The 2021 Toronto Blue Jays started with a huge disadvantage, playing home games in Dunedin, Florida where crowds were filled at times rooting against the home team. Buffalo filled in for the middle of season, Yankees fans being a little too loud. The team really took off finally playing in Toronto.
The Blue Jays got to a 91-71 record: a home record of 47-33 and went 44-38 on the road. The Blue Jays went 10-11 in Dunedin, losing its final 6 home games in Florida to Boston and Tampa Bay. Toronto went 12-11 in Buffalo since June 1. The team finished 25-11 in Canada at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays were 51-48 (3 above .500) when they got back to Canada and finished 20 above .500.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finished 3rd in hitting (.311), tied for first in home runs (48), and tied for 5th in RBI (111) in the American League. Will still likely finish second in the AL Most Valuable Player race to Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles).
Semien and Bichette's combined 72 homers are the MOST by a 2B-SS duo in @MLB HISTORY! #TBJHomers pic.twitter.com/T6dfM25euK
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 30, 2021
Marcus Semien signs a 1-year, $18 million contract to play with the Toronto Blue Jays at a new position, 2nd base. Semien hits more home runs (45) than any other second baseman in MLB history. The previous record was 43 by Davey Johnson for Atlanta in 1973.
Bo Bichette set a new team record for most home runs by a Blue Jays shortstop with 29.
Teoscar Hernandez drove in 116 runs for 3rd in the league. All 4 of the players who made the All-Star team (Guerrero, Semien, Bichette, Hernandez) drove in 100+ runs.
The team hit 262 HRs, a new team record. The previous mark was 257 in 2010. The Blue Jays led the majors in HR in 2021.
George Springer spent a lot of time injured but still hit 22 home runs.
And the Sox are in 100 runs less …🤷♂️ sports man https://t.co/PZxGE0u2VY
— Ray Ferraro (@rayferrarotsn) October 3, 2021
If George Springer had been reasonably healthy. If Cavan Biggio had been healthy and effective. If the 3-headed home field had been 2 or even 1. If the bullpen hadn't exploded, especially early in the season. If the DH position could have been spread out more, especially late in the season, so young players could get a (mostly) day off. If the bullpen had figured things out quicker.
Toronto Blue Jays finally playing home games in Toronto
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is first Blue Jays player to win the All-Star Game MVP
The pitching showed promise in 2021. The Blue Jays didn't have a real closer to start the season. Jordan Romano jumped in with a 7-1 record, 2.14 ERA, and 23/24 in saves.
The starters who shined included Steven Matz (14-7), Hyun Jin Ryu (14-10), Robbie Ray (13-7, 2.84 ERA), and Alek Manoah (9-2 3.22). José Berríos (5-4 after the trade), Tim Mayza (5-2), and Ross Stripling (5-7) also helped.
2021 Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Game preview
2021 Toronto Blue Jays preview
The acquisition of José Berríos came at a steep price. Toronto sent very top prospects infielder Austin Martin and right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson in return. The Blue Jays have Berrios for another year in 2022.
Riley Adams, some of that catching depth, went to Washington for reliever Brad Hand, who didn't last long for the Blue Jays.
Matz, Ray, and Semien are free agents.
Marcus Semien on the 2021 #BlueJays:
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) October 4, 2021
“We became, in my opinion, the best team in baseball. But it was just a tick too late.”
The fact that the Blue Jays finished 4th in the American League East Division is technically true but a ridiculous thought at the same time. The 2021 Toronto team was 6th in the American League behind the 3 teams in the East and division winners Chicago and Houston.
You could point to Thursday's game against the New York Yankees or to a few handfuls of games early in the season. The season was very good but ultimately short of the MLB playoffs. Let's see what happens in 2022 with a full 81 home games in Toronto.
Kamala Harris, Jackie Robinson, and their association with Montreal
Celebrating Montreal Expos legacy in Washington, DC
Toronto Blue Jays help celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Montreal Expos
The Tampa Bay Rays made a huge deal over a "very simple Tampa Bay/Montréal graphic" in foul territory near right field at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The sign was a symbol of progress in terms of the 2 area potentially sharing a MLB franchise.
Soon after the sign got publicity, the proverbial rug was lifted from underneath the Montréal Expos fans. Turns out they won't display the sign. Psyche!!
The team lease in St. Petersburg expires after the 2027 season.
The idea of a split season where the team would start out and finish in St. Petersburg but play the summer home games in Montréal, as much of a farce as that would be, only works if Montréal builds a new downtown stadium (possibly in the Peel Basin area) and the team ultimately moves there for good at the start of the 2028 season.
Otherwise, this is a cheap stunt that damages the heartstrings of true baseball fans in La Belle Province.
The Montréal Expos left Canada after the 2004 MLB season.
Larry Walker honours Montreal and the Montreal Expos in Hall of Fame speech
Larry Walker is now the second Canadian in the Baseball Hall of Fame
Who is this new Joey Votto? The Canadian MLB star has had an amazing career. Like a lot of players, 2020 was not his year. Votto is in the latter part of his career; in 2021, Votto had a revised batting stance and a successful approach at the plate.
Votto, known more for getting on base than hitting home runs, hit 14 home runs in a 19-game stretch. Votto joined Johnny Bench as the only Cincinnati Reds players with 2,000 hits and 300 homers. Votto is the only MLB player with 2,000 hits with a on-base percentage of more than .400.
Votto finished with 36 HR and 99 RBI. He "only" hit .266 with a .375 OBP and .563 slugging.
Votto did the narration for the Adnan Virk video of Larry Walker's career. The MLB Network people mentioned that Votto will likely be the 3rd Canadian in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hopefully, Votto won't have to wait 10 years.
Jim Hughson concludes marvelous baseball and hockey announcing career
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
The Vancouver Canadians didn't play any games on Canadian soil in 2021. The High-A affiliate with the Toronto Blue Jays played their games in the Portland suburb of Hillsboro, sharing a stadium with the Hillsboro Hops with the high-A West League.
"It's terrible. I honestly thought we'd get back in July," Vancouver Canadians president Andy Dunn said. "Things kept changing and kept changing. Nothing broke in our favour."
Nat Bailey Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Park sat empty. The park did recently host 3 baseball-related films: A League of Their Own; Field of Dreams; and The Rookie.
Toronto Blue Jays get swept in 2020 MLB playoffs
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: @bluejays
Twitter captures: @bluejays; @rayferrarotsn; @bnicholsonsmith
Comments