The Struggles continue

Wow, where has all the offense gone?? I would like to know as much as you as the Jays are really struggling for the big hit.

Runners in scoring position is currently atrocious, since April 22 the Jays are 15-76 with RISP!! This might explain why they are unable to score runs. We know the offense & big hits have to turn around sometime right? Maybe they are putting too much pressure on themselves as expectations are high from last year. The weather is starting to heat up, lets hope the bats do too very soon on.

I am not one to jump the gun being a Jays fan for as long as I have, We have seen the team go on some incredible runs in other years. This will happen again soon as its not just the offense that is struggling but the bullpen has been very suspect at times as well. Cecil has yet to find his form from last years incredible 36 inning scoreless streak, & Storen hasn't really shown us his shut down stuff. These things will come over time as the bullpen threw 4 scoreless tonight & got out of a couple of big jams for their first win of the season. We do need to remember that it is only May!

The starters continue to put up very impressive numbers & really keep the Jays in the games. This is one area that I am continued to be impressed with, quality starts are becoming normal. Once the bullpen can shut the door then that's when the winning streak will start. May will be a winning record and don't be surprisef if Mr. Encarcion breaks out his slump with some big hits.

Remember patience is a virtue.

Chris Colabello tests positive for PED

WOW what can I say about Chris Colabello other than didn't see that coming!

In case you haven't heard Chris Colabello has been suspended for 80 games for testing positive for

Dehydrochlormethltestosterone. So what the heck is this performance enhancing drug?? It is a drug that was developed by East German scientists to help boost strength & speed. Why are we just finding out about this now? From what I understand, is that Chris appealed the decision in order to hopefully have the decision overturned. Not sure how that would work as seems pretty black & white to me.


Now before we jump all over Chris & ask why he hasn't had a very good year if he was using PED's, he recieved the news on March 13th during spring training. This has to weigh on him knowing that he was going to be suspended by Major League Baseball, going to the plate everytime knowing that it could be your last at bat for 80 games is probably not easy.

Many people are probably wondering why Chris of all people who is a genuine guy that loves the game of baseball would take a PED. Whether he meant to or didn't will probably never come out as his career numbers don't exactly jump out at people. 28 HR, 111 RBI, 257 avg & 2 SB. He spent seven years in the independant leagues until he finally broke through with Twins in 2013, last year was his breakout year where he hit 15 HR, 54 RBI & a 321 avg. Was this because he was using PED's last year? Maybe but we will probably never find out as anyone who has been caught cheating never admits to using on purpose, but this will forever change the way that people look at Chris Colabello. I  can't see Chris coming back to have a spot on the team when he is eligible to return.

What does this mean for the Blue Jays?

It sets up for an interesting scenario that will give Justin Smoak a lot more playing time. The other thing that it could do is open up the possibility to bring Jose Bautista in to play first base & then you have plenty of options for your outfield. I really like this option for a couple of different reasons as you can bring in an OF that has some speed like Carrera, Pompey, or the recently acquired Michael Bourn. All of these 3 players have the ability to steal a bag if needed & they are all average defenders. The only downfall is that you would lose Bautista's cannon of an arm in the outfield. Most teams in the majors have power hitters at first & third, this is what the Jays have been missing at first base since the days of Carlos Delgado & Adam Lind.

Remember if you don't know what ingredients are in what you are taking then I wouldn't be taking it or be prepared to face the consequences.

Jays / Orioles Review

Well what can I say about the #Stroshow he just continues to impress me everytime out, just when

you think that he is in trouble or he is going to give up the big inning, he then finds a way to get out

of it. Stroman had one tough inning inning but bounced back with 3 quick innings & kept the Orioles offense at bay. Another quality start which gave the Jays enough time to get the lead for him which lead the Jays to a 4-3 Win! Stroman is sure looking like the ace that he is pegged to be, I am predicting a 16 or 17 win season for Marcus.

The 2nd game was the one I was worried about as RA Dickey started for the Jays and as his career April record shows (15-20), true to form RA had a rough first inning. Giving up 3 runs quickly, however he then shut the door to give the Jays six innings of work & time to get back into the game.
The Jays did exactly this as they slowly chipped away at the lead by being patient at the plate, drawing 7 walks in the process. When the Jays get on base this should mean that they are able to score some runs, but the Jays were only 2 - 12 with Runners in Scoring Position!! Not exactly what the Jays are used to. This was one of those games that after the first inning I had a bad feeling about, turns out I was  right as the Jays lost on a past ball in extra innings 4-3.

Game 3 was a pitching matchup was one that I personally really liked with Marco Estrada vs Chris Tillman. The first inning started off just like the Jays were hoping, a leadoff single by Saunders & then an RBI by Donaldson. The Jays were off and running but were only able to get two runs while making Tillman throw 38 pitches. Tillman last 6 innings before giving way to the bullpen.

The Orioles sure didn't make it easy on Estrada in the bottom half of the first loading the bases with 0 outs, this all started with a line shot that literally went through the webbing of Josh Donaldson's glove. See Video here Marco was able to limit the damage & only give up 1 run while throwing 26 pitches. At times Estrada struggled with his command but got his change up working in order to strike out 9 through 5 innings of work.

This game had a lot of excitement early but then the starting pitchers settled down not allowing many base runners. The only major thing that changed in the game came in the 5th inning when Matt Wieters was ejected for arguing balls & strikes after getting called out on a check swing. The Orioles tied the game up on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 7th & then took the lead in the bottom of the 8th on a double by one of the hottest hitter in the majors Manny Machado.

So I was wrong about my prediction about the Jays winning the series but they had their chances, & in my opinion lost both games were lost on past balls that should've been caught. I know these things happen and you can't change the past.

The offense still isn't to where we are used to seeing it but they are having some great at bats. In this 3 game series the Jays have drawn 16 walks, this may not seem that good but considering in the previous 4 game series vs Boston they only drew 10 walks including 7 in the final game.

The Jays starters continue to put up some impressive numbers, do you know how good the starting pitching has been for the Jays?? The Blue Jays starting pitching has thrown 106 innings through the first 17 games which leading the majors! This is with RA Dickey only getting through the 6th inning once. If you were a betting man & would've threw some money down on the Jays starting pitching leading the majors then in innings pitched after 17 games then you could be very wealthy.

This series didn't have the fireworks that I expected other than Manny Machado being almost impossible to get out. I'm not sure you want to intentionally walk him everytime but that way he can't really hurt you. In case your wondering he is only batting 407 on the year!!

Finally the Jays are done with the AL East for 6 games as they head home to take on the White Sox & Athletics, lets hope the Rogers center will get the bats hot again.

Remember if the pitch isn't in the zone, then just leave it as you'll probably get another one soon.

Blue Jay review

Here they are Canada's MLB team & a team that I have cheered for ever since I can remember.
Fourteen games into the season & every game against the AL East, whats with that?? Personally I don't like the schedule but thats the way it is & there is no turning back now.  The Jays hold a 7-7 record while currently starting their first series with the now arch rival Orioles. Is this record good for who they have played, I believe it is as the Jays usually struggle vs the East.

While the Jays are expected or pegged as the favorites to win the East, the big question coming into the year was the starting pitching because everyone knows about the offense they bring. Well so far its been the opposite as the starting pitching has been on fire & the hitting has been quite poor except for the big 3, Donaldson, Bautista & Encarcion. This brings me back to playing all the games vs the East who tends to pitch the Jays very well. I expect this to change shortly many of the struggling Jays are starting to have some great at bats, if anyone saw the 8th inning of the final game vs Boston will know what I mean.

The starting pitching has been one of the best in baseball lead by the emotional Marcus Stroman & a surprising J.A. Happ. We all witnessed what Stroman could do last year when he came back from an injury that no one except Stroman figured he could come back from to a 4-0 record and help the Jays reach the playoffs for the first time since 93!  Happ on the other hand some say had to win his spot, has been arguably the Blue Jays best pitcher all year giving up 1 ER in each of his starts this season. If the starting pitching can continue to do it's thing, then yes they will certainly be a contender to win the East again.

So with that I will leave you with the first Blue Jay review & look for the offense to kick it up a gear by putting up some runs & winning the series against the Orioles.

Remember if they are going to give you the bag then you might as well take it.

Travis