Toronto Blue Jays fans now turn their attention to 2017, and wonder about the chances of a return to the playoffs. It won’t be easy.
Only 26 per cent of teams reach the playoffs each and every year in Major League Baseball. In the NBA and NHL 53 per cent of teams get in to the playoffs. NFL teams have a 37 per cent chances of reaching the post-season each year as 12 of 32 teams advance.
It will be difficult, but not impossible. In recent years there have been teams that have made multiple appearances in baseball’s championship series. The Detroit Tigers competed in the ALCS three straight times from 2011 to 2013. St. Louis appeared in four straight NLCS championship series from 2011 to 2014.
There will be turn over in this Jays lineup from this year to next, but there is still an experienced base. Manager John Gibbons will be back in 2017 as well.
It’s won’t be easy to return to the playoffs in 2017, but there is a better than average chance, which is all the Jays had going in to 2016.