It certainly wasn’t pretty.
Toronto Blue Jays fans were cautiously optimistic entering Rogers Centre Thursday afternoon.
It was the 2025 home and season opener.
A few hours later pessimism reigned supreme after the Blue Jays dropped a humbling 12-2 decision to the Baltimore Orioles.
Toronto pitchers gave up a combined six Oriole home runs.
Jays starter Jose Berrios, who gave up nine of the Orioles 14 hits and six earned runs, took full responsibility for the loss.
“Today I wasn’t executing my pitches. I tried, but I didn’t,” Berrios told reporters after the game. “They had a good day in the box. So, like the leader I am, I failed today.”
The bright spots for Toronto – newly acquired second baseman Andres Gimenez who homered and Alan Roden, who had a tremendous spring, recording his first major league hit. Roden hit out of the ninth spot and played right field.
Gimenez, who batted in the clean-up spot playing second base, and left-fielder Anthony Santander were the Blue Jays two main non-pitcher acquisitions in the off-season, while three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer leads the list of new arms in Toronto.
Most so called experts and pundits feel the Jays will only compete if Bo Bichette, who led off on Thursday can rebound from a horrific, injury riddled 2024 campaign.
The shortstop hit just .225 with four home runs and 31 runs batted in.
Certainly Santander’s offensive numbers from last season in Baltimore, 44 homers and 102 RBI, would certainly help.
Gimenez is known more for his defense after a gold glove season with Cleveland.
As for pitching, Scherzer is the new starter, but Toronto had to bolster its bullpen and added four new relievers.
Here’s a look at the Blue Jays off-season transactions:
Notable acquisitions:
OF Anthony Santander (5-year deal)
RHP Jeff Hoffman (3-year deal)
RHP Yimi García (2-year deal)
RHP Max Scherzer (1-year deal)
2B Andrés Giménez (trade with Guardians)
RHP Nick Sandlin (3-team trade with Pirates/Guardians)
LHP Josh Walker (1-year deal)
RHP Dillon Tate (re-signed; 1-year deal)
OF Myles Straw (trade with Guardians)
Notable subtractions:
RHP Jordan Romano (Phillies)
1B Spencer Horwitz (3-team trade with Pirates/Guardians)
Odds makers have the New York Yankees as the favorite in the American League, while the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites in the National League.
One game of 162 doesn’t justify panic time for Blue Jays fans, but rebounding from a humiliating opening day loss may help bring some belief back in Toronto.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
