Despite a frustrating start to the 2024 season, Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro isn’t pressing the panic button just yet.
While appearing on Blair & Barker ahead of Monday’s home opener, Shapiro was asked what he’s taken away from the Blue Jays’ first three series of the year.
“My takeaway is to not take too much away from the first 10 games of the season,” he said. “I’m watching the same thing you’re watching. We’ve faced some really good pitching. Obviously, what we faced in Houston wasn’t a coincidence — you saw what they did to the Texas Rangers lineup.”
Entering Monday with a 4-6 record, the Blue Jays haven’t looked the part of a different team in the new year after their offence let them down in 2023.
Toronto ranks 29th in batting average (.193), 26th in slugging percentage (.327), 24th in OPS (.627) and 22nd in total runs scored (36).
Stars Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. haven’t lived up to expectations early on this season, each owning an OPS below .715.
“We’ve seen some really positive things, but we’ve also seen some things that have to get ironed out,” Shapiro said. “This team’s going to be fine. We’re going to go as far as our great players take us, our young players are now in their prime, and they are great players, everybody in the game knows it.
“If they play like great players, we’re going to be fine.”
Although, with decisions on the future of the organization on the horizon — Bichette and Guerrero can become free agents at the end of the 2025 season — there is certainly pressure to make the most of the team Toronto has now.
Despite the disapointment of boasting a bottom-half offence and a pitching staff that has come out of the gates slowly, Shapiro says he hasn’t felt an uneasiness from fans when engaging with Blue Jays supporters.
“Fans are incredibly positive to my face,” he told Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. “I think you guys hear the other side of things.”
As for Toronto’s rotation, Shapiro isn’t panicking about the group sporting a 6.40 ERA, one year after finishing third in the MLB with a 3.85 mark.
“I rest on track records and what these guys have done over their careers,” he said. “Reinforcements potentially coming with Yariel Rodriguez and (Alek) Manoah. I think we’re going to be fine in the pitching category.”
Jose Berrios has been Toronto’s most consistent starter in the first two turns through the rotation. He has helped the team to two wins and has a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings pitched.
He will make his second home-opening start as a member of the Blue Jays as the team returns to a new-look Rogers Centre to face off agaisnt the Seattle Mariners.
Phase two of the $400-million renovation project was finished this off-season, giving the lower bowl a new look and feel.
“The renovation and the spirit of the renovation is all about making this baseball… moving it from a stadium to a ballpark,” Shapiro said. “Taking a 1980s facility that was largely circular and the same experience everywhere.. and making it baseball specific.”
“It’s a much better experience for all of our fans and our players, as well.”
You can watch as Berrios and the Blue Jays kick off their home schedule on Monday night agasint the Mariners. Coverage starts on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 6 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. PT.
