This is for YOU, #BlueJays fans! pic.twitter.com/pypWmbpUSc
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 25, 2020
The 2020 Toronto Blue Jays spent the last 10 days hovering in the #8 seed like limbo in the 2020 playoffs. Couldn't catch teams in front of them; couldn't be caught by teams from behind. The team had a chance on Sunday to jump up to the #5 seed and play Cleveland but couldn't get past Baltimore in Buffalo.
The reward for the 2020 Blue Jays is 2 or 3 games in St. Petersburg in the worst MLB stadium against the Tampa Bay Rays.
By drawing the Rays, Toronto is in the Petco Park section of the bracket. If Toronto can somehow get past Tampa Bay, the Blue Jays will travel to San Diego against Cleveland or the New York Yankees. The San Diego park will also host the AL Championship Series. Toronto hasn't been west of Atlanta since the MLB return.
The Blue Jays went 4-6 against the Rays in 2020: 1-2 in Buffalo and 3-4 in Tampa. Those games were early in the season. This feels like a different Blue Jays team right now.
The starting pitching was much better even if barriers existed that prohibited a Blue Jays starter to enter the 7th inning. Hyun-Jin Ryu finally broke that string Thursday night in Buffalo when the Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot. Ryu went 7 innings and threw 100 pitches.
Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo left the postseason rotation vague. Ryu, Taijuan Walker, one of 3 pitchers acquired during the season along with Robbie Ray and Ross Stripling, off-season acquisitions Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson, and Matt Shoemaker and Nate Pearson (bouncing back from injuries) will be in the mix.
Teoscar Hernandez broke out with a wonderful season. The team played a key stretch without Bo Bichette as Cavan Biggio established himself as the leadoff hitter. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a good year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struggled in the field at 1B and the plate but has hit better lately. Alejandro Kirk had 4 hits in a game under the age of 21 as a catcher: the last MLB catcher to do that was Joe Mauer.
| Date | Opponent | Time | U.S. television |
| September 29 | Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 1 | 5p | TBS |
| September 30 | @ Tampa Bay | 4p | TBS |
| October 1 | @ Tampa Bay+ | 4p | TBS |
The format is geared heavily in favour of the higher seeds. The higher seeds have home field advantage and final at-bats for all 3 games. The Blue Jays have fared poorly on the road and have hit fewer home runs on the road.
The time on Thursday will depend on whether the AL teams need a Game 3.
The inane rule changes are in effect for the 2020 playoffs except there is no runner on second base to start the 10th inning.
Rich Waltz and Jimmy Rollins will call the games on TBS in the United States. Canadian fans will have Rogers Sportsnet coverage distinct from the ESPN coverage. Dan Shulman will work the postseason for ESPN Radio so Buck Martinez and Joe Siddall will call the action.
ESPN is covering the other 7 series with some ESPN games airing on ABC. A bit surprised TBS ended up with the Blue Jays.
2020 Toronto Blue Jays season preview
Toronto Blue Jays won't play in Canada for 2020 regular season
Toronto did some decent exposure on U.S. television mostly through the MLB Network.
The Blue Jays were in Tampa Bay on August 23 on TBS, a rarity where the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox weren't involved. Toronto even got a home game in Buffalo on ESPN in the final week.
The ESPN coverage was so one-sided. Karl Ravech didn't have to do too much homework since he loves the Yankees and didn't want to learn about the Blue Jays. We did find out that Ravech likes Tim Hortons coffee and thinks Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is too fat.
Getting Rogers Sportsnet feeds was a challenge at times. MLB Network almost always carries the home feed. The Blue Jays had "home" games in Washington and Philadelphia on the channel with the U.S. feeds.
MLB Network did carry the Rogers Sportsnet feed on Thursday when the Blue Jays clinched that playoff spot.
To everyone that made Buffalo work for us... Thank you! 👏🏻👏🏻 @BlueJays @BuffaloBisons pic.twitter.com/XrdYRlDRzq
— Travis Shaw (@travis_shaw21) September 26, 2020
Travis Shaw's summertime Twitter feed showed some frustration over the team's predicament. Nice to see him weigh in so kindly on the effort in Buffalo.
Sahlen Field in Buffalo proved to be the reason the Toronto Blue Jays are in the 2020 playoffs. The Blue Jays went 32-28, 17-9 at home while 15-19 on the road. 34 road games out of 60. Some teams lost home games due to unforeseen circumstances. Seattle lost home games due to smoke from wildfires. The Blue Jays lost some home games over the Buffalo issue and MLB refusal to make logistical moves to help. Unfortunately, like their MLS counterparts, the Blue Jays will wander through the United States.
Having a place to play was really important. The idea of making the Blue Jays travel out of suitcases for 2 months was unprofessional. The Blue Jays might have to play games in Buffalo in 2021 thanks to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020
Toronto Blue Jays would have played New York Yankees as 2020 opponents in Montreal
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
While Blue Jays fans remember fondly the 2016 postseason, Toronto had to win a 1-game wild card to get into the actual playoffs. Edwin Encarnacion hit the game-winning 3-run homer in the 11th inning. 2020 is 2-3 games instead of 1 game and all on the road. Blink and you might miss the fun. Let's hope the postseason lasts longer than 2-3 games. Enjoy it even if the postseason is done quickly.
Toronto Blue Jays playoffs history
| 2020 | Tampa Bay | 0-0 |
| 2016 | Cleveland | 1-4 |
| 2016 | Texas | 3-0 |
| 2016 | Baltimore | 1-0 |
| 2015 | Kansas City | 2-4 |
| 2015 | Texas | 3-2 |
| 1993 | Philadelphia | 4-2 |
| 1993 | Chicago (AL) | 4-2 |
| 1992 | Atlanta | 4-2 |
| 1992 | Oakland | 4-2 |
| 1991 | Minnesota | 1-4 |
| 1989 | Oakland | 1-4 |
| 1985 | Kansas City | 3-4 |
Twitter captures: @bluejays; @travis_shaw21
photo credits: Rogers Sportsnet; MLB
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