New and Annoying Ways: Jays Blow Late Lead vs White Sox



That game got really stupid in a hurry. Mark Buehrle (as I suspected he would) went toe to toe with Chris Sale and the Jays were somehow ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th.

Jose Reyes booted a completely playable groundball and soon the game was tied when Jose Abreu poked a little something out to the outfield. Melky Cabrera then hit a two run double and that was basically the game. The Jays briefly got something cooking in the top 9, but Sale snuffed it out.

People climbed out from everywhere to hate on Jose Reyes. I'm annoyed at the loss of a totally winnable game, but I'm trying to be Zen this summer.

Reyes, to his credit, stayed to talk to the media and took full responsibility.



It was an ugly play and the situation has the potential to be "an emotional powder keg" as Stoeten put it.  And I think it's on Mr. John Gibbons to manage it.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but I would've like to see Goins be subbed in for Reyes in a close game like that late. Especially considering Reyes had already hit the previous inning and, if the lead is preserved, is not going to hit again.

It's not a "FYRE GOBBONS" situation, but this loss is a little bit on him. (Like, say, 7%.)  Part of managing is using your bench when appropriate and another is to manage the massive egos that make up the team. And I don't know why the switch wasn't made.

Some are speculating that Reyes would be pissed off and petulant if he were pulled. And it would become an issue in the clubhouse and that's why Gibby was reluctant about doing it.

But I'm pretty sure it's been done before. The comments on Stoeten's site tell me that my suspicions are correct: Goins came into the game the other day when Anibal Sanchez was no-hitting them (when it was 8-0.) And on June 26th, Smoak hit for Reyes and Goins came in to play SS. One was a blow out the Jays were losing and the other was a blow out the Jays were winning. While neither were a tight game in the 8th, it has been done.

And honestly, if they are pulling Edwin Encarnacion late to save his body and get the better defence from Smoak, they could be doing it for Reyes, too. Reyes might not like it, but if it means winning more games and getting to the playoffs, I suspect he'll get over it. Especially seeing how upset he looked after the play (seriously, Sportsnet, was it necessary to keep the camera on him the whole time? "This is the one. This is the one that shit on your dreams!!!!!")

Also, Jose Reyes didn't give up a base clearing double to Melky Cabrera. But the guy who did was otherwise awesome tonight, so I'm not going to be too hard on him.

It would be awesome if this team would stop find new and annoying ways to lose. Seriously, boys, it's not a good look.