A Fred Full of Dreams

Breaking: Blue Jays continue to be a weird frigging team.

Like, you'd think that this team would get a lot bigger immediately after the call-up of their two top prospects, like the Braves did once Albies and Acuna got brought up. But even with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio in the lineup, they're still extremely okay. And Vlad's only hitting .256, and only has 7 homers. Granted, it's early, and he could heat up more as we go along, but...not a great deal of difference has been made. The Jays are still fun but harmless.

And yet developments are making me think they're striving for more. For instance, Clayton Richard is pitching really well for a guy who was deemed too meh for San Diego last year. Dude's got a 3.55 ERA in 3 starts. Not bad at all. Edwin Jackson is...a bit less put-together, but he's a veteran option on a young team, and he's got that record down, so I guess he's staying put. Aaron Sanchez has recovered from a slow start, but his W/L ratio concerns me. And Ken Giles...is STILL a really good closer. Where are the blown saves that cost him the gig in Houston? Where's the arrogance?

Meanwhile, the lineup is still rallying behind the fun efforts of Eric Sogard, and the default-leadership of Justin Smoak, while Randal Grichuk, Teoscar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis try, and ultimately fail, to regain consistency. Cavan Biggio's hitting .214. Hooray. Neither catching option is hitting above the Mendoza line. Rowdy Tellez is...a fine DH, but nothing special. And this is kinda what we have to deal with.

I don't know if this team will change for the better, or even for the worse, even if Vlad and Biggio start hitting. I don't know if anything can lift this team above fourth for right now.

Coming Tonight: He's essentially replacing Bryce Harper, and he's doing a fine job.