Blue Jays: Tanner Roark does not belong on postseason roster

If the Toronto Blue Jays earn a postseason berth, it may go without saying that pitcher Tanner Roark does not belong on the postseason roster.

Tanner Roark once again got torched by the opposition last night as the Blue Jays lost their second contest in a row to the New York Yankees. The 33-year old hurler gave up six runs including four gopher balls over four innings of work.

Roark now sports an inflated 6.41 earned run average allowing 28 earned runs on the season and has not pitched past the fifth inning in any of his nine starts. The veteran pitcher has also surrendered an American League-leading 14 home runs in his first season with the Blue Jays.

The right-hander was very outspoken to the media following his previous start when Manager Charlie Montoyo lifted him after just 67 pitches. However, Roark brought much of the same last night and definitely did not adhere to the old “Put up or Shut-up” adage.

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Toronto’s magic number for the postseason now sits at eight games and regardless of their last two efforts, they should still earn a berth in the playoffs. The Blue Jays brain trust will then have to decide if Roark is worthy of a roster spot.

The team will hopefully have Matt Shoemaker back before the conclusion of the season so they could employ a rotation of Shoemaker, Hyun Jin Ryu, Taijuan Walker, and Robbie Ray. That would not only leave Roark but Chase Anderson on the outside looking in.

The Jays inked Roark to a two-year pact this past offseason that will see him earn $12 million again next season. Anderson could hit free agency if the Jays decide not to pick up his $9.5 million dollar team option.

Regardless of the contractual obligations, Roark has done nothing to prove he belongs on the postseason roster and will in all likelihood not pitch once the season concludes at the end of September.

Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words, Tanner.