It’s my Parting Shot to wonder about three things that are holding the Toronto Blue Jays back from being back in the Major League Baseball playoffs – as of now…..
One, obviously, is injuries! Catcher Alejandro Kirk has been out for almost two-and-a-half months with a broken thumb, centre fielder Daulton Varsho can’t swing a bat right know because of a recent wrist hurt. Outfielder Nathan Lukes has been dogged by various issues, but appears to be okay now. Pitching-wise, the starting rotation was supposed to be Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Jose Berrios and Max Scherzer. Only Gausman has been able to take the ball every fifth game with Ponce and Scherzer done for the season while Cease and Scherzer are set to return tonight and tomorrow, respectively. There are silver linings to all the injured, key pieces to the team. The emergence of catcher Brandon Valenzuela plus outfielders Jesus Sanchez and Yohendrik Pinango – as well as bulk relief pitcher Spencer Miles – has allowed the Blue Jays to not sink to the bottom of the American League East and well out of post-season contention! But, it would be nice to have some continuity and be injury-free for the rest of the season!!
Secondly, and as much as I dislike saying this because he has been a good and productive Major Leaguer for most of his career, is the tail-off in performance of closer Jeff Hoffman! Opponents are hitting .313 against him, he’s blown three of eight save opportunities and has an overly-inflated E-R-A at almost six-point-four! He can’t be used in high-leverage situations anymore! Again, the silver lining is Louis Varland has become the stopper and Tyler Rogers has been everything as advertised as a set-up guy – but Hoffman, unfortunately, has to go!!
Thirdly, there has to be concern over the lack of power and production from Vladimir Guerrero Junior! His .282 average is acceptable, but he’s ninth on the Jays in home runs with only three and fifth in runs batted in with 25! After what he did in Toronto’s run to the World Series in the playoffs, Vladdy was supposed to be stepping up into M-V-P contender status – what with him being in the first season of a 14-year, 500 million-dollar contract extension he signed last April! He says he, quote, always tell the guys, don’t worry about me, I’m going to be good. When I get hot, I’ll get hot. That can’t start to happen soon enough – along with the other stuff I’ve mentioned!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again…..
