Blue Jays Morning Brew: Mission accomplished

The Toronto Blue Jays ended their series against the New York Yankees with a loss, but taking three of four in their most important series of the season is a significant accomplishment. With a much-needed day of rest today, the Blue Jays will travel to Atlanta for a three-game set against the 56-88 Braves beginning Tuesday. Grab your bats, pitchers!

Despite going 3.5 games up on the Yankees in the AL East, the health of Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki is Toronto’s primary concern. Reserves are in place to keep the boat above water until their return, but the Jays will need both men in full working order come October. As we kick off this sad, bad and all-around terrible day without a Blue Jays baseball game, enjoy the Morning Brew!

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The tipping point  –  Cathal Kelly of the Globe and Mail hits the nail on the head, calling the Yankees series the tipping point of Toronto’s 2015 season. While I’d expected a series split at worst, if the Blue Jays had of been swept and begun their unfathomable decline, I would have muttered “well, of course.”  Instead, they stuck their foot in the ground.

“Jays fans then took over,” Kelly said of the Saturday double-header. “They’d been causing a ruckus since Friday night, annoying the locals with their chants and general swagger. With the numbers essentially evened, there was no stopping them. The next four hours belonged to them.” There was a lot of Blue in New York this weekend. Half Jays jerseys, half empty seats.

Copeland the odd man out  –  Here’s a move I was sad to hear of. Following the addition of Darwin Barney, the Blue Jays have DFAd pitcher Scott Copeland to make room on the 40-man roster. Success didn’t follow Copeland up to the MLB roster, but earned a 2.95 ERA in 21 appearance for the AAA Buffalo Bisons and would be a nice piece to keep within the organization. 


Good Will Playoff Hunting  –  As much as I’ve enjoyed the 2015 season, there’s been something missing. That something is, of course, the approval of Matt Damon. But wouldn’t you know, I’m saved! As Steve Tilley of the Toronto Sun tells us, the well-known Red Sox fan is rooting for Canada’s team to go all the way.

Damon keeps fond memories of the ’93 series.  “I was living in (Los Angeles suburb) Eagle Rock with Ben and Casey Affleck. We watched that live. That was like an all-time World Series,” said Damon. “Mitch the Wild Thing coming out. But Joe Carter, when he hit that thing — that was incredible.”

Next: Does Stroman's return finally calm the rotation?

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• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King
• Toronto Blue Jays: Has the Shift Killed Kevin Gausman’s 2022 Cy Young Hopes?
• Blue Jays: What Yusei Kikuchi’s latest stumble should mean
• Blue Jays: Alek Manoah on pace to succeed in possible postseason
• Blue Jays: Bradley Zimmer has carved himself a valuable role