Ern'd Run

 

It says a lot about the Toronto Blue Jays this year that after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho, the player with the next-highest WAR is now Ernie Clement. Not that Clement isn't deserving of the honor, he's just a .270-hitting defensive whiz. Now that you mention it, Varsho's 2024 season has also been boosted by his impeccable defense.

I think that's how you best sum up this Jays team. Four of the best defenders in the league played for Toronto this year, except none of them could really hit. And so two are left, and...neither are really getting much hitting done, but at the very least the defense is worth it. Like, Varsho might be the best defensive outfielder in baseball. The guy has a 25 fielding WAR figure, that's pretty damned good. Clement is no slouch, he's got a 14, totaling 17 runs better than average. But...most of the hitters are just kinda...circling .210 and not progressing.

I think George Springer is the biggest summation of this, because he at least has decent power numbers, 14 homers and 46 RBIs, but his 0.8 WAR season is nowhere near his Houston peak. The fans essentially had to beg the Jays to take Springer out of the leadoff spot. It's clear he's just not that guy anymore, 10 years into his career. On top of that, the rest of the lineup mainstays are just guys in their 20s going through down years. Davis Schneider, Alejandro Kirk, Spencer Horwitz, Leo Jimenez. Just a lot of skulking around, not getting anything done. Which makes it all the more thrilling when someone who DOES hit, like Will Wagner, comes along and winds up with a .474 average in his first 6 games. Now, this was Davis Schneider last year, and now the novelty has worn off, but it's an exciting burst of energy for a team with none left.

Even the pitching has kinda given up. Bowden Francis has been doing the anchoring since Bassitt, Berrios and Gausman have slowed down, and it's been nice to see him prove he can start consistently. The bullpen's been kind of atrocious too, even with all the veterans they've plugged in. They're kind of running out the clock at this point, which is kinda sad.

The good news is that, since he was allowed to stay in town, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been putting on a clinic, and is hitting .317 with 26 homers and 89 RBIs. It is his best year since his 2021 come to prominence, and it's proof that he can still have great years despite his emphasis on power numbers. It's sad that this happened during such a down year for the Jays, and it's upsetting that this may be near the end of Guerrero's tenure in the city where his father's career left off, but who knows where his career will go next.

I'd hoped the Jays would have more substantial stories this year, but this is what we've got sadly. 5 years in and we're already seeing the limits of the legend of the junior Jays.

Coming Tomorrow- He got a ticket off a sinking ship to compete and play in October. Then that ship started sinking.