It’s my Parting Shot to wonder if the Blue Jays are for real this season, or just a mid-season flash in the pan…..
I went on Major League Baseball’s website this morning and read this headline…
Not just Vladdy: Loperfido and Lukes lead Blue Jays to 9th straight W.
M-L-B-dot-com’s Jays’ reporter Keegan Matheson relayed the story from yesterday, prior to opening a road series in Chicago against the White Sox, in which Toronto superstar first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Junior hung around the periphery of the pre-game media scrum with manager John Schneider and asked his skipper how he felt the team was playing. To which Schneider replied, quote, I love the way that everyone’s contributing. It’s not just you every night. It’s not just the same guy every night.
Which is bang-on correct, Mr. Manager!
Vladdy is having a quality season – a .277 average, 12 home runs, 44 R-B-I, an .824 O-P-S, which is on-base percentage plus slugging percentage in which .800 is considered to be above average. Numbers and performance that are good enough to be voted as the American League’s starting first baseman for the upcoming All-Star Game – but not even M-V-P-type numbers for the Jays!
Thirty-five-year-old veteran outfielder, and moreso D-H this season, George Springer has had a revival of his Houston form when he was a part of the Astros’ World Series-winning team in 2017. Springer leads the Blue Jays in home runs with 16, R-B-I with 53, tied for most stolen bases with 10 with Andres Gimenez and has a .276 batting average. He’d be my pick for Jays’ M-V-P.
A healthy Bo Bichette at shortstop has been massive for Toronto’s success while portly Alejandro Kirk continues to bely his appearance and hit .300 from the catcher position. The rise from prospect to daily contributor for Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement has been shocking – as has the bullpen work of people like Brendon Little, Mason Fluharty, Brayden Fisher and Yariel Rodriguez! The veteran starters – Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman and Jose Berrios – have been as advertised, but lefty Eric Lauer has been a revelation!
It all adds up to a current nine-game winning streak, that will end likely sooner than later, for a 53-and-38 record and a three-and-a-half game lead atop the A-L East over the evil empire known as the New York Yankees. There’s still 71 games left to go in the regular season and the question remains – is what Toronto is doing now sustainable through the next six weeks worth of dog days of summer and into a pennant race in September? Blue Jays’ fans say yes, with fingers crossed!
I’m saying I’m not convinced yet, not by a long shot!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
