Sparks fly as Blue Jays-Yankees rivalry heats up

NEW YORK -- There it is, the great AL East rivalry we’ve long been promised.

The Blue Jays and Yankees teased this back in April, when they split a four-game series and traded haymakers in The Bronx. It was the series when ?Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?, bloodied hand and all, launched three home runs in the same game and announced the Blue Jays as an early contender in the division.

The two clubs went their separate ways for much of the summer, but in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Yankees, the sparks were reignited. One day after the Blue Jays left Gerrit Cole punching the roof of his own dugout and Aaron Boone slamming a press conference table, the Yankees managed to avoid just their third sweep to Toronto at Yankee Stadium, but that doesn’t undo the damage already done, and the frustrations are still showing.

With three wins to open the series, the Blue Jays climbed out of their own hole and handed their shovels to the Yankees, who are still just 5-14 in August and hearing it from their home crowds.

Sunday’s loss turned into more than just a game, though, and you should already be circling Sept. 26 on your calendar for when these two rivals meet next.

No friends in the industry
Any time ?Alek Manoah? takes the mound, there’s a chance things will boil over. The 2021 and ‘22 AL leader in hit batters isn’t looking for trouble, but when you find enough elbows, eventually you’ll come across the wrong one. Combine it with a struggling Yankees team and a sold-out crowd ready to riot, and it’s just a matter of time.

That time came in the fifth inning, when Manoah hit AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge with a 92 mph fastball on the left elbow. Manoah, as he always does, began to saunter forward. Judge didn’t exactly walk towards the mound, but he didn’t walk straight down the first-base line, either. An animated Cole stormed out of the dugout, shouting at Manoah.

“If Gerrit wants to do something, he can walk past the Audi sign next time,” Manoah said.

Shots fired.

Both dugouts spilled out onto the dirt and into foul territory as Judge held up a hand to the Yankees’ side. Judge and Manoah eventually came together near first base in what appeared to be a respectful exchange and tempers calmed from there.

Schneider, the Blue Jays’ straight-shooting interim manager, didn’t see much worth a reaction, either.

“A mistake pitch where Alek misses more often than not, and a little bit of an overreaction from some of their guys,” Schneider said.

The reactions of the Yankees players standing between New York’s dugout and the four white rings of the Audi logo certainly differed. For the second time in two days, the camera rested on a frustrated Cole returning to the dugout, and it sounds like one spilled into the other.

"It was just one too many for my taste, I don't know what to say," Cole said. "My heartbeat was going. I don’t know. I guess I was just on one today.”

Two of the largest human beings in Major League Baseball going toe-to-toe was on the table for a moment, and with how these two clubs have gotten along lately, it likely won’t be the last time.

AL East alive again
A win would have put the Blue Jays just six games back of the Yankees, adding some reality to the division race, but an eight-game deficit is still a better spot than they entered the weekend in.

A month ago, this wasn’t even a conversation. Instead, talk has rightfully centered on the AL Wild Card chase, but the Yankees’ recent struggles and the Blue Jays’ newfound momentum make this race worth monitoring again. Besides, just six weeks ago, the Blue Jays were down by 16 1/2 games, which they’ve essentially cut in half.

In terms of that Wild Card race, though, the Blue Jays are back in a tie with the Rays for the final two spots, with the Mariners just a half-game up for the top seed. This one’s going down to the wire.

The rotation rises
Beyond the bluster, Manoah grinded to deliver a fine start, allowing two runs (one earned) over six innings while striking out eight. The 24-year-old is in his first full MLB season, and he is learning how to handle a workload during the later days of a season, while still trying to peak at the right time.

“To not put too much pressure and energy on results is the biggest thing,” Manoah said. “You can give up a run, but that’s not the game, right? I continue to attack. That’s the biggest thing.”

The rotation around Manoah was excellent in New York, too, including Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Mitch White. It’s always going to start with this group, especially given the matchup games the Blue Jays can play with their bullpen when they’re out in front.

This is Toronto’s key to postseason success, especially if that road leads back through The Bronx and renews this rivalry on an even bigger stage.