So just like that April 1st has turned into mid-July, thus signalling MLB's All-Star Break. Heading into the break, we see an all-too-familiar snapshot of the AL East Division standings. Red Sox and Yankees 1-2, Rays 3rd, Jays 4th and the hapless Orioles 5th/last. The Jays enter the break with a 45-47 record after reeling off three straight against the Indians. In fact, they should be .500 (46-46) had they swept the Indians as they should have after blowing a comfortable 4-0 lead in the first game of the series.
Actually, if you dig deeper, the team many thought would be hard-pressed to win 70 games this year should in fact be well above .500 and consequently right in the mix with the division's "heavy hitters". How so? Well, out of the 47 losses, 28% have come off of blown saves! 28%!!!!! That works out to 13 losses (in total, 15 games have been blown, signalling the Jays' inability to muster up that killer instinct that's been sorely lacking almost two decades now). Had even half of those games been nailed down as they should have, they'd be only a handful of games out. To note, at the beginning of June the Jays were 3.5 games out of the division lead. Today, 11.
So wherein lies the problem?
- Frank "I put the F in F U" Francisco has not come as advertised. He's conjuring up images of a limp-armed B.J. Ryan and his penchant to allow the opposing team to get right back in it.
Actually, if you dig deeper, the team many thought would be hard-pressed to win 70 games this year should in fact be well above .500 and consequently right in the mix with the division's "heavy hitters". How so? Well, out of the 47 losses, 28% have come off of blown saves! 28%!!!!! That works out to 13 losses (in total, 15 games have been blown, signalling the Jays' inability to muster up that killer instinct that's been sorely lacking almost two decades now). Had even half of those games been nailed down as they should have, they'd be only a handful of games out. To note, at the beginning of June the Jays were 3.5 games out of the division lead. Today, 11.
So wherein lies the problem?
- Frank "I put the F in F U" Francisco has not come as advertised. He's conjuring up images of a limp-armed B.J. Ryan and his penchant to allow the opposing team to get right back in it.
- Jon Rauch has had his moments. Some days he's throwing darts, the next it's balls on a 'T'. I can't help but wonder ever since the first pitch I saw him throw as a Blue Jay -- how in the world does the tallest pitcher/player in MLB history throw no harder than 90 MPH?! I was expecting a flame-thrower. Those tattoos...that stare in picking up the signs...that behemoth presence -- all for naught.
- Jason Frasor -- yeah, he just doesn't do it for me. He's as unstable and scary to watch as Brandon League was *shudder*.
- Marc Rzepczynski is being groomed as Scott Downs lite, and he's better suited as a shut-down/set-up guy. Won't fault him, but he's not the solution.
What the Jays, and Alex Anthopoulos, need to do is find a closer. That should be the first priority in all honestly. Imagine having a Rivera/Papelbon/K-Rod-type closer who you know will pretty much nail it down for you? As stated, the Jays would be right in the thick of things if that were the case. They haven't had anything automatic since Duane Ward and Tom Henke back in the World Series days. We've seen a guy like Billy Koch come out like a gangbuster only to fizzle out a short while later. B.J. Ryan I have no clue how he didn't get hit around harder. And most recently, Kevin Gregg seems to have left some of his aura behind.
Ideally, if Dustin McGowan is ever able to battle back from the long road of recovery, he may fill that need. But that's a lot to expect from a guy who has been through a lot in the last few years. The fact he may ever pitch in a big league situation again is a feat in itself. But if, and that's a huge if, he can come back, he could take the job and run with it. Other than that, the team either has to go the trade route (Heath Bell from San Diego?) or groom one. I know it's not something teams look for at the draft, but perhaps taking a flier on a guy in a later round who you think can be tailored as a closer is something that should be considered. I know, it's like an NHL team drafting a guy to become its 3rd line checking centre, but it's a position that may end up being just as important in the long run.
After all, how many more games (and ultimately seasons) can be pissed away before saving those who save?
- Jason Frasor -- yeah, he just doesn't do it for me. He's as unstable and scary to watch as Brandon League was *shudder*.
- Marc Rzepczynski is being groomed as Scott Downs lite, and he's better suited as a shut-down/set-up guy. Won't fault him, but he's not the solution.
What the Jays, and Alex Anthopoulos, need to do is find a closer. That should be the first priority in all honestly. Imagine having a Rivera/Papelbon/K-Rod-type closer who you know will pretty much nail it down for you? As stated, the Jays would be right in the thick of things if that were the case. They haven't had anything automatic since Duane Ward and Tom Henke back in the World Series days. We've seen a guy like Billy Koch come out like a gangbuster only to fizzle out a short while later. B.J. Ryan I have no clue how he didn't get hit around harder. And most recently, Kevin Gregg seems to have left some of his aura behind.
Ideally, if Dustin McGowan is ever able to battle back from the long road of recovery, he may fill that need. But that's a lot to expect from a guy who has been through a lot in the last few years. The fact he may ever pitch in a big league situation again is a feat in itself. But if, and that's a huge if, he can come back, he could take the job and run with it. Other than that, the team either has to go the trade route (Heath Bell from San Diego?) or groom one. I know it's not something teams look for at the draft, but perhaps taking a flier on a guy in a later round who you think can be tailored as a closer is something that should be considered. I know, it's like an NHL team drafting a guy to become its 3rd line checking centre, but it's a position that may end up being just as important in the long run.
After all, how many more games (and ultimately seasons) can be pissed away before saving those who save?
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