Penton: Underdog Jays show spring potential
By Bruce Penton
Toronto Blue Jays have gone eight full seasons without winning a playoff series and every baseball expert posting pre-season prognostications says that number will likely be nine when the 162-season comes to a close Sept. 28.
In fact, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas predict the Blue Jays will finish fifth in the five-team American League East, perhaps the toughest division in baseball. All this despite an outstanding spring training season, in which they led the A.L. in wins.
But you never know. Maybe outfielder Addison Barger will carry his impressive spring training stats into the regular season or maybe he’ll be sent down to Buffalo. Maybe 41-year-old Max Scherzer will find his 2013-18 magic and post a 20-7 record or something similar. His colleagues in the starting pitcher rotation include veterans with talented arms — Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and last year’s breakout star, Bowden Francis, who posted an 8-5 record with a 3.30 ERA. Potentially, that group could thrive, especially if the offence packs a bit more punch than it did last year.
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., who has reportedly cut off negotiations on a contract extension and could become a free agent, or a trading chip, could have a monster year, especially if he’s intent on impressing potential suitors for his free-agent talents. Guerrero, Jr., batted .323 last year with 30 home runs, and with free-agent slugger Anthony Santander batting either before him in the lineup, or following him, pitchers will have to think twice about pitching around the Jays’ two big bangers.
Other solid bats for the Blue Jays belong to Bo Bichette, who suffered through an injury-plagued season last year, and free-agent signee Andres Gimenez. Bichette played only 81 games and batted a lowly .225 in 2024, but he’s a career .290 hitter and if he’s healthy for 162 games, another season around .300 can be expected. Gimenez is expected to start at second base after four seasons with Cleveland Guardians.
Santander, who crushed 44 homers for Baltimore last year, will patrol the outfield with George Springer and Daulton Varsho, both of whom are coming off so-so seasons in 2024, but still carrying potent bats. Springer has averaged 23 home runs a season during his 11-year career while Varsho, who has played only three full seasons, has averaged 21 homers when he’s played a full year.
Surprise contributors to the Jays could be infielder Will Wagner, who batted .305 in 24 games for the Jays after being acquired last July from Houston for pitcher Yusei Kikuch, and Barger, who batted only .197 last year but has enjoyed a tremendous spring, hitting .370 in his first 14 games.
“The floor was raised because of our own guys’ expectations after the way things went last season,” manager John Schneider told Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. “And then having guys like Max (Scherzer), (Anthony Santander), (Andrés) Giménez come in … you add those personalities and you kind of see guys feeding off each other.”
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, lamenting Mitch Marner’s lack of joy in the public forum: “Often in post-game or off-day interviews, he appears as though he’s on the witness stand for a trial of something he’s perceived to have done wrong.”
Bob Molinaro of pilotonline.com (Hampton, Va.): “With the NFL reporting no injuries on the tush push in 2024, critics within the league will have to come up with another reason to ban the play. An inability to stop Jalen Hurts can’t be one of them.”
Globe and Mail columnist Cathal Kelly, on the Leafs’ problems: “The Leafs don’t need more centres. They need more therapists.”
Another one from Cathal Kelly: “The Leafs aren’t a bad team. They’re a bad marriage. Every April, they break up. And every summer, despite being warned by all their friends, they get back together.”
Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “RIP George Foreman, only 76. Not a boxing fan but he was one of the greatest. Wonder how many millennials think of him as the grill man?”
Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “The Dallas Mavericks announced a season-ticket increase for next year. That should go over well. ’Hey, we traded away the most popular player in history. How do we top that?’ Just watch.”
Another one from Rolfsen: “Giannis Antetokounmpo just joined the 20,000 career point club and can now access the VIP lounge at the Milwaukee international airport.”
Headline at fark.com, after Sandro Mamukelashvili of the San Antonio Spurs scored 34 points in 19 minutes: “Spurs player sets record in 19 minutes. I think the record is how many times announcers mispronounced his name.”
Another fark.com offering: “Ref accidentally helps Leafs win, vows to get back to screwing them over in the playoffs.”
Jack Finarelli on his sportscurmudgeon.com website, suggesting the new owners of the Boston Celtics may have overpaid with their $6.1 billion purchase of the team, going on to quote comedian Steve Martin: “I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca