The Toronto Blue Jays numbers across the board are just sad especially when looking at their payroll
Photo credit: Yahoo Sports
At this stage, it feels like manufactured optimism.
That's the narrative being promoted around Blue Jays manager John Schneider, rooted partly in genuine improvement from recent games.
Despite a solidly played weekend series against the Detroit Tigers, one that still resulted in more losses than wins, the underlying frustration with the Blue Jays' season continues.
The Toronto Blue Jays are the definition of mediocrity in the MLB.
There have been flashes of promise that offer real reasons for optimism, even if on some days, that optimism feels like a bit of a reach, writes Rob Longley from Yahoo Sports.
"With a 22-24 record, the Jays are almost the definition of mediocrity at this point, and they have shown it in so many ways. The best record they have had this season is four games above .500, the worst, four games below. Any semblance of a winning streak is usually followed by a skid the other way." -Longley
Inconsistency, especially at the plate, remains the main obstacle holding the Blue Jays back, and last week showcased that issue clearly. After putting up nine runs in consecutive games on Sunday and Tuesday, they managed just 14 runs combined over the next five contests.
Here's what Schneider had to say when asked if his team will ever figure it out.
«It's there. Hopefully it kind of meshes together at some point. It's been a weird (season to date), where it has been one extreme or the other. These guys will figure it out. I think it will come together, and when it does, I think it will be a lot less stressful.» -Schneider
So what about the optimism part?
"There was plenty to like about the Blue Jays' effort against the Tigers, who with a 31-16 record has the best mark in the majors. Schneider's bullpen day strategy on Saturday worked to perfection, for one day at least, allowing observers to ignore that the team is somehow still without a fifth starter. Clutch late-game hits by Alejandro Kirk, Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement (with the walk-off game-winner), showed some admirable competitiveness." -Longley
Longley also writes that another reason for optimism is that many teams in the American League have also been underwhelming, which has kept the Blue Jays within striking distance, meaning a strong run could significantly shift their position in the standings.
Relying on that is a gamble, particularly for a team that's dropped four of its last six games during its longest home stand of the season.
Like Blue Jays' manager John Scheider put in earlier; hopefully, it'll all "mesh together" eventually. There's no other option at this point.
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