The sky is falling.
Well not really but it sure seems like it if you are a Toronto Blue Jays fan.
Heading into September the Jays held a two game lead in the American League East and were fresh off a series win over their division rivals, the Baltimore Orioles.
Their next series came in Tampa Bay against the AL East’s last place Rays, so it seemed like the Jays were in great position to retain their American League East championship.
Then, inexplicably the wheels came off. They dropped two of three games to the Rays, then got swept by the Yankees, dropped two of three to the Red Sox, two of three to the Rays, and then tied a four game series against the lowly Los Angeles Angels.
All told the Jays have lost 11 of their last 16 games and have fallen four games back of the Boston Red Sox for the division lead.
Just when it seems like the Jays might be gaining traction and seem to be pulling themselves out of their funk they go right back into their shell.
They called a players only meeting before the second game of their series against the Red Sox.
They won that game, barely, and came out in game three of the series swinging the bats. They build themselves a comfortable lead late in the game but found a way to blow it.
Then, after dropping the series to the Rays they traveled to Los Angeles where they took the first two games and looked to be on their way to righting the ship.
Not so fast.
The Jays dropped the final two games of the series managing just one run in the process.
And that has been what is so frustrating about this team. They are supposed to be one of the best offensive teams in the major leagues but come September their offense has been anemic.
To top it off, their starting pitching, which has been a big positive all season long as begun to falter.
Marco Estrada has a wonky back, which he has been dealing with for several months now, Aaron Sanchez has been dealing with an innings limit and is now suffering from a blister on his pitching hand, R.A. Dickey has become so unreliable he’s being passed over for just about anybody else, and the team’s presumed ace Marcus Stroman has been up-and-down of late.
It is baffling to me to see this team fall so far, especially considering how well the played at this time last year and how well they played for a large majority of the season.
Fortunately there is still time to turn it around and they better or they are going to be kissing their shot at the playoffs goodbye.
Maybe their turnaround started Sept. 19 when they won a tight 3-2 game over the Seattle Marniners, a team that is trying to catch the Blue Jays for a playoff spot.
Then again, like I mentioned before there have been a few times over the past few weeks where you thought that maybe now was the time for the turnaround.
The bright spot for the Jays in that game was Estrada who pitched a one hit gem through seven innings to pick up the win.
The problem is the offense still did not show up save for an Edwin Encarnacion homerun and one inning of small ball, capped off by a Kevin Pillar RBI single.
The encouraging thing was their smart aggressiveness on the base paths as they stole a season high four bases, which is something they are going to need to do more of, especially if they cannot hit.
The talent is there so if this team could just get on a serious roll then look out.
The problem is the tires are spinning but they are not gaining traction.
So no the sky might not be falling but if they Jays do not soon turn it around the rug beneath their feet is certainly going to be pulled out from under them.
