By: Ari Perlin-Bain and Aabida Dhanji
As September comes to an end so does the MLB season. The Toronto Blue Jays are wrapping up yet another mediocre season with their final game Sunday at Rogers Centre against the Baltimore Orioles.
Rogers Centre
With a current record of 81-78 and sitting third in the AL East Division, the Jays went through a tumultuous season of issues from star players plagued by injuries to a lack of consistency in the bullpen.
Early in the season fans were hopeful, but it still wasn’t enough.
Brett Lawrie Photo Credit: Keith Allison via Flickr. CC License
Post season? What’s that? I don’t know because I’m a Blue Jays fan.
— Colin Tardif (@ColinTardif) September 20, 2014
Gregory Strong, a Canadian Press writer who covers the Blue Jays, said players not performing well in some positions played a major role. “The second baseman we signed in the offseason, Maicer Izturis, was injured from since just after the season began and then we used any major leaguer or AAA [minor league] player to fill the spot which caused problems in the field,” said Strong.
Maicer Photo Credit: Keith Allison via Flickr. CC License
A lot of pressure has been put on manager John Gibbons, who has taken heat for the Jays’ performances in the two seasons he has been with the team.
Strong said Gibbons’ managing efforts can only take the team so far.
Despite logical critiques, John Gibbons should remain manager of the #BlueJays: http://t.co/Wse0KeEe04 @SNJeffBlair pic.twitter.com/FUchi2sKmv
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 26, 2014
“At the end of the day, blame can be put on Gibbons but it’s difficult for a manager to get results for fans when he may not have the right resources,” said Strong.
It’s common when teams perform poorly, the manager will usually pay the consequences, but Strong said Gibbons will still be with the team for 2015.
“In Alex Anthopoulous’ eyes, he’s the guy for the job, I think he’ll stick around.”
At Humber College, Blue Jays fans gave their thoughts on the team’s 2014 season.
The Jays got off to a great start in May but by July’s All-Star Break, they lost their rhythm and will now finish the season just over the .500 mark.
Best sign I’ve seen at an @MLB game this season goes to these @BlueJays fans. #MLB #Jays pic.twitter.com/iCvuI2z197 — Cole Goertz (@Cole_Goertz) September 13, 2014
#BlueJays fans, I made this for us. Seemed approps after this year. pic.twitter.com/6HFEO9ZfsJ — David G. Wells (@MrDGWells) September 17, 2014
It has been 21 seasons since the team last made the playoffs. In 1993, the Cito Gaston-managed team became back-to-back World Series Champions.
If fans are hoping for a postseason journey next year, it’s going to take change with the organization.
Looking ahead to 2015, #BlueJays rotation likely to look the same as this year’s #MLB http://t.co/2HJ8xjj4JY pic.twitter.com/Z0Hvg2ehON
— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) September 18, 2014