LONGLEY: Blowout loss aside, it's time for early-season Blue Jays to reveal their spine

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By all accounts that we’ve been privy to, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman is a great teammate.

He’s an important veteran presence in the clubhouse, works in concert with his fellow starters in the rotation and imparts wisdom to his younger teammates.

Perhaps most notably, with his transparent and honest outlook, Gausman is not about to look for excuses.

So as much as he’s optimistic that things can turn around for this Blue Jays team in 2025, Gausman is a realist and preached that mindset once again prior to Thursday’s crushing 12-2 season-opening loss to the Orioles.

When asked about the improved chemistry on a team that many have told us was at times scarce last season, Gausman suggested it’s time to find out. After a whopping loss like this one, it sure is.

“It’s hard to answer that question now, we haven’t played a single game yet,” Gausman said on the field prior to Thursday’s gala opening ceremony. “Spring training, we’re all kind of on our own schedule so it’s tough to get everyone together.

“But the overall understanding is that this is the time to go. There’s no more excuses. We’re not waiting for anyone to develop. Now it’s about going out there and doing it, going out and proving that we can be one of the best teams in the American League.”

In the aftermath of that one-sided thrashing at the hands of a division rival, it would be easy enough to dismiss the spanking as just one game, as ugly as it was.

What we’ll learn in the coming days, however, is how strong the spine is of a team that finished last in the American League East and has vowed it will be more steely this season.

There were no positives to be found on the field in a game in which the Jays were throttled so completely. The six Orioles homers from their 14 hits were an opening-day franchise record and a statement in their own right that they intend to return to competitiveness in the division.

Afterwards, however, there were two signs, subtle as they may have been, that maybe, just maybe, the Jays aren’t about to take this one lightly.

Manager John Schneider, rarely surly but with the potential to veer in that direction in this case, gave a hint at his displeasure. When asked if he congratulated rookie Alan Roden in the dugout after his sixth-inning single in his big-league debut, Schneider wasn’t going all warm and fuzzy.

“Kind of wasn’t really in the mood to get out hugs right there,” the manager said.

And then there was starter Jose Berrios, rocked mercilessly by the attacking O’s hitters and unable to generate one clean inning from his five worked.

“Like the leader that I am … I failed,” Berrios said. “I failed today.

“I didn’t throw quality pitches. Nobody wants to go out there and lose the game. But one good thing is I know I have an opportunity in five days and I’ll get myself ready for that.”

The rest of the Jays will have to take care of that pick-me -up on Friday when Gausman gets the ball for the second of four against the O’s. And in front of a crowd that will be a fraction of the size of the sellout crew that was on hand on Thursday to see the Jays’ five-game opening-day winning streak snapped, we’ll perhaps get an indication of this team’s heartbeat.

The messaging in that vein has been steady throughout the spring. Schneider has stressed accountability and communication while empowering the players to drive the bus.

“We talked (on Wednesday) briefly and … just retouching on the expectations which are pretty simple,” Schneider said. “(The message is) what’s important right now and the more we can focus on that.

“Just cement that message a little bit more and what’s important is how we are going to win.”

Though he acknowledged the potential of opening-day jitters and a push to do too much on one day, Schneider didn’t like much about Thursday’s effort. He didn’t like that Berrios was missing his spots too often, allowing O’s hitters to feast on his mistakes. He didn’t like that the offence managed just four hits and not a base runner until Vlad Guerrero’s one-out walk in the fourth.

Quite frankly? He shouldn’t be pleased with anything he saw and more importantly, nor should anyone in the clubhouse.

The expectations are elevated for this Last Dance Jays team once again, after all, but the stakes are that much higher.

“I think ever since I’ve been here, there’s been pretty high expectations every year,” Gausman said. “Last year, unfortunately, it didn’t go the way we wanted in a lot of different ways. But it’s a new year and it’s time to flip the page.

“To be honest, being able to get away from last year, being through spring, being with these these new guys and kind of build the team chemistry that we have. All these guys fit in really well.”

And in the days and weeks ahead, we’ll see how much they can show it.

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