What is the Blue Jays’ Window For Contention? Optimist, Pessimist, Realist

The 2017 season is finally upon us! Jays Journal is introducing a new weekly series where writers take a look at the latest Blue Jays rumor or news piece from the viewpoint of an optimist, a pessimist, and a realist. There are three sides to every argument; comment below to share which view you agree with the most for each article.

This week, Jays Journal writers take a look at the Blue Jays’ window for contention, and how the start of the 2017 season may influence the future of the organization.

The Blue Jays have started off their season with an abysmal 1-8 record and they already sit 5.5 games back of the division leader, the Baltimore Orioles. While the pitching has produced to an All-Star caliber level, the problem with the team seems to lie in the once dynamic offense.

Through 10 games, the Jays offense has averaged 2.8 runs/game, a far cry from the 4.69 runs/game they averaged in 2016. Key hitters like Devon Travis and Russell Martin are hitting below .100, Jose Bautista has yet to hit a home run, and worse yet, the Blue Jays just lost the 2015 AL MVP, Josh Donaldson, with a calf injury.

Optimists are saying that there are still 152 games left in the season, while pessimists are pointing to the fact that only three teams have ever made the playoffs while starting with a 1-7 record or worse.

If the Blue Jays are out of the playoff picture by July, should they seek a full-on rebuild or continue the retooling process in hopes of competing again in 2018? Jays Journal writers take a look from three different perspectives.