Bob Haynie: Orioles And Blue Jays Are Big On The Home Runs
The last two American League Eastern Division champs will renew acquaintances this week in Baltimore. Coincidentally, the Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays both clinched their division titles at Camden Yards. The Birds in 2014 and, of course, the Jays last season.
Both teams would also go on to lose to the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series.
In addition to those similarities, the Orioles and Blue Jays also like to smash home runs. A lot of them.
Heading into the 2016 season, the Orioles had hit 854 HR's. They have hit over 200 home runs as a team every year since 2012.
The Blue Jays led the majors in long balls in '15 with 232. Their four-year Big Fly total heading into this season was 792.
So far, in 2016, with 1B Chris Davis and RF Mark Trumbo leading the way, the Birds lead the American League in homers with 23. The Blue Jays are off to a slow start--for them--with only 14. With clubbers like 3B Josh Donaldson, RF Jose Bautista and DH/1B Edwin Encarnacion, you know Toronto will eventually start getting into their power groove.
These two teams really don't like one another and this should be a very entertaining April series. Expect some souvenirs to be deposited into the stands at Camden Yards over the next few days.
