree, will be answered over the coming weeks, when they face many of the teams standing between them and a third straight post-season berth. With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming, they could be buyers, could be sellers or could stand pat and run with what they’ve got.
Plans are being made for all scenarios.
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Some of the ills that have plagued the Blue Jays through a 36-40 start to the campaign were on display in a series-opening, 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Kevin Gausman, unsteady versus the rest of the AL, continued his mastery over Toronto with 5.1 shutout innings aided mightily by reliever Mychal Givens — who escaped a two-out, one-out jam in the sixth. Kendrys Morales fouled off a meaty 1-1 fastball with the bases loaded before chasing strike three to end the Blue Jays’ best chance at a rally.
Morales also struck out with a full count on the second and Justin Smoak, who opened the inning with a walk and was running on the pitch, was easily thrown out at second base to snuff out another uprising.
Without the tools to create runs – Statcast’s new footspeed metric Sprint Speed, measuring feet-per-second in a player’s fastest one-second window, was introduced Tuesday and only three Blue Jays were faster than the league average of 27 feet-per-second – they generated little other offence to speak of until Troy Tulowitzki’s two-out solo shot in the ninth.
Add in that Joe Biagini couldn’t outpitch Gausman, allowing a two-run double to Mark Trumbo in the first – the 46th time in 76 games the Blue Jays have surrendered a run in the first – and an RBI single to Adam Jones in the third over 5.1 workmanlike innings, and it becomes very tough to win.
“I felt like it was a struggle for me to make sure I was limiting the damage and staying efficient after that first inning,” said Biagini. “I felt like I battled well for the rest of the game, tried to keep the runs to a minimum, more or less. But I think staying on the attack is something I need to remind myself of, especially against a good lineup like that.”
Yet, the flip side to things for the Blue Jays is when they click at the plate, the way they did during an 18-10 May, they can ride the longball to lots of success. The home run capability up and down the lineup – their 102 homers are responsible for 172 of their 325 runs (52.9 per cent) – is why Gibbons says, “I still hold on to the fact that we’re due.”
A boost to the rotation could come from Aaron Sanchez, who threw 66 pitches over 3.2 innings in his first rehab start with single-A Dunedin on Tuesday, and could return next week if a planned outing for triple-A Buffalo on Sunday goes well.
Should Sanchez return to the rotation with his blister issues behind him, a number of opportunities would be opened up for GM Ross Atkins, who could simply move Biagini back to a relief role as a way to bolster the bullpen, or perhaps try to trade a surplus starter like Francisco Liriano for help elsewhere.
“Knowing the talent of the starting staff here and hoping everyone is healthy because that’s what is best for our team, obviously everyone is rooting for (Sanchez) to keep that finger healthy and strong, and to get back as soon as possible,” said Biagini. “I’m just trying to maintain the mindset of being confident, being aggressive but also being thankful and grateful for this God-blessing of getting the chance to play in the major leagues and start in the major leagues.”
Rule 5 pick Glenn Sparkman is expected to join the team once his rehab assignment expires Sunday and could turn into another asset. Since recently being moved to the bullpen, he’s been pitching at 95 m.p.h. and that can play if he’s commanding the ball.
None of that matters, however, if the Blue Jays don’t start winning.
For context’s sake, the 1989 Blue Jays – another team considered a contender that flopped out of the gate, sitting at 12-24 on May 14 – were also 36-40 through 76 games.
That club didn’t climb over .500 for good until Aug. 15 at 60-59, using a 29-14 run through the end of the season to wrest the AL East from the Orioles.
The calculations were different then, and the Blue Jays had good reason to be patient with that group, which was starting to integrate new players to the core. The 2017 team, largely the same it’s been over the past three years, may need to earn itself that same rope.
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