While home runs surge, Jays’ power stagnates

TORONTO — When the ball cleared the fence at Rogers Centre on Tuesday to set a MLB record for home runs in a season, it didn’t come off the bat of Toronto sluggers Jose Bautista or Josh Donaldson. Instead, it was Kansas City’s Alex Gordon who hit the 5,694th long ball of 2017, sending a deep shot off Toronto reliever Ryan Tepera to break the previous mark set in 2000 at the height of the Steroids Era.

Home runs have spiked dramatically across the majors, led this season. There has been much debate around what has led to the surge, from a “juiced” ball to better analytics tools available to players. But the Blue Jays, MLB’s home run leaders in 2015, haven’t played much of a role in the long-ball boost. While Justin Smoak has been a revelation this season with 38 homers entering Wednesday’s game, the Jays overall total has been trending downward since leading the league two seasons ago.

Here are some reasons why the power spike around the majors hasn’t hit Rogers Centre: AGAINST THE TREND Home runs have jumped dramatically, from 4,186 in 2014 to this season’s record pace. But the Jays have been trending in the opposite direction. Toronto dipped from 232 homers in 2015 to 221 last season. Before Wednesday, the Jays were at 206 with 11 games left to play. BYE BYE BIRDIE First baseman Edwin (Edwing) Encarnacion belted 239 homers in eight seasons in Toronto, including career highs of 42 in 2012 and 2016. But the Jays lost the popular slugger to Cleveland in free agency. BRINGER OF DRIZZLE Donaldson had 30 home runs prior to yesterday, but much of that offence came too late for the Jays. He hit just 11 home runs over the first four months before exploding for 12 homers in August. JOEY BATS GOES QUIET Bautista had 22 home runs this season prior to yesterday, matching his total from last year. While that’s respectable output from the 36year-old, it’s a far cry from the 54 he belted in 2010, or even the 40 he hit two seasons ago.