Toronto Blue Jays Lacking Offense

The Toronto Blue Jays are falling into a tendency of going on a streak of wins, only to be followed by a long stretch of losses. Though this time around, it is not the closers who are causing them the problems, it's a major lack of offense.

The Blue Jays finally pulled off a 3-0 victory in the second game of the doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. Even there it took them to the tenth inning to win it. More importantly than getting the win, however, was scoring a run.

They had gone almost three full games without scoring a run. That meant that regardless of their starters or closers playing phenomenal, without anything on the scoreboard in their favour, they are not going to win.

Instead of blaming the team in general for the major disappointments as of late, a person has to consider the injury factor.

For example, Vernon Wells, the highest-paid player on the Jays (and for good reason), was recently bit by the injury bug himself. It was not an easily-recoverable injury either—a fractured wrist putting him out for six to eight weeks. Being without your best offensive player puts more pressure on everyone else to try step up and show just as much skill.

I have heard people complaining about Shannon Stewart after his return. But how much can a person expect him to do, anyways? He is a returning player who is probably towards the end of his career. It is unfair to expect him to show the same level of offense as he did with his first trial with Toronto. The blame should not be directed towards him.

It does not help that Alex Rios has fallen off the map. He is not playing anywhere near his level from last season, where he was good enough to get voted onto the All-Star team and compete in the Home Run Challenge.

Usually the Blue Jays follow a pattern. Before the All-Star break they have an above .500 record, only to lose a pile of games and fall way out of the standings, ruining their chance of even a wild-card position. Maybe this year, starting below .500 before the All-Star break, that pattern will be reversed. At least we can only hope so.