Bo Bichette

It's easy to imagine a scene in a Rogers boardroom several years ago in which Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro mapped out the high-level plan to his bosses.There are whiteboards and charts on easels. One shows the team's payroll climbing steadily, another shows the planned expense of two years of stadium renovations. Another one, in this scenario, would depict a steady increase in wins, a result of those payroll increases coming as the Jays' talented young core aged into its collective prime.And at the end of it all, in big letters, maybe circled in red: PROFIT.Much of it has even come to pass, except, you know, all the winning.It is, one hastens to add, early. The 2024 Blue Jays haven't even played 20% of their games. But that was a grim April. The Jays finished the month at 15-16, good enough for fourth place in the loaded AL East and nowhere near good enough if the team wants to return to the playoffs. May didn't start any better, a flat 6-1 home loss to Kansas City.Did I mention it's early? Despite that fact and the possibility there's every chance the Jays will turn into the team the front office imagined as the season dawned, the striking thing about the club's performance is the general sense of malaise it's brought. It's like the fan base is collectively sitting in one of those fancy new lounge chairs behind home plate at the Rogers Centre, arms folded across chest, ready to harrumph disappointment at every fly ball. The Toronto Blue Jays 2024: Feel the Ennui!It's hard to pinpoint exactly what caused the drop in Jays-related enthusiasm. Not counting the mild overachievement of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, the Jays have three straight seasons of promise that ended in some degree of disappointment. Two consecutive postseason appearances also resulted in the shortest of possible playoff runs, the last of which ended with manager John Schneider yanking Jose Berr os early from a dominant start and no one really owning the decision. That fans booed Schneider at Toronto's home opener was perhaps a sign that patience levels were low. You, sir, are no Gibby. Vaughn Ridley / Getty ImagesThere was also the aborted excitement of the offseason. The Jays let it be known they were serious suitors for Shohei Ohtani and his imagined half-a-billion-dollar contract, only for the Japanese star to spurn them for Los Angeles, at which point the Toronto front office stopped being aggressive completely. There's a cold logic to assembling stacks of cash for Ohtani, with his unique two-way talent and international megastar profile, and then shoving the money back into duffle bags once that opportunity passes. But Jays fans could be forgiven for thinking the team was really Going For It when, in fact, it was just Going For This One Particular Guy. That stings.But the biggest problem is likely one of familiarity. After long stretches last year in which the offense underperformed relative to expectations, it's back to doing the same again this season. The Jays are 13th in the 15-team American League in runs scored, 12th in hits, and tied for 12th in home runs. Second in walks, though, so let it be said that they have good eyes at the plate. Put that on a T-shirt.And at the root of that anemic performance are the cold starts for the top of the batting order, with George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Bo Bichette all hitting significantly worse than their career averages. This is a particular problem when Shapiro and his general manager, Ross Atkins, repeatedly stated that after the Ohtani pursuit failed, they decided to count on internal improvement as the key to generating more runs. They bet that several Jays who had down years offensively in 2023 would perform more like their old selves this season. But instead of regression to the mean, they just got plain old regression.It has brought a curious dichotomy. The Rogers Centre has finally been turned into more of a ballpark, and the payroll is the eighth highest in baseball, according to Spotrac. It should be the makings of an entertaining product, but all it's produced is an exceedingly tough watch so far. Rogers Centre per-game attendance is third highest in the American League despite the ballpark's smaller capacity, which isn't terrible, but it's almost 4,000 off last season's April attendance average. That's almost certainly not what was expected when ownership spent $400 million to spruce up the place.This leaves someone like Schneider in a precarious spot. If the Blue Jays don't break out of their hitting funk soon, as the division lead gets further and further away, the front office's simplest move would be to change the manager. However, the most obvious replacement, bench coach Don Mattingly, is operating under the title of offensive coordinator. Shake up the offense by promoting the guy responsible for the weak offense? It isn't a bulletproof strategy.More likely, Shapiro and Atkins will stick with the hoped-for improvement from within. But if it was a confident plan a couple of months ago, now it's a more desperate one.Scott Stinson is a contributing writer for theScore.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bichette is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Welcome to the third edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2024 regular season. The last edition was published April 15. 1. Atlanta Braves Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 19-7 8-2 +47 3 (+2) Ronald Acu a Jr. and Austin Riley started slowly. Spencer Strider's out for the year. Sean Murphy's played one game. Yet the Braves keep winning, owning the majors' best record and run differential. Marcell Ozuna's hitting like an MVP, and Reynaldo L pez has come out of nowhere to post a 0.72 ERA through four starts.2. Los Angeles Dodgers Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 18-12 6-4 +38 1 (-1) The star-studded Dodgers have won six of seven and are heating up. Will Smith is reaping the benefits of hitting cleanup behind three former MVPs, slashing .382/.422/.590 with five doubles and nine RBIs over the last two weeks. He's also done well catching a rotation led by Tyler Glasnow, who owns a 0.64 ERA and 19 strikeouts over his last two starts (14 innings).3. New York Yankees Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 19-10 6-4 +43 2 (-1) Juan Soto's been everything and more for the Yankees. The same can't be said for Aaron Judge. The 2022 AL MVP is off to an uneven start at the plate and was booed during a recent four-strikeout game at Yankee Stadium. Luckily for New York, two players who struggled last season are off to good starts: Carlos Rod n owns a 2.48 ERA across six outings, while Giancarlo Stanton has six homers and a .777 OPS.4. Baltimore Orioles Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 17-10 6-4 +34 5 (+1) Jackson Holliday's first taste of the majors didn't go as planned, and baseball's top prospect is back in Triple-A following a 2-for-34 start. But nobody should worry too much. Holliday's only 20 years old and isn't the first to have early-career struggles. The good news: Baltimore has the AL's highest-scoring offense, with three regulars with an OPS above .900. Patrick Smith / Getty Images5. Philadelphia Phillies Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 19-10 8-2 +25 9 (+4) The Phillies are one of baseball's hottest teams, winning four straight and 11 of 13. Alec Bohm's on fire to start the year, leading the club with 26 RBIs and a 1.056 OPS. Ranger Su rez may be the team's best starting pitcher, posting a 0.30 ERA over his last four starts (30 innings). Philly already set a franchise record for April wins and still has two more games.6. Milwaukee Brewers Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 17-10 6-4 +14 4 (-2) The Brewers continue piling up wins, even with outfielder Christian Yelich sidelined with a back injury. William Contreras appears to be putting together a breakout season (.988 OPS) as the league's next star catcher. There are valid concerns about the rotation beyond ace Freddy Peralta, but Milwaukee should have staying power as a relevant team in the NL Central.7. Cleveland Guardians Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 19-9 7-3 +46 10 (+3) With an offense that's again among the toughest to strike out, Cleveland now owns the AL's best run differential - an amazing feat considering the Guardians have hit only 26 home runs and Jos Ram rez hasn't quite gotten going yet. With a fairly soft schedule ahead, the Guardians have a great opportunity to start pulling away in the winnable AL Central.8. Kansas City Royals Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 17-12 5-5 +43 7 (-1) Pitching keyed Kansas City's great April. The team's rotation ranks third in the majors in ERA, with Seth Lugo's 1.66 mark over 38 innings leading the way. Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino are carrying the offense as the team's only three qualified hitters with an OPS over .700. While the Royals may fall back as the schedule toughens, we'll give them their due for now.9. Texas Rangers Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 15-14 5-5 +7 6 (-3) It feels like the Rangers are biding time until rotation reinforcements arrive. Max Scherzer appears close to making his season debut, while Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle are more realistic to return at some point later this season. The lineup's been respectable so far (13th in OPS) but should find another gear as the season continues.10. Chicago Cubs Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 17-11 6-4 +14 11 (+1) Shota Imanaga's making an early case for NL Cy Young. The Cubs' offseason addition leads the majors with a 0.98 ERA, becoming only the sixth player to post a sub-1.00 ERA in his first five career starts. Chicago's won every game Imanaga's started. Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty11. Cincinnati Reds Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 15-13 6-4 +21 12 (+1) The Reds are in good hands on both sides of the ball with Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene. De La Cruz is baseball's most electrifying player, currently on pace to become the first player in history to hit 35 home runs and steal 80 bases in the same year. Greene appears to be putting it all together in his fourth season, posting a 3.63 ERA, 2.96 FIP, and 10.9 K/9 across his first six starts.12. Boston Red Sox Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 16-13 6-4 +33 15 (+3) The Red Sox continue to punch above their weight despite countless injuries thanks to excellent starting pitching and solid offensive contributions from Tyler O'Neill, Connor Wong, and Wilyer Abreu. O'Neill's tied for second in the majors with nine homers, Wong's gone deep five times and has a .948 OPS, while Abreu's hitting .319/.400/.553 over the last two weeks.13. Seattle Mariners Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 15-13 7-3 +10 23 (+10) The Mariners own the AL West's top record despite being one of the worst scoring clubs in the league - only the Blue Jays, White Sox, and Athletics have scored fewer runs in the AL. Seattle's bullpen's been elite, with an MLB-best 2.47 ERA, while its starters own baseball's fifth-best FIP. Logan Gilbert's been tremendous, posting a 1.82 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in 34 2/3 innings.14. Arizona Diamondbacks Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 13-16 4-6 +29 13 (-1) The D-Backs are trying to stay afloat in the NL West while dealing with a bunch of injuries: 10 key players - including three members of the rotation, five relievers, and two solid defenders in Alek Thomas and Geraldo Perdomo - are out. Arizona's expected record based on its plus-29 run differential is 17-12, so it'll be interesting to see how the club performs with a full squad of regulars.15. New York Mets Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 14-13 5-5 +7 17 (+2) The Mets feel like a fun surprise at times, and a painfully mediocre squad at others. Notorious slow starter Francisco Lindor's bat has awoken from hibernation, providing Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo with some much-needed lineup assistance. But aside from a rejuvenated Luis Severino, the team's patchwork starting rotation's struggled to pitch deep into games. David Berding / Getty Images Sport / Getty16. Detroit Tigers Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 16-12 6-4 +3 20 (+4) Tarik Skubal's breakout is happening: he's looked like an ace through his first six starts, walking only six batters in 36 2/3 innings and sporting an AL-best 0.74 WHIP. He's a fantastic building block atop the rotation, alongside Reese Olson and Casey Mize. Unfortunately, those great arms are getting no help from a woeful offense that ranks 22nd in runs, 25th in homers, and 26th in OPS.17. Minnesota Twins Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 14-13 8-2 +8 24 (+7) The Twins have won seven straight and are back on track after a rough start (playing the White Sox and Angels in consecutive series certainly helped but all wins count the same in the standings). Eight different players posted an OPS greater than 1.000 over the past seven days, including Edouard Julien, who had six extra-base hits, seven runs scored, and a .955 slugging percentage during the stretch.18. San Diego Padres Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 14-17 3-7 -3 14 (-4) It's been a rough ride for Joe Musgrove. The 2022 All-Star and owner of a no-hitter ranks second worst in the NL in hits and homers allowed. His 6.94 ERA is also the highest among big-league starters, while his 6.59 FIP ranks second worst in MLB. Quite the fall for the righty, who's been a reliable presence in San Diego's rotation the past three years.19. Toronto Blue Jays Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 14-15 4-6 -24 18 (-1) Shohei Ohtani finally landed in Toronto and was greeted by hearty boos from Blue Jays fans for spurning them in free agency. While that was happening, the club continued to prove Ohtani made the right decision by showing almost no signs of life, dropping the Dodgers series and continuing their miserable April. Toronto's once-vaunted offense is looking toothless: Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and George Springer all have a sub-.700 OPS and a combined seven homers. Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty20. San Francisco Giants Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 14-15 6-4 -17 21 (+1) The Giants were lauded after landing Blake Snell late in the offseason on a reasonable contract. Fast forward one month and things aren't looking quite so great: Snell posted an 11.57 ERA in his first three outings and was placed on the IL with an adductor strain. The Giants are off to an uneven start overall as their offseason additions beyond Snell haven't given them the jolt many were expecting.21. Pittsburgh Pirates Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 14-15 3-7 -6 8 (-13) The 2024 season started a lot like 2023. Pittsburgh won nine of its first 11 games before stumbling to a 2-9 stretch in its next 11. The Pirates went an impressive 19-9 in April 2023 but followed up with an 8-18 May. Pittsburgh ranks 30th in runs scored over the last two weeks, a major reason for its struggles.22. Tampa Bay Rays Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 13-16 3-7 -32 16 (-6) The Rays entered 2024 ravaged by injuries in the rotation, with many wondering if they had the depth to remain competitive in the AL East. The rotation's been just below league average in ERA but is bottom 10 in home runs allowed. The usually dependable bullpen's cratered early, with closer Pete Fairbanks highlighting a group of relievers who haven't looked sharp.23. St. Louis Cardinals Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 13-15 4-6 -23 22 (-1) The Cardinals' disappointing offense has been the story of their season, but things may finally be trending in the right direction. Nolan Gorman broke out of his horrific slump with a walk-off home run Monday, and Paul Goldschmidt's looked more like himself lately. The team's hovering around .500 on the strength of its pitching, but poor underlying metrics suggest regression lurks for Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson.24. Houston Astros Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 9-19 3-7 -22 19 (-5) The Astros' start to the season is confounding. The rotation's been battered by injuries and those able to take the ball have been shelled repeatedly. Perhaps the only saving grace for Houston after its worst start to a season in nearly 60 years is that the AL West isn't looking very imposing early on. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty25. Washington Nationals Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 13-14 6-4 -10 27 (+2) The pesky Nationals are led by CJ Abrams, who appears poised for a breakout season. Acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto deal, Abrams is slashing .296/.367/.612 with six home runs and five stolen bases. The 23-year-old should continue to provide excitement and hope in another rebuilding year in D.C.26. Oakland Athletics Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 12-17 4-6 -43 26 (-) Credit to manager Mark Kotsay for finding a way to keep the young A's somewhat steady in a situation that can't be easy for his players. Though the A's almost certainly won't make the playoffs, they're somehow in third in the AL West and only 3.5 games out of first. They also have baseball's best closer in Mason Miller, whose unlikely rise to prominence has been a lot of fun to watch.27. Los Angeles Angels Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 10-18 1-9 -36 25 (-2) The Angels have lost nine of 10 and Anthony Rendon is out for an extended time with a partially torn hamstring. While Rendon's contract continues to handcuff the club, at least the team is starting to see some value from Tyler Anderson. The recipient of a three-year, $39-million contract ahead of last season owns a 1.78 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in five starts.28. Miami Marlins Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 6-23 2-8 -59 29 (+1) Saying nothing's gone right for the Marlins is a colossal understatement. Jes s Luzardo is the team's most recent starting pitcher to hit the IL, joining Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett, and Eury P rez. Rookie Max Meyer looked great across three starts until the team controversially demoted him to Triple-A to manage his innings.29. Colorado Rockies Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 7-21 3-7 -70 28 (-1) The Rockies trailed at one point in all 28 of their games to start this season. Kris Bryant's sidelined by another injury, and 2023 breakout star Nolan Jones is hitting .170/.243/.277 with one home run and 37 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Kyle Freeland's allowed 23 earned runs and 32 hits in four starts.30. Chicago White Sox Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank 6-22 3-7 -77 30 (-) Things remain bleak for the White Sox, even after a series win over the Rays. One of the few bright spots is the performance of Erick Fedde. The White Sox signed the right-hander to a two-year, $15-million contract after he dominated in the KBO and Fedde's rewarded that investment so far, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.60 ERA and 39 strikeouts across 34 2/3 innings.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider isn't pleased with how umpires handled Thursday's rain-shortened loss to the Kansas City Royals.The Royals won 2-1 after the teams played in rainy conditions through five innings before the game was eventually called following a delay that lasted over 3.5 hours at Kauffman Stadium.Schneider said he was told the field was "too loose" to play on after the delay and couldn't absorb any more water, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. However, the skipper disagreed and said the situation was handled "kind of poorly.""In my opinion, the field was significantly better than it was in the third, fourth, and fifth inning," Schneider said.The 44-year-old also acknowledged the conditions were already unplayable before the delay."I disagreed with the fact that it's looser now than it was in the fifth inning when Bo (Bichette) fielded a ball through a lake and threw it over to first," he said, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.Crew chief Chris Guccione said postgame the decision to call the contest was made with the health of players in mind."In this situation, the whole shortstop area and third-base area was so spongy and soft. I couldn't imagine Bo Bichette or Bobby Witt Jr. trying to field a ball to their left or right, planting and trying to make a successful throw," Guccione said, according to Matheson."That's not good for the game, and for sure, the safety of the players is the No. 1 priority. We want to protect those guys."Schneider said that suffering a defeat in this fashion was a "(crappy) way to lose a game," per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.The umpires consulted with MLB before deciding to end the contest, per Dan Shulman of ESPN. A game can be made official when it has reached the middle of the fifth inning.Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.