If the Toronto Blue Jays want to put up any battle to be contenders for the postseason, their bats need to wake up. The Jays offense this season has been like a magic trick so far in 2023. It has appeared and then disappeared, and it has surprised us. The lack of consistency has been frustrating, as fans have been anticipating a very different outlook in terms of offense. Every day, players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Daulton Varsho, Bo Bichette, and George Springer need to step up their game.
Jays Bats Need A Revival
Regulars Have Been Silent
When you need your best players to be the best players the #bluejays are failing Bo, Springer, Vladdy 4/34 against #texas #mlb
— LAKE AVENUE (@Albermarle99) September 14, 2023
Time and time again, it has been said that the Jays bats, particularly with the big-name players, need to flourish. Vladdy’s 2023 season is not what we expected from him, and it has turned sour with Jays fan’s hopes of clinching the playoffs. The series against the Texas Rangers was expected to be something other than a piece of cake. But with a team with solid pitching and offense that can come from so many players, we’ve yet to see the urgency we’ve been hoping for. In the first two games against Texas, Bichette, Vladdy, and Varsho could not produce. In addition, the fact that Vladdy has been inconsistent and has yet to be moved down in the lineup is still puzzling.
Bichette went 0 for 8, Vladdy 0 for 8, and Varsho 0 for 4. The Jays offense has primarily been coming from the younger players such as Davis Schneider, Ernie Clement, Spencer Horwitz, and Cavan Biggio. While it has been uplifting that the Jays have gained offense from the youngsters simultaneously, we cannot expect only them to carry it. Everyone needs to contribute offensively. The Jays’ issues with RISP continue to be a problem. There have been so many games where the Jays have yet to capitalize early on with runners on base. In addition, when the Jays have shown urgency, it has turned a dark corner.
Whether it has been caught stealing or trying to turn a single into a double, while we can appreciate the urgency, at the same time, runs and the offense has been scarce. There’s no need to try and turn a double into a single, take the base hit, and worry about sustaining more offense. Another big issue has been that when the Jays have golden opportunities to score multiple runs, they’ve only been able to cash in a couple. You cannot afford to hold back and play things safe.
Fans Have Had Enough
Jays boo'ed off the field after a 10-0 loss. Toronto managed just 5 hits…all singles.
And…sit on the outside looking in at the post-season.
The faithful… have very little faith right now.
— Tim Micallef (@tim_micallef) September 14, 2023
Blue Jays fans are continuing to gain frustration from the lack of run support, flat bats, and the home runs given up. Fans have been waiting for them to get into their groove all season. The Jays have come into the 2023 season expecting to be division favorites or solid wild-card contenders. We’ve continued to hear from manager John Schneider that they will figure things out. The Jays are running out of time, and fans are tired of hearing excuses.
When the Jays bats were hot against below .500 teams (Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, and the Kansas City Royals), this is what we expected of them. The actual test was when they would be playing top teams in MLB, and so far, they have failed. Jays fans have had enough, and this was evident in Toronto’s 10-0 loss against Texas, where fans booed them. The Jays should have been able to put up more of a fight. While their pitching has been disappointing against the Rangers, the bats have not been able to produce run support, which has been hard to watch.
Jays Need a Competitive Edge
While the Jays are still contenders for the postseason, they need to buckle down. They have two easier series against the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. But this doesn’t mean that they should be taking them lightly. We know that the Yankees have been improving recently, so it will be crucial for the Jays to step it up. We’ve continued to see the same mistakes from the Jays—the lack of heart and hustle, offense, and consistency.
It is one thing to lose to a team, but then there’s a blowout and epic smackdown. It continues to be a frustrating season for the Blue Jays. Their bats need to come alive, especially from the everyday players. All players go through droughts, but this is far from a drought. It’s unfortunate when there’s so much potential and when they seem to be improving, and then the next day, it looks like a completely different team playing. Can they pull off another series sweep against the Red Sox? Will the regulars wake up and smell the coffee? We will have to wait and see.
Main Photo Credits: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
