The Toronto Blue Jays endured a heart-wrenching loss in October 2022 when they blew an 8-1 lead to the Seattle Mariners. Disappointed fans, including myself, were ready to give up on the team. However, as the 2023season dawns, we have all come back to support our beloved Jays. How did they win us back?
1. New Faces and New Places
The Jays made a series of strategic moves during the offseason, starting with trading away fan favorites Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernández for much-needed relief pitching in Erik Swanson and improved outfield defense in Daulton Varsho. They also signed centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier to a one-year deal, and his charming and positive attitude has already gained fans' love. The combined Wins Above Replacement of Gurriel and Hernández equals that of Varsho alone and they are no match for Kiermaier's three gold gloves.
The acquisitions were made even more appealing by the announcement of the new playing field dimensions at the Rogers Center. The uniquely shaped outfield, featuring a shallower outfield, elevated walls, raised bullpens, and more, would be a nightmare for notoriously bad defenders Gurrieland Hernández.
The new, smaller ballpark at the Rogers Center gives every reason for defense-first players to explode offensively with less surface area to cover. The team's new bench coach and baseball legend Don Mattingly brings a focused mindset and represents the more sophisticated culture in the club house as a veteran coach and former outfielder.
The Jays' biggest free agency splash was the versatile pitcher Chris Bassit, who came off a great season with the New York Mets. Bassit is the replacement for Ross Stripling and the new number three in the rotation. Although he does not solve all the pitching problems, Bassit is an excellent and much-needed acquisition. However, the team still has concerns with their number four and number five spots in the starting pitching rotation.
2. Bounce Back
The biggest question marks lie with Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi, who both had disappointing seasons in 2022. Berrios, in particular, was brutal, giving up the most earned runs in the American League (AL) in the first year of a seven-year contract. However, Kikuchi has provided surprising results in spring training, not allowing a single run in four games. Some fans attribute his success to his new beard, which he grew over the off-season, and it might just be the only explanation for his miraculous revival.
Despite my disappointment with the team in 2022, I am excited for the 2023 season. Bo Bichette, the Jays' star shortstop, disappointed for most of the 2022 season, but he went on an absolute tear in September, posting a .403 batting average with a 1.134 OPS, 7 HR, and 27 RBIs. In spring training, he has shown he can continue this bounce-back, and his elite offense should alleviate concerns about his defense.
In addition to Bo Bichette's expected bounce-back performance, there are other key players that the Blue Jays will rely on in 2023. One of them is outfielder George Springer, who signed a six-year, $150million contract with the team before the 2021 season. Springer battled injuries in his first year with the Blue Jays, limiting him to only 78 games. However, when he was healthy, he was a force to be reckoned with, hitting .266with 22 home runs and an .881 OPS. The team is hoping for a healthy and productive year from Springer in 2023, as he can be a difference-maker when he's on the field.
Another key player is catcher Alejandro Kirk, who showed flashes of brilliance in his limited playing time in 2021 and 2022. Kirk is known for his advanced approach at the plate, as well as his solid defence behind it. Despite being just 23 years old, he has already drawn comparisons to former All-Star catcher Yadier Molina. The Blue Jays are hoping for a breakout year from Kirk, as he could provide a boost to their offense and defence behind the plate.
The Blue Jays have the potential to remain one of the best teams in the league. Led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who finished second in MVP voting in 2021, the team has plenty of firepower. Guerrero Jr. hit .325with 48 home runs and a 1.011 OPS in 2021. While he continued to dominate in2022, he definitely took a step back. But the smaller ballpark could be a catalyst to get him back on track.
The Blue Jays will also be relying on some young arms to continue dominating in 2023. One of them is Alek Manoah, who made his major league debut in 2021 and showed plenty of promise. His dominance continued in 2022 where he finished top 3 in Cy Young voting. Manoah has a big fastball and a devastating slider, and if he can continue to develop his other pitches and keep up his all-star performance, he could become a future Cy Young winner. Even Kevin Gausman was unreal last year, despite stats saying he was unlucky at times. His expected stats were way higher than his actual stats, and this year he hopes to have a bit more luck in his outings.
3. They are simply better
The American League East seems to be within the Jays' grasp. The Red Sox and Orioles are still a few years away from competing, and the Rays did nothing to improve their mediocre offense. The Yankees' success depends onanother historic season by Aaron Judge. The new, balanced schedule and the new rules such as bigger bases and the ban of the shift cater to the Jays' young team make success seem imminent.
Many fans may forget that Charlie Montoyo was their manager to start the season in 2022. With him at the helm last season, the jays were 46-42. When new manager John Schneider picked up the team, they went 46-28. This season will be the first with the new manager guiding and leading the team and it could lead to further success and hopefully a deeper run this time around.
Matt Chapman is also poised for a massive season. His contract is up this year, so he has something to prove this season, he has to show his worth. But overall, the Jays lineup is just insane top to bottom. George Springer, Bo Bichette, Vladdy, Matt Chapman, Daulton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen, Whit Merrifield, Kevin Kiermaier. This offense is unbelievable this year. And like I said, everything seems to be working out in their favour, it sounds crazy but the stars are aligning for this team. Everything added up looks like it will lead to a World Series and nothing less.
https://youtu.be/mT3s-t5ZKnM
References
Aleluia, J. (2023, March 19). Blue Jaysready to compete in 2023 MLB season. The Varsity.https://thevarsity.ca/2023/03/19/blue-jays-ready-to-compete-in-2023-mlb-season/
