The hottest team in baseball hails from the coldest city in the league. As the June sun melts away any remnants of a traditionally pesky and long winter, the Toronto Blue Jays have returned to the offensive juggernaut that the Opening Day lineup boasted.
Perhaps Toronto has seen enough of the beating suffered by the Jays since the climax of their franchise in 1993. After repeating as the World Series champions the same year Kim Campbell ascended to and descended from the role of Prime Minister of Canada, Toronto has not seen any playoff action – the only Major League team that has not made the playoffs since that time.
After 1993, Toronto has witnessed 44 All-Star selections by 26 different Blue Jays, a Rookie of the Year in Eric Hinske (2002), 9 top ten finishes in MVP voting by 6 different Jays, 3 Cy Young winners in Pat Hentgen (1996), Roger Clemens (1997, 1998), and Roy Halladay (2003), and two Hall of Famers in Roberto Alomar and Paul Molitor. The pedigree, however, has not even led to a divisional title.
When the calendar flipped this month, the Jays were ready to make a change, and in response, the baseball gods responded. A downpour forced the first game of the Jays-Nationals series to be postponed to the following day. Although Game 1 of the doubleheader saw the Jays defeated in the only shutout of the season thus far, it was the last time their bats would remain quiet.
In the evening of June 2nd, Lady Luck took up residence in the Blue Jays roster, and watched with delight as the Jays entered Game 2 with an abysmal 23-30 record and returned to their hotel with a 7-3 victory over Max Scherzer. In the next ten games, they would continue to add to the win column, amassing a league-high 11-game win streak.
Any follower of the Blue Jays knows about the pitching woes of the roster since Roy Halladay was traded. In the past 11 games, however, the pitchers have awoken – especially those who previously slumbered in the bullpen.
Only twice in the past 11 games have the Jays’ pitching staff given up more than 5 runs in a game. Coincidentally, both games were the setting of a season-high 13 runs scored by Toronto. While the hurlers have not dominated on the mound, they have reduced their mistakes to allow the hitters to win the game.
Indeed, the offensive game of the Jays has been the driving force behind the streak. No opposing pitcher has been unscathed by the blistering bats of the entire lineup. In 88 runs scored by the Blue Jays during the streak, the damage has been dealt from every spot.
Hits and RBIs from Every Spot in the Jays’ Lineup During 11-Game Win Streak
| Lineup Batting Order | Hits | Runs Batted In |
| 1 | 17 | 11 |
| 2 | 16 | 6 |
| 3 | 11 | 8 |
| 4 | 13 | 11 |
| 5 | 15 | 6 |
| 6 | 15 | 14 |
| 7 | 12 | 8 |
| 8 | 14 | 11 |
| 9 | 10 | 10 |
The bottom of the order has been exceeding expectations, setting up big innings for the team. The even distribution in offensive production has not been odd either. Before Monday’s series against the New York Mets, the Jays lead the Majors in runs scored – by 67 runs. To put that staggering number into perspective, 33 starting pitchers in the league this season have given up fewer than 67 runs, according to SportingCharts.com.
En route to unrivaled offensive numbers, in the Major League this season, the Jays rank first in doubles (134) and RBIs (340), second in batting average (.271), third in hits (587) and home runs (79), and fifth in walks (204). For opposing pitchers, that means there is no rest for the weary.
However, Jays fans might be experiencing a case of déjà vu. After all, the Jays wielded their bats to an 11-game win streak only two seasons prior. When the expectations rose, Toronto has fallen. In the euphoria of victory, anything less than a playoff berth would be a catastrophe. Jobs will be lost, players will be traded, and patience will wear thinner.
At the rate of Toronto’s batting, the Jays can easily lead the division, but despite the inhuman display of offense lately, it is impossible to expect the production to remain at this level for the remainder of the season. Thus, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos must be scouring the free agent market and the rosters of the remaining 29 teams for the crucial additions that will propel the team to success.
The keys remain the same for the GM. Pitching must come first.
The starters have improved lately, and veteran Cy Young winners Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey are starting to lead the young staff to some positive results. The replacement start of Scott Copeland was promising, and with rookie pitcher Aaron Sanchez on the shelf for one more start, Copeland will be on the mound to prove his mettle once more.
The team as a whole, though, has been highly inconsistent, allowing any critic to write off the recent pitching improvement as a mere phase. Brett Cecil as the closer worries fans who remember his two Minor League stints in Las Vegas just three seasons ago. If the Jays are going to improve, Anthopoulos must make some pitching changes.
Begin with the starters. The Jays need a proven ace to lead the rotation, as Buehrle and Dickey can no longer serve as the dominant force they once were. This addition will allow a young pitcher like Drew Hutchison to move to the bullpen, where appearances are made in more low-pressure situations.
The bullpen can also benefit from a shakeup. Young Roberto Osuna has been a pleasant surprise for the Jays, but the team needs more options at the end of the game. Too many times have fans groaned at the announcement of a bullpen pitcher entering the game only to surrender the lead. Toronto cannot simply rely on late-game heroics from the likes of Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson game after game.
Lastly, it is time for Blue Jays manager John Gibbons to earn his money, or be fired. The problem with the bullpen the past two seasons has stemmed from Gibbons’ inability to clearly define roles for the relief pitchers. Setup men and closers have been changed often, and Gibbons has failed to make crisp decisions at the right times, often opting to remain inexplicably patient until the damage is irreversible.
The cries of the fan base have been loud and clear for years, but the front office has not given the supporters any reason to cheer. An unexpected 11-game win streak has reignited passion in Toronto, but unless the Jays can play ball this year after the first week of October, it is truly the last chance for this version of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Until then, We the North runs wild in baseball.