The Toronto Blue Jays experienced a disappointing end to their 2023 season, failing to advance beyond the American League Wild Card games. While the team's offense and pitching showed promise during the regular season, the struggles of their expected ace, Alek Manoah, significantly impacted their performance. This article delves into Manoah's challenging season, his efforts to regain form, and the Blue Jays' hopes for his resurgence.
Manoah's Rise and Fall
Alek Manoah burst onto the MLB scene in 2021, showcasing his potential with a 9-2 record and a 3.22 ERA, earning him a top-10 finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. His impressive performance continued in 2022, as he recorded a 16-7 season with a 2.24 ERA and 180 strikeouts in 196.2 innings. Manoah's exceptional 2022 season included an All-Star selection, a postseason start, and contention for the Cy Young Award.
However, the 2023 season presented a stark contrast to Manoah's previous success. The 6-6, 285-pound Manoah struggled significantly, finishing the year with a 3-9 record, a 5.87 ERA, and a 1.74 WHIP in only 87.1 innings pitched. His performance was markedly out of sync, leading to his demotion to the Blue Jays' Florida Rookie complex in June. He also had a brief stint with Double-A New Hampshire, where he pitched only five innings.
Factors Contributing to Manoah's Struggles
Several factors may have contributed to Manoah's disappointing 2023 season. To this scout, Manoah appeared to be out of shape when he took the mound to start the season. Manoah walked an average of 6.1 hitters per nine innings at the big league level this past season.
In early October, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins revealed that Manoah received an injection to alleviate discomfort in his throwing shoulder, although tests indicated no structural damage.
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The Blue Jays' Perspective and Expectations
The Blue Jays entered the 2023 season counting on Alek Manoah to anchor their starting rotation, alongside Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, and Yusei Kikuchi. The team had high hopes for Manoah, expecting him to build upon his impressive 2022 performance.
Manager John Schneider said. “I didn’t really run into him until he walked into the dugout at 6:45. He’s energy and a big body, a guy that you have to be aware of where he’s at so you don’t get knocked over. It was awesome to see him. “He’s the same way on the days he pitches. “He’s into every pitch. He’s the stark contrast to Max Scherzer or Bowden Francis where they come in and are sitting there doing their own thing. He’s got the towel wrapped on playing cheerleader on the top step.
With Hyun Jin-Ryu now a free agent, the Blue Jays have not added a starting pitcher since the end of last season. The team really needs an improved Alek Manoah.
Manoah's Mindset and Path to Recovery
Despite the setbacks, Manoah remains determined to regain his form and contribute to the Blue Jays' success. “I want to be healthy. I want to be great,” said Manoah about his mindset. “That’s the way I’m going to be able to help this team down the stretch.
The hope is that Manoah’s 2022 season doesn’t simply go down as an aberration and he can show his true potential at the MLB level once again. Of course, getting fully healthy is the first step, but all signs are pointing to the possibility of Manoah being ready to give it another shot sooner than later.
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Manoah recalled on Wednesday the vivid memories of a kid racing home from school to soak up as much as he could at his favourite sport’s grand opening.“It was always so exciting to see the best players in the world come together,” Manoah says.As we’ve seen through his mix of brashness and bravado, the stage seems constructed for Manoah’s out-sized personality and electric right arm.“I’ve learned to play better when my emotions are at their highest,” Manoah said while holding court with the media in the visitor’s dugout at Busch. “It’s been a long journey to find a way to control those emotions and that adrenaline, but I feel like I’m able to control it and run free and keep it as controlled chaos … I feel I’m at my best.”Manoah doesn’t need to manufacture motivation, but when he takes to the mound on Thursday, it will be 174 days since he had what he admits was his worst start of 2022 in that 4-0 wild-card playoff loss to the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre.“I learned a lot,” Manoah said. “It was a long year learning how to adjust and navigate through adversity then but it all together in September,” Manoa said. “And then having a pretty crappy start in the playoffs and understanding this game isn’t easy.“My job is to go out there and give this team the best chance that I can each day. I want those guys to know that every time I get out on that mound I’m leaving everything on that mound. I truly believe every time I do that, it’s going to work out well for us.”“As a kid, you dream of being an all-star and winning a Cy Young and playing in the World Series, but those are dreams,” Manoah said. “You have to have a plan for all that stuff to happen so for me it’s to focus on that plan every day.“I’m super grateful for everything I’ve endured in life and the adversity I’ve had to go through and everything baseball has taught me. It has taught me to be better in life and life has taught me to be better in baseball.”
The Blue Jays' Outlook for 2024
The Blue Jays are listed by Fangraphs with an estimated 2024 payroll of $203 million, or $11 million less than last season. In fact, the team has not made a consequential move to their roster at all this offseason.
The Blue Jays entered the season counting upon right-handed starter Alek Manoah to help anchor their rotation. The team really needs an improved Alek Manoah.
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