The Toronto Blue Jays pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins this offseason in the hopes that the players acquired would help lead them to their first postseason berth since 1993.
Those hopes may have taken a severe blow on Friday night.
In the top of the sixth inning of the Blue Jays’ game against the Kansas City Royals, the Jays took a 6-4 lead following an Emilio Bonifacio run-scoring double.
Shortstop Jose Reyes—one of the principal figures in the team-changing trade for the Blue Jays—followed with a single up the middle to drive in two more runs, giving the Jays an 8-4 lead.
Reyes, known for his great speed, took off for second to put another runner in scoring position. Reyes stole the bag safely, but at tremendous cost.
He was in immediate pain and clutching his ankle in agony after the steal. Reyes was eventually carted off the field.
Reyes was off to a brilliant start with his new team, hitting .395 with five RBI and five stolen bases. He was everything the Blue Jays wanted at the top of their batting order.
Considering the way that Reyes was clutching his leg in pain, it would appear that he could be out of action for an extended period of time. If that’s the case, did the Blue Jays’ hopes of a postseason berth just fly out the window?
Well, not necessarily, but it definitely doesn’t help matters much.
The Blue Jays as currently constituted have weapons. Melky Cabrera has heated up of late and they have the versatile Maicer Izturis who can fill in at short for now. However, Izturis is already taking the place of Brett Lawrie, who is currently rehabbing in extended spring training. Lawrie could be back in 10 days or so, but it leaves the Blue Jays razor-thin in the infield.
The absence of Reyes and Lawrie from the left side of the infield is without question a huge blow. In addition, Adam Lind is struggling with a .136 average and Edwin Encarnacion is also hobbling along with a .132 average in the early going.
Reyes was absolutely the sparkplug for a team that was hitting a collective .240 before Friday night. You bet his absence from the lineup long-term puts a damper on postseason hopes.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Gibbons will no doubt be waiting rather impatiently for the full diagnosis on Reyes’ ankle and then make plans accordingly.
But with a roster already facing injuries and slow starts, it couldn’t have been worse news.
The Blue Jays’ odds of winning the World Series at the beginning of the year were right up there with the likes of the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals.
If Reyes is indeed out for a lengthy period of time, the Blue Jays won’t be worrying about a World Series—they’ll just be trying to stay afloat.
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