YEAR 4 VOLUME XXII, SEPT. 21, 2015

GRIFF'S VIEW – BLUE JAYS NOT THE SAME LINEUP WITHOUT TULOWITZKI

The Blue Jays may very well be capable of hanging on to win the AL East over the Yankees, but they are not ever going the distance to the promised land of a World Series championship in November unless they benefit from a healthy return by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in time for a large portion of the playoffs. This team can get by without him, but can they win without him? It's not likely.

An example of what the smooth, efficient, game-altering Tulowitzki means to the Jays was seen on Sunday against the Red Sox in a tight 4-3 loss. It was the fifth inning. Mookie Betts grounded to shortstop Ryan Goins, who fed a stromng, accurate throw to Cliff Pennington at second. However the relay throw to first base was up the right field line, pulling Chris Colabello off the bag resulting in a fielder's choice. No, it wasn't an easy turn at second, but Tulowitzki and Goins would make that play.

Pitchers know. With left-hander Mark Buehrle on the mound attempting to fight his way into the playoff rotation picture, in just his second start following his second cortisone injection of the season, that turned into an important missed out. Buehrle needs all the defensive excellence he can receive because he's a pitch-to-contact type of guy and that's how he wins games is with solid defence.

Still in the fifth, with Betts on first, two out – it would have been three outs with the double-play – Xander Bogaerts singled, David Ortiz walked and Travis Shaw sliced a two-run single to left-centre. Those were two of only three runs surrendered by Buehrle, but it earned him a no-decision. Granted, in the first inning, from the infield shift, Pennington started a nifty double play with Josh Donaldson as the pivot man at second. But the Jays had been thriving on near-perfection up the middle until Tulowitzki ran into Kevin Pillar's Jay-Leno-like chin on Sept. 12 and fractured a scapula.

Here are some Tulowitzki facts to demonstrate his value. He made 37 starts at shortstop and the Jays are 30-7 in those games. It means, heading into the Yankees series, the Jays were 55-57 in non-Tulo starts at shortstop. That stat is all the more impressive when you consider that offensively, the 30-year-old acquired on July 28, is just 36-for-155-.232 in 38 games with the Jays, with five homers, 11 extra-base bits, 17 RBIs and a mediocre .682 OPS, low for a middle-of-the-order bat.

Defensively, Tulowitzki wearing Jays' blue, has made zero errors in 325 innings, with 162 total chances and has been involved in 24 double plays. The upgrade to Tulowitzki from his predecessor Jose Reyes was as obvious as if Meryl Streep was to take over a role on Broadway for Jennifer Aniston. Both made a lot of money in their careers and have had some acclaim, but really.

Even though Tulowitzki has not been a true Jays' force offensively, his presence in the five-hole lends length and character to the batting order. When Tulo and Edwin Encarnacion were both out of the lineup, Donaldson and Jose Bautista both struggled, becoming the clear focus of opposing pitchers.

The Jays since Tulowitzki was injured have scored 44 runs in eight games with a 4-4 record, averaging 5.5 runs per game. In the 38 games that Tulowitzki played, the Jays averaged 6.3 runs per contest, scoring a total of 240 runs. Just as with Pennington defensively, Justin Smoak, Colabello or Russell Martin batting fifth are fine, but there is a difference over time.

Besides, the Tulowitzki trade is the biggest reason that GM Alex Anthopoulos even decided to take the next dramatic step and go after lefthander David Price as his top-of-the-rotation, take-it-to-the-house, all-in starting ace. Tulo was the first step in the process and he needs to be there for them to win.

BLUE JAYS CORNER

THE WEEK THAT WAS (2-1 at Atlanta; 1-2 vs. Red Sox; 85-64 overall)

The Jays have recorded 24 games with 10+ runs and are 23-1 in those contests, losing only to the Royals by a score of 11-10 on July 12. In addition, the Jays are 29-2 when scoring nine-plus runs. The 24 games of 10+ runs is a club record. The Jays have 54 innings of 4+ runs, a MLB high.

The Jays have been shut out five times this season and are 13-52 when scoring four runs or fewer. The Jays are 13-27 (.325) in one-run games, worst in the majors. The Jays in the last 15 games in which they score four runs or fewer are 6-9. When scoring five or more runs, they are 72-12.

The Blue Jays outscored the Braves and Red Sox 31-16 over the past six games, going 3-3. The Jays lead the majors with 821 runs scored. That's 101 runs more than the second place Yankees and 132 runs more than the third place Red Sox. The +213 run differential is 100 better than the Cardinals.

The Blue Jays' top five single season run totals are: 894 in '03; 883 in '99; 861 in 2000; 847 in '93 and 845 in '87. The Jays must average six runs per game the final 13 to reach 900 for the season.

The Jays, after their record-tying win streak ended at 11 games, losing to the Yankees on Aug. 14, have gone 21-12. The Jays have outscored opponents 283-170 in the last 47 games. The Blue Jays are 32-13 since the trade deadline, 40-18 since the all-star break, 43-25 in the second half and 62-34 since bottoming out at seven games under .500 following the first game of a doubleheader on June 2.

The Blue Jays on the last road trip were 6-4 to Boston, New York and Atlanta. The Jays finished up 12-8 in inter-league play, outscoring NL opponents by an astounding 50 runs. The Jays are 48-27 at home and 37-37 on the road, including 28-19 in the last 47 away from the Rogers Centre.

NEXT UP: Finish the final homestand vs. the Yankees (3) and the Rays (3) before heading out on the road for seven games to end the season. The magic number to clinch a playoff berth is “5” against the Twins and the Angels and for the division is 12 vs. the Yankees.

STAR OF THE WEEK: The Jays' backup catcher Dioner Navarro made two starts for the week, catching Marco Estrada and Mark Buehrle, going 5-for-8-.625 at the plate, with two runs, two RBIs, a double and a homer. He will likely catch those two pitchers down the stretch.

GOAT OF THE WEEK: The entire bullpen will wear the horns for the week, going 0-3 in six games and blowing two saves. The line itself is not that bad, with a 3.76 ERA, allowing six earned runs in 14.1 innings on 16 hits, with four walks and 17 strikeouts. In the three games that were relief losses, the Jays allowed six runs (5 earned) in 9.1 innings.

INJURIES: SS Troy Tulowitzki ran into CF Kevin Pillar in the second game of Saturday's DH at Yankee Stadium on a popup to short centre field and suffered ribcage bruises and a small crack in his left shoulder. The Jays suggest he could return, all things progressing well, within 2-3 weeks, althopugh Tulowitzki said there is no timetable yet. 2B Devon Travis (left shoulder) was placed on the DL July 31, retroactive to July 29 and was transferred to the 60-day DL, effectively ending his season ... 2B Maicer Izturis (shoulder) on 60-day DL out for the season ... OF Michael Saunders (left knee) out for the season. He had surgery at spring training to remove 60-percent of his meniscus.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE WEEK: None.

JOHN GIBBONS has posted a career record of 547-536 in two stints as Blue Jays manager. Gibbons ranks 118th in MLB history in total wins, six behind Gene Lamont, who is next on the list. Gibbons recorded victory No. 500 in the majors on June 22 at Tampa Bay. The Jays need 86 wins total in 2015 for Gibbons to stay at the .500 mark for his career. His win total is second in franchise history, behind Cito Gaston (913). His losses also rank second to Cito (851).

THE LIST – WORLD SERIES WINNERS SINCE BLUE JAYS LAST CHAMPS

TEAM -#WS YEAR CHAMPION/OPPONENT

Yankees-5 (96/Braves; 98/Padres; 99/Braves; 00/Mets; 09/Phillies)

Red Sox-3 (04/Cardinals; 07/Rockies; 13/Cardinals)

Giants-3 (10/Rangers; 12/Tigers; 14/Royals)

Marlins-2 (97/Indians; 03/Yankees)

Cardinals-2 (06/Tigers; 11/Rangers)

Braves-1 (95/Indians)

Diamondbacks-1 (01/Yankees)

Angels-1 (02/Giants)

White Sox-1 (05/Astros)

Phillies-1 (08/Rays)

THE CONVERSATION – INJURED LEFT FIELDER MICHAEL SAUNDERS

I caught up with Michael Saunders prior to Sunday's game vs. the Red Sox and was caught up in and impressed by his optimism and enthusiasm towards making a healthy comeback in 2016.

RICHARD GRIFFIN: Basically, how does the knee feel and what has been the progress since you first shut it down in May.

MICHAEL SAUNDERS: It's night and day since mid-May when I was shut down officially. I was grinding during that time and trying to play through it. It was pretty painful, so being able to take this time off has definitely improved it a lot. I worked hard on trying to make it back. The bone bruise was there in the MRI, but due to the time constraints of the minor-league season and where we were at, it was kind of a now or never decision. We were going to try and push through this and at least give myself a shot at getting back or just shut it down. So we tried to push through it. I ran a few days and it just wasn't working out. That's when I knew officially and conceded to the fact that my season was finished. And then I went and saw a specialist, Dr. (Thomas) Hackett at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Colorado. Just talking to him, he's seen, quote-unquote, thousands of these and said to this day he's never not seen one fully healed. So, we've conceded the fact that my season's over, but I wanted to be out here supporting the guys and being a part of this ride that we're going on right now.

RG: That probably has to be the most encouraging thing you could hear from a doctor who's seen thousands.

MS: Yeah, he definitely gave me a peace of mind. It was the first question I had for him about 30 seconds into my doctor's visit. I was just completely relieved. He's confident I'm going to be ready to go for spring training, so the plan is to take a few months of doing nothing but lower body. I'm into my off-season program as far as lower body right now. Have a follow-up MRI early to mid-November and at that point he's confident the bone bruise should be completely gone and then from there we'll push forward and make sure I'm ready to go for spring training.

RG: Is that almost a Catch-22 of an injury, of any sort of injury, long-term, is that at a certain point you almost need another spring training again and often it turns out there's not time for it.

MS: Yeah, because you've got to take in the fact that your timing's not there. Speaking as a hitter and a position player, your timing's not there. You've got to get used to, in my case, running down balls in the outfield. I have to go through a full spring training, again, after you take so much time off. Luckily I was able to complete my rehab assignment. My knee felt great. I made it back and then my knee flared up on me. So it's not like I had an off-season, then missed 5-6 months as well during the year and then have to revamp up. I've had kind of a break in between where I have had my timing back and everything, so, yeah, there's definitely a point...and that's why the time issue, the minor-league season was running out, so I was absolutely going to need a rehab assignment before I was ready to play in the major leagues.

RG: What was the mindset or the level of frustration playing those couple of weeks (in the majors). We watched you struggle around the outfield and you knew it wasn't 100-percent. But it wasn't strictly the meniscus, it was inflammation and the bone bruise and that sort of thing, but just watching it from the press box or the stands, it just seemed there must have been a huge level of frustration because you had made it back so quickly and then that.

MS: Yeah, yeah. So it wasn't anything to do with the meniscus. I had a clean surgery, that was great. It was the bone bruise causing all the discomfort. Every time I landed, it had an impact on my knee. Even walking upstairs was pretty bad. I was grinding. Like you said, you probably saw to notice it. I was trying to get through it. I was so excited to come here and be a part of this and getting traded to the Blue Jays, I couldn't have been happier in the off-season. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me when I first tore my knee and then finding out at least all-star break, going from the injury worsening therefore my timetable lessening, which really doesn't make much sense. But it was a huge emotional rollercoaster. When I finally made it back and then I experienced what I experienced, I was devastated by it, but like I said, peace of mind. I conceded my season's over and I'm just glad to be back here supporting the guys.

RG: What's been the most encouraging thing in the last little while that Alex Anthopoulos might have said to you.

MS: That I'm a big part of this. I had numerous texts from Gibby, from the guys, from Alex, from more members of the front office, basically we haven't forgotten about you, we appreciate the hard work you put in down in Florida. That's nice. It's nice to hear that, but they've been supportive since Day 1 and they keep reminding me, because it's easy to get down when you're on the DL and down in Florida by yourself. They just kept encouraging me, kept reminding me that I'm going to be a part of this moving forward.

RG: When you're working out in Florida, I assume you can keep track in a way of what's going on here, but did you have family in B.C. telling you how this whole thing had ramped up to the point where it is now, sellouts every night and is that why you wanted to come back and be a part of it.

MS: Well, I was trying to make it back to be part of this as a player and contribute on the field. As soon as I knew my season was officially over, that's when I went to see Dr. Hackett in Colorado. I was back home for a little bit doing some rehab work on my knee and once I got cleared by him, basically, and we were all on the same page, I caught the next flight out here. But it's not just Toronto's team anymore, it's absolutely Canada's team. I was born and raised in Victoria and I talked to my buddies back home quite often and they were saying everywhere we go, it's Blue Jays gear. We go on a lunch-break, it's 'Did you see the Jays game last night.' It's definitely caught like wild-fire. You can tell. My first two games here, just sellout crowds, fans going nuts. It's a lot of fun.

RG: You already know that every time this team goes to Seattle, in the past, it's been 50-50 and this year was no different.

MS: If not more Blue Jay fans. Yeah, I always looked forward to that series (as a Mariner). I always looked forward to coming here. It's usually 70-30 as far as Blue Jays fans showing up, the West Coast Canadians. It's incredible. That was one of the toughest parts when I was on the DL, was when the guys went to Seattle. I was really looking forward to going on that trip and being a part of the other view, from the Blue Jays side.

RG: Do you ever look back in a quiet moment and curse that sprinkler head and what's happened to you. It's cost you a full year of your career.

MS: Yeah, it's definitely a freak accident. I mean, I'm not mad at the sprinkler head (laughs). Obviously, it's really disappointing. I've been through a lot of ups and downs this year, but believe it or not it's only going to make me stronger, not only mentally, but as a player as well and learn you can't take anything for granted because it just goes to show you what can happen. A freak accident cost me, quite honestly, my entire season, but it is what it is. At least, luckily, I know it's not a career-ending injury. This is kind of a minor step, even though this is a major one. I've been reassured by numerous doctors that I'll be healthy coming to spring training next year and this will be a thing of the past.

RG: The specialist in Colorado said 100-percent.

MS: The specialist said I would be the first case where I don't come back from a bone bruise.

RG: From the time you were a teenaged Canadian prospect, through your time with the Mariners to now, you've probably always been challenged to earn something. So you're not put off or intimidated by next spring and to come to camp and prove yourself again.

MS: Oh no. First and foremost, I need to get my knee healthy and everything else will take care of itself.

RG: And that's the way you've always operated.

MS: Absolutely. You know, as an athlete you thrive on competition and Alex has made tremendous moves bringing in the players he did and we're here to win a World Series. Everybody's on the same page and we're all working towards the same goal.

RG: You're in your off-season program. When do you figure you can step in a cage and swing a bat and that sort of thing.

MS: Well, I'm not doing anything until I get cleared and that's early to mid-November, we'll find out more from an MRI. At that point, Dr. Hackett is confident, the team doctors are confident that everything will be completely subsided. Right now I'm not putting any pressure on it and I'm not making anything worse. It's just continuing to get better. Once it's cleared then I'll do my rehab work in Denver and come back ready to go.

RG: So next spring, before the first official day of full squad, you'll be careful about chasing balls down in the outfield at Mattick.

MS: Yeah, maybe I'll just stay on the warning track.

RG: Thanks Michael and good luck.

BLUE JAYS DOWN ON THE FARM

The Jays' eight farm teams that have concluded play ended with a combined record of 415-424 (.494).

AAA-BUFFALO (68-76) ... Missed the playoffs.

AA-NEW HAMPSHIRE (69-71) ... Missed the playoffs.

A-DUNEDIN (61-76) ... missed the playoffs.

A-LANSING (73-66; 2-0; 1-2) ... The Lugnuts lost 14-5 to West Michigan on Monday losing out on the Midwest League Eastern Conference title.

A-VANCOUVER (34-42) ... Missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

A-BLUEFIELD (25-42) ... Missed the playoffs.

Rk-GCL BLUE JAYS (39-19; 1-2) ... Lost to Red Sox in playoffs.

RK-DOMINICAN BLUE JAYS (45-27; 0-2) season is over.

BLUE JAYS R. HOWARD WEBSTER AWARDS: The Webster Awards, handed out annually, recognize the most valuable players at each of the Club’s minor league affiliated teams:

AAA-BUFFALO: 3B/1B MATT HAGUE

AA-NEW HAMPSHIRE: INF RYAN SCHIMPF

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A-DUNEDIN: RHP WIL BROWNING

A-LANSING: 1B RYAN McBROOM

A-VANCOUVER: C RYAN HISSEY

A-BLUEFIELD: OF RODRIGO OROZCO

Rk-GCL: RHP JUSTIN MAESE

Rk-DSL: OF NORBERTO OBESO

MLB POWER RANKINGS (Through 09/20)

TEAM LAST WEEK

1-St. Louis Cardinals 2

2-Kansas City Royals 4

3-Pittsburgh Pirates 1

4-Chicago Cubs 6

5-Toronto Blue Jays 3

6-New York Yankees 8

7-New York Mets 5

8-Los Angeles Dodgers 7

9-Texas Rangers 9

10-Houston Astros 10

11-Los Angeles Angels 12

12-Minnesota Twins 11

13-Washington Nationals 14

14-San Francisco Giants 13

15-Cleveland Indians 17

16-Boston Red Sox 15

17-Baltimore Orioles 19

18-Tampa Bay Rays 16

19-Seattle Mariners 18

20-Arizona Diamondbacks 20

21-Chicago White Sox 22

22-San Diego Padres 21

23-Detroit Tigers 23

24-Oakland A's 25

25-Milwaukee Brewers 24

26-Miami Marlins 26

27-Colorado Rockies 27

28-Atlanta Braves 29

29-Cincinnati Reds 28

30-Philadelphia Phillies 30

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:

The week began with an off-day flight to Atlanta, a city that I used to visit twice per season as a member of the Expos front office and only ever enjoyed because of the opportunity to play golf on some nice courses, post-game trips to Buckhead clubs and the sports bar at the Marriott Marquis. That's it. Fulton County Stadium was a dump and downtown Atlanta at night was a wasteland.

The travel day was very unpleasant. I'm a creature of habit. I don't check in for flights online. I like those crisp, official looking boarding passes rather than a piece of paper from my printer. As such, it seems we who check in at an Air Canada kiosk 2.5 hours ahead of time, report to the gate an hour before the flight for a seat location and have one carry-on bag, that profile of passenger is the easiest to push around and suggest the flight is overbooked and there is another flight seven hours from now we can get you on. What? If 24 hour advance check-in is a requirement, tell everybody upfront.

Anyway, I did whine my way onto my scheduled Atlanta flight as someone else took them up on the “later flight for travel voucher” offer. Arrived at the Downtown Atlanta Residence Inn in time to head over to the Atlanta Braves All Star Grill to watch Monday Night Football with the Falcons and Eagles. Most of the Jays players were at the game, taking advantage of an off-night. I was joined by Sheri Forde of TSN and Mike Rutsey of the Sun. The Falcons won.

The rest of the week was fairly uneventful, with great weather, 16,000 fans per game, many of them wearing blue and the Jays taking two of three against the Braves. They had my seat ready on the Thursday flight home and I tried the UP Train from Pearson to Union Station and it was smooth, quick and overall a great experience, with Wi-Fi onboard. It's about time Toronto joined the 21st Century.

On Saturday, I had the day off from covering the Jays against the Red Sox, so attended the Guelph Gryphons baseball team's doubleheader sweep of McMaster at a rainy Bernie Arbour Stadium. The Gryphons, managed by the cerebral Matt Griffin, are 6-0 and lead OUA standings. Afterwards was grandson Chase's first birthday celebration in Hamilton, so overall, it was a very good week.