Article content continued

Some of it has also been out of their hands. With the Pan Am Games being held in Toronto, and Rogers Centre — a.k.a. the Pan Am Ceremonies Venue — being busy, the club has been, and will be, exiled for much of the month. The tough schedule continues after Chicago with this weekend’s trip to Central Division-leading Kansas City. The all-star break give the Jays something of a respite, and then they get to play at home for the first time in more than two weeks when they host their division rivals from Tampa Bay — a team that always seems to give the Jays fits — for three games before it’s out to the west coast for three games each with Oakland and Seattle.

The Jays were 0-7 last season in those two cities. It’s wise to refrain from making rigid pronouncements about what can or must or shouldn’t or can never happen, but the club really can’t afford a repeat performance. A lot can happen in the three weeks that remains between now and the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31. Three weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox were 10 games out in the AL East. They entered Friday’s action only 5½ back, having won 11 of their last 16 games, vaulting themselves into the trade deadline conversation as potential buyers.

Things could go the other way, too.

The Rays led the division three weeks ago, yet are now just a game ahead of the Red Sox heading into Friday night. They have lost 15 of their last 18, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be a dangerous opponent for the Jays coming out of the all-star break.