What's wrong with the Blue Jays?

There's no way to sugarcoat it.  The Toronto Blue Jays have been a huge disappointment this season.  I know they've had to deal with major injuries, but still.  . . . It feels as if last year's magical World Series run was just a dream and we're rerunning that regrettable 2024 season.  The Blue Jays are back in the basement of the American League East again.  What has happened?  The Jays don't seem to be playing as a cohesive unit.  Yes, the injuries have taken their toll, but the team is just playing miserably.  The players seem listless.  

With a record of 46 wins and 56 losses the Blue Jays are currently in fifth and last place in their division.  Their winning percentage is only .451 and they are 13.5 games behind the first place Tampa Bay Rays, a team that really has their number.

Fans wonder what is wrong with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  As I write this, it's July 23rd, and Vladdy has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season.  That's right!  His last home run at the dome was on October 19, 2025,  Incredibly, he has not hit any homers in Toronto since then.  In fact, he has only hit a mere six dingers so far this season.  He was recently booed by Toronto fans.      

Vladdy must be quite upset and frustrated with himself.  However, the fact remains that he has failed to produce this season.  Where is the powerful slugger who hit 43 homers in 2021, the player who led the league in home runs that year.  I realize that players have slumps, but this goes beyond a slump.  Fans kept waiting for him to break out of it, but he hasn't done it.

Vladdy Jr.

It's not all Vladdy's fault, though.  His struggles, however, encapsulate the ineffectiveness of the Blue Jays' season.  Other players are also struggling.  For example, Kevin Gausman and Daulton Varsho are not playing up to par.  Whenever the Jays seem about to improve, they fall back down again.  They just haven't been able to stay steady at .500.  Since the All-Star break, they have been pathetic.  It's not for lack of fan support.  The dome is packing over 40,000 for a last place team.  That won't continue if the Jays finish the season this way.

There are only a few bright spots.  Louis Varland is arguably the best closer in the American League.  He has recorded an impressive 20 saves this season.  His ERA is a splendid 1.08.  Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto leads the Jays in home runs with 22 so far.

The trade deadline is approaching.  We'll see what happens.  The current situation is not sustainable.

- Joanne