The Toronto Blue Jays are in a bit of a pickle at the moment. That’s no bueno for a team looking to get back to the Fall Classic. That problemo has nothing to do with $500-million superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Their pitching staff has taken some serious hits, with injuries creating a major obstacle as the team tries to remain relevant in the playoff race. MLB’s own analysis has pointed directly at the pitching situation as one of the biggest issues facing Toronto.
That situation is looming larger than the unmitigated disaster that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been this season.
That’s important because Toronto is paying Guerrero like a franchise centerpiece. His 14-year, $500 million contract is supposed to be built around the expectation that he will be one of the best hitters in The Bigs.
Instead, Guerrero has endured a surprisingly disappointing season.
And while it would be unfair to blame Toronto’s struggles entirely on him, his production has unquestionably played a role.
However, “Vladdy” isn’t the only reason why the Blue Jays are struggling to lock up a playoff spot. Yes, they’ve been on a bit of a roll lately. But that’s only after the team shook things up at the trade deadline.
Team Needs to Rally Around Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Perhaps the best thing Toronto can do right now is stop treating Guerrero’s struggles like an individual problem.
This is a team problem.
The Blue Jays need their clubhouse to rally around their biggest star and help him rediscover the confidence and swagger that made him so dangerous last October.
That’s easier said than done, evidently.
Hitting slumps don’t disappear simply because teammates offer encouragement. But there is something to be said for creating an environment where Guerrero doesn’t feel like he has to carry the entire organization every time he steps into the batter’s box.
The Blue Jays have enough talent to do that.
And if Guerrero can rediscover even some of the magic he showed during last year’s postseason run, Toronto suddenly becomes a much more dangerous team.
That’s the player the organization needs to see.
Not necessarily the guy who hits 50 home runs every year, but the Guerrero who looks comfortable, confident and capable of changing a game with one swing.
The pitching issues aren’t going away.
Toronto needs to find another way to compensate.
A superstar getting hot at the right time would be a pretty good place to start.
There Is Still Time for the Blue Jays to Turn It Around
The biggest reason Toronto shouldn’t panic is that the season isn’t over. There’s still enough runway for the Blue Jays to put together a significant winning streak and make the playoff race interesting.
That’s particularly true if the pitching staff can stabilize. A team doesn’t need to be perfect down the stretch. It needs to get hot.
The club has done it before. Baseball’s long regular season creates opportunities for teams to completely change their trajectory over the course of a few weeks.
That’s the window Toronto needs to find. The Blue Jays can’t control every injury. They can’t suddenly turn back the clock and erase the disappointing months they’ve already played. But they can control what happens next.
And that starts with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
If he starts hitting like the player Toronto thought it was signing to a monster contract, the entire lineup looks different. Pitchers get more support. Other hitters see better pitches. The clubhouse gets a jolt of confidence.
Suddenly, the Blue Jays don’t look quite so far away. The pitching problems are real. So, are Guerrero’s hitting issues.
But perhaps the answer isn’t choosing which problem to fix first. Toronto needs to solve both.
And if Guerrero can rediscover last October’s magic while the pitching staff gets healthy enough to hold things together, there may still be enough time for the Blue Jays to make a run. The season isn’t dead yet. But Guerrero may be the player who decides whether it stays alive.
Blue Jays Problem Isn’t Necessarily Vladimir Guerrero Jr.