Has momentum finally swung in the Blue Jays' direction with Daulton Varsho's walk-off grand slam? The proverbial monkey was lifted off their backs when the Jays ended a five-game losing streak to Tampa Bay. The key now is to maintain winning ways.
One Swing Can Change Everything
Is it even remotely possible that one at-bat can serve as a turning point in a season dotted with injuries, under-performance, and mounting losses? Those are some of the questions being raised one day after Daulton Varsho may have saved the Blue Jays' season with one swing in the 10th inning, with Toronto trailing its arch nemesis by two runs.
The post-swing reaction said it all, a clear sign that something as dramatic as a walk-off grand slam was needed to help this edition get back on track. It has been said that momentum in baseball is based on the next day's starting pitcher. In the Jays' case, the next day happened to be Thursday, an off day for the club as it heads back on the road for a seven-game trip that begins Friday in Motown against the host Tigers, who are still trying to come to grips with the loss of staff ace Tarik Skubal.
The previous time Toronto went on a seven-game trip, it came home reeling with a 2-5 record, which included a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rays. Varsho's slam cannot be dismissed, and nor will it, knowing what was at stake. The Jays had lost five in a row to Tampa and entered the night having lost seven of their past seven games. A loss would have dropped Toronto seven games below the .500 mark.
And yes, as many are quick to point out, the baseball calendar is still in its infancy, but getting swept at home against an AL East rival is never ideal. The Rays have had the Jays' number. In a way, getting that monkey off their backs was critical.
Momentum: Fleeting or Igniting?
How big will Varsho's grand slam be for momentum? A night earlier, Varsho's defensive gem in the outfield was virtually ignored as the Jays lost to the Rays in extra innings. Momentum can be fleeting, but it also can ignite a team. Defining moments have been few and far between this season, mainly due to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s power outage. He drew three walks in Wednesday's wild win, but walks were never in the discussion when the franchise gave its face a 14-year deal worth $500 million US. Eventually, he must carry the team on his back.
A return trip to Yankee Stadium, a place the Jays will call their home away from home for a four-game series once the three-game set in Detroit wraps up, might prove that elusive elixir for Vladdy Jr.
Comparing Varsho's Blast to Bichette's Last Year
For now, the club must somehow build on the momentum provided by Varsho. In the moment, the blast did evoke memories of last season's visit to Arlington where the Jays' bats were silent, where a road trip threatened to turn into a death march. Up stepped Bo Bichette, who wasn't in the starting lineup, and he drilled a ball for a pinch-hit homer to give the Jays their win over the Rangers. In the moment, no one knew the significance of Bichette's at-bat. Only with the benefit of perspective did it dawn on people that the homer would propel the Jays to much bigger things.
No one is saying Varsho is Bichette's equal when it comes to hitting because, quite frankly, he's not. But Varsho is a streaky hitter. Whether it was Toronto coming up big when the Dodgers were in town for a World Series rematch and would avoid getting swept after being blown out in the series opener, or earning a series win over the visiting Red Sox as the Jays played their first series against a divisional foe, there haven't been many moments to relish.
Other Key Performances and Areas of Concern
The break-out performer has been Kazuma Okamoto, whose 10 dingers lead the club. Ernie Clement continues to do Ernie Clement things at the plate, though his defence can use some refinement. Rookie Brandon Valenzuela flashed a power stroke, but he also needs some refinement behind the plate. Louis Varland, who was asked to pitch the eighth inning in a 1-0 game Wednesday, shows signs of being a legitimate closer but only time will tell. Tyler Rogers and Jeff Hoffman have had their issues of late, while the club's starting rotation is too limited in the wake of injuries.
Varsho to the Rescue
With some glaring areas of deficiencies, beginning with the offence, which requires an upgrade, the Jays needed something to make them feel good about themselves. That is why the Varsho slam was precisely what the good doctor had ordered. The last thing the Jays need is to lose the series to the Tigers. Even worse, if they somehow get swept by the Yankees in a series that many had circled when the schedule was released.
Toronto lost its three-game set to the Dodgers in the fall classic rematch and must now find a way to win its rematch of last fall's ALDS when the four-game series in the Bronx begins Monday. The Jays have two starters in Dylan Cease and Kevin Gausman who are more than capable of shutting down any offence. Trey Yesavage is trending in the right direction, but the pitching pickings get slim behind him.
No swing this season has been bigger than Varsho's in a game the Jays simply had to win. Fortune also smiled on Toronto, beginning with a Rays reliever issuing four walks in one inning and capped off by Varsho taking a pitcher who hadn't been on a big-league mound in two years deep. Somehow, it all lined up for the Jays, just like it all lined up last season. They had a blast once Varsho hit his walk-off blast, but now comes the hard part of sustaining that momentum. As they say, only time will tell.
