Some Numbers since 2005 hurting Toronto

[Regul8er]

Being a Toronto Blue Jay fan is probably the most frustrating job in all of professional sports.
It stinks knowing the Jays can make some good additions, play some great baseball over stretches of time, but the playoffs are NEVER EVER within reach....heck we can't even see the gate.

It's not that Toronto has a bad franchise or has been playing bad ball the past 6 years.

Heck, of the 30 teams in the MLB, the Jays have the 11th most wins, so just outside the top 1/3 of the league. Were also within 10 wins of NY Mets, LA Dodgers and Atlanta. During that same stretch, 23 teams have made playoff appearances, with the Jays hitting the golf course early each year. The only other teams not to have played in a playoff game is Florida, Seattle, Baltimore, Washington, Kansas City and Pittsburgh....pretty bad company.

Another interesting number is the fact the Jays are 1 of 8 teams to have won at least 80 games in 5 of the last 6 seasons. (Yankees, Boston, Angels, Philly, Minnesota, St. Louis and Dodgers). Pretty good company if you ask me.

With this recent success, should the MLB consider advancing the top 4 teams from each League to the playoffs regardless of division, or maybe expanding to 6 teams per league?? At least this way, the Jays would be playing meaningful games in September, something they haven't done since the early 90's. And let's be honest, whatever the Jays do, they can't compete with the checkbooks of Boston and New York, therefore eliminating them from contention before the season even begins.

I know I'm blabbering, but I'm frustrated, and would like to watch meaningful games like fans of 77% of MLB teams have done in the last 6 years.

[Squirrel]

My general opinion would be no, if the Rays can win the East twice in 3 years despite a $50 payroll then ANYTHING is possible - Spending valuable (mass) resources on crap like BJ Ryan and Wells in the near past is a mistake a team cant afford to make when trying to compete against the big spenders.

If you consider advancing 4 from each league regardless of division then you might aswell abolish divisions - unfortunately stuff like this is ALWAYS going to happen in sports with unbalanced schedules/divisions, just got to deal with it and keep on winning/improving/trying.

[SeanHiggs]

the unloading of Wells is huge. as always, this is the toughest division in MLB because of Boston and NY. tough to compete who see not winning the World Series EVERY year as failure. but, like w/ tampa bay and the giants and twins. add in houston and the whitesox.. we have seen smaller market teams compete when the stars and players are lined up properly.

[Regul8er]

I don't disagree with you guys whatsoever! I'm just frustrated, that's all.

Sure, Toronto is definately a smaller market team, and they have certainly competed.......but never even come close to smelling the postseason. There are usually a few divisions each year, where getting 80 wins will have you at very least playing meaningful games in September. Toronto has been able to get to the 85-87 win range a few times lately, but they are still 10+ games out of the postseason, and behind 3 teams.

I do like the improvements we've made in our bully........but I think we may have overpaid to get there.

[SeanHiggs]

bullpens are so tricky. some guys come out of nowhere with great seasons. hey. if they perform, you are set. and as for overpaying, those contracts are pennies to what you unloaded to the Angels

[Bob Loblaw]

If they aren't good enough to beat Boston, New York, and/or Tampa then they aren't good enough. Maxing out at 87 wins in the time period you're talking about should tell you they don't belong in the playoffs. It sucks as a fan but they quite simply haven't been a playoff deserving team in a long time.

My White Sox have missed the playoffs 9 times in the last 15 years while winning 80+ games. Not comparing Yanks/Sox/Rays/O's to Twinkies/Tigers/Royals/Indians but I understand the frustration of having solid years with nothing to show for it at the end. But the bottom line is that they weren't deserving and didn't belong with the elite in those years.

[Regul8er]

Just frustrating to see the Arizona's, San Diego's, Milwaukee's, Oakland's of the world playing in meaningful September games every 2nd season or so while winning in 85 game range, and playing a lighter schedule.

It is what it is........but I would love to see an expansion team East of Toronto, as Toronto is the most western geogrpahic team in the AL east. Isn't it about time Raleigh or Charleston get a franchise, moving the Jays to the Central?? haha

[Squirrel]

To look at it a different way though since the year 2000 every team except 2 who made the playoffs won more games than Toronto in that particular year, exceptions being the '08 Dodgers and '06 Cardinals.

You mentioned in the OP that the Jays had won 80+ games in 5 of the last 6 seasons, which is correct, but the most games won in a single season over that stretch is 87 -- in all of baseball since 2000 an 87 win team has only made up 4 of the 88 playoff teams.

It might suck from a fan POV but thats American sports in general and it happens all the time - similar situation in the NFL just gone for example the Shithawks made the playoffs with 8 wins.

I'm not ragging on the Jays fwiw, nothing against them, but to me they just havent been good enough to make the playoffs, dodgy divisioon or not.

[Regul8er]

Good points sir and all well taken. The NY Yankees and Boston have been #1 and #2 respectively in games won over the last 6 seasons.
Remember, you play Division opponents 18 times, opposed to only 9 against the other teams within your league. That means over the last 6 seasons, Toronto has played NY Yankees, Boston, Tampa and Baltimore 54 more times then the rest of the American league. Even with enduring these games with baseball's best, they still have managed to win the 11th most games over this stretch, and never played ONE meaningful game over the past 6 seasons.

In my opinion, they have been good enough, but simply don't have the payroll to keep up with the Sox and Yanks over the course of 162 games. When the Jays experience an injury (which seems way too often) they have to soak up at bats and innings with guys from their farm system. You think these guys are going to outperform and likes of the Sox and Yanks (or the player they acquire when they experience injuries). Obviously not.

I don't want to get into the logistics of payroll and so on.....I just want to watch a meaningful baseball game....like almost every other MLB city gets to watch.

[Whippit]

Jays seem to be drawing wrong conclusion from all these 85 win seasons

what they need is a 55 win season to really put things in proper perspective

[Squirrel]

To be a bit more positive on the side of the Jays though I do genuinely believe that if you get lucky (allbeit, very lucky perhaps) then you have a chance of finishing above the Yankees this year - not sure you can top Boston so beat out the Rays and you might see a playoff game North of the border