Blue Jays: Is it time to change gears?

Case for staying the course

This team was built to be a winner and we are finally seeing the majority of the team healthy. Josh Donaldson has taken the team on his shoulders and has them grinding out every pitch of every inning. This offense could finally click and light things up as we were expecting heading into this season. Kendrys Morales has been in a wicked slump, but has shown signs of finally breaking out of it. He was able to hit a home run to get things going in the game Saturday afternoon against a red hot Minnesota Twins team. The also have been getting big contributions from Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar of late. They have been putting up their best offense all season as of the last month so this could continue and become the new norm for the last month or so.

This offensive resurgence goes without even mentioning the team’s MVP for the season, Justin Smoak. No one could have predicted that Smoak would have lashed out at the plate like he has this season. He has a 35 home run season under his belt and has come up big in multiple situations throughout the season. While putting together an All-Star season at the plate, he has also been a defensive whiz at first and really has stabilized a position that was in flux entering this season.

The pitching is centralized behind a should be Cy Young contender in Marcus Stroman, as he continues to prove he is one of the most electric pitchers in the American League. The Stro-Show has been must see TV every start as he silences hitters and carries an intensity that lights a fire amidst his teammates. The issues around him have been leveling out of late as the rotation finally has found footing. Marco Estrada has recaptured the form that has made him a great starter over the past two seasons, and J.A. Happ has bounced back from some arm injuries early in the campaign. The rest of the rotation has been in question due to the injury of Aaron Sanchez, and the issues the Francisco Liriano had during the season. Spot starts from Chris Rowley, Tom Koehler, and soon to be Joe Biagini are going to help the team stay the course. Plus there is the chance that we still will get to Sanchez take the hill this season.

This team has a shot but the odds are not in their favor. Everything will have to fall into place perfectly as this team tries to kick the door off the hinges as the season continues to slowly close that door.

This is a flawed team don’t you think?

When looking at the way things have went this season and the events that have transpired, it is hard to believe that there is any chance this team will finally click. This team has done everything from blow huge leads, to play players in positions that they have not played in since high school. Is this the mark of a potential playoff contender heading forward when they lack the depth to fill holes in an every day lineup? This lack of above or average replacement level players has been a huge blow for a team that had made the playoffs over the past two seasons.

One example of this is the amount of playing time that Ryan Goins has received, playing in 110 games this season. When this season started he was part of the conversation as a possible trade candidate due to lack of options left on his contract. A plethora of injuries later and he has played in nearly every game this season. Goins is having a decent year as he has posted career highs in many offensive categories. The issue is the fact that he is currently ranked as the Jays 5th best RBI guy with 49.  That has him just behind Jose Bautista who has 54 on the season. This shows how rough the offense has struggled for production. Outside of Justin Smoak the team has had massive issues putting the ball in play efficiently.

We have also had Russel Martin and Josh Donaldson playing positions they have not played in years just to force extra offense. The idea this past series was Josh Donaldson can play short stop and Jose Bautista can play third once again. The issues with that are there really was not a solid upgrade to put on the field in right, so it really was just an injury risk for JD. JD is one of the most athletic players I have seen in years but the idea of working the keystone with someone he has not played with directly could have led to disaster. If Donaldson went for a double play and had a collision with Goins, Barney, or Refsnyder it would have been the end of his MVP like play for an extended period. Odd moves like this and lack of depth rarely lead a team to the promise land.

Test the youth

With the way this season has went, not many people would be too shocked if the Blue Jays are already diligently working their plan for the next season. This plan could be greatly benefited by having a month’s worth of samples on some of their talented Minor League players. Bring up some of these players and give them a chance to play every day. This will give everyone a chance to see what they can do along with providing valuable experience. This will also be occuring in a lower pressure environment as the team would be basically throwing in the towel on their playoff hopes at this point.

Bring up Teoscar Hernandez and allowing him to roam the outfield everyday give him a chance to settle in with his new club. His batting average in Buffalo has been nothing to scream about, but he has produced. In 20 games he has 16 RBI, 10 runs scored, four doubles, two triples, and four homers. It would be nice to see if this extra base pop plays well in the gaps in the Rogers Centre. Hernandez did hit his first MLB homer in the Rogers Centre last season off of Liriano.

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While looking at the players in the Minors, there are a few that have been having great seasons and have exceeded every challenge that has been thrown at them. One of those players is Danny Jansen. I know that he started the season in Single A, but he has been a hitting machine all season. The Jays have struggled to find consistency behind the plate and could benefit from someone that can actually handle the lumber behind the dish. Jansen has a .335 batting average through 98 games across the three Jays levels. He is currently in Triple A batting a stellar .417 in 15 games with the Bisons. He also has four doubles, a triple, and three homers. This while scoring eight runs and driving in eight and playing solid defense behind the plate.

Give Tim Mayza and Chris Rowley a full time shot in the Majors. Mayza has been on the bus between Buffalo and Toronto lately and we got a few solid starts out of Rowley before he was sent back as well. Mayza is the hard throwing lefty that the bullpen is going to need next season. Aaron Loup has had a great rebound season, but one can’t help but wonder if he can do it again. Mayza has some dominant stuff and could take the lefty role by storm if given the chance. He has allowed just a .216 opposing batting average in 19.1 innings allowing a 0.93 ERA in Triple A. He has only pitched 5.2 innings in the Majors and should be given a bigger sample size.

With all of the confusion on the mound the Blue Jays should include Chris Rowley down the stretch even if it requires a six man rotation. This will give him a few more starts for the season in the Majors which gives him the experience to carry into a position battle next Spring. There could be two open positions in the Jays rotation if no one new is brought in over the offseason. This could be valuable information even to plan for depth this coming season.

What do you think check out the poll below and let us know.

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