Tom Verducci

You're not going to hold him down.

I don't think there's anything physically that would tell you that that's a reason behind this.

So I think their games will pick up.

Barger is huge for this offense and defense and getting him back.

So at full strength, I really like Toronto and still think they're a playoff team.

I think the difficulty is you're seeing the way that Tampa Bay has run out here, and I don't think they're a fluke at all.

I think going back playing in the trop has been magic city for them in terms of

where their stuff as pitchers plays.

You know, last year they were in a triple-A ballpark, a fly ball ballpark, where the ball just carried.

So, you know, I'm not saying you have to just beat the Rays.

That's not it.

But being behind in the AL East is tough.

I went back and looked at this.

In the wildcard era, Toronto started, what, 21 and 27.

There was only one team in the wildcard era in the AL East who made the playoffs after starting like that.

It's an unforgiving division.

And I know there's a second wildcard out there now, which...

you know, give you more hope.

But now is the time where they have to start turning a corner.

I always say you get one bad month, but you don't get two if you want to be in the postseason.