It Doesn't Get Easier

Monday, April 25 2011 @ 04:20 AM EDT

Contributed by: Magpie

This could be a problem...

The Jays begin a 10 game road trip in Texas, and two things immediately strike one as cause for concern. One, the Jays are tied (with Seattle) for the worst road record in the majors. Whereas (Two) Texas has the best home record in the majors.

Hey, you could say they're due. Both of them...

The AL East standings are starting to assume the shape we've long been accustomed to seeing. The Yankees and the Rays are the only teams that do not sport losing records, but the Red Sox have won 10 of 15 and have just about drawn even at .500; meanwhile, after their nifty getaway, the Orioles have lost 11 of 13 and skidded back into the cellar.

The revolving door pitching staff notwithstanding, it seems to me that the biggest concern for the Blue Jays these days must be their offense. It has not been all that offensive. They've shot themselves in the foot a few times with all the aggressive base running - when you don't have a lot of baserunners, it's especially irritating to squander the ones you do have. I don't think much of the strategy, but I'm quite fine with it as a developmental thing, as a way for the players to find out what they can do.

Anyway, early on, Bautista, Escobar, and Arencibia were carrying the team. Bautista is still soldiering on, but Escobar has gone 5 for his last 36. That, along with Corey Patterson remembering that he's still Corey Patterson, means Jose Bautista comes to the plate with a man on base maybe once or twice a week. In his first 22 games, he has driven in himself 7 times, his team mates 3 times. This would be extremely unusual for a leadoff man, never mind a guy hitting in the middle of the lineup. Arencibia (4 for his last 29) has also cooled off, and just as Aaron Hill was starting to warm up he goes to the DL.

On the other hand... they are going to Texas, with that friendly ball park that just manufactures MVP winners...

And they're due, right?

Mon, Apr 25 Drabek (1-0, 3.00) vs Lewis (1-2, 5.82)
Tue, Apr 26 Litsch (1-1, 3.63) vs Harrison (3-1, 1.88)
Wed, Apr 27 Reyes (0-2, 6.20) vs Holland (3-1, 4.39)
Thu, Apr 28 Morrow (0-1, 5.06) vs Ogando (3-0, 2.13)

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