Penton: Jays can thank big bats for success
By Bruce Penton
The top five reasons Toronto Blue Jays are going to give Canadian sports fans an October playoff thrill: George Springer, Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk.
Notice that the five names mentioned above do not include a pitcher, because the Jays have led the American League East for a good chunk of the season in spite of poor to average pitching. It has been decent at the front end (starters) and dismal at the back (relief corps). Only four American League teams have given up more runs than the Jays, but only one, the Yankees, has scored more. The Blue Jays are a team that can never be counted out. A great example was Sept. 3 in Cincinnati, where the Reds jumped on starter Shane Bieber for five runs in the second inning and a 5-0 lead. No problem. The Jays put their awesome offence into overdrive, pounded out five home runs and 18 hits en route to a 13-9 victory.
Springer and Bichette have been the catalysts for the Jays. Bichette, in his seven years with the Blue Jays, had a rough season in 2024, batting .225 and playing in only 81 games due to injuries. This year, he leads the major leagues in hits, is batting comfortably over .300 and is en route to eclipsing his career-high RBI total (102 in 2021). Springer’s resurgence has been as good, or better. The 12-year vet, who has been the Jays’ designated hitter for most of 2025, is having a banner year and while he won’t win the A.L. MVP award (Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh are the front-runners), he deserves to get a few votes. Springer will push past the 30-home run mark, carried a .307 batting average into the second week of September and has been Mr. Clutch all year.
While Bichette and Springer have been the two offensive keys for Toronto, the contributions of Kirk, Barger and Varsho cannot be overlooked. Kirk had been regarded as little more than a journeyman catcher, but his bat has come alive this year. He’s been batting close to .300 all season and has already surpassed his career high RBI total, which was 63 back in 2022, and will post the best OPS figure (on-base percentage plus slugging) of his five full years in Toronto. Varsho missed about 80 games, but since his return, he’s on a 50-home run pace and has been spectacular defensively in centrefield. Barger, meanwhile, has been the team’s rookie surprise. He was a big hit in spring training, but doubts were expressed about whether he’d be able to carry the hot bat into the regular season. Well, he’s third on the team in homers, fourth in RBI and seems to always come through with a clutch hit when needed. He may not be the American League rookie of the year, but he’s definitely the No. 1 freshman with the Jays.
Now, if only the relief pitching would shape up, the Jays could actually win the World Series.
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: “Give Tyson Barrie credit for a sense of humour on his retirement announcement. He said his decision was made ‘in tandem with the 32 NHL teams.’”
RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “In a surprising move, Maria Sharapova asked Serena Williams to speak for her at her Tennis Hall of Fame induction because Serena was her biggest rival. Really? That's like a fly calling a windshield a rival.”
Columnist Norman Chad, commenting on gamblers seeking ‘refunds’ from professional athletes for poor play which resulted in losing wagers: “Am I supposed to shake down E-Harmony because my first wife left me?”
Dan Gartland of SI-AM, after TCU’s 48-14 win over North Carolina in U.S. college football: “Congratulations to Bill Belichick on shifting the focus away from the age gap between him and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, and toward the talent gap between his North Carolina team and TCU.”
Ontario columnist Keith Schell, on the Shane Bieber trade to the Blue Jays: “He’s looking good so far, but the Jays’ bats are growing cold at the worst time. He needs more run support. They can’t just ‘Leave it to Bieber’!”
Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “On Hard Knocks, Buffalo Bills says they intend to bring the Lombrdi Trophy back to western New York. When was it there before? I wonder if the Buffalo Sabres are going to bring the Stanley Cup back to Buffalo?”
Rolfsen again: Canucks’ Elias Pettersson got married over the summer. They tried to keep it as private as possible — exchanged vows between innings of a Sacramento A’s game.”
Another one from Rolfsen: “The Blue Jays sold a record 92,221 hot dogs at their recent Loonie Dog night. Thankfully, nobody choked, other than Jeff Hoffman.”
A groaner from RJ Currie: “Just wondering: If you’re an L.A. Ram, do you say please and thank ewe?”
Headline at theonion.com: “Andy Reid Gently Tells Travis Kelce What’s Expected Of Him On Wedding Night … “she’ll probably want you to take your helmet off.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca