Blue Jays finally getting some much-needed rest

By: Ian Hunter

Canadian Baseball Network

It’s often said that the MLB regular season isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. With 162 games densely packed into 210 some-odd days from April to early October, it’s a grind.

But during the playoffs, there is a little room to breathe; more off days, far less strenuous travel, and if you’re lucky to eliminate an opponent early in a series, you get some much-needed off days.

That’s exactly the case for the Toronto Blue Jays, who are surely basking in the fact that they can rest until Friday before taking on the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS.

That’s four full days without a game, a break which many of the Blue Jays players haven’t experienced since the All-Star break. For several of the bruised and battered players on the roster, this brief respite couldn’t have come at a better time.

As John Gibbons remarked earlier this week, “these guys are beat up”. Just go through the list: Josh Donaldson, Devon Travis, Roberto Osuna and Francisco Liriano are experiencing at least some kind of pain. Perhaps more than any other team remaining in the postseason, the Blue Jays are walking wounded.

For the two weeks leading into the final game of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers, the Blue Jays grinded their way to get there. They narrowly made it into the playoffs, they dispatched the Orioles in dramatic fashion, and then the Blue Jays eliminated the team with the best record in the American League.

That’s enough to zap the energy out of even the most well-rested club. But this finally provides an opportunity for the Blue Jays’ staff to rest up and prepare against the Cleveland Indians.

This is where the Blue Jays’ pitching staff really enjoys those extra days off. John Gibbons called upon his most-trusted relievers many times down the stretch: Osuna, Grilli, Biagini and Cecil.

Especially in the case of Osuna, who was asked to record more than three outs on multiple occasions. Osuna’s workload in September and October alone is sitting at 17 appearances which have totaled 21 innings.

This is the point in the postseason when many of these guys are just feeding off adrenaline. Bodies are beat up, arms are tired, and nagging injuries can creep up at the worst possible moment.

However, several off days can only stand to benefit this Toronto Blue Jays team which has been motoring at about 140 km/h for the past two weeks. Now the Blue Jays can finally catch their breath before they take on their next opponent.

Sometimes when a team is on a roll, they may just want to keep on playing through it. After all, momentum can be a huge factor, especially in a short series. But with the potential for the Blue Jays to play a maximum of 14 games before month’s end, conserving energy and recuperating is of the utmost importance.

If another team is going to give you some off days, you’ll gladly take them. And although you’d love to see the Blue Jays keep this going as they continue to steamroll through October opponents, they’re going to need their key contributors to be as healthy as possible to propel them towards a championship.

With a short rest, it doesn’t leave much time for substantial recuperation. But if it gets Donaldson off his feet for a few days – if it allows Osuna to rest his arm a bit – and if it allows Travis and Liriano to stay on the Blue Jays’ ALCS roster, then it was all worth it.

Four days off in October may be a long layoff to a loyal Blue Jays fan, but for those Blue Jays players which have been grinding it out since Spring Training, “four days off” are three of the most relaxing words they can hear.

Follow more of Ian’s work on the Blue Jays on his blog “Blue Jay Hunter”, or follow him on Twitter @BlueJayHunter.