Toronto Blue Jays by the Numbers: What a Season It Was

With the Toronto Blue Jays 22-year playoff drought finally over, we take a look back at this season by the numbers.

0

Since the All-Star break, Brett Cecil has pitched 25.1 innings without giving up an earned run. During that span he’s struck out 37 batters, which translates into a 13.14 K/9.

1

Since 2011, the Blue Jays have only had one of their first-round picks (Marcus Stroman) contribute at the big level. With Jeff Hoffman no longer a part of the organization, Mitch Nay, Max Pentecost, D.J. Davis or Matt Smoral could be potential first-round candidates who will eventually make the big league roster.

Sep 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) pitches during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

3

The Blue Jays have three starting pitches who have an ERA under 3.00 since the All-Star break. David Price (2.55), Marco Estrada (2.78), and R.A. Dickey (2.80).

4.4

It’s been a tale of two halves for R.A. Dickey this season. During the first half, Dickey boasted a walk rate of 8.9 percent, and his ERA was 4.87 in 18 starts. During the second half of the season Dickey slashed his walk rate in half, posting a 4.4 percent walk rate. His improved control has resulted in a 2.80 ERA and a visibly improved knuckleball.

5

General manager Alex Anthopoulos made five trades the week of the MLB’s trade deadline, acquiring Troy Tulowitzki, LaTroy Hawkins, David Price, Mark Lowe, and Ben Revere.

9

David Price is 9-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, since arriving in Toronto. The Blue Jays boast a 9-2 record when Price takes the mound.

11

A pair of 11-game win streaks helped propel the Jays this season. The first streak was from June 2 to 14, and the second streak from August 2 to 13.

18

The Blue Jays opened the season with 18-to-1 odds of winning the World Series. Now the team sits as low as 3-to-1 odds, depending on which sports book you look at.

26

The Blue Jays have scored double-digit runs a remarkable 26 times this season.

31

One of the prized acquisitions of the offseason, Victoria, British Columbia native Michael Saunders has only taken 31 at bats this season, after a sprinkler tore his meniscus back in Spring Training and derailed his season.

43

The Blue Jays played in 43 1-run ball games this season. Surprisingly, their record was 15-28 in those games, largely thanks to the unstable bullpen during the early part of the season.

53

The Blue Jays put on a show at the Rogers Centre this year, winning 53 games in the Dome.

Sep 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; ntnto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a RBI double in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

93

The Jays 93 wins are the most in the regular season since 1993. We all remember how that season turned out.

127

The Blue Jays scored 127 more runs than the next best offence in baseball.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, only four other clubs since 1900 had that large a gap over the next-best lineup in baseball. The 1927, 1931, and 1936 Yankees, and the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. All three Yankees teams are considered legendary, while the Dodgers won 105 games in a 154-game season.

221

The Blue Jays finished with an amazing plus-221 run differential. No one else in the AL was within 110 of them. In the division-play era, only four teams have held that large a gap over the next-closest team in their league.

All four teams reached the World Series. Only the 1995 Cleveland Indians failed to win it.

232

Led by Josh Donaldson (41), Jose Bautista (40), and Edwin Encarnacion (39), the Blue Jays hit a league-high 232 home runs this season.

897

The Blue Jays scored an astounding 897 runs this season. No other team in baseball scored 800 runs.

1.132

Once Edwin Encarnacion got rolling, he never stopped. In the second half EE posted a ridiculous 1.132 OPS, while blasting 21 home runs and 18 doubles in 61 games. With Tulo back in the lineup, pitching to Encarnacion will not be fun this October.

22

By far the most significant number of this season — 22. Finally, the 22-year drought is over. The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the playoffs.

Next: Alex Anthopoulos Puts Contract Talks to One Side

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