Through the first 10 games in the season, the Toronto Blue Jays were striking out both at the plate and on the mound, a combination that led the team to an abysmal 3-7 record. With 2 series sweeps within the past ten games, the Blue Jays appear to be turning their season around.
Coming into the 2019 season, the expectations were not set very high for the Toronto Blue Jays. The team is technically in a rebuild, with many of the veterans being shipped away for prospects and to allow the younger players space to play at the MLB (even though they paid teams to take their players).
The organization is also situated in a tough AL East division, with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees being stacked throughout the lineup and the Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a successful rebuild/trade system that has made the team a powerhouse within the division. Talk about tough odds for both the Jays and the Baltimore Orioles (who are also not expected to compete this season).
All in all, the Toronto Blue Jays were not expected to do well this season, and the start of the season went just how fans were expecting it too (maybe even a little worse).
Through ten games in the season, the Blue Jays led the league in both strikeouts at the plate (as a batter) and strikeouts by pitchers. A rare combination of statistics, and although their pitchers kept the score to around 3-5 runs for the opposing team almost every game, the Jays just could not score any runs and left their starting rotation hung out to dry on numerous occasions.
The team was looking to be in rough shape for the year. Many of the everyday starters on the team were batting below the Mendoza line, the pitching staff lost some key players in Ryan Borucki and Matt Shoemaker, and some players were brought in via trade and really weren’t (and still are not) contributing.
But then the team went to Minnesota and that is where it all changed.
Since the team went on a 7 game road trip against the Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics, they have been lights out with a 9-3 record. They even swept the Athletics twice within that stint, both at home and on the road.
Players were starting to get their swings and timing back, and there started to be contributions from bench/utility type players like Eric Sogard, who is currently swinging one of the hottest bat’s in the league.
The pitching staff has been keeping the games to around 3-5 runs just like they were previously this season, but now they are getting support from their position players.
The Toronto Blue Jays even added some extra firepower to the lineup and called up baseball’s number 1 prospect in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a move that has really sparked the team since his debut last Friday.
Now I know what you are thinking as the reader. Yes, the Blue Jays have won some games recently but they really haven’t played the top teams in the league.
And you are absolutely right! But you have to remember that this Jays team was not supposed to compete and were not supposed to win as many games as they have.
They currently sit at .500 through 28 games, and if they can keep this pace, the organization will destroy any expectations that were set out for them before the season began.
It gets even better, considering the team is currently rebuilding and will only be bringing up more potential assets who are not only good players, but also controllable for a long time.
The only downfall with this scenario is that fan favorites will most likely be sent packing this season, while some already have (sorry Kevin Pillar).
It is also could result in some loses for the team as prospects start getting comfortable at the major league level, but this would just fall under what the team was expected to do this season. No matter what, the Jays can only really move forward from here!
Whatever happens, this season will be a true test for a team that was told at the start of the season that they will not be competitive in a division dominated by the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees. With the Sox off to a poor start and Yankees having injuries galore, the Toronto Blue Jays could be a sleeper team to keep your eye on this season.