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Rinse and repeat, a tiresome and overly used saying that nonetheless sums up the 162-game marathon that is and will remain — barring a work stoppage — baseball’s grind of a season.
Monotonous, repetitive, boring at times, even the most overpaid — and there are many — player needs a break from the daily routine.
For the Blue Jays, that much-needed time to exhale arrived Monday as they get ready to play the 40-win Atlanta Braves in a three-game series at Truist Park beginning Tuesday, designated as Lou Gehrig Day.
The Jays could have entered their off day on the highest of highs had they not blown a four-run lead in the ninth inning in Baltimore before the Orioles prevailed on a walk-off single against a drawn-in infield and had the Jays not gotten wiped off the diamond at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday in a 9-5 beatdown — a score that flattered the visitors after trailing 9-0.
Jesus Sanchez being hit on the wrist in right field by a baseball tossed by a kid in the stands was viewed by some as a symbolic moment encapsulating the Jays’ two series-ending losses to the O’s.
For the purpose of convenience, one can argue it did hold water.
Realistically, it was an accidental happenstance far too many with little understanding of the facts over-reacted.
What happened with Jesus Sanchez?
Sanchez was removed from the game in the sixth inning. He suffered a contusion to his right wrist and underwent a precautionary imaging that came back negative for a fracture.
As Jays manager John Schneider explained post-game to the assembled media that Sanchez engaged in a friendly back and forth with a 13-year-old kid thinking the big-leaguer was asking to play catch.
“It was a misunderstanding,” Sanchez told reporters through the club’s interpreter. “I wasn’t trying to play catch right there with him, but I just looked at him and (he) thought maybe that I wanted (him) to throw the ball back to me…I’ll be all right.”
All things considered, the Jays are all right — even though some areas to their game aren’t.
The problem with trying to properly assess this club with the baseball calendar officially flipped to June stems from the number of injuries the Jays have been forced to deal with this season.
If and when injured players return — assuming no other injury strikes in the interim — only then can a proper diagnosis of the club be performed.
The AL isn’t good, with only five teams entering Monday sporting a winning record, and the Jays aren’t one of those winning teams, dropping to 29-31 following their series split in Baltimore.
The Orioles sit at 28-32 and will be in Toronto this coming weekend for a three-game set.
Plenty Games On Tap
With 102 games remaining, it would be foolish to suggest the Jays aren’t capable of repeating as AL East champions, a perch currently occupied by Tampa Bay.
In order to achieve that repeat, the Jays need to get healthy and they’ll have to play with a higher level of consistency in all areas.
Bullpen days can be useful, but they are equally stressful.
“We’re looking forward to the off day,” Schneider said Sunday after his club wrapped up its 17-day stretch by going 10-7.
“Guys are feeling it,” he continued. “The bullpen’s feeling it when you’re running some bullpen games, too.”
The skipper took some heat when he decided to use Jeff Hoffman in the ninth inning Saturday, even though the Jays were leading 5-1.
When Louis Varland was summoned to start the eighth, facing the meat of Baltimore’s order, it seemed like the right decision.
The mistake in the ninth inning was not reacting quicker when Hoffman began to implode. A hit batter, a walk issued, Hoffman’s command issues were front and centre.
Trey Yesavage started the game, but his command was lacking to the point he walked seven.
Kevin Gausman is scheduled to make the start Tuesday followed by Patrick Corbin.
Dylan Cease (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Saturday in Baltimore as an update on his status is expected Tuesday.
Pitching reinforcements needed
Max Scherzer (forearm) threw 41 pitches across three scoreless innings for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons Sunday, while on the same day Shane Bieber (elbow) allowed five runs in 2.1 innings at Single-A Dunedin.
Pitching enforcements will be gladly welcome and appreciated, the sooner the better.
A tip of the cap for the likes of Braydon Fisher and Mason Fluharty, more recently to Adam Macko and Spencer Miles, but no disrespect when everyone knows neither should be on the mound starting a game.
In many ways, the Jays should feel fortunate to be in contention for a wild-card spot given the pitching and the ongoing issues with their offence and, on far too nights, with their defence.
Keep in mind that a total of 102 games has yet to be played, meaning there is plenty of time to go on a roll that extends beyond a five-game win streak, the club’s current high-water mark for the season.
Following their stay in Dixie, the Jays return for a nine-game homestand.
The team’s next homestand will be its longest, a 10-game stay that features the return of Bo Bichette and the New York Mets.