Hitting Average: The Jays batting average is only .204. This needs to be upped 60 or 70 points. They need to be able to hit off pitchers on a regular basis, to be a decent threat. Last year they finished 20th with a .249 average. Bautista, Rasmus, and Arencibia really need to pick their averages up. All three are currently under .200 and that is just an acceptable for players that are the core of our team. Rasmus really needs to pick it up because he finished last year with less than a .200 batting average. He is a young player still with lots of upside, but in Jays Nation, we want to win NOW, and later.
Starting Pitching: Starting pitching has been solid. They last on average about 6.3 innings per start which is pretty solid. The ERA by the starting pitchers is a combine 3.05, which is also pretty good. Starting pitching has definitely been the strongest point in the Jays season so far. Still tho, the starting pitching is going to need to get a little bit better if they want to compete long term with the other three big clubs in this division.
Relief Pitching: Relief pitching is about on par with hitting, in other words not very good. Relief pitchers have made 24 appearance, and have a combine ERA of 3.50. That's not that bad, but the staggering statistic is the 3 blown saves in 4 save opportunities. The Jays will not have any success in this league if their closers keep blowing saves. Last season they had 25 blown saves, converting only 57% of their saves opportunities. If they had even converted 11 of those 25 blown save opportunities, they would have made the playoffs. So far this season it looks like it has gotten worse. That's ok tho, it gives them something to work on and lets hope they find a way to fix this hole.
*all stats are as of April 14th 11:00am EST.
