The third player in team HISTORY with a multi-homer game in the Postseason:
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 8, 2022
THIS GUY ✌️ #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/V2Edcurn1V
The argument in 2020 was that the Toronto Blue Jays had been road weary and couldn't overcome the laser precision of the Tampa Bay Rays. 2021 was an amazing season but no playoffs. The 2022 version worked hard down the stretch to gain home field advantage and get the Seattle Mariners to fly thousands of kilometres and deal with customs.
The Blue Jays outscored the entire Tampa Bay and Cleveland series in Game 2: 8-1 lead where they couldn't shut the barn door in time. Game 1 featured a shutdown of the Blue Jays offence.
Teoscar Hernandez hit a 2-run home run in the 1st inning and a first pitch blast in the 4th inning. Former Toronto ace Robbie Ray gave up both home runs. Ray didn't go to Toronto in the regular season, reportedly because he hadn't had the COVID-19 vaccine. The new rules allow unvaccinated players into Canada.
George Springer and Bo Bichette were involved in an outfield collision with a blooper that brought in 3 runs to tie the game at 9-9. Whit Merrifield was pulled from Game 2 after getting hit in the head with a pitch.
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Thought @Cardinals would have worst collapse of these wild card series. @Bluejays unfortunately said #holdmybeer. 8-1 lead, going down 10-9. This young core now 0-4 in @MLB playoff games. #NextLevel
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) October 9, 2022
The young core (Bichette, Guerrero, Kirk, et al) needed playoff experience, preferably winning playoff experience. The team played nervous on Friday and bewildered in the second half of Saturday's game.
If Springer had been allowed to catch that blooper or hold it to a single, then maybe there would have been a Sunday game. There are other countless moments that would have made a difference. A team that hadn't played in a playoff game since 2001 had a lot more confidence than a team that has had remotely recent playoff success.
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A potential Game 3, subject to the result of other games, could have meant a Blue Jays appearance on ABC. Given that ESPN only carried the Blue Jays in the playoffs, that would have been impressive. Like when the Toronto Raptors were on ABC, Citytv reportedly would have sim subbed the ABC feed.
Sadly, this might be Buck Martinez's last game. Nothing is certain and Martinez has to consider a few factors, such as age and health. Matt Devlin filled in for Dan Shulman at times in Martinez's absence. Devlin does have a day job with the Raptors.
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Wait til next year or next level.
Toronto Blue Jays playoffs history
| 2022 | Seattle | 0-2 |
| 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 |
Twitter captures: @BlueJays; @canadian_xing
photo credit: ESPN/MLB
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