Who’s Up, Who’s Down: Blue Jays Batters

The Blue Jays are 7-6 over the past two weeks. There has been some good moments and some bad.

Our batters hit .257/.324/.445 over those 13 games, and averaged 4.9 runs per game.

Let’s see how each batter has done.

Up

Jose Bautista: Played and started all 13 games. DHed 3 games, RF 10 and a few innings at third. Hit .378/.491/.800 with 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 13 RBI, 1 steal, 8 walks and 8 strikeouts (and 1 bat flip). Everyone was writing his obituary a few weeks ago. He’s always been a streak hitter. He’s done a great job of keeping his temper under control (at least on the field, he has beat up equipment off the field). It’s been nice to be reminded how much fun it has been to watch him all these years. I do wish that baseball would grow up and stop crying over bat flips.

Devon Travis: Played in 11 games, starting 10. Hit .450/.465/.775 with 10 doubles, 1 home run, 10 RBI, 2 steal (1 of those was a steal of home, 1 caught, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts. Also one ill advised bunt attempt. It is hard to believe he is the same guy who couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag earlier in the season. He seems to be hitting everything hard. He shouldn’t be asked to bunt ever again this season.

Justin Smoak: Played and started 12 of the 13 games. Hit .317/.440/.732 with 5 home runs, 12 RBI, 9 walks and 8 strikeouts. He leads the team in RBI. I wonder what odds I could have gotten if, before the season, I had wanted to bet that Smoak would be leading the team in RBI in mid-May. It isn’t even a close race, he has 29, Morales is 2nd at 23. His strikeout rate is way down, 19.5%, down from 32.8 last year. His walk rate is down a bit too, but I’ll forgive.

Kevin Pillar: Played and started 11 games. Missed the 2 games because of the suspension. Hit .318/.380/.500 with 2 doubles, 2 home run, 3 RBI, 3 steals (no caught), 5 walks and 4 strikeouts. Kevin has been very consistent, so far, this season. The thing he said (yelled?) was disappointing. I’m hoping he, and the team, can do some work towards making things right. A public service commercial, maybe they can bring back Pride Day. Showing the difference between the NHL and the MLB Ryan Getzlaf does the same thing, and doesn’t get a suspension. And his apology was disappointing.

Down

Darwin Barney: Played in 12 games, starting 11. He hit .167/.186/.214 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 1 steal, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. I can’t wait until Tulo and Josh are back. His defense has been excellent. I like him as a utility player, not a fan of him playing everyday.

Ryan Goins: Played in all 13 games, starting 12. He’s hit .178/.213/.178, 1 steal, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts. He had a nice hot steak earlier, but, lately, he’s hitting like Ryan Goins. The were trying to sell us on the idea that he’d learned how to hit, earlier in the season. Never judge a player when they are in a hot streak. He has a negitive UZR at both short (-17.5) and second (-11.4), but it is early going. He doesn’t look like the defensive player he was a couple of years ago.

Kendrys Morales: Played in 10 games, starting 9. Hit .229/.289/.343 with 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. Played 1 game at first. When you are a slow footed DH it looks extra bad when you aren’t hitting. I’d love to see him get on a hot streak.

Chris Coghlan: Played in 10 games, starting 5. Hit .167/.286/.222 with a double, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. He really hasn’t impressed, other than the Leap.

Luke Maile: Played and started 10 games. Hit .061/.088/.152 with 1 homer, 1 RBI, 0 walks and 8 strikeouts. So, yeah, he hasn’t hit at all. He looks good behind the plate.

Somewhere In Between

Ezequiel Carrera: Played in 12 games, starting 11. Hit .267/.365/.356 with a double and a homer, 4 RBI, 1 steal, 7 walk and 7 strikeouts. Nice OBP. His defense has been pretty awful. I wish he’d learn to throw to the right base.

Russell Martin: Played in 2 games, hit .250/.250/.250 coming back from injury. He played 1 game at catcher and 1 at third. I guess he might be playing more third, against left-handed starters, until Donaldson comes back.

Injured

Steve Pearce: Played in 5 games, starting 4, before joining masses on the DL. Was hitting .231/.267/.538 with a double and a homer, 4 RBI, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. His bat seemed to be coming around. I’m not sure how long he’ll be out.

Troy Tulowitski: He was to be back playing this week. Hasn’t played in a Dunedin game in a few days, but the club is saying that is because the team is on the road and that he’s been playing in extended spring games. Is to play in Dunedin’s game today.

Josh Donaldson: He’s started ‘baseball activities’.

Darrell Ceciliani: Played in 3 game, starting 1. Hit .400/.400/1.200 in 5 at bats, 1 double and separated his shoulder hitting his 1 home run, 3 RBI. Had the 5 good at bats, which is pretty amazing considering he the wasn’t hitting at all in Buffalo.

Also Played

Mike Ohlman: Played in 5 games, started 2. Hit .222/.222/.222, 1 RBI, 3 strikeouts (which makes him the best hitting backup catcher, so far this season). Haven’t heard if he’s cleared waivers.

Anthony Alford: 6 at bats, no hits. 2 strikeouts. I hope we get to see him play more.

Dwight Smith: 4 PA. Had a walk and 2 strikeouts. He’s back in Buffalo.