BOSTON -- Halfway there, hope lives.
The 2025 Blue Jays are a little better than everyone expected and they’ve done it in ways no one expected. Perhaps that’s their superpower or perhaps it catches up to them eventually -- that’s for the second half to decide -- but Friday night’s 9-0 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park wrapped a 44-37 first half that the Blue Jays have to be thrilled with.
This team feels completely unlike the one that trudged through a long, uninspiring 2024 season. There’s a sense of life to this group, a sense of freedom that just wasn’t there a year ago.
“Everyone is being the best version of themselves. That builds character,” manager John Schneider said. “I think that builds team unity. That’s a real thing. Team chemistry is a real thing. It’s been forced to happen that way and I think guys are much more comfortable with one another.”
The big conversations inch closer now. Each conversation about the Blue Jays for the next five weeks will be linked to the July 31 Trade Deadline, which looks like the best opportunity the Blue Jays have had in years to aggressively chase a wide-open AL East and American League. From there, it rolls right into a playoff race, the entire Canadian market sitting right there waiting for the Blue Jays to grab it.
What better way to bring back the feeling of those 2015 and ‘16 teams than by taking a run at the division? Not the Rays, not the Guardians, not the Angels and not another third Wild Card spot ... but the damn Yankees.
Halfway there, the Blue Jays are on pace for an 88-74 record. Once again, they’ll need to do a little better than everyone expected.
It starts in the clubhouse
Each spring brings the same narrative. It’s always a better clubhouse, a better group of guys, a better “vibe in the room.” Every once in a while, there’s some truth to it.
Blue Jays players didn’t just recite those lines this spring. Instead, it felt like they were really trying to convince you that it was happening. Schneider preached the same, and after watching it unfold, there’s a sense of pride in his voice we haven’t often heard in his time managing this club.
“It’s the best thing, when you can see that and feel that as a manager,” Schneider said. “That’s what you’re shooting for every single season. Sometimes, it happens later. Sometimes, it doesn’t happen as much as you would hope. This group has done it and it started in Spring Training. I don’t know if it’s different guys being at different parts of their careers or bringing in guys on multi-year deals who will be part of this, but it’s easier to jell. To me, it’s the best feeling sitting in this chair, watching the guys interact and compete.”
Perhaps no player captures this better than Ernie Clement, who reached base all five times Friday.
“The individual performances just take care of themselves when all you care about is winning,” Clement said. “I just want what’s best for this team. I truly care about that. I’m just not really worried about the individual stuff. It’s hard not to get caught up in that at times in a long season, but I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to help this team win whenever I’m in the lineup. They’ve just given me such a cool opportunity. I’m really thankful for that. We’re just worried about winning. It’s all we care about.”
Pleasant surprises
Asked for a favorite surprise from this season, Schneider leaned back to think. He had options.
“Eric Lauer,” he said.
Lauer has been a revelation, posting a 2.21 ERA over 40 2/3 innings this season, singlehandedly saving the Blue Jays from a revolving door at the back of their rotation. Schneider also wants to give some love to the bottom of his lineup, though, which is where the coaching staff has really had some fun chasing matchups.
“They’ve not only kept us in games, it’s allowed us to use guys appropriately so they understand how they’re going to be used and when they’re going to be used. That’s been the thing that sticks out for me,” Schneider said. “We’re not just waiting for Bo, Vladdy, George or Kirky to get the big hit. Everyone is doing their thing.”
It’s working. The second half holds questions, but it also holds hope, and that’s a fine place to start.