Blue Jays: Analysis of Their Playoff Potential
This excerpt details the Blue Jays’ game 4 victory over the Yankees, eliminating them from the playoffs and advancing to the ALCS. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* yankees’ Perceived Inevitability: The article begins by highlighting the psychological pressure the Yankees exert on opponents, a feeling of inevitability that can be self-fulfilling. Even the Blue Jays themselves briefly succumbed to this, with George springer questioning if MLB favored the Yankees.
* Schlittler’s Aura Challenged: The Yankees’ young pitcher, Schlittler, was presented as a dominant force, with commentators like John smoltz emphasizing his intimidating presence. However, the Blue jays promptly challenged this narrative, with Springer hitting a double and Guerrero Jr. driving him in on Schlittler’s pitches.
* Blue Jays’ Offensive Start: The Blue Jays quickly demonstrated that Schlittler was beatable, scoring early in the game and forcing him to work hard.
* Pitching by Committee: The Blue Jays used a staggering eight pitchers in the game, starting with reliever louis Varland (who had previously lost a crucial game to the Yankees). Their bullpen was statistically average during the regular season.
* Toronto’s Coaching Staff Praised: Despite the bullpen’s average stats,the Blue Jays managed to navigate the game effectively,with pitcher Eric Lauer crediting the coaching staff for their in-game adjustments and understanding of pitcher usage.
* Overall Tone: The article has a slightly sarcastic and celebratory tone, emphasizing the Blue Jays’ resilience in overcoming the psychological pressure and statistical disadvantages to defeat the Yankees.The phrase “No big deal!” regarding facing the Yankees in a close-out game is a prime example of this.
In essence, the excerpt portrays a David vs. Goliath story where the Blue Jays, despite facing a formidable opponent and relying on a less-than-stellar bullpen, managed to overcome the odds and secure a important victory.