Takin' a T/O with BT: Blue Jays Bobble Their First Month in Toronto

Well, that only took three weeks.

I mean, even the Toronto Maple Leafs waited a month before they started getting jumpy (it could have been more, it could have been less—as with every losing season, however, the "minor details" were chased from my mind immediately after the season ended).

I was looking forward to this season for the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Red Sox, albeit defending World Champions, looked like they could be had for a few games, while the Yankees appeared to be an unbalanced mix of over-the-hill guys, and inexperience.

The timing seemed perfect for the Jays to launch themselves from third into a second (or God forbid) first seed in the division.

Now? I'll be happy if we can get out of the season at .500.

Don't get me wrong, we're only one month into the season, which means a lot can turn around. Just looking at the standings, the Jays aren't even the worst off record-wise of the teams that were expected to be at or near the top of the league.

Minnesota and Detroit sit in the basement of the AL Central (6-12 and 7-10 respectively), while teams like Seattle and Philadelphia (who some chose to have decisive impacts on the outcome of their respective divisions) have looked fairly average.

There's a difference with those teams though:

All of those other teams are battling an early season case of the hiccups, while the Blue Jays are battling themselves.

The most recent issue is the benching of Frank Thomas.

As always, there are two sides to this story. The Jays' brass is saying that it's because the "Big Hurt" has suffered through some offensive struggles recently.

Although that is true (Thomas is 4-for-35 with only one RBI over his past nine games), the Jays' offense has only been able to muster more than four runs four times in the past 11 games.

To put that in perspective, the Tampa Bay Rays have scored more than four runs six times in that same span (April 9-19), and they haven't even played their game on the 19th yet.

But then we get to Big Frank's theory on why his playing time is getting cut: To avoid the bonus stipulated in his contract. 

You see, the contract he signed before last season states that if Frank accumulates 1,050 plate appearances (or 525 this season) he is ensured to become a Blue Jay next season.

This proves two things:

1) J.P. Ricciardi never thought that Frank Thomas could stay healthy (if indeed they are benching him so that he doesn't reach either milestone) for this long over the course of two seasons, and

2) Who would want a 41 year-old DH in 2009? That's the question I asked when he signed this deal. 

Side note (and not a comical one this time): Just so you know, Frank currently has 591 Blue Jay at-bats in his year-and-a-month here. He's already had 60 this season, which puts him on pace for 600. I love Toronto. 

So now what does Ricciardi do?

He has a disgruntled home run hitter on his bench who could cause a scene at any moment. We already heard his grumblings after today's 3-2 win over the Tigers.

Is there anyone in the league who's going to want to trade for Frank, knowing that if he stays healthy and gets at-bats (whether or not he gets hits) he'll be playing for them next year? 

Aside from the notable career and the fact that he's head and shoulders better, I'd almost compare this to the Shea Hillenbrand situation a few years ago—meaning I don't think this can turn out well.

But for the sake of my sanity, we'll keep going. Next up is the fact that our manager makes Grady Little look like Sparky Anderson.

Seriously, for the Red Sox fans out there—if you thought Grady leaving Pedro in too long was nuts, we've got a guy that would probably remove Nolan Ryan three outs away from a no-hitter.

Pinch-hit for David Ortiz in the bottom of the 11th? You bet, it's John Gibbons! 

Maybe it's the fact that he decided to throw Marco Scutaro into the outfield, after he's been our starting third baseman the entire season.

I know he was brought on because he's a quality utility guy who can play all over the field, but when you've been entrenched at third base for the entire season, to go and switch him for just one game is ludicrous. Did anyone think he looked comfortable out there at all?

Then we get the ingenious decision of throwing our closer out in the top of the ninth with a tie ball game back on Thursday.

Now, if it were any other time, I'd be fine with it, but the game was tied. B.J. Ryan was throwing with less-than-stellar stuff with an elbow that's not at full strength yet.

The other thing I don't get, is how the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies were able to get through 22 innings without taxing their starting rotation, but (aside from Litsch) the only other pitcher that we threw on the mound that game that can go more than one inning is Jesse Carlson? 

But after all, Gibby is J.P.'s guy, and no matter how many fights he picks with the players, he's staying. 

But wait, we couldn't have possibly stumbled onto the root of the problem, could we? Toronto couldn't have a lame-duck coach AND a lame-duck GM, right? Especially after we just got rid of JFJ?

A few weeks ago, Sean MC and I were discussing the Red Sox and their lackluster showing to start the season. He kept repeating the words "It's only April...it's only April."

I'm starting to wish it were November again.