Armed with superstars like Vladimir Guerrero and Bo Bichette, expectations for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023 were sky-high.

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Unfortunately, the Blue Jays have been far from dominant. One could even argue that they’ve been outright disappointing given the roster put together by general manager Ross Atkins and a payroll that ranks among the highest in baseball.

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The lesson is clear: assembling a team of excellent players offers no guarantee of success. Sports can be a frustrating and cruel business. In other words, money can’t buy happiness or victories, a message that also resonates with Toronto Maple Leafs fans.

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There are several reasons why the Blue Jays enjoyed an up-and-down season. Among them are less than stellar performances by veteran players such as Matt Chapman and George Springer. 

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Maybe these players’ skills are diminishing because they’re more than 30 years old in a sport increasingly dominated by players in their early 20s.

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Sub-par performances from players like Dalton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk meant the Jays struggled to score enough runs to win. There were only a few games this year in which the Blue Jays easily cruised to victory.

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The team also hit fewer home runs compared to their ‘22 season when it had power hitters like Teoscar Hernandez, who was traded to the Seattle Mariners last off-season.

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Another reason may be simply due to a lack of talent at some positions. The Blue Jays would have benefited from having a stronger fourth outfielder and better utility players. Santiago Espinal, for instance, is a great fielder but struggled at the plate.

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Given the fact the Blue Jays did make the playoffs, it would be unfair to dismiss the season as a complete failure.

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While some players struggled offensively, the Blue Jays’ pitching ranked among the best in baseball. Their starting pitchers were good (Chris Bassitt, Jose Barrios) to excellent (Kevin Gausman) and relief pitchers such as Jordan Romano and Eric Swanson also played a big role.

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As the Jays approach their final game of the season, 2023 can be described as ultra-talented but frustratingly inconsistent, and at times, difficult to watch.

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If they win the World Series, all will be forgiven and Blue Jays fans will be ecstatic. 

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But if the Blue Jays come up short in the playoffs, the good news is there’s always next year! 

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