I spent yesterday afternoon at Rogers Centre watching what can only be described as a challenging outing for our Blue Jays bullpen. The sunny spring weather stood in stark contrast to the dark clouds hovering over the mound as Toronto dropped their exhibition game against the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3.
The game took a decisive turn in the seventh inning when reliever Zach Pop allowed four runs, effectively putting the contest out of reach. But perhaps more concerning for Jays fans was lefty Simon Francis’s early exit in the ninth after facing just two batters.
“We’re still evaluating Simon,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider told me after the game, his expression betraying more concern than his measured words. “He felt some tightness in the forearm area, so we weren’t taking any chances.”
Francis, who’s been competing for a bullpen spot, allowed a single and a walk before signaling to the dugout. The training staff immediately came out, and the decision to remove him was made without hesitation.
Several players in the Jays clubhouse expressed support for their teammate. Veteran starter Kevin Gausman noted, “It’s that time in spring when guys are really pushing to make the roster. Sometimes your body gives you warning signs. Smart move to listen to them.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for Francis, with opening day rapidly approaching and roster decisions looming. Toronto Star baseball columnist Mike Wilner, who was seated nearby in the press box, pointed out that “bullpen depth has been a persistent question for this team heading into the season.”
Pop’s struggles compounded Toronto’s pitching woes. After a clean sixth inning, he returned for the seventh and promptly surrendered a leadoff double to Milwaukee’s Garrett Mitchell. Things unraveled quickly from there.
“Location was my biggest issue today,” Pop admitted in the clubhouse afterward. “I left too many pitches up in the zone, and a good hitting team like Milwaukee isn’t going to miss those opportunities.”
The Brewers certainly didn’t. They strung together four hits and a walk against Pop, turning a close game into a comfortable lead. The Rogers Centre crowd of 18,476—surprisingly robust for a weekday spring training game—grew increasingly restless with each Milwaukee hit.
On the offensive side, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provided one of the few bright spots with a towering home run to left field in the fourth inning. The ball traveled an estimated 438 feet, drawing appreciative murmurs even from the Milwaukee dugout.
“That’s just Vladdy being Vladdy,” teammate Bo Bichette said with a grin. “When he connects like that, all you can do is watch and enjoy.”
The Jays’ performance raises questions about bullpen construction with opening day just over a week away. According to Baseball Prospectus analyst Taylor Blake, who published an evaluation of AL East bullpens yesterday, “Toronto’s relief corps ranks middle of the pack in projected value, but their depth remains a potential vulnerability.”
For fans hoping to see the Blue Jays contend in the ultra-competitive AL East, yesterday’s pitching struggles are concerning but not necessarily indicative of season-long issues. Spring training results often require context.
As I walked through the concourse after the game, I overheard a conversation between two longtime season ticket holders that perhaps put things in perspective. “Remember last spring when everyone panicked about Berríos? Then he went and had his best season,” one said to the other.
The Blue Jays continue their exhibition schedule today against the Yankees, with another opportunity to evaluate their pitching options before heading north. For Francis, the wait begins to learn the severity of his forearm tightness—and what it might mean for his spot on the opening day roster.
In the meantime, Schneider and the coaching staff have some difficult decisions ahead as they finalize the bullpen configuration that will begin the 162-game marathon next week.
