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Published Jul 31, 2023 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 4 minute read
Jorge Mateo of the Baltimore Orioles is tagged out by Matt Chapman of the Toronto Blue Jays as he tries to steal third base at Rogers Centre on July 31, 2023 in Toronto. Photo by Vaughn Ridley /Getty Images
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Yes, he believes a serious run at the American League East is still a possibility for his team.
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Yes, he plans to be active in advance of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. Major League Baseball trade deadline.
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And this week, as much as any, is as good a time for Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins and his team to make moves in the right direction on both accounts.
The on-field pursuit got off to a ragged start on Monday at the Rogers Centre as the Jays were swatted aside in a 4-2 loss to the division-leading Orioles that got mighty interesting in the end only to see the Jays unable to cash in runs at a critical time. Again.
Off the field was off to a better start with Sunday’s acquisition of flame-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks, who immediately fortifies the formidable factor of the bullpen.
As for the deadline, Atkins sounded for all the world like GM vowed to push more chips into the centre of the table to help his inconsistent team realize its potential.
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“We certainly hope to make the organization better and we are working around the clock,” Atkins said. “And we do see opportunities.”
Of course, there is a logjam of teams around MLB with similar intent so Tuesday promises to be an interesting day of bartering. One thing is clear, however, and that is Atkins is more “in” than ever at this deadline, determined to build a team capable of not just making the post-season, but launching a run deep into October.
That was evident in acquiring Hicks, the most pointed trade deadline rental the Jays have made under the watch of Atkins. The intent is clear.
“That’s the trajectory you see with a lot of championship teams,” Atkins said of the rent a star strategy. “We were certainly open to that last year and the opportunity didn’t present itself. Glad it did this year.”
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The pursuit of the Orioles represents a different challenge of course, a task that grows more stout as the season evolves. With the result Monday, the upstart Orioles increased their lead over the Jays to 6.5 games, while improving to 6-1 against them this season.
“When the division gets so bunched up like it is right now, you want to take advantage of these four games,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Monday. “They’re good, we get that. They understand we’re good and we’ve had some tough battles going back to last year.
“But with everything in front of you, it’s going to be an exciting series and guys are ready for it.”
At least his team has three more games to attempt to make good on it.
GAME ON After he struck out the first two batters of the game, the O’s got to Jays starter Chris Bassitt early, dinging him for a pair of runs on a Ryan Mountcastle double … The O’s added two more in the third highlighted by a leadoff run from sensational young third baseman Gunnar Henderson … For the latest drive-you-crazy moments from the Jays offence, we talked you to the seventh when leadoff walks to Matt Chapman and Daulton Varsho were followed by a meek Alejandro Kirk pop up and meeker strikeouts by Jordan Luplow and Kevin Kiermaier … Want more? After a leadoff homer from Whit Merrrifield in the eighth to trim the O’s lead to 4-2, things got mighty interesting when Brandon Belt and Vlad Guerrero Jr. drew one out walks. But Chapman struck out looking on a Felix Bautista fastball that was shamefully judged to be a strike but was in fact well outside and Varsho ended it on a shallow pop up … So of course the Jays got the tying run on in the ninth after a leadoff walk by Kirk and a one-out free pass to Kiermaier. But a sensational diving catch by Austin Hays robbed Merrifield of an extra-base hit and Santiago Espinal (in for the injured Bo Bichette) struck out to end it … Schneider was clearly not amused with the suspect umpiring. “I don’t think Felix Bautista needs any help,” the manager said.
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PURE POWER When it comes to Hicks, both Atkins and Schneider are well aware of the value of a high-octane arm to provide a welcome boost to the ‘pen.
“I think when you’re a hitter and you have to gear up for triple digits, it’s not a fun assignment,” Schneider said. “It’s not a comfortable feeling knowing you have a huge fastball coming at you. When you throw that hard, I think hitters view you as a little bit of a different dude out there.”
Added Atkins: “It was certainly part of our thinking about what it takes to win a championship.”
How hard does Hicks throw? The 28-year-old has topped out 104.3 miles per hour this season and his average fastball velocity is 100.6. The fastest recorded pitch by a blew Jay is the 101.9 Nate Pearson threw in 2021.
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AROUND THE BASES Struggling George Springer wasn’t in the starting nine on Monday but nothing to see here, says the manager. “Just a day off,” Schneider said. “Yeah, it’s an AL East opponent but just trying to give him a blow. He’ll be back in there on Tuesday. I don’t think frustrated is the right word. Just battling.” … There’s plenty of excitement among the Jays to see Hyun-Jin Ryu’s return to the rotation for the second of four against the O’s here on Tuesday … With the…