Blue Jays: The Worst Start in Franchise History

Photo: MARK BLINCH/THE GLOBE AND MAIL
36-11. That was the Texas Rangers’ record in one-run games last year. Now look at the Blue Jays. With the exception of one or two games, they have had the winning or tying run at the plate in the 9th inning during every loss this season. They’ve made the best reliever in baseball sweat more than any team did during all of last season. Yet they’re 1-9 to start the year.

No one could have predicted this. A team who is coming off of back to back ALCS appearances, who had sky high expectations have now lost 7 games in a row to start the season, and the only team in the MLB without two wins. The Jays start to the season is the worst in franchise history and although it is still very early, the Jays will need to stir together some wins soon, or it may be a long season.

The start to the season is a huge shock, they started off by getting swept to Baltimore in 2 games followed by losing 3 of 4 to Tampa Bay, another sweep by Milwaukee and the most recent losses to Baltimore. It isn’t pitching that is the problem, the Jays have had a quality start in 6 of their 9 games to start the season and at least 4 innings in 8 of 9. The problem for the Jays is hitting, plain and simple, they haven’t hit or hit homeruns. 

There was a moment Friday night when it looked like the offence had some life. It didn’t come in the first inning (Wade Miley struck out the side). They turned things around in the 2nd, though. Kendrys Morales hit a leadoff single, and Troy Tulowitzki followed with a double. A couple of batters later, Justin Smoak hit an RBI single to give the Blue Jays the lead, their first in 35 innings. Darwin Barney followed that with a grounder which Manny Machado bobbled, which allowed Tulowtizki to score. It was a fun inning. The Jays scored again in the 4th, as Smoak hit a solo shot. The offence dried up after that.

The Jays were supposed to have another high flying powered offence with the additions of Morales and Pearce, a healthy Travis and Bautista. Add in Donaldson, Tulowitzki and Martin, the Jays looked like they were gonna out slug their opponent for runs. It hasn’t been that way to start the season as leader Jose Bautista is currently batting .152 with only 2 extra base hits and 0 home runs as he still searches for the long ball. 

Then its Russell Martin who to start the season is hitting .042 with 1 hit in 21 at bats. Travis who started off super hot last year is off to a 3-31 start batting .097 with no extra base hits. As a team the Jays are averaging less then 3 runs per game and only have hit 5 home runs which simply won’t cut it. The Jays have over half their hitters hitting under .200 to start the season and only 2 players batting above .250. 

The hope is that the Jays can turn this ship around very quickly, or they could fall out of the playoff race early and this team could look drastically different in August. But to stress it again, it is still early and we're only 9 games in to a 162 season, so maybe it isn’t time to worry just yet. 

The question now for the Jays is what is the answer, a lineup shuffle, a trade, a call-up or ride it how it is and hope they start hitting. Whatever John Gibbons and company do, they need to do it fast because Jays fans are becoming extremely frustrated with this horrible start. And the Jays and everyone know they are better than this.

-Drew Hockridge

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