Jays Bullpen Woes

 If there ever was a question what this Blue Jays team's biggest weakness is, it was answered in dramatic fashion this long weekend. The Jays lost 2/3 in a series against the league leading Milwaukee Brewers, not a ton of shame in that but the way they lost was frustrating. They followed this up by losing the first game against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday in equally frustrating fashion. The way each of these losses came should cause Jays fans to question this team's ability to go on a deep run this season, as unfortunate as that might be. Lets get into some doom and gloom: 

Brewers Game 1

I was at this one! The idea behind rallying a crew to go to this game was the Jays are in first place, playing the first place team in the NL with Shane Bieber making his home debut. I thought it had all the elements for an immaculate vibes game. Coming into the stadium, it definitely lived up to it. People were buzzing on the way to our seats with lets go Blue Jays chants starting early. Bieber and the Brewers' Freddy Peralta got off to great starts and as a baseball sicko I was treated to a great pitchers dual. Unfortunately the people who accompanied me weren't baseball sickos and reasonably wanted to see something happen. In the 6th inning with both pitchers rolling in a 0-0 game Bieber gave up a leadoff homerun, then a single and finally got the hook after getting the first out of the inning. An awesome home debut for Bieber that put the Jays in a great position to win. Then Brendon Little came in, walked a guy, gave up a single and it was 2-0. He gets a strikeout for out number 2 and is pulled for Louis Varland. Varland immediately gives up back to back hits, while my group is at the TD Park Social securing grilled cheeses and churros, making it 5-0. We got back to our seats just in time for Justin Bruihl to give up 2 more runs and practically end the game. Unfortunate game to be at as the last few innings the stadium was practically silent. At least my lovely girlfriend admitted going to the ballpark is a fun time!

Brewers Game 2

Same game as game 1 if we're being honest. Another pitcher's dual with both Kevin Gausman and Quinn Priester allowing just 1 run each. Gausman gave the bullpen the best chance he could pitching 7 innings of 1 run ball, all the Jays needed to do was score a run and hold on. They don't manage to get one more across and the 9th inning comes up. The Jays opt to pitch Hoffman in the tie game at home, no save opportunities in a tied home game after the 9th so it makes sense. Hoffman gives up back to back home runs, a walk and a double to allow 3 runs to score in the top of the 9th and the Jays go down in order in the bottom half. A disaster for Hoffman and another gut wrenching loss. 

Brewers Game 3

At least they got 1! This game was a departure from the other 3 that I'll be talking about today. Scherzer announced after that he was experiencing a bit of back tightness in this start and it showed in his effectiveness giving up 4 runs in just 4 innings. Luckily the Jays looked like they have all season, putting the ball in play over and over again and just scratching across runs. In their 3 run 5th inning it felt like they hit 10 straight loopers that just dropped in front of an outfielder, which again is what the Jays have been great at all season. The bigger story here though is the pen gave the Jays 5 scoreless innings. Tommy Nance in his limited time has been great, he came in and cleaned up a mess that Brendon Little left him which prompted callers on the Jays postgame show to demand he be promoted to closer, a funny wrinkle that comes back next game. Louis Varland had a much needed good outing as well going 1 and 2/3 innings without allowing a base runner. Dominguez was great in the 8th and Hoffman came on in the 9th giving up 2 hits but managing to keep it scoreless and protect the 4 run lead. The Jays pulled one out and it looked like maybe the pen could round into form for September. Then game Cinci game 1. 

Reds Game 1

Damn it. This one was lining up to be a Jays game that we've seen all season long. The Reds got to Bassit early scoring 2 runs in the 2nd but he settled in nicely and gave the Jays 6 good innings. In the 7th the Jays strung together some singles to make it a 2-1 game, but the bullpen had a lot of work in the Brewers series and it was going to have to be some unlikely characters closing it out. Yariel Rodriguez was great pitching both the 7th and 8th cleanly to give the Jays a shot in a 1 run game in the 9th. Heroics in the 9th when Vlad reached on a little chopper to third base setting up a red hot Bo Bichette who hit a go ahead bomb to straight away centerfield. Immediately after Varsho hits a solo shot to put the Jays up 2 runs now going to the bottom of the 9th. With Hoffman pitching twice in a row and Rodriguez already used in this one, the Jays went with that caller's idea and brought Tommy Nance out to close in the 9th. Nance gave up a single, got a popout then gave up another single and from there you could tell that Schneider doesn't trust Nance to close games because he already yanked him for Branden Little. Little gives up a double in the corner that initially scored the tying run. Scherzer on the bench was adamant that they review it, they did and found the ball got stuck in the wall which is ruled a ground rule double, keeping the runners at second and third now with the game 4-3 instead of 4-4. It didn't matter as Little gave up a single to the next batter which plated the walk-off run in yet another blown save for the Jays.   

Bullpen ERAs

Since the all star break, these are the ERAs of the Jays bullpen guys: 

Jeff Hoffman - 5.00 (18 IP)

Yariel Rodriguez - 5.19 (17.1 IP)

Louis Varland - 5.51 (16.1 IP)

Brendon Little - 6.91 (14.1 IP)

Seranthony Dominguez - 3.38 (16.0 IP)

Tommy Nance - 1.77 (20.1 IP)

Thank goodness for Tommy Nance right? Not much more to be said. They need to figure this out. I have never seen a team win a World Series or even make it out of the first round with a bullpen performing this poorly.  Fun season but unless we see a dramatic change, especially from guys like Hoffman, Varland and Rodriguez, the Jays are unfortunately not going anywhere. Hope I'm wrong!