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Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle
Again, that is too simplistic of a way at a looking at it. X team hit more home runs so they won, doesn't account for the fact that the pitchers need to make more adjustments when teams can play small ball and move runners with speed. The Indians didn't go out there to hit home runs, but they did because of good at bats and patience at the plate. The Blue Jays go there swinging at every pitch looking to put it in the upper deck.
I hate small ball. It's boring in my mind, but you need to be able to at least dabble in it for when you are suffering a power outage. Jays are not capable of that. I'm not saying replacing the entire team with a bunch of scrawny little speedsters, but they need more balance in their lineup.
Do you not think it plays on a pitchers mind when he knows if he walks someone on Cleveland that they can steal second and be home on the next pitch? They don't have to think about that with Toronto. Walk a guy, who cares? Next guy will strike out or hit into a double play.
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It's not too simplistic though - it's exactly what happened this series. It's not like Cleveland out hit the Jays or used small ball to generate their runsite, they won because of the long ball.
It's not talked about but in 5 games the Jays bullpen gave up no runs.
I agree 100% that the Jays need to fix their approach at the plate and that their need to always swing for the fence cost them.
But that doesn't change the fact that this series was closer than 4-1 and that the only difference between the two teams was that they Indians hit timely home runs.