Series Preview: Blue Jays Looking to Flow Right Along Against A’s

Aug 8, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a single in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

My Blue Jays soaked mind is furiously reflecting. Reflecting back to the back to back’s in the early ’90’s. There is much talk about the swagger that has come back to the team. A swagger not seen here near these past 20 years. There have been teams that teased and others that flat out lied (Helllooooooo Mr. Johnson). There have been individual superstars and there have been some why were they stars (Helllooooooo Mr. Loaiza). There has been a lot of doubt and uncertainty that has blanketed this city for these….naaaaay for all Toronto sports teams…for too long now.

We still weren’t really sure even though when Troy Tulowitzki appeared the ship started to right itself almost immediately. Next thing you know the Blue Jays are running off streaks like 8 wins in a row or 11 of 12. They are here. There will be no fadeout. There will be no surrender. The Blue Jays will be in the thick of the race for not only a division lead but a league lead. They will be that good. Some of that thanks can go to….

The A’s. Those lovable west coast types who seem to usually defy odds and produce better than the sum of their parts. But there will be none of that this year. Could the fleecing they got in the Josh Donaldson deal be a precursor to their imminent demise from the playoff picture early in the year? Yes. Yes it could. They have great pitching and some pieces in the starting 9 but there is no one that is a game changer anymore.

Billy Beane I am sure has a master plan for this franchise or else his movements of the last few months are definitely head scratching to say the least. Once the Athletics were out of the gate they were limp. Had injuries and just seemed resigned to the fact they would most likely not be participating in the playoffs this season. It’s  tough when the team doesn’t even give you a Mean Joe Greene kind of effort….selling Pepsi or whatever. Don’t worry Oakland….there is still next year.

Next: Game 1 Matchup: Hutch vs Graveman

Aug 5, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays opening pitcher

(36) pitches against Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: Kendall Graveman (6-7, 3.90 ERA) vs Drew Hutchison (10-2, 5.42 ERA)

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Oakland trots out Mr. Graveman in the city he so briefly called home. His overall season hasn’t been horrible and he has lasted right from the get go. He has been a bit inconsistent month to month but overall has held his own in his first full MLB season. His ERA is a full run and a half lower on the road (3.10) than it is at home (4.64) which is a bit odd considering the pitchers paradise games in Oakland can be. He was roughed up for 6 earned against the Blue Jays last time out so he will look for a bit of redemption…

But the one man who needs some redemption lately is Drew Hutchison. He has been absolutely awful on the road this year and stellar at home. Here’s hoping he doesn’t finally bring home what he does on the road or this could be a long evening. The only reason he is even in the rotation still is the offense that keeps propping him up with his 10 win record. Truth is he has regressed and lost complete control of his fastball. In his last 7 games his ERA is 5.60 and he has given  up 47 hits in 35+ innings. One way to clean that up a bit? Shrink the ERA with men on 3rd to something much much smaller than 42.43. The only way he prevails is the world leading offense behind him.

Next: Game 2: Papa Buehrle Leads the Way

Aug 6, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(56) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2: Aaron Brooks (1-0, 2.41 ERA) vs Mark Buehrle (12-5, 3.34 ERA)

Birds Watcher

Brooks was in the package that saw the A’s ship Ben Zobrist to Kansas City. He has started two games for his new team and given up just 1 earned run in each of them. Opponents are hitting only .176 since the trade and the A’s may have found another under the radar trade that will help bolster their pitching staff going into 2016. The 9th round pick has never wowed anyone with his power arm but he mixes things up well and could give the Jays bats fits…is what I would normally say if this wasn’t the 2015 post trade deadline Jays.

Helping to secure this game will be other worldly Mark Buehrle. If he doesn’t retire, the Jays would be foolish to let him continue to ply his trade elsewhere. Buehrle is a winner. That is what he has always been and what he will be till the day he hangs them up for good. In his last 15 games he is 7-3 with a 2.56 ERA, 92 hits in 109 innings and a WHIP of 0.90. 9 out of 10 soft tossers will get drilled in this day and age but Buehrle defies logic…this year even for him. Well known to give up scores of hits but never letting them come around to score Buehrle is not even giving up a slew of hits  anymore. He gets better and better and has an outside shot at 250 career wins if he decides to let ‘er rip for a few more seasons.

Next: Game 3: Dickey vs Gray: A Beauty Matchup

Aug 8, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a single in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Player to Watch 

Toronto Blue Jays

I love watching them all but who else could your eyes be on but Josh Donaldson. He made a mockery of Yankee pitching and now he is at home against the team that traded him away. Could he be in the midst of one of the best seasons by a Blue Jays 3rd Baseman ever? Could he..no. He is. His last 7 games alone feed you this bunch o’ numbers: slash line of .385/.484/.554 with 5 HR and 8 RBI. Those chants of MVP seem to be getting louder by the second. Apologies to Mr. Gruber and Mr. Sprague…we still love ye.

Predictions

Because of the serious love we have for Brett Lawrie in these parts, I will go out on a limb and say the Blue Jays do not sweep the A’s but rather take two of three. He has to have a game for the ages back on Canadian soil doesn’t he? He doesn’t? Well if the Lawrie don’t getcha the Gray will. 2 of 3, kids, 2 of 3.

Next: Ep.32 of Jays Nest Podcast: What is Left in the Minors

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