Blue Jays Roundup, Sept 18: Clement's Struggles, Cease's Decline, Rogers' Resilience

[Jays Centre]

Here is some of the latest Blue Jays analysis and history from around the internet. Topics include Ernie Clement's offensive slump, Anthony Santander's injury, Dylan Cease's velocity drop, Tyler Rogers' unique pitching, and updates on Casey Janssen, Marcus Semien, and Brian Wolfe's passing.

• Ernie Clement Is Fading at the Worst Time for the Blue Jays (Just Baseball). Argues Ernie Clement's second-half struggles have made him one of the worst hitters in the AL with a .526 OPS and 46 wRC+, contrasting his first-half success. His offensive slump threatens the Blue Jays' playoff push as they need his consistency.
• A. Santander and the Blue Jays’ Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (The Batflip). Argues the Blue Jays had a disastrous day, losing 10-1 to the Tigers, with key issues including a failed late-inning defense, Shane Bieber’s delayed return, and Anthony Santander’s back injury. Highlights include a poorly caught ball by Sam Antonacci and a struggling offense.
• Dylan Cease's velocity is tanking. Should Blue Jays be concerned? (Sportsnet). Argues Cease's four-seam fastball velocity dip below 95 mph raises concerns, citing his historically strong performance in the high-90s. Key evidence includes his lower whiff rates and higher BABIP in sub-95 starts, despite improved secondary stuff mitigating some damage.
• Tyler Rogers throws 83 mph. Why is MLB’s most unusual submariner so hard to hit? (The Athletic $$$). Argues Tyler Rogers' 83 mph fastball is effective due to its unique mechanics, low spin rate, and high movement, contributing to his 1.73 ERA and making him one of the hardest relievers to hit.
• Happy Birthday Casey Janssen and Marcus Semien (Bluebird Banter). Revisits Casey Janssen's Blue Jays career, highlighting his 2006 debut, 2007 bullpen success, and 2010-2014 contributions, including 83 saves and fifth on the saves list. Notes Marcus Semien's 2021 season stats and trade history, and recalls Cavan Biggio's 2019 cycle.
• Former Blue Jays pitcher Brian Wolfe passes away at age 45 (Blue Jays Nation). Notes that former Blue Jays pitcher Brian Wolfe passed away at 45. Wolfe played for the Blue Jays from 2006-2009, appearing in 72 games with a 5-5 record, 3.81 ERA, and 1.22 WHIP across 82.2 innings.