After their most successful season in the last two decades, the Toronto Blue Jays appear to be headed into another summer full of wins and excitement, as they aim for a second consecutive playoff appearance.
Although baseball is often considered to be a boring sport, especially by younger people, I beg to differ. Scoring more runs and providing more homers than anyone else in the league, the Jays are one of the most exciting teams to watch on a nightly basis. With an impressive record last season and a strong roster once again, the Blue Jays deserve the support of an entire country.
Stacked with a lineup full of mashers and defensive wizards, the Jays are taking a new approach to winning baseball games. Rather than looking to manufacture runs and limit runs against, they’re hoping to light up the scoreboard every game and pummel teams with their explosive offence. They scored 5.45 runs per game in 2015, easily a full run more than the league average.
While their pitching staff isn’t as dominant as others around the league, the Jays are hoping their young arms can take the next step in their careers and give the team solid outings in each and every start. Youngsters Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez will look to anchor a starting rotation that has more run support than any other in the league. With Brett Cecil, Drew Storen and Roberto Osuna locking down the bullpen, the Jays should be in good shape if they can repeat their incredible offensive performance from last season.
The Jays’ star-studded lineup features plenty of firepower and you won’t want to take a bathroom break when they’re up to bat. With six of their nine hitters more than capable of leaving the yard, the home runs will come by the handful — and it sure makes for some entertaining baseball. With all-stars like Troy Tulowitzki, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista and reigning Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson headlining the batting order, it’s no wonder the Jays had the most potent attack in all of baseball last year.
It was an interesting offseason for the Jays, as they lost star pitcher David Price and outfielder Ben Revere. Both will be missed in the lineup, but their replacements are just as capable and are much cheaper options.
Michael Saunders will take over in left field for Revere and although he lacks the speed and defensive capabilities of his ex-teammate, Saunders is a much more fearsome hitter. It will obviously be difficult to replace Price, but the additions of Jesse Chavez and J.A. Happ to the rotation will aim to add more depth, as management hopes Stroman can be the team’s bona fide ace.
While they finished strong down the stretch last season, it will be interesting to see what a full season has in store for the Blue Jays. With a winning culture established around the organization, let’s hope it leads to another bright season for Jays, as they look to continue their resurgence in the ultra-competitive American League East division.
While it is a long season — 162 games can feel like an eternity — the Blue Jays are sure to provide plenty of entertainment during the summer. Whether it’s sitting with some relatives watching a game over Sunday brunch, or enjoying a few cold ones with some friends on a Friday night, the Jays are great to have on in the background, even if you don’t follow baseball religiously.
If you’re looking to get into the sport, now is the time. As a fan in Canada, the Blue Jays are the obvious choice for your favourite team and they’ll be sure to give you some exciting baseball. With the squad primed for another run at the post-season, you’ll want to get behind them now — who knows how long it will be before the Jays are this good again.
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Image: Lesia Karalash