Toronto Blue Jays (10-6) @ Houston Astros (7-9) | April 17-19, 2023

[Raps in 4]

This team is looking VERY mid in the first 20 games. Not at all the powerhouse contender all the talking heads have hyped this team up to be. Hopefully they go on a run here soon before the Rays completely run away with the Division. Our run differential is horrendous so far, the worst in the entire division in fact. Its a miracle we're 11-8 as is. Should probably be 8-11.

The Astros are 9-10. The Braves didn't get over .500 until the 55 game mark last season.

It's early. We've sucked so far, but we'll probably get better.

[Parataxis]

This team is looking VERY mid in the first 20 games. Not at all the powerhouse contender all the talking heads have hyped this team up to be. Hopefully they go on a run here soon before the Rays completely run away with the Division. Our run differential is horrendous so far, the worst in the entire division in fact. Its a miracle we're 11-8 as is. Should probably be 8-11.

The Astros are 9-10. The Braves didn't get over .500 until the 55 game mark last season.

It's early. We've sucked so far, but we'll probably get better.

Have we even really 'sucked'? We've won 4 series vs losing 2. We've played against some of the expected top teams. And we're currently on a 94 win pace.

We haven't been the dominant team that we were hoping to be, but we're finding ways to win, and covering for our slips.

[LLJ]

The offense has been OK, but the starting pitching has let us down for most of this season (not yesterday's particular game though, which was the opposite of our general struggles). It seems we never can have all 5 guys having good years at the same time. Hope our struggling starters get better and Kikuchi continues his good season

[Madvillainy2004]

This team is looking VERY mid in the first 20 games. Not at all the powerhouse contender all the talking heads have hyped this team up to be. Hopefully they go on a run here soon before the Rays completely run away with the Division. Our run differential is horrendous so far, the worst in the entire division in fact. Its a miracle we're 11-8 as is. Should probably be 8-11.

The Astros are 9-10. The Braves didn't get over .500 until the 55 game mark last season.

It's early. We've sucked so far, but we'll probably get better.

We've also played 13/19 soon to be 16/22 games on the road so far as well. I think the start has been ok and once this team starts hitting for more power we will be fine. The Yankees got.off to an historic start as well and looked very mediocre down the stretch. Baseball season is a marathon.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

This team is looking VERY mid in the first 20 games. Not at all the powerhouse contender all the talking heads have hyped this team up to be. Hopefully they go on a run here soon before the Rays completely run away with the Division. Our run differential is horrendous so far, the worst in the entire division in fact. Its a miracle we're 11-8 as is. Should probably be 8-11.

The Astros are 9-10. The Braves didn't get over .500 until the 55 game mark last season.

It's early. We've sucked so far, but we'll probably get better.

Have we even really 'sucked'? We've won 4 series vs losing 2. We've played against some of the expected top teams. And we're currently on a 94 win pace.

We haven't been the dominant team that we were hoping to be, but we're finding ways to win, and covering for our slips.

NOT ENOUGH!

/s

[Raps in 4]

This team is looking VERY mid in the first 20 games. Not at all the powerhouse contender all the talking heads have hyped this team up to be. Hopefully they go on a run here soon before the Rays completely run away with the Division. Our run differential is horrendous so far, the worst in the entire division in fact. Its a miracle we're 11-8 as is. Should probably be 8-11.

The Astros are 9-10. The Braves didn't get over .500 until the 55 game mark last season.

It's early. We've sucked so far, but we'll probably get better.

Have we even really 'sucked'? We've won 4 series vs losing 2. We've played against some of the expected top teams. And we're currently on a 94 win pace.

We haven't been the dominant team that we were hoping to be, but we're finding ways to win, and covering for our slips.

We have. When we lose, we usually lose big. When we win, it tends to be a close game (we have three 1-run wins already this season). The pitching has been inconsistent and the offence has yet to find its power.

[hst420]

RISP w/ 2 outs

30th

0.134 / 0.216 / 0.239 / 0.455

9/67 (4 XTRA base hits) 20 SOs / 14 RBIs

Incredibly perhaps may became historically bad through a 20 game potential marker

[Schad]

We have. When we lose, we usually lose big. When we win, it tends to be a close game (we have three 1-run wins already this season). The pitching has been inconsistent and the offence has yet to find its power.

Ironically, this is the opposite complaint that we heard for years on here: that the Jays could win routs but couldn't win close games. The lack of power has definitely been an issue, but I'd imagine it's one that will remedy itself given our players.

Regarding our numbers with RISP and two outs, that's almost definitely a small sample size thing. We were one of the best teams in baseball in that scenario last year (tied fifth in wOBA at .330, 2nd in xwOBA) and 2021 (fourth in wOBA at .338, 7th in xwOBA)...odds are that the players haven't suddenly forgotten how to hit with two outs and RISP.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

should I create the game/series thread? lol did i jinx it last series?

[Schad]

should I create the game/series thread? lol did i jinx it last series?

Have at 'er. Also possible I jinxed it by locking your thread...the baseball gods are hard to interpret sometimes.