MLB
The Blue Jays’ luck continues to run dry as they move further into the season. The Jays won their first 5 series of the season. Six, technically, if you consider that they won the postponed Cleveland series. Since then, they are 2-8-1. The Phillies series was the first full series they won in the month of May. Injuries continue to plague the team, with Donaldson the most recent (and frequent) to go down. Fans are still waiting to see Tulo play on the field this year. Steve Pearce’s absence is certainly felt in clutch situations at the plate. Randal Grichuk can stay on the DL forever as far as I’m concerned, Hernandez is doing way better than he ever did. With Maile continuing to do well behind the plate, Martin can be used elsewhere on the field. Neither catcher is doing particularly well at the plate right now. Solarte can also be used anywhere in the infield and is doing much better with the bat than Martin.
Russell Martin: Super Utility Player
The one fun storyline coming out of Toronto right now is that of Russell Martin. He is a career catcher who has become a super utility player in the past week or so. Twitter is blowing up with people wanting him to play every position on the field by the end of the season. He has so far started at third, shortstop and, most recently, left field. As the Jays’ luck continues to run dry, it’s nice to have a storyline like this to keep up with. At least there’s something fun to watch, even though they’re struggling to win ball games. Martin will have an off day today against Boston.
Vladdy Jr. Tearing up Double-A
As the Jays’ luck continues to run dry, many fans are looking down the farm system, and liking what they see. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a batting average of .426 in 183 ABs. His average over his last 10 games is .500. Fans are clamouring for Vladdy to be brought up, and now that Donaldson is out the screaming is just going to get louder. And it’s understandable, with the offensive struggles the Jays have had. The problem is that Vladdy hasn’t seen playing time above Double-A yet, and there’s no way to tell what his stats will be in the majors. I agree that it’s time to do something with Vladdy Jr., but I feel that a stop in Buffalo is in order before he makes his way to Toronto.
Donaldson vs. Vladdy
The one major thing standing in Vladdy’s way was Donaldson, but Donaldson can’t seem to stay healthy. The club says that Vladdy’s defense and other skills need work. Production at the plate is not the only skill a player needs to have in order to be called up to the majors. They also said that it wasn’t fair to Vladdy to call him up as a DH, he needs regular playing time in the field. I agree. Donaldson seems to have taken care of that for him. Are we going to see Vladdy Jr. in the majors this year? I can’t say. But I feel like bumping him up to Triple-A and maybe considering making a space for him on the 40-man roster is a conversation Atkins and Shapiro should be having, especially if the Jays’ luck continues to run dry.
Looking Ahead
The Jays are looking today to avoid a sweep by the division leading Boston Red Sox. They lost 2 of 3 to the Sox over Mother’s Day weekend and have already lost this series as well. Sam Gaviglio takes the mound against Eduardo Rodriguez. Gaviglio has been a nice surprise for Jays fans, especially those of us who remember him in Seattle last year. In his last game against Philly, he pitched 6 innings, a rare treat for the Jays, had 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. His line doesn’t necessarily matter in whether we win or lose the game, unless the bullpen can pull it together and get out of the game without things blowing up.
Written by Susannah Schmidt
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