Blue Jays: The breakdown on Jose Berrios’ Opening Day

First of all, Blue Jays baseball is back! I smile each time I say it.

The Toronto Blue Jays broke in the season last night on Bremner Ave against the Texas Rangers. Jose Berrios was given the bump and the ball to start the 2022 rollercoaster.

The dome was absolutely packed with around 45,000 fans, with a new scoreboard, new lighting systems, and it was LOUD.  The pre-game ceremony cut into the hour of game-time, prior to the ace taking the mound. Berrios finished at 0.1 IP, giving up three hits, four runs, and walking two.  If you didn’t watch, he did not make it out of the first inning.

Watching Jose throw in this inning, you could cut the cloud of nerves with a knife.  His demeanour was off, his nerves were displayed in his face, his tempo was fast pace, and he was overthrowing while aiming for spots. He hung a few breaking balls, one which was launched over the centre-field wall. These are all symptoms of the nerves.

It was a cocktail of high blood pressure, along with a change of scenery, and an amplified crowd intensity. Berrios didn’t marinate the excuses of game-time anxiety, or any excuses for that matter. He advised that his stuff was off, trying to do too much, instead of letting his natural repertoire do the work it does.

This outing is not the usual show that Jose Berrios puts on, and the Blue Jays have nothing to worry about. The Kinks are out of the system, the nerves should have decreased, and the right-hander will be ready to tackle his next appearance on the bump. Berrios should be scheduled to face the New York Yankees in the Bronx next week; this will be a better test and showcase of his true repertoire, the one we all know.