John Farrell - still learning on the job

The Toronto Blue Jays will be happy when this road trip is over.

The Jays have played well - but injuries and a failure to come up with enough timely hits - has hurt the team that is wrapping up a tough start to the season hoping better days are ahead.

Manager John Farrell has seen key players hurt (right now it's Jose Bautista, who just happens to lead the AL in pretty much every offensive category) and continues to learn on the job. He admits he has learned plenty and is enjoying watching his team, one he says "loves to play together."

“Moving away from a pitching coach to this position, you get such a broader perspective and a greater appreciation for the game. It might give me an ulcer in the future, but I love what the game is about. I’ve learned more in the 2 ½ months including spring training than I would ever have learned as a pitching coach. The offensive and defensive sides factor in, not just who’s on the mound. I sleep well, but at the same time I may not get to sleep at a normal hour, but I still sleep. It’s been good, ” Farrell told reporters in New York.

Toronto has played 18 road games already, meaning the schedule - along with healthy bodies - should lead to better days and more wins ahead.

The bullpen had not given up a hit in 10 2/3rd innings, before Jon Rauch allowed a BJ Upton walk off homer as the Rays took the first game in the series over Toronto.

"I screwed up," said the brutally honest Rauch. "I made 2 really, really bad pitches. I made 2 big mistakes up in the zone. This loss is on me. I blew it."

The bullpen has been the strength of a pitching staff that hasn't been good enough to start the year (Brett Cecil is still in the minors trying to find his form that saw him win 15 games last season.)

Farrell feels his team is playing an aggressive game (having set a franchise record for most stolen bases in the month of April), one that will carry on the rest of the season if the manager has his way.

"I think when we look back we've been able to carry out what we hoped," Farrell said. "We want to establish an identity for this club and I think we've done that."

"I think for the most part we've been in every game. We've been relentless in our competitive nature each and every night. That doesn't mean we don't have areas we need to improve on. I think it has shown resiliency. The fact of the matter guys like one another and they like to play together.

"We are not going to have a perfect team. Yet we will be as best prepared to respond to the situation on the field."

One month down for Farrell - a month that saw him face many injuries. Better days are ahead for the manager and his team, aren't they?