Toronto Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals Series Recap
Vibe Check
I’ve reached a conclusion about the Blue Jays. The next level for this team is to put the curse teams and locations behind them. Teams like the Royals seem to have the number of the Blue Jays. Ever since the 2015-16 era, when the Royals were making deep playoff runs, the Royals have felt like a problem for the Jays. The start of this series is no different. I’m not sure what that looks like. Wins are the obvious answer, but how long does it take for a team to drop the sense that another org has their number? This is a long-term vibe check that we will keep track of as the seasons roll by.
No flow to the offense: Felt this in Game 2 that the flow that took our boys to the top of the standings has taken a week of PTO. Against the Yankees and Tigers, the flow would last for 4-5 runs in an inning. Maybe it went away for the rest of the game, but that’s enough runs to build a win around. In Game 2, the Jays had a 3-run lead, but it never felt safe, and only one more run was scored in the game. They won, but it feels like we’re fighting it. Fast forward to the 2nd inning of Game 3, and the Jays make the final out on the basepaths being rundown after an RBI single. It’s borderline inexcusable, but the Jays have banked a lot of goodwill, so we let it go and hope they get them again next inning. Things are off, but we’re in games (unless it’s Baltimore), so keep fighting, my dudes.
I hope Bo signs an extension. I’ve seen enough this season to want to have this hit machine on the team for the entirety of what would be the Bo & Vlad era. It just sounds like an era that will include (a) World Series victor(ies?). How optimistic can I be without pissing off the baseball gawds? Call it recency bias, but Bo puts up repeated quality at-bats. He is core to the identity of this offense. The defense is good enough, and the bat is a top line to this offense. Please extend him, I would be sad to see him go.
Game 1 Moments (Blue Jays Lose 3-9)
Blue Jays’ Pitchers’ Home Run Giveupitis: I mean, we all know the Home Run monster lurks. It went away for the streak, and it slept in after the All-Star Break. In Game 1, it reared its head and reminded us of the Achilles' heel Blue Jays’ pitchers live with. The Blue Jays pitchers rank 4th worst in Home Runs surrendered. One of the three behind the Jays is the Rockies, who don’t count in this category as far as I’m concerned. When the offence rolls, we can ignore surrendered Home Runs. We don’t have that luxury at the moment.
I hate playing the Royals.
Game 2 Moments (Blue Jays Win 6-3)
Scherzer looked great in this game. The pitching staff needs a run of 2-3 good pitching appearances, and Scherzer showed up in this game. After the Home Runs surrendered in Game 1, I felt like I took a deep breath. Yes, Sal Perez hit a home run, but it was a solo shot, and Perez LOVES to make Jays’ fans uncomfortable.
The win feels good. The Red Sox are rolling, and yes, the Yankees are losing a lot these days. The win has some extra goodness to it today.
Game 3 Moments (Blue Jays Lose 4-7)
Bassitt getting out of the 1st inning without giving up a run feels like a big deal. Royals with the lead feel dangerous. Throw in the error from Bo, and it feels like it is going to be “one of those games”. Here comes Bassitt (and redemption Bo) to get the Blue Jays out of the inning with no runs surrendered. The Blue Jays don’t need to add challenge to games right now. Feels like the team is fighting it, let’s not make it easier for the other guys.
Bassitt’s 4th inning…..ugh: The bases get loaded with free passes, then the Royals score a run on a sac fly. A) Sac flies can eff right off. 2) The damage was limited to one run, yay. This speaks to a larger point about why teams like the Royals are such a struggle. The Royals play a clean version of baseball that makes everything more difficult. It’s almost like the Jays always run into the Royals when they are on a slowdown, or they are fighting their way out of the valley. It was one run, but runs against clean playing teams are a chore, especially when the vibes are decidedly off.
Loperfido goes down 0-2 with two outs and comes back to get an RBI single to take the lead. Loperfido was a trade deadline pick last season, and he is paying off this year. A small sample size, but he produces when you want him to deliver. His batting average is 387. This stint is morphing from a “nice cup of coffee” into what I hope is a permanent spot with the team.
After Loperfido got the Jays the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning, Bassitt came out and three up, three down the Royals in their next at-bat. It's unknown if this 2-1 lead will hold. It’s the Royals; they will find an annoying way. (Narrator: They did, in fact, find a way.)
Bobby Witt Jr. will be ready to take the crown of Blue Jay annoyer once Perez retires. I’m not thrilled about this.
Ugh, I hate playing the Royals.
Random Thoughts
Has to be said: The Jays got jobed by the Skrike Zone in the first inning of Game 3. Bassitt not getting the high strike is a game-altering development for him. The Strike 'em out, Throw 'em out was ball 4. That would have been 1st and 2nd with one out. NOPE, inning over.
Can we not have all our catchers (and offensive players) take baseballs to the middle of their masks? Kirk came back in Game 3 just in time to take over for Heineman, who had to leave Game 2 early due to a foul ball off the mask.
I will be hosting a candle lighting ceremony for Addison Barger at the next full moon. Our boy is going through it.
I have checked the calendar, and we do have to play this team again before the season is over. I hate everything.
