There's plenty of blame to go around for a Toronto Blue Jays team which doubles as World Series champions on paper, but fails to get the job done when it really matters. The Jays have plenty of questions to answer this offseason, and that will all start with front office executive Ross Atkins, who will surely have to make some unpopular decisions.
The Jays finished their 2023 campaign with 89 wins, good for third place in the AL East. It will only get tougher from here, as the Orioles and Rays are on the come up, while the Red Sox and Yankees will surely spend to improve. Toronto could find itself on the outside looking in come next year if they don't make the right changes.
First, however, the Jays must take the time to reflect. What exactly went wrong in this series? Well, it's not too difficult to find out.
Toronto Blue Jays most to blame: Manager John Schneider
Starting pitcher Jose Berrios played his heart out in Game 2, much to the surprise of Blue Jays fans who have grown accustomed to him coming up short. Berrios, who is a former Twin himself, was taken out of Game 2 surprisingly early from Schneider. FanSided's Kristen Wong wrote about this confusing choice on Wednesday afternoon:
"Berrios was pulled after only 47 pitches and hadn't given up a run at that point. He allowed three hits and a walk and recorded five total strikeouts. As Blue Jays fans marveled at Berrios' efficient form, their happiness turned to horror when they saw what was unfolding...Berrios was replaced by southpaw Yusei Kusuchi during the fourth inning. The main reasoning behind the change was that three of the next four Twins batters were lefties. For Blue Jays fans, the analytics in that reasoning just didn't fly."
As creative as Schneider was trying to be, the decision backfired as the Twins scored two runs. Toronto never fully recovered, and it's worth wondering just how many more mistakes the Blue Jays front office will let Schneider get away with moving forward.
Toronto Blue Jays most to blame: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladdy is one of the best players in baseball at his best, but he had an epic brainfart in Game 2 against the Twins. Minnesota pitcher Sonny Gray got the best of Guerrero Jr. on a pickoff attempt which ended the inning.
Combine that with the fact that Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-3 in this all-important game, and 1-for-7 in the series, and it's pretty obvious that the Blue Jays leader came up short. CBS Sports' Mike Axisa listed Vladdy as one of the premiere players who faced the most pressure heading into this postseason, thanks in part to what can only be considered a down regular season by his standards.
"He has the talent to shift the balance of power in a postseason series by himself. He just needs to go out and do it. The Blue Jays have yet to win a postseason game in the Bichette/Guerrero era and I don't think it's unreasonable to say Vlad Jr. is under more pressure than any single player this postseason," Axisa wrote.
Guerrero Jr.'s pickoff came at a vital moment of this game, and will be one fans point to all offseason long.
Toronto Blue Jays most to blame: The entire lineup
It may feel like a cop out, but the Toronto Blue Jays were downright despicable with runners in scoring position all series long. That continued on Wednesday, as they went 1-for-8 in that department and failed to get a single run across. The Jays offense, which is supposed to be a strength of theirs, failed to get much going in two games at Target Field.
The tipping point of the Jays RISP problems came when Matt Chapman grounded into a double play with the bases loaded. Just pitches prior, Chapman came inches away from clearing the bases with a double of his own. Instead, he hit a weak ground ball to second base shortly thereafter and ended in the inning.
Per Sportsnet, Toronto has grounded into seven double plays with the bases loaded since the All-Star Break, which leads the major leagues. That sounds like an inefficient offense.
The Jays struggles this postseason are a common thread for this franchise, which often fails in the biggest moments.
That frankly will not get the job done.
