With a brand new supervisor and a break to reboot Blue Jays prepared for crunch time

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BOSTON – At 93 video games in, the Blue Jays are effectively previous the half-way level of their 2022 schedule, nonetheless seeking to attain full throttle.

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With an all-star break offering a possibility to exhale, nonetheless, the unofficial second half launches right here on Friday. It begins with new supervisor John Schneider and the remainder of the Jays dealing with the Purple Sox in a three-game sequence at historic Fenway Park.

Whereas not precisely a mathematical halfway, the sequence serves up a possibility for the Jays to vault into an prolonged run the likes they’ve solely hinted at through the first portion of the season.

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Are there higher days forward? With a brand new skipper and a recognition all through the Toronto clubhouse that there’s a degree of under-achievement so far, there actually is a way of optimism.

“I believe we’ve solely seen flashes of how good we could be and I’m positive that’s disappointing for lots of people,” nearer Jordan Romano mentioned in an interview through the all-star recreation festivities in Los Angeles. “The ups and downs of it, the inconsistencies, myself included … we all know we could be higher.

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“I believe simply popping out within the second half, we all know the place we’re and what we type of must do and everybody feels that.”

Regardless of a tumultuous season so far, with a report of 50-43, the Jays discover themselves in not less than a good place. Certain, the Yankees have sprinted out to a in all probability uncatchable 14.5-game lead on them for the AL division title. However the Jays exit the break possessors of the third AL wildcard spot, a recreation behind Seattle, a recreation and a half in arrears of Tampa Bay and two up on the Purple Sox.

Clearly, there’s a possibility to additional distance themselves from their division rival this weekend, whereas setting a beneficial pos-break tone.

Romano is of the mindset that when the key league season cruises via the all-star break, there’s a heightened urgency.

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For a staff that completed 2021 with 91 wins – and fell one in need of the postseason within the course of – many will carry that mindset with them to Boston’s Again Bay.

“100 per cent that’s the way it feels,” says Romano, the Markham, Ont. native who leads the American League with 20 saves. “Now that (break) is finished, you’re focussing on Boston and these final 69 or 70 video games.

“It’s crunch time. Each recreation will get that rather more necessary.”

Much more so for a staff that has admittedly under-achieved. The bump from a brand new supervisor didn’t harm, as Schneider acquired his tenure off to a strong begin because the staff went 4-1 within the aftermath of the firing of Charlie Montoyo.

However extra is required, one thing that Schneider and nearly all of his gamers could be prepared to acknowledge.

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So what do the Jays must do higher, the remainder of the way in which in order that within the seemingly occasion they do qualify for the postseason they are often aggressive?

The listing is a comparatively prolonged one, albeit not unattainable given the pedigree and potential of the staff.

Beginning on offence, large “second half” performances from gamers like Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, who’re notably off their 2021 type could be a great place to begin. The bats haven’t been practically as dynamic as they had been final season and the truth that we don’t hear Guerrero and MVP talked about in the identical sentence is without doubt one of the causes.

“As a staff, we’ve acquired to proceed to work very onerous,” Guerrero mentioned, in what has been a well-recognized chorus from him. “We’re feeling good about that. We haven’t performed our greatest baseball but, however we’re assured that we’ll.

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“I’ve a great feeling that once we get all of it collectively on offence, we’re going to have a great second half.”

Whereas the Purple Sox will likely be high of thoughts initially of the hunt, what occurs off the sphere additionally will likely be vital to the Jays not simply making a run however being geared up to knock off the Yankees or Astros ought to a post-season matchup with these powerhouses come to cross.

With the MLB draft behind him, Jays common supervisor Ross Atkins can cost absolutely on to the August 2 commerce deadline the place he’ll be wanting so as to add an influence arm or two for the back-end of the bullpen, a left-handed bat and even perhaps some beginning depth.

However a lot of the accountability lies within the arms and bats of these already on the roster to choose it up.  Consistency actually looks like a lacking ingredient, an element gamers and administration can agree on.

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“I believe (the second half) goes to be fairly particular,” mentioned Alek Manoah, the Jays ace starter who placed on a blinding show at Dodger Stadium, putting out three of the 4 batters he confronted within the 92nd all-star recreation. “We’ve performed perhaps a couple of weeks of our greatest baseball the entire yr and we’ve performed a few of our worst baseball within the first half.

“That alone tells you the way good this staff is and the way good this staff could be. With all that, we’re nonetheless sitting about .500 and we’re nonetheless sitting in a playoff spot. Lots of stuff has gone on with this staff, however I believe as soon as we do put all of it collectively, the sky’s the restrict.”

What would that restrict appear like? Maybe somewhat like final season when the Jays took off in August and particularly September.

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Their schedule is significantly much less daunting the rest of the way in which than it was early on, however because the staff has proven throughout some dodgy outings towards sub-par groups, however that is the massive leagues the place opponents typically don’t roll over and situation freebies.

“This staff final yr in August was one of the best staff in baseball,” mentioned second baseman Santiago Espinal, one of many breakthrough gamers on the 2022 Jays.  “I really feel that if we discover some consistency within the second half, which I promise you we are going to, we’re going to be one of the best staff once more and we’re going to be enjoyable to observe.”

As inconsistent because the Jays have been, they’ve acquired nothing on the Purple Sox, who will likely be seeking to get issues pointed in the best route at what is predicted to be a steamy Fenway all weekend.

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The Sox teetered into the break dropping six of their previous seven and 10 of 13 whereas as soon as once more dropping starter Chris Sale, seemingly for the rest of the season.

The Jays, in the meantime, needs to be refreshed and prepared after what had been a tremendously making an attempt couple of weeks. First base coach Mark Budzinski, whose 17-year-old daughter Julia died in a tragic boating accident, is predicted to rejoin the staff this weekend.

And with a long way from the exit of Montoyo, there’ll maybe be a higher sense of stability as Schneider continues his regime.

“Now we have the youth and we have now the expertise,” catcher Alejandro Kirk mentioned. “The kind of staff we have now is nice. What we’ve been via with Bud is unhappy and really tragic and it was very emotional for the entire staff.

“The chemistry in our clubhouse is nice so we’re anticipating a giant second half.”