The Toronto Blue Jays may not be headed to the post-season for the 21st consecutive year however they do have a pair of assets that many playoff bound teams covet.
The dynamic Dominican duo of sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion strike fear in opposing pitchers like no other tandem in the game. The "Bash Brothers" north of the border have combined for 69 big flies this season and have 337 round trippers over the last 5 seasons. Bautista has dialed long distance 187 times while Encarnacion has touched them all 150 times during that span.
The Jays division rival Baltimore Orioles boasts the home run hitting pair of Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones who have slugged 67 bombs this season. The power-hitting Orioles obviously don't have the longevity together as teammates but have crushed 276 homers during their last 5 seasons, Cruz with 142 and Jones with a respectable 136 gopher balls.
The Angels have a talented two in that of Mike Trout and the aging Albert Pujols. Trout and Prince Albert have swatted 63 homers leading the Halos to the post-season. Pujols has connected for 154 moon-shots during time with the Angels and St. Louis Cardinals. The phenom Trout has blasted 92 home runs in his first three full seasons in the show giving the duo 246, minus two-years for Trout.
Bautista has put up MVP numbers this season leading the majors in on-base percentage getting on base at .407 clip. Joey Bats is also batting .290 with 103 runs batted in and 103 walks to compliment his .940 OPS. The right-fielder has also played Gold Glove caliber defense accumulating 12 assists from his outfield perch.
Encarnacion is just rounding back into form after spending an extended amount of time on the disabled list. The slugging first-baseman also has an OPS over .900 and should knock in 100 by season's end.
The best part about both Bautista and Encarnacion is they were cast-away's and waiver-wire flunkies before finally putting their talents to the test.
So, the Jays may not be playing October baseball this season but there is reason to smile knowing both bashers will be back in Blue Jays blue next season.