Don't blame the bullpen!

Jays bullpen has lost six games so far, most in the AL

The bullpen has lost 6 of the 12 games this season, more than any other team in the AL. However, its bullpen is 7th in the AL in ERA at a very respectable 3.24.

The pen is also very hard worked with 72.1 innings pitched over 20 games. Let's look at each bullpen loss and see who is to blame.

April 3: Sergio Santos loses 3-2 in 11 innings.

A disappointing loss as Jose Bautista hits the game tying home run in the bottom of the 9th, in a game where the Jays manage only 5 hits. Sergio then gives up a home run in the top of the 11th to Mark Reynolds. When you score only two runs in a game, it's difficult to win.

Fault: lack of offence.

April 5: Esmil Rogers loses the game in the 8th. Boston wins 6-4.

This is the bullpen and Izturis' fault. Esmil game on with one out in the 8th, walked, gave up a double, and Napoli got the RBI for Boston to get the 5-4 lead on a play where Izturis couldn't field the ball and throw home. Gibbons then put on Jeffries in the 9th who gave up the insurance run via the home run. This was also the famous game where Bonifacio commits three errors.

Fault: the infielders and Esmil.

April 14: Darren Oliver loses the game in the 9th as KC beats Toronto 3-2.

This was Oliver's fault, but the Jays were unable to score more than 1 earned run against Santana. Bonifacio's throw to the plate could have been in time, but you can't fault Bonifacio early in the season for making an off-line throw when he never plays RF.

Fault: the lack of offense.

April 16: Steve Delabar loses the game in the top of the 9th. Chicago beats the Jays 4-2.

This may have been poor defense on Bonifacio's part as he couldn't catch up to a double that perhaps Colby or Rajai does. He took a terrible line to the ball. However, Delabar gave up two walks to open the frame, and you've get to expect at least one of those runs to score. Blame Delabar on this one, but once again, blame the Jays offense for failing to score more than 2 runs.

Fault: Delabar and lack of offense

April 20: Aaron Loup loses the game on his throwing error in the 11th as the Yankees win 5-3.

Aaron Loup makes a bad throw to third on an Ichiro bunt which costs him the game. And he gave up two lead off singles. Bad things happen. Blame Aaron on this one.

Fault: Aaron. But he took a shot at third to keep a double play in order.

April 22: Aaron Loup loses the game 2-1 to the Orioles in the bottom of the 9th due to Kawasaki error.

With runners on 1st and 2nd with two out, a standard double play ball eats up Kawasaki and he inexplicitly throws it to first but too late. Markasis then walks off via a nicely hit bloop single to left field. But once again, this is due to a lack of offense.

Fault: Kawasaki, lack of offense.

So whose fault is it?

When the bullpen is on average playing 3.6 innings per game and giving up an average of about 1.3 runs per game, that's pretty fantastic, really. When your defense is not making great plays (Bonifacio, Kawasaki, Izturis) behind you, you stand to lose. When the offense is not scoring any runs against pitchers that other teams manage to score on, you have to look at the anemic offense.

In all of these cases, the Jays are tied which puts the bullpen under pressure. The Jays have yet to blow a save, and this is incredible.

So spread the blame folks. This isn't the bullpen's fault at all. It's the lack of offense and poor defense behind them that puts pressure on them.

And the bullpen was not supposed to be the stars of this team. It was supposed to be the offense and the starting pitching.

August 16: White Sox 7, Jays 2

Home run ball hurts Laffey; bullpen puts game out of reach

Aaron Laffey gave up three hits, but they were all  bases empty home runs by the White Sox, including back to back shots to open the 5th inning. Laffey's line was good, with 5 strikeouts and two walks over 6 innings, throwing 91 pitches (51 strikes). Homeruns were by DeWayne Wise, Viciedo, and Flowers. Flowers home run hit just below the upper deck, just above the Tony Fernandez sign on the "Level of Excellence". Wow.

The Jays, with Edwin out of the lineup with a sore shoulder and forearm due to the diving catch the night before, once again, could not muster up offense. The offence: a David Cooper single followed by a Moises Sierra home run. Three of the four Jays' hits were managed in the 2nd inning.

During the bottom of the 7th with Gose on 2nd, Toronto EMS carted off a middle-aged man who suffered a cardiac arrest in the stands along the 3rd base line. Apparently, Kevin Youkilis (perhaps at the request of security) requested the game to be stopped so that EMS could attend to the fans. The five minute game stoppage affected everyone who attended the game and put a pall on the game. For a few minutes, people realized that baseball was just a game and put perspective on their own lives for a few moments. The man later died in hospital. Blue Jays players and White Sox players alike were stunned.

Perhaps this might be an excuse for what happened in the next inning. Darren Oliver sealed the deal for Chicago in the 8th inning as Blue Jays traitor Alex Rios hit a 3 run home run to left field to score a Kevin Youkilis single and a Adam Dunn walk. Darren Oliver has been absolutely stellar this season, and it was the 3rd home run he has given up. In his 46 appearances this season, he has given up 6 runs (all earned) over 42 2/3rds innings. Up until tonight, the most runs he's given up in an inning has been 1. He is responsible for 2 losses. Oliver left the game with two outs.

Then, Brandon Lyon gave up a home run to Alexei Ramirez (the first batter in the thhat he faced) before striking out Viciedo to end the top of the 8th.

Liriano was great tonight, and the Jays veterans (Davis, Rasmus, Escobar, Johnson, Mathis) went 2 for 17 (2 infield hits by Mathis) with a walk. The Jays are not going to win games when the veterans don't hit.

Now, the Jays face the AL West leading Texas Rangers, probably without Edwin, and definitely without Lawrie, a hurt Rasmus, Bautista, Lind, Arencibia... the list goes on.