Striking Out

DAN CEARNS The Standard

We've come to the point in the summer when this writer must take the opportunity to say, "I told you so."

In an earlier column, I wrote about the Toronto Blue Jays off-season moves, and the word I used to describe them was underwhelming. Further I stated the moves management made, or the moves they also didn't make, made the team seem worse on paper. Well, that seems to be the case right now. After being swept in the first round of the playoffs, the Jays have since stumbled into last place in their division. They currently have a record of 35 wins and 42 losses. They also have six teams ahead of them for a wildcard spot. The Jays are currently also on a six game losing streak.

In terms of runs scored versus runs against, the Jays have allowed 50 more runs than they have batted in. Only one other team in the American League (AL) has scored as few runs as the Jays have this season, the Chicago White Sox. The Jays have scored 296 runs this season, while the White Sox have scored 243.

I was fully expecting this team to take a step back this season with the roster this management group has compiled, but the results are worse than I could have imagined. Last season, the Jays had a winning percentage of 54.9 percent. This season, it has slipped to 45.5 percent. For those doing the math, that is about a nine percent decrease. If we look even further historically, the Jays seem to be getting worse each season. In 2022, they had a winning percentage of 56.8 percent.

With players like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., there has always been hope about the present and future of the Jays. Their talent and potential are undeniable, but so far that hope has not translated into playoff success, a fact which is disheartening for the fans.

If the Jays miss the playoffs this season, which seems very likely at this point in the season, there needs to be consequences for the team's management. The Toronto Blue Jays have not found the success they've been looking for since Ross Atkins took over as General Manager. This team may want to consider finding someone else to take over this role, a change which could potentially turn the team's fortunes around.