Game 11 - Mariners @ Blue Jays April 8th Game Recap
Home is Where the Hits Are
What a “get right” game on opening night in the ballpark. Berrios was excellent, and the Blue Jays, with two outs, were a machine. Only one starter didn’t have a hit (Springer). More than half of the Blue Jays runs were scored with two outs, which is incredible. The most important thing I saw for the bats were the swings for Vladdy and Bo. If you watch the recap below, the Vladdy double to right-center to score the 3rd Blue Jays run was the swing this offense is missing. That is the MVP hitting an MVP ball. Home Runs are great, but the Home Runs need to wait for the OBP monster to get rolling. If Vladdy finds his OBP swing, and we saw it tonight, the offensive woes will be left on that road trip, and the division race will be on. Assuming the Yankees don’t get a 45-game lead playing teams like the Marlins at home. Bo also had a double tonight, and while Vladdy is a little farther ahead on the “flushing of funk” process, the double looked like a vintage Bo hit machine. Please let this be the turnaround for this offense, which it desperately needs. Five runs are great; this is what I consider a par-winning effort by an offense. I expect a run every two innings to give the pitching staff a chance. The Blue Jays did that today. I want to see more 6+ run games, but let’s not get greedy.
The Ace We Hoped For
Remember that season when Berrios was awful? Me neither; I've completely forgotten. He looked great in this game, and he is an anchor in this pitching rotation. I’m confident we will get a good game on the mound when Berrios starts. They won’t all be stellar, but as a fan, knowing we have this kind of guy in the rotation makes me feel better about the teal. I hope Gausman and Bassitt get back to that level, and then this season will be on!
“Stick with Us”
Vladdy was interviewed before the game and the message to fans was “stick with us”. I think that, to a particular meaningful segment of the Blue Jays’ fandom, we will stick with the team until the end. We have the merch, we’ve attached our souls, and we will go down with the ship thinking about the joys of the roster from the past.
For that same segment of the fandom, and frankly, anyone paying a little bit of attention. The team's ills last year are showing markers in this year’s team. We will stick with the team, but you must make us believe. I like what Bo said in Spring Training, that the team had to earn the right for fans to be optimistic. This game was a significant first step to making me a believer again. The changes I want to see are there. At bats are competitive, the pitching is injured, but giving the offense a chance and the defense looks great.
I’m here and will always be here; make us believe for the long haul.
Season (5-6) Player of the Game: Jose Berrios (1)
Season PotG: WINS: Biggio (1), Schneider (1), Turner (1), Kikuchi (1) LOSSES: Springer (2), Varsho (1), Kiermaier (1), Schneider (1), Bichette (1)
The Rest of the East
Tampa Bay (5-6) - It looks like the Rays got Rays’d by the Angels. That’s a tough look. The Angels starter only gave up 4 hits while the Rays’ starter gave up 5 runs over five innings pitched. The Rays’ bats are not playing at that level right now. If the pitching doesn’t support the slow burn of the offense, this is what happens. The idea is starting to creep in that the Rays are not going to hold off the dam for long enough. But……these are the Rays we’re talking about, they haven’t gone away in a decade, they aren’t going to start now.
Baltimore (5-4) - Did Not Play
New York (9-2) - The winless Marlins came to New York. The Yankees won, is anyone surprised? This should be a sweep.
Boston (7-3) - Did Not Play
