Jose Bautista’s game-winning home run will be remembered as the defining moment of the ALDS and one of the biggest homers in Toronto Blue Jays history.
But there’s plenty more to discuss after a dramatic five-game series against the Texas Rangers. Here are some takeaways from a memorable series, starting with none other than Bautista…
Let there be bat flips
The Rangers didn’t like Bautista’s bat flip, and who can blame them? They lost the ALDS in painful fashion after taking a two‐game lead in the series.
But as Jason Kipnis said, if you can’t flip your bat after hitting a no-doubt, three-run homer in an emotionally charged elimination game in front of a sellout home crowd, what’s the right time? Bautista earned this one, and he made the most of it.
Late-inning dominance
Roberto Osuna and Aaron Sanchez combined for 11 innings of scoreless relief in the ALDS, with Osuna pitching in four games and Sanchez pitching in all five.
That makes 75.1 innings on the season for Osuna, including 69.2 innings in the regular season and 5.2 scoreless innings in the ALDS. Along the way he’s become Toronto’s most trusted reliever, calm under pressure and fully capable of retiring hitters on both sides of the plate.
“We’ve pushed him, there’s no doubt about it, and he’s responded,” pitching coach Pete Walker said.
The same can be said of Sanchez, who has now logged 97.2 innings on the season. Both pitchers will figure prominently in the ALCS, a sign that the future is now for Toronto’s young pitching.
Left-handed questions
The Blue Jays lost Brett Cecil to a calf tear and Aaron Loup to a family issue, meaning manager John Gibbons had no lefty relief against a team stacked with lefty bats. The Blue Jays got by, but as long as Cecil remains sidelined, Toronto’s bullpen simply won’t be the same.
“He’s been so good for us, arguably the best reliever in baseball the last three months,” Gibbons said.
There’s still a little hope for the Blue Jays, as Cecil hasn’t ruled out a World Series return.
Beltre steps up
There’s nothing admirable about playing through pain when you’re unable to contribute, but Adrian Beltre’s toughness paid off for the Rangers in the ALDS. The third baseman contributed on defence and at the plate, bare‐handing a bunt attempt while going four-for-nine with a walk.
He wasn’t the only Rangers infielder to step up, either. Second baseman Rougned Odor posted an .881 OPS with a home run and some aggressive baserunning.
Price’s performance
Here’s a tough one to make sense of: David Price allowed eight earned runs in 10 innings against the Rangers. Does he really struggle in the playoffs? Do the Blue Jays know something we don’t? Is Price tired after 230 innings? There are still more questions than answers.
Unless it’s all less complicated than it seems. Price led the AL with a 2.45 ERA and might win the AL Cy Young. Even if he’s battling some fatigue (a reasonable guess considering the Blue Jays skipped his final start of the regular season and seem intent on using him carefully) the bigger picture suggests he has ace‐level ability.
Don’t count Price out, even if the results haven’t been there in October. As Johnny Cueto’s return to form shows, we write off struggling aces at our own risk.
