Let’s Pour One Out For Our Departed Blue Jays

I’d like to take a brief moment to say so long to our departed Blue Jays: Edwin Encarnacion, Brian Tallet, and DeWayne Wise.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think that Cito Gaston penciled in Brian Tallet as this team’s first starter. I think Tallet was a bit of a victim of circumstance, as he was a pretty decent middle reliever prior to 2010.

He was a serviceable arm which got a bit of a bad rap this past year. Cito should have known better than to insert him into high leverage situations, and as expected, it often led to Brian Tallet getting lit up by opposing hitters.

Edwin Encarnacion’s tenure in Toronto was a little less storied than Brian Tallet’s. He had the daunting task of being the successor to the 7-time Gold Glove award winner Scott Rolen. Encarnacion’s defense at the hot corner was never pretty, and maybe it was magnified by the fact that Scott Rolen made it look so effortless.

I really feel like EE was the kind of player we were all waiting for to break out, but it just never happened. And then when folks were ready to write Edwin Encarnacion off, he would come up big with a clutch home run.

DeWayne Wise was another one of Cito Gaston’s favourites that is now moving in to future endeavors. Aside from some speed on the base paths and some great defense in the outfield, I can’t think of any other reasons to hang onto Wise other than he would be a cheap option.

By letting Brian Tallet, Edwin Encarnacion and DeWayne Wise go, you get the sense that Alex Anthopoulos is trying to turn the page on the old era. They may not have been the greatest Blue Jays of all time, but let’s pour a little liquor for our homies.