Feels like the last time, only better

The Blue Jays’ month of October seems to thrive on a kind of trickle-down run production that overflows from the 2-3-4 hitters, sending ripples through the rest of the batting order.

Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista are that heart of the order, as they were a year ago when the Jays defeated the Rangers and advanced to the AL Championship Series, losing to the Royals in Game 6.

In their four straight playoff wins, the big three have hit a combined .367 with 14 runs, 15 RBIs, five doubles, five homers and an OPS of 1.222. They have either scored or driven in 24 of the Jays’ 27 runs. The trickle down has turned into a flood. Those are remarkable numbers.

The production by the Jays’ elite trio clearly exceeds their totals in 11 playoff games a year ago, which in itself were very good. In 2015, Donaldson, Encarnacion and Bautista hit .270 with 21 runs, 24 RBIs, eight doubles, eight homers with an OPS of .915. Highlights included home runs by Bautista in Game 5 of the Rangers series and a key blast in Game 6 of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium.

The threesome provides consistent offence, but the question then becomes: Is the rest of the team as good as it was then? Heading to the ALCS starting Friday in Cleveland, let’s examine:

STARTING ROTATION

Last season, the Jays’ rotation was built in more of a traditional way.

There was an acknowledged ace, David Price, and three starters who each seemed a rung lower than the next. Price was acquired at the deadline, when the team was struggling at .500, and became the beating heart of the staff. Behind him, in order, were Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada and R.A. Dickey.

Of course, there were question marks. Price had never had success as a post-season starter and that trend continued even though he pitched decently. After a loss to the Indians on Friday, the talented left-hander, now with the Red Sox, is 0-8 in his last nine post-season starts.

Stroman’s ability to maintain excellence was an unknown because, despite his brimming selfconfidence, he was only four starts removed from a season-long rehab. Estrada had never been a full-season starter and had already flown past his career high in innings pitched when the playoffs began. Dickey, meanwhile, did not have the confidence of manager John Gibbons — in fact, he has never had that confidence, largely because he throws the unpredictable knuckleball. Dickey’s October leash was at a win-strangling length. Estrada finally emerged as the Jays’ biggame ace, followed by Stroman.

By comparison, the current fourman rotation has no acknowledged No. 1 starter but is longer and deeper, more consistent in quality than perhaps any left on the MLB dance floor. There’s Estrada and Stroman joined by J.A. Happ and Aaron Sanchez. Gibbons has confidence entering a must-win game with any of the four.

“In a lot of ways, that’s been the key to our whole season,” Gibbons said. “All (four) guys doing their jobs. Before this even started, going back to before we played Baltimore (in the wild card), that’s one of the things we looked at. Hey, we feel good about that. Regardless of what situation we’re in, we feel good about anybody we throw out there, no doubt.”

The rotation edge goes to this year’s group.

BULLPEN

The Jays’ closer in both cases has been Roberto Osuna, and although he’s more experienced than a year ago, the same issues exist: can a 21-year-old youngster with all those innings hold up through, possibly, 14 more games.

As for the setup group, a year ago the club relied on the groundball machine that is Sanchez, joined by Mark Lowe, Liam Hendriks, LaTroy Hawkins and an injured Brett Cecil. But as in 2016, Gibbons truly trusts only two or three of his secondary relievers. That becomes an issue.

This season, with Sanchez now in the rotation and Joaquin Benoit and Francisco Liriano injured, the circle of trust in the pool is even shallower than a year ago. Gibbons has faith only in Jason Grilli, Joe Biagini and, to a lesser extent, Cecil.

The edge in the bullpen goes to last year’s group.

TEAM DEFENCE

The constants on the defensive side of the ball are catcher Russ Martin, third baseman Donaldson, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and centre fielder Kevin Pillar. All four are outstanding. But the 2016 support team — first baseman Encarnacion, second baseman Devon Travis and outfielders Ezequiel Carrera, Melvin Upton Jr., Bautista and Michael Saunders — does not measure up to the underrated defensive wall that made the Jays so competitive in 2015. Last year’s late-season starters — Ryan Goins at second base, Ben Revere in left and the first-base duo of Justin Smoak and Chris Colabello — made the Jays’ defence special.

The edge in team defence, therefore, goes to 2015.

BATTING ORDER

The Achilles heel of the Jays’ order is that it leans so heavily to the right. Even though the top of the lineup is loaded with powerful right-handed bats, it makes it easier for opponents to manage a bullpen if the only two left-handed starters are Saunders and Carrera.

That being said, even with Revere at the top of the lineup, in 2015 the Jays only had 103 left-handed atbats in 11 playoff games. This is a handicap that can be overcome because of the superior quality of the right-handed bats.

The batting order edge — simply because of where they are right now, not because of the regular-season numbers — goes to this year’s group.

MANAGER

Gibbons seems easily more relaxed and confident in his second postseason gig. Even forced decisions have worked out. The edge goes to 2016.

The Jays are prepared, by their personnel, for a long run in the ALCS.