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Lineup depth has become a big story. Fox ran a graphic highlighting how much better the bottom of the Jays’ order has been relative to the Mariners’ #7 to #9 spots. I can isolate that even more; Barger’s homer came out of the #7 spot, which he’s shared with Ernie Clement and some defensive replacements in this series. The Jays’ #7 hitters have hit .273/.333/.591 in the ALCS, with two homers. The Mariners’ #7 hitters, mostly Dominic Canzone and J.P. Crawford, have hit .167/.333/.250. The story of the Blue Jays’ season was depth; I comped them to the Brewers during the summer. That depth, that productivity from the non-star parts of the lineup, may end up the difference in this seven-game series.
