The last time the Blue Jays won a game in Tampa Bay was... almost eighteen months ago? Mitch White was the winning pitcher?
Yikes.
But indeed it was, with a 9-2 victory on a Sunday afternoon in March 2024. Kevin Gausman started and went the first 4.1 (he was on a pitch limit after missing much of spring training.) Nate Pearson, White, and Chad Green finished up. Justin Turner homered and drove in four runs. Those were the days.
After all, when you're in first place, you don't have Hope. You have Fear and Dread. All you can do is worry.
Matchups
Mon 15 Sep - Yesavage (---,-.--) vs S.Guy (?-?, ?.??)
Tue 16 Sep - Berrios (9-5, 3.99) vs Pepiot (11-10, 3.59)
Wed 17 Sep - Gausman (10-10, 3.44) vs Seymour (3-2, 3.16)
Thus 18 Sep - Bassitt (11-8, 3.90) vs Baz (9-12, 5.15)
Yikes.
But indeed it was, with a 9-2 victory on a Sunday afternoon in March 2024. Kevin Gausman started and went the first 4.1 (he was on a pitch limit after missing much of spring training.) Nate Pearson, White, and Chad Green finished up. Justin Turner homered and drove in four runs. Those were the days.
The Jays got swept on their last visit to Tropicana in September 2024, and they were swept again at Steinbrenner Field in May of this year. They never did seem to play very well at Tropicana, and we're not imagining it. For some weird reason, it was one of the most hostile diamonds the Jays have ever encountered. Allow me to provide a Data Table, featuring all the current AL parks the Jays are obliged to visit, as well as a few that are no longer... on the itinerary. (I've marked those ones with the double asterisk, because I like to be helpful. Sometimes.)
PARK W L PCT
MIN-Target Field 32 20 .615
DET-Comerica Park 51 39 .567
**MIN-Metrodome 79 62 .560
**SEA-Kingdome 70 56 .556
**CWS-Comiskey Park 43 40 .518
BAL-Camden Yards 138 134 .507
**CLE-Cleveland Stadium 57 57 .500
**DET-Tiger Stadium 71 75 .486
CWS-Guaranteed Rate Field 64 69 .481
KCR-Kaufman Stadium 103 113 .477
BOS-Fenway Park 178 197 .475
**OAK-Oakland Colisem 105 117 .473
LAA-Angel Stadium 108 123 .468
**NYY-Yankee Stadium II 100 124 .446
TEX-Globe Life Field 5 7 .417
SEA-T-Mobile Park 37 52 .416
**TEX-Globe Life Park 49 69 .415
NYY-Yankee Stadium 59 86 .407
**BAL-Memorial Stadium 39 58 .402
**MIL-County Stadium 52 78 .400
**TBR-Tropicana 92 139 .398
CLE-Progressive Field 47 73 .392
ATH-Sutter Health Park 1 2 .333
HOU-Minute Maid Park 13 29 .310
TBR-Steinbrenner Field 0 3 .000
The Jays may have a slightly worse record at Progressive Field or Enron Memorial - but the Astros have been one of the league's powerhouse teams for most of their time in the American League. Just four AL franchises have won championships during this period, and Houston (with two) is one of them. And Cleveland has generally been one of the league's better teams since they abandoned the Mistake on the Lake and moved into Progressive Field in 1994 (they've played .536 ball since then, and won their division twelve times.) Let me confirm that for y'all. Here's what's happened in the AL since the Astros left the National League behind after the 2012 season.
W L PCT
New York Yankees 1117 874 .561
Cleveland Guardians 1091 897 .549
Houston Astros 1091 900 .548
Tampa Bay Rays 1061 931 .533
Boston Red Sox 1059 933 .532
Toronto Blue Jays 1020 971 .512
Seattle Mariners 1017 975 .511
Minnesota Twins 963 1028 .484
Texas Rangers 961 1032 .482
Athletics 961 1031 .482
Baltimore Orioles 948 1043 .476
Los Angeles Angels 948 1044 .476
Detroit Tigers 933 1054 .470
Kansas City Royals 930 1062 .467
Chicago White Sox 859 1132 .431
While the Tampa Bay Rays have been almost as good as Houston or Cleveland these last dozen years, bear in mind that they were playing their home games at Tropicana long before as well, during the infamous ten straight 90 loss seasons. Their misbegotten home seems to have vexed the Blue Jays nevertheless. And barring another hurricane, they'll be back there next year.
And yet... the Jays were swept at the Yankees' minor league park. Maybe it's just the neighbourhood? Maybe it's too close to their spring training digs, and they have trouble believing the games matter? At any rate, while the Rays may simply be playing out the string on the 2025 season, maybe hoping to get back to .500 before it's all over... I worry.
After all, when you're in first place, you don't have Hope. You have Fear and Dread. All you can do is worry.
Matchups
Mon 15 Sep - Yesavage (---,-.--) vs S.Guy (?-?, ?.??)
Tue 16 Sep - Berrios (9-5, 3.99) vs Pepiot (11-10, 3.59)
Wed 17 Sep - Gausman (10-10, 3.44) vs Seymour (3-2, 3.16)
Thus 18 Sep - Bassitt (11-8, 3.90) vs Baz (9-12, 5.15)
