With every home run he launches, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues to raise his stock as any shrewd investor would gladly pony up.
He’s unquestionably the Blue Jays’ franchise face, a box-office attraction and the primary reason why any game is must-see, even when so many will concede the team isn’t good.
Vlad Jr.’s visits to the Big Apple have an added layer, whether it was his previous stance to never sign with the Yankees and later his somewhat backpedalling by embracing a softer position.
When it comes to the business of baseball, it makes no sense, after all, to eliminate any potential suitor, especially one such as the Yankees, given their immense clout and deep pockets.
He’s under control with the Blue Jays for one more season beyond 2024.
In other words, the clock is ticking.
With the trade deadline come and gone that featured eight players sent packing, Vlad Jr. will be the story moving forward until an extension gets negotiated or, absolute worst case, a change in scenario is initiated.
Four times Vlad Jr. reached base in Friday night’s rain-delayed 8-5 win by the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
In Saturday’s game, Vlad Jr. took a Carlos Rodon breaking ball that didn’t have much break and sent it deep into centre field.
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It was Vlad Jr.’s 22nd home run of the season as he extended his hit streak to 16 games.
The Jays, though, were unable to extend their win streak to two games by dropping an 8-3 decision to the Yankees as a much-anticipated series rubber match is on tap Sunday.
No pitch, no pitcher, no ballpark, no count, no circumstance seems capable of neutralizing Vlad Jr., who has turned into a tour de force.
Off in the distance the sound of a Brinks truck warming up its engines can be heard.
It seems almost absurd for the Jays not to keep Vlad Jr. around for the next decade.
Wanting to keep a star player is one thing, negotiating a lucrative deal is quite another.
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Clearly, Vlad Jr. can’t do it alone and more power bats are required to put around him.
After Vlad Jr. went yard to give the Jays a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Yankees responded when Aaron Judge, the epitome of baseball’s aircraft carrier, hit a two-run home run, his second two-run belt in as many games.
An inning later, Trent Grisham went deep for a two-run blast.
The game within the game can often be more enthralling than the actual game itself.
In Vlad Jr. and Judge, who increased his homer total to 41 on the season, it does not get any better, at least not until the Blue Jays are able to return to relevance, which might be awhile.
In the meantime, games must be played.
Saturday, George Springer, who took a foul tip off his left shin Friday night, was wearing a protective guard as was Alejandro Kirk, who was hit by a pitch to his left elbow in Baltimore.
Kirk batted cleanup in the order and was behind home plate after Brian Serven had a two-hit game Friday night.
Springer served as DH with Steward Berroa, who entered Friday’s game in the home half of the seventh inning as a defensive replacement, in right field.
In centre field was Joey Loperfido, whose previous two starts with his new team were in left field.
Davis Schneider started in left Saturday afternoon as the new-look Blue Jays continue their two-month audition.
For Jose Berrios, it was his 23rd start of the season.
In 17 of those starts, including Saturday, he has given up at least one home run.
The three homers he surrendered to the Yankees increased Berrios’ season total to 25, the combined number from last season when he made 32 starts.
After recording his first clean inning in the third, Berrios faced the top of the order in the fourth inning.
Berrios induced Alex Verdugo to fly out to left field to record the first out.
Juan Soto then flew out to centre field to bring Judge up to the plate.
Berrios struck out Judge swinging.
After allowing a two-out single in the second inning, Berrios retired eight in a row.
It increased to nine when Berrios struck out Austin Wells to lead off the fifth.
Carnage would soon ensue when Anthony Volpe went deep for a two-run blast as Berrios surrendered his second three-homer game of the season.
After reaching the 100-pitch count, Rodon reacted angrily when manager Aaron Boone walked to the mound knowing Vlad Jr. was up next with a runner at first.
Rodon wanted the challenge of facing Vlad Jr., who had singled in his second at-bat.
He should have known better and Boone should have gone with his initial instinct to lift Rodon.
With the count full, Vlad Jr. doubled into right field.
Then came Boone’s second walk to the mound as Rodon’s day had officially ended.
When Kirk jumped all over the first pitch he saw from reliever Jake Cousins, he sent it into right field for a two-run single.
It was the first Jays’ hit of the day from someone not named Vlad Jr.
In Vlad Jr.’s final at-bat, he struck out swinging.
Judge singled in his final at-bat to reach base four times, including two walks.
The Jays recorded three hits in the ninth to load the bases after recording five hits through eight innings.
The Jays did force Boone to summon closer Clay Holmes from the bullpen.
He struck out Springer to end the game to record a one-out save.