Following a fairly busy off-season for Anthopoulous and Co., it looks like we are finally starting to get something out of these massive trade manoeuvres and big free agent signings. After a relatively slow start to the season, the Jays have bounced back over the past 3 weeks, winning 14 of their past 17 games, storming to within 2.5 games of the A.L. East Division lead (the Rays are in first, with the Yankees a mere game behind them, while the Orioles are just one game behind the Jays).
The bats are going, and that killer batting lineup we’ve been expecting to see since spring training has finally taken shape, if not quite in the way we might have expected. Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin, the two major off-season acquisitions have shown why the Jays’ brass went after them. Donaldson is hitting .305, while Martin has had some phenomenal timely hits, including a home run in extras against the Red Sox to steal a victory. Not to mention that he also happened hit another timely home run literally the next day.
While the new boys have certainly been good, we can’t neglect the old crew either. Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Dioner Navarro have also played well, as has the lower part of the order. Kevin Pillar has finally showed up, consistently manufacturing hits and providing heads-up base running and highlight-reel defence. Chris Colabello has robbed previously injured/possible still injured off-season signing Michael Saunders of his job in left field. Even Ryan Goins has pinched in a bit offensively, in addition to his sensational Johnny Mac-like defence at second.
Things are rosy as far as offence is concerned. Starting pitching has generally also been solid, though of course there is still room for improvement; many starters have not lasted more than 5 innings (just enough for a win). Regardless, youngster Aaron Sanchez has improved tremendously this month from May (it’s amazing what happens when you have run support), while newcomer Marco Estrada has proved his worth, running a no-hitter into the eighth inning in the series opener against the Orioles.
With bats and starters going the way they are, it’s not too much of a surprise that this group is playing great baseball, raking in win after win. Which is what makes it interesting to analyze what happens when they have lost.
The sore issue is the bullpen. Historically, Jays manager John Gibbons’ inherent strength has been relief pitching… so what gives? The answer: He has next to no pieces to work with. Never mind not having a designated closer, we don’t even have a designated set-up man, nor do we have a reliever we can rely on to eat up innings if a starter runs out of gas early. When the Jays lose, or when they come close to losing, it is very often attributable to relief pitching.
The starter leaves the game, maybe with one batter on base. Next thing you know, bases are loaded and the tying run is at the plate with no outs, while the next poor sod is hastily warming up in the bullpen. We can’t get relievers in and out fast enough. And it’s costing us games.
Take Aaron Loup for example. Though he’s been reliable in the past, it’s been the polar opposite this season. In the second game of a three-game set against the O’s, Loup took the mound in the ninth inning, only to let the O’s cash in the go-ahead run, leaving runners at second and third. Ryan Tepera came on in relief of Loup, promptly giving up a double to pseudo Jay-killer Manny Machado and two more Baltimore runs for good measure. In the likely scenario that you’ve never heard of this guy, the Jays selected him in the 19th round of the MLB draft in 2009… that tells you all you need to know right there. Final score? 5-2 Baltimore. Why? Lack of good relief pitching.
The A.L. East is a tough division. The standings are tight, with four teams all within four games of the lead. If we’re going to have meaningful baseball in September, two things have to happen: One, Castro needs to regain his spring-training form and make it back up to the big leagues, bringing more heat out of the bullpen with fellow youngster Roberto Osuna, whose been a bright spot in an otherwise dark place. Second, the Jays brass need to sign a reliable reliever. Either a designated, experienced closer on the order of Jonathan Papelbon (formerly on the Red Sox, now with the Phillies and only signed through the end of this year), or a reliever capable of eating away multiple innings (though this is typically much harder to find). Else, the existing bullpen will have to find a way to stay competitive and reel in games.
The O’s, the Yanks and the Rays all have superior relief. And so far it’s shown. Not just in the standings, which are very close, but in divisional games, which are always critical for making the postseason. If Anthopoulous is serious about really “going for it,” he should try to trade for Papelbon before he becomes a free agent. If he performs well, and Rogers is willing to cough up a ton of money, then we’ll be set for the next couple years too. Shouldn’t be too hard considering the Martin signing…
Regardless, if the Jays do not improve in relief pitching, they simply will not make it to the postseason. There is still a piece missing, and it needs to be addressed. With everything else clicking, it would be a real shame to waste this potentially fantastic opportunity.
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