About a quarter of the season has been played, and fans across the country–who began the season two months ago with the highest of hopes–are still waiting for the Jays to play like the team they were thought to be at the start of the season
This was to be the year the Jays finally put 20 years of futility behind them. It was the season that would bring back memories of back-to-back World Series titles in 1992-93, when the team was the toast of the baseball world.
But so far, not so good. New pitching ace R. A. Dickey and all-star shortstop Jose Reyes–both acquired over the winter–were supposed to lead the Jays back to glory. But Dickey has been ineffective, Reyes has been injured, the defence has been terrible and the offence not much better.
The Jays remain mired in last place in the American League East. After a brief spurt of four straight wins last week, the Jays went into New York on the weekend to show the perennial champion New York Yankee how to play this crazy game.
After dropping the first two games, the Jays were mercifully rained out on Sunday.
Baseball Prospectus now gives the Jays a 0.4 percent chance to win the AL East and a 2.9 percent chance of making the playoffs.
The Jays took their 17-26 record into a three-game series against Tampa Bay in Toronto on Monday. Tampa Bay will be followed by another AL East team, Baltimore. Lose those two series and calls for general manager Alex Anthopoulos to break up the Jays and blow up the season will become full throated.
For some perspective on what the Jays can do–if anything–we asked Toronto Star baseball columnist to join us.
Richard Griffin spoke to us from his home in Toronto.
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