Blue Jays' Offense Anemic in '08: How Will They Improve?

It's a question I've asked myself from day-to-day with this inconsistent 2008 Blue Jays team:

Whats wrong with the offense?

Is it manager John Gibbons' fault? He can only put so many lineups out there.

The Blue Jays carry their anemic offense into the Metrodome tonight to take on the first place Twins, the second stop on their week-long road trip.

How long has it been since the Jays scored double-digit runs?

Almost a full month now, since beating Baltimore 11-3 on April 15th.

Now you might say, that's no way to judge an offense. But take a deeper look and you'll discover that since that date, the Jays have only scored five runs or more just three lonely times. Take a look at the first-place Boston Red Sox—in that same stretch the Sox have done it 15 times.

Granted, the rotation has been as stellar as ever, something Toronto fans haven't seen in a long time.

What used to be the downfall of talented ball clubs that the Jays had in the '90s and early '00s was the starting staff and makeup of the bullpen. I watched time and again as Jays pitchers would blow countless leads and couldn't sustain any sort of consistent staff from year-to-year.

Now seemingly in the year which the Jays have perhaps the best staff in the majors top-to-bottom, the offense can't support them at all.

What have the Blue Jays done to the baseball gods?

The Jays currently are dead last in average with RISP at .209, and it seems to be plummeting with every game. Just this weekend in Cleveland, the Jays went 4-for-38 or some ridiculous number with guys on.

So the Jays are getting on base, but just not driving them home. And lately, the at-bats have been terrible to watch.

I think the approach needs to change.

It came full-circle yesterday, when Lyle Overbay came up with runners on first and second with none out and smacked what looked like a single to center field, but instead it was caught and turned into the 14th unassisted triple play in history.

Thirty-one innings without a single run, almost tying a record set in 1981 at 33 innings. You just don't see offensive droughts like that anymore, but the Jays were on their way.

It's not like they're not trying. Any Jays fan can see this while watching any game. But even every win the Jays net this season seems not to be easy, and it's a grind just to watch—I can't imagine what this is like for a player on the field.

Anyone else feel like when a player gets to either second or third, they definitely have no chance of scoring? I know I feel this way.

Hey J.P Ricciardi, its getting painful for us fans to watch. Our big move this season will be the signing of Brad Wilkerson and trading for journeyman Kevin Mench (the biggest head in baseball)?

These are the moves of a playoff contender? For me it does not boost my hopes, I don't know about the rest of Jays fans out there.

Some fans chant for Barry Bonds, or Adam Dunn, or another big name acquisition. I'm not against this. I think the Jays need a shakeup, something to change the makeup of this team.

Then goes Vernon Wells, breaking his wrist, out six-to-eight weeks.

The injury bug bites this team again. Wells wasn't having a great season, but was serviceable enough and provided the team with a leader. He usually heats up in May and June and his loss will be devastating to this team.

More bad luck? Seems like it.

This is gut check time for the Jays, and the next two weeks will be very telling on the outcome of this season. I hate to use the cliche, but this team needs a kick in the rear end from somebody.

Hold a closed-door meeting, fire hitting instructor Gary Denbo, do something to provide players with some motivation. Its time to step up Alex Rios, Lyle Overbay, Aaron Hill, and any one of Shannon Stewart, Mench or Wilkerson.

Two weeks from now this article could be all for naught, or the Blue Jays' season will be relatively lost, and another year without any sniff of October baseball will persist in the great city of Toronto.