That Opening Day game really just summed up the whole bloody season immediately. Dickey giving up untimely home runs, JP Arencibia being absolutely horrific behind the plate - didn't he give up 3 passed balls? - zero offensive production, led to an 4-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians. I remember feeling completely deflated after that game, and sadly that same feeling carried throughout the course of the season. Then John Farrell and the Red Sox came in, that was the series we were supposed to show him what an idiot he was for ditching the team, but the Jays lost 2 of 3, including Dickey getting lit up in a 13-0 loss. That's what chaps my ass the most about this season, John Farrell and the Red Sox winning the East after cruising all season. I hope they fall flat on their face in the playoffs. I kept trying to convince myself that it was an early season funk and that they would snap out of it and start kicking ass and taking names. My favorite Blue Jays blogger Andrew Stoeten of Drunk Jays Fans had to write countless blogs and tweet at countless amounts of idiots to calm down and assure them that this is going to turn around, and I was on his side and believed that it was going to get better but aside from that miraculous 11-game win streak in June, it never did!
The starting pitching was absolutely horrendous, Josh Johnson quite possibly had the worst season I have ever seen a starting pitcher have. Granted, he was injured but the games that he was healthy he was god awful. The guy was pitching for a contract too! In every sport players are usually lights out during their contract season. He had potential to get himself a massive $150+ Million dollar contract during free agency this off season, now he should be lucky to get the Jays qualifying offer. R.A. Dickey certainly did not come as advertised. The thing with Dickey this season is he had such shitty luck. He had very good stretches in ballgames, and at times looked every bit the NL Cy Young Winner of 2012 but it seemed as though every ground ball hit against him found a god damned hole in the infield, and he gave up soooo many home runs, it doesn't help that the SkyDome is one of the best hitters ball parks in the league. He says his knuckleball is better when the roof is closed, and he had some back issues this season, so hopefully next season they keep the roof closed for his starts, and he is over his back issues. Once again Brandon Morrow was injured, he is the one that I had the most hope for, but even in the games he was healthy he did not look good. It is crucial for him to come back and pitch to his potential, the Blue Jays need him. Despite a slow start Mark Buerhle came as advertised, and in the dog days of summer he was by far the Jays best pitcher. Then there was the horse shit pitchers they trotted out start after start in that 5th spot. JA Happ won that job out of Spring Training and was doing a decent job.... until he was nailed in the face with a line drive and fucked up his knee collapsing off the mound. They rolled out a succession of absolute shit starters who either weren't ready for the bigs or way past their prime. Sean Nolin, Ricky Romero, Aaron Laffey, Chien Mien Wang, Ramon Ortiz all got starts for the Blue Jays and were horrific. Todd Redmond and Esmil Rogers have been rotation fixtures the last few months because of injuries, and have done decently, but I think will be better suited for long relief in the bullpen in 2014.
For the most part, offensively players came as advertised. Bautista was Bautista until he got hurt at the end of the season, Edwin Encarnacion had a very, very good year, Colby Rasmus had a break out year, and once Brett Lawrie and Jose Reyes got over their respective injuries, they turned into the players we all hoped they would be. The issue lies with the gaping holes they have in offensive production from their Left Field, Second Base and Catching positions. I'm not one of those sabermatrician stat geeks and quite honestly I am too dumb at math to wrap my head around these fucking formulas these nerds have produced to measure baseball stats, but I trust them. They say if the Jays had at least replacement level talent (look up the WAR stat) they would be in a way better position than they are now, they wouldn't be running away with the East, but they would have been in wild card contention like the fucking Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals have been. The worst offender has been JP Arencibia, seen above as Macho Man Randy Savage because... why not? It's been determined that he has had one of the worst seasons in the entire history of major league baseball. This isn't just me spewing unsubstantiated bullshit like I usually do, it is actual fact. Take a look at this article by Drew Fairservice of Getting Blanked on how historically awful JP Arencibia has been. There is no way he should be back as the starter next season, he seems like a nice guy, and I do feel bad for him, but they have to cut him loose. I guarantee he will end up on the Rays or Yankees and whenever he plays the Jays he will come back and hit dingers and play great just like every other ex-Blue Jay does.
Melky Cabrera and the rest of the bums they trotted out to play left field were also a black eye on this team. It turns out Melky had a fucking tumor on his spine, which may explain why some games he went out there and chased down fly balls and ran the bases like he was a 68 year old man. At second base Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonfiacio sucked quite a bit at the start of the season, committing atrociously ugly errors in the field and sucking at the plate. Izturis picked it up a bit before he was injured, and Bonifacio was thankfully dumped to Kansas City...of course then he started playing good. If they got better production out of those positions that would have accounted for at least 10-15 more wins which would have let them playing meaningful games in September....that's all I can ask for, I am sick of September Blue Jays games that don't matter, watching other teams compete for a playoff spot, and then playing high intensity playoff games. That's all I am asking for Blue Jays, I am not asking for a World Series ring, just play games in September that matter, and then let's get some October baseball back. That being said, I think 2014 will be better.
If you have ever heard me talk about sports, you know I am always preaching about next year. Next year is the year for the Leafs, or the Bills or the Raptors or the Blue Jays... when you support these shitty and perpetually mediocre teams next year is all you have. That being said I think the Blue Jays, with their current core and some key additions will be the team we all expected them to be in 2014. If they plugged the gaps in the positions I just mentioned they will improve vastly. Brian McCann and AJ Pierzynski are catchers that are available, and while I am not a huge fan of either of them, I am sure seeing them in a Jays uniform will change my mind completely. I am willing to let them give Cabrera another shot (really what other choice do they have?) and let them see if this fucking spine tumor is what caused him so much grief this year. As for 2nd base, I don't know, as much as I love Kawasaki (like everyone else on Earth) I don't think he is the answer at 2nd and is better suited for a bench role. Ryan Goins has been good recently, but I don't think he is the answer either. Isturuz did have a good stretch before he got hurt, and I think he got used to the SkyDome carpet and was playing better defensively, so he could have a shot. If AA can swing a deal or sign a better 2nd baseman I say go for it. Robinson Cano is available as a free agent but rumour has it he is seeking a 10 year $305 million dollar contract....no thank you!!
Aside from that the Jays are solid offensively. My favourite player right now has to be Colby Rasmus. He is such a fucking hick, and I think it's hilarious. DJF put up a video in the summer of the Jays talking about their walk up-music, and Colby was such a Jethro talking about being in the south and with bucks on the wall "spittin a lil' tabbaca." He is a hell of a ball player, and he is getting better, St. Louis gave up on him way too soon. Jose Reyes is such a good ball player too, if he stays healthy in 2014 he will have a very good year. Bautista and Encarnacion have shown no signs of slowing down, in fact Encarnacion has had one of the best offensive seasons in all of baseball this year, and there is no reason to believe that will stop for both those players next year.
Brett Lawrie has been a stud at third base. His web gem plays have been pretty much the only reason to watch this team down the stretch. His balls to the wall type play may actually be a bit of a downfall for him, it's baseball for christ's sake you can relax a little bit. I think now that he is getting older he will realize this, and I think he is a career Blue Jay who will put up consistently good seasons for years to come... if he can stay healthy. .
As for the rotation, R.A. Dickey and Mark Buerhle (barring a trade) are pretty much the only 2 guaranteed starters, and I am fine with that. Buerhle had some stinkers, but he had some gems, same goes for Dickey. I think they should offer Josh Johnson the 1 year qualifying offer and let him prove that he is worthy of being a top pitcher in MLB like has the potential to be. I think he is due for a turnaround season. Drew Hutchison and Kyle Drabek could be competing for a spot, and hopefully Morrow is healthy enough and performs to his potential. Don't forget AA is always capable of pulling off a big deal for another solid starter that will come completely out of the blue. The bullpen has been amazing all year, and that is a strong point heading into 2014. Brett Cecil, Sergio Santos, Steve Delabar, Casey Janssen have all had great seasons, add a Esmil Rogers or Todd Redmond into the mix, and that is a solid pen.
It's gonna get better Jays fans, firing John Gibbons or a complete roster overhaul is not going to make things better, staying put with what we have, with a tinker or two will do just fine. Look no further than the dreaded Boston Red Sox, they were talented team that with a mix of injuries and bad luck ended up having an awful season in 2012. They went from worst to first this year with pretty much the same roster they had last year + a few key additions. If the Blue Jays can make those keys additions, and get continued production and some bounce back seasons from their core, I have no reason to believe that the Blue Jays will finally be back in the post-season next season. For my own sanity I hope I am right.
Credit Scott Johnson, Andrew Stoeten, Getting Blanked and Drunk Jays Fans for the photos in this.
As always give me a follow on Twitter @didhenley
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