Toronto Blue Jays Analysis

Who's up, Who's down: Blue Jays batters

By Tom Dakers@bluebirdbanter May 20, 2016, 5:57pm EDT

Over the past 12 games, the offence has averaged 3.4 runs a game. Not exactly what we've been hoping to see. As a group we've been hitting .230/.297/.377.

Batters
	Russell Martin	Martin started 9 of the 12 games. It really isn't going well. He hit .156/.222/.156 with 2 RBI, 3 walks and 9 strikeouts. At least his defense has been good. I don't know, I keep thinking that, sooner or later, he's got to start hitting, but I'd like to see some sign.
	Edwin Encarnacion	Edwin started all 12 games, 3 at first base, the rest as DH. .He hit .224/.309/.510 with 4 home runs, 8 RBI, 5 walks and 17 strikeouts. He's coming around finally. He really crushed that home run yesterday. Warm weather seems to be his thing.
	Ryan Goins	Ryan played in 9 games, starting 6. He hit .174/.208/348 with 1 home run, 2 RBI, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. He seems to have become pretty pull happy. I remember when Cito convinced John McDonald that he should take up an all out pull swing. For about 2 weeks it was great. He hit a few home runs. But pitchers soon figured out what he was doing. Goins seems to have become an all pull hitter. I don't know what to tell Ryan, but I think I'd suggest he work on going the other way, in batting practice, for a couple of weeks. $50 fine for every pitch he pulls. Or perhaps just send him down to Buffalo.
	Troy Tulowitzki	Started all 12 games. And, he's finally hitting. .273/.327/.545 with 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 3 walks and 11 strikeouts. I hope he continues this. I really enjoy watching him play defense.
	Josh Donaldson	Josh had a day off, playing 11 of 12 games. He is in a slump. He hit .170/.235/.213, with 1 steal, 4 walks and 9 strikeouts. The last week has even been worse. He has hit .050 in hit last 5 games. Everyone slumps on occasion, but I would like see him get out of it quick.
	Kevin Pillar	Kevin started 11 of the 12 games, and came as a defensive replacement in the other. Speaking of being in a slump, he hit .143/.157/.204 with 3 doubles, 3 RBI, 2 steal, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. He does have the take a walk every 2 weeks think down pat.
	Justin Smoak	Justin played in all 12 games, starting 9. He's been pretty great. .343/.410/.543 1 home run, 3 RBI, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts. Too many strikeouts, but if he continues to get on base over 40% of the time, we'll forgive.
	Jose Bautista	Jose started all 12 games, all in right. I wish they would DH him more. He's not really slumping, but he isn't hitting home runs the way we've grown to expect. He hit .238/.407/.405 with just 1 home run, 6 RBI, 11 walks and 6 strikeouts. I'm happy with anyone that gets on base 40% of the time, but I wouldn't mind the odd home run. I have a hard time not giving an up arrow with that OBP. Wouldn't you have loved to be in the room when the players were talking about him leading off? I wonder who thought of it first, and I wonder what was his first reaction to the idea.
	Michael Saunders	Michael started 11 of the 12 and pinch hit in the other. He hit .340/.380/.532 with 1 double, 1 triple and 3 home runs. He had 4 RBI, 3 walks and 11 strikeouts. He's been great. And he's stayed healthy. When they put Bautista in the leadoff spot, I did think 'but Saunders had been so good there. After last year, he deserves this.
	Jimmy Paredes	We've had a few guys in the '25th man' spot. Andy Burns had a shot at it, but only got 5 PA. Paredes has played in 3 games. In 10 PA , he has a .333/.400/.778 line with 1 double and 1 home run. 1 RBI, 1 walk and one big error at second base. I really don't want to see him play second again. He mostly gets the up arrow for moving from Baltimore to Toronto, that's a huge up step up.
	Ezequiel Carrera	Ezequiel played in 10 games, starting 2. He's been a pinch runner, pinch hitter, and defensive replacement in right and left field. But he only had 6 PA, hitting .333/.333/.500 with 1 double,3 runs, 1 RBI, 2 strikeouts.
	Darwin Barney	Darwin played in 8 games, starting 5. He hit .286/286/.286 in 21 PA. He had 1 RBI and 5 strikeouts. Sort of a down arrow. He seems to be the one that is going to lose at bats with our pick up of Paredes.
	Josh Thole	Josh played in 4 games, starting 3. 12 PA. Hit .111/.273/.111 with 2 walks, 3 strikeouts and 1 sac bunt.
	Devon Travis	Getting closer. He went 3 for 4 with a double last night. Leading off for the Bisons again tonight. I understand wanting to take it slow and be careful with Travis, but if he continues to hit, I'd be all for calling him up sometime next week.