You have to like it when a plan comes together. The Jays picked up Shane Bieber hoping that he would be a piece of the rotation if we make it to the playoffs. Now he’s made four playoff starts. The first
one wasn’t good, but, since then two wins, and a 3.00 ERA.
Last night was terrific. He didn’t even intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani (and was robbed on ball four in the first inning, or he would have had three strikeouts of the guy who Buck told us walked on water. I felt like he and Dan were being paid for every time they said his name). I love watching guys who get by without the high nineties fastball.
I love this quote from Eric Lauer (from the Athletic):
We get it,” Eric Lauer said. “They’re superstars. They’re huge names in the game. But at some point, it’s like, ‘OK, cool, move on. We’re here too.’
I wonder if he’ll opt out of his contract, or if he’ll take the $16 million and prove his value. Michael Bradburn, on Twitter, suggested offering him a three-year, $60 million contract, with opt-outs. I don’t know that he would take that. $20 is less than what this year’s Qualifying Offer will be. He’s 30 now, his next contract could be his last ‘big one’. I’d likely offer to bump up his contract for next year to $25 million and tell him to rebuild his value. But that’s an issue for another day.
5.1 innings, just four hits, three walks and three strikeouts with the one earned run. He seemed to be tired in the sixth (and Daulton Varsho made a very nice catch), but Mason Fluharty came in to save the day.
Chris Bassitt seems to be making the most of this relief role he’s in. I wasn’t sure he was a good candidate for the role, but he’s proving me wrong. That he can go two, three days in a row makes him very useful.
Beyond that, I love seeing Vlad doing so well on the biggest stage in baseball. He has seven home runs in 15 playoff games. He’s been so good that when he doesn’t homer in a game people start saying he’s in a slump.
And it is great to see Bo Bichette contributing. If this is the last time we see him in a Blue Jays uniform, we’ll owe him for taking a chance on his health to help the team. I wonder if the team will offer him a contract, though I don’t know what they should offer. I like the idea of him playing second. I’m thinking he would accept the idea, but I’m not sure. Maybe another team will offer him a chance to play short.
It seems like almost everyone on the roster has had their moment to be the stat. Last night, Nathan Lukes had a couple of hits from the lead-off spot. Clement had a pair of hits and drove in two. Barger could have taken the rest of the World Series off, after hitting that grand slam, but he’s still getting us a couple of hits a game (he’s hitting .429 in the World Series).
Tonight, Trey Yesavage tries to put us within a game of being World Series winners.
