The Blue Jays started this season strongly but they lately they look like a car trying to drive with a flat tire. The Blue Jays are in 4th place in the A.L. East with a 44-45 record which has them 12.5 games behind the Yankees. The Blue Jays have had some surprises and disappointments so far this season and here’s a closer look:

Pleasant Surprises: 29-year old catcher John Buck was signed over the winter with not much expectations from the Jays. But he has been solid in the first half earning himself his first trip to the All-Star Game tomorrow night. Buck has played in 71 games for the Blue Jays this season and he is 64 of 235 (.272 avg, .808 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 13 homers and 41 RBIs. The Blue Jays also signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez hoping that he would play decent defense and hit a homer once in a while. Gonzalez has been much more than that especially with a bat in his hands. Gonzalez has played in 85 games for the Jays this year and he is 85 of 328 (.259 avg, .793 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 17 homers and 50 RBIs. He should have made the All-Star Team. 29-year old 3B/RF Jose Bautista has put on a power display that no one could of predicted out of him. Bautista has played in 88 games this season for the Jays and he is 72 of 304 (.237 avg, .903 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 24 homers, 56 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He, like Buck, is making his first All-Star appearance tomorrow night. 34-year old righty reliever Shawn Camp is pitching the best baseball of his major league career right now. He has pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Jays this year and he is 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.

Disappointments: 28-year old 2B Aaron Hill is coming off a career year for the Blue Jays. But this year has been completely opposite as his numbers have taken a nosedive. Hill has played in 71 games for the Jays this year and he is 53 of 281 (.189 avg, .631 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 12 homers and 33 RBIs. 27-year old Edwin Encarnacion came over in the Scott Rolen trade with the Reds with the idea that he would replace him as the starting 3B. This year he was so bad early that the Jays actually designated him for assignment and outrighted him to AAA. But he got his head on straight in the minors earning another chance with the Jays. Encarnacion has played in 45 games for the Blue Jays this season and he is 33 of 149 (.221 avg, .767 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 10 homers and 24 RBIs. 26-year old lefty swinging OF/DH Adam Lind also was coming off a monster 2009 season for the Jays (like Aaron Hill) and he has been awful this season (also like Aaron Hill). Lind has played in 86 games for the Blue Jays this year and he is 69 of 322 (.214 avg, .640 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

The Blue Jays had a rough time over the weekend against the Angels as they were swept. The Jays are now 7-6 on the season as they have now been outscored 58-57 on the year. They are now 3 games behind the Rays in the A.L. East and they are sitting in 3rd place in the division. The Royals come in for three games this week and then the Blue Jays have a big three game series over the weekend in Tampa.

I now it’s early but the Blue Jays are sitting atop the American League East with a 5-1 record. They have outscored the competition 29-18 this season. All five of the wins have been close enough that the Jays have a save in each win. Jason Frasor has 3 saves and Kevin Gregg has 2 on the year. It’s good to have to capable closers so that they won’t wear one out. I have a feeling that the Jays are going to be playing a lot of close games this season so protecting leads late in games will be very important and they have a solid, deep bullpen in place for 2010.

The Blue Jays have started the season 2-1 as they outscored the Rangers 14-10. They did it with timely hitting and outstanding pitching. The Jays only gave up 16 hits while whiffing 25 batters in only 26 1/3 innings against the Rangers. That was good for a 2.73 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP as a team which is out of this world. The Blue Jays hope to keep the ball rolling against Orioles in Baltimore this weekend.

Sometimes it takes lefty pitchers a little while to figure things out in the major leagues. Scott Downs came into this season with a 17-15 record with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 117 games in his major league career. He has been outstanding this season for the Blue Jays as Downs has indeed figured out how to dominate at the major league level. Downs has pitched in 75 games this season for the Blue Jays and he is 3-2 with 1 save, a 2.29 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Look for Downs to be a big part of the Blue Jays bright future in the bullpen. The Blue Jays are trying hard to finish over .500 despite all of the injuries they have suffered. They are currently 76-75 which has them in 3rd place in the American League East, 13.5 games behind the Red Sox.