I was all ready to write about how frustrating the struggles of the Blue Jays’ bullpen has been after the ‘pen blew a 5-1 lead late, and ended up losing 6-5.

It should probably be discussed because the situation is untenable and so many winnable games are getting flushed away. The Red Sox dancing on the field like they had won the World Series after a few innings of this type of pitching:

It was a bad time. I don’t know what’s happened to Chatwood, but it’s rough to watch. The injuries have piled up, and those remaining seem lost and confused.

Charlie has noticed:

The pitching coach will work with him. As opposed to shooting him like a lame horse, I suppose.

Guerrero Jr. noticed, too.

I like the photographer casually moving his camera out of the way.

It’s rare to see someone who is this joyful be this outwardly frustrated, but it goes to show how close these guys feel to actually being good. Guerrero is putting up an MVP season and they had 16 hits in Friday’s game. One can’t go to the playoffs with that kind of ‘pen. They won’t even make the playoffs. The AL East is that ridiculous.

After the crushing loss on Friday, it was remarkable how the Blue Jays dusted themselves off. It didn’t hurt that they have absolutely BANGED in Fenway in the series, even in the first game.

Saturday’s game relied on the bullpen a little bit, and there was still some doubt:

But today, they just obliterated the baseball.

The barrage, in general, was impressive, but I like how Gurriel tucked his hands in to adjust to the pitch and send it out into the Monster. My favourite sound is after Vlad’s. The crowd in Fenway moans, like they are worn out. Sort of impressed, but worn out.

The Red Sox currently sit in second place in the AL East, having spent a good chunk of the season in first, but I’m wondering if they are a bit of a paper tiger. They still might split this four game series with the Jays, after taking two of three back in Dunedin a few weeks ago, but their starting pitching is majorly suspect.

The Blue Jays, sitting in third place, 7.5 games back of the Rays, a team that killed them in Dunedin at the end of May. And it’s very clear what the problem is.

This plays in the playoffs:

As does this:

This is a team with a more than serviceable starting rotation; a bludgeoning offence centred around a 22 year old who is putting up MVP numbers; and a bullpen that is prone to collapse.

And the last thing will cancel out the first two. Every time.

Special shout out to @thechrisws for the image he tweeted yesterday that I used as the header and @aalyssacohen for finding and sending me the “helmet in the dugout” video of Vlad.