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Blue Jays' use of analytics brought into question amid lethargic start

Published April 6, 2024 at 6:06 PM
BY AXEL WILLIAMS
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After a horrendous start from the Toronto Blue Jays bats, it seems as though the analytics approach used by general manager Ross Atkins is being brought into question.

If you have been paying attention to the Blue Jays this season, you would know that their offense has been abysmal. Players like Kevin Kiermaier, Daulton Varsho, and even Cavan Biggio have been swinging well below their averages. It has been hard to watch, especially when players like Davis Schneider are being left out of lineups despite huge at-bats.

"Are the Blue Jays the No. 1 example of analytics run amok? Will they be the first @MLB team with an AI-generated manager? Time to end the Shapiro-Atkins farce. Wake up, Toronto."




Recently, Graeme Wallace of Jays Journal wrote about the Blue Jays and their issues with analytics. As he explains, the team made crucial errors last year in the Wild Card round. Despite this, they have yet to learn from their mistakes, and they continue to go down a bad path.

"The collective brain trust relies heavily on analytics while often ignoring the results on the field. This issue became a hot topic during last year's Wild Card Series loss to the Minnesota Twins when starter José Berrios was lifted after three shutout innings in a crushing, season-ending 2-0 defeat. Now, the club is routinely rolling out the likes of Kevin Kiermaier, Cavan Biggio, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, and Daulton Varsho despite the lack of production from that quartet."

The Blue Jays game against the Yankees tonight will begin at 7 PM Eastern Standard Time. Kevin Gausman will be getting the start, while Kevin Kiermaier is back in the lineup. If you are in Canada, the game will be broadcast on Sportsnet. Additionally, stay tuned to Blue Jays Insider for the latest news and updates from around the baseball world.
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Blue Jays' use of analytics brought into question amid lethargic start

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