Boy that was quick.
The Toronto Blue Jays couldn't generate much offence in the 2-game sweep for Tampa Bay. The Blue Jays couldn't generate a hit until the 6th inning of Game 1.
Charlie Montoyo went with the "controversial" call to start Matt Shoemaker. Some criticised that Shoemaker only went 3 innings. Both calls seemed fine, especially with the inability to generate offence in Game 1. Alejandro Kirk had a single to right field to break up the no-hitter. The only issue is that Taijuan Walker didn't get used.
Hyun-Jin Ryu got 5 outs and gave up 7 runs in Game 2. Only 3 of those runs were earned thanks to the second error of the afternoon for Bo Bichette. Danny Jansen did hit 2 solo home runs for Toronto.
Nate Pearson struck out 5 of the 6 hitters he faced in 2 innings in Game 2.
Blue Jays went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Jano is the 2nd player in #BlueJays history with a multi-homer game in the postseason! pic.twitter.com/lfwO8MvvZy
— Toronto Blue Jays - x (@BlueJays) September 30, 2020
Tuesday had 3 of the 4 lower seeds win in the American League playoffs. The Blue Jays were the only exception. Miami and St. Louis were lower seeds that won Game 1 in the National League on Wednesday. Houston and the New York Yankees swept as lower seeds.
Date | Opponent | Time | U.S. television |
September 29 | Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 1 | 5p | TBS |
September 30 | Tampa Bay 8, Toronto 2 | 4p | TBS |
Rich Waltz and Jimmy Rollins did okay. The TBS coverage is always a little sleepy, a point not helped from broadcasting at the worst MLB stadium. Tried listening to Dan Shulman on ESPN Radio but the online broadcast was significant delayed from the TV signal.
Buck Martinez and Joe Siddall called the wild-card round on Rogers Sportsnet.
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Joey Votto now has 10 postseason games under his belt as a MLB player with the Cincinnati Reds. Votto, the game's best current Canadian player, has had few opportunities to take advantage of the postseason. The 2013 game was 1-and-out. The 2012 series was a collapse after going up 2-0 in a 5-game series. 2010 brought a no-hitter from former Toronto pitching ace Roy Halladay. Yesterday's game in Atlanta was a frighteningly horrible example on a playoff team working really hard not to score a run.
Votto deserves better. Hopefully, Votto, 37, will get that chance before he retires.
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Cavan Biggio played mostly 2nd base with some time in right field. Down the stretch, Biggio played 3rd base. That could be more about the other players being better suited at 2nd base rather than 3rd base. You can play Biggio anywhere and he will deliver. If Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is staying at 1st base and Travis Shaw not likely coming back, the Blue Jays might be in the market for a hot corner option in 2021.
Nate Pearson will have a full season, as full as MLB will have in 2021. Guerrero needs to work on going too far away from his 1B position. The outfield looks in good shape with Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Randal Grichuk, and Teoscar Hernandez.
The young players got ⅔ of an appetizer of postseason experience. This will help the core the next time the playoffs come calling.
Oh, keep Sahlen Field ready. The Toronto Blue Jays might be Buffalo-bound again in 2021 thanks to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Toronto Blue Jays playoffs history
2020 | Tampa Bay | 0-2 |
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 |
photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet/MLB
Twitter captures: @bluejays
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