In Alek Manoah's last start, he was pulled in just 0.1 innings as he gave up 6 ER, 7 H, and 1 BB. This is just the tip of the iceberg for the kind of season Manoah has put together thus far.
Alek Manoah is coming off a 2022 where he saw himself finish 3rd in the AL CY Young Award voting. He finished with a record of 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA. Fast forwarding to this season, Manoah is 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA.
2022: (16-7) 2.24 ERA, 196.2 IP, 144 H, 49 ER, 16 HR, 51 BB, 180 SO, 0.99 WHIP
2023: (1-7) 6.36 ERA, 58.0 IP, 68 H, 41 ER, 11 HR, 42 BB, 48 SO, 1.90 WHIP
Stats via MLB.com
Having shown Manoah's splits from this season to last season, one can only wondered what has happened to him. In exactly 138.2 more innings in 2022, Manoah has almost tied his home runs given up, his earned runs, his walks, and his hits are not that far off either in 2023.
Manoah was asked about his 2023, after his start against the Brewers:
"It's been tough. I'm not doing what I'm meant to be doing. I just have to keep fighting and finding positives. The mindset of, 'Don't throw a ball here' instead of, 'Throw a strike right here,' it's a difference-maker. Right now, I'm stuck in, 'Don't throw a ball here.'"
The sad reality for Alek Manoah is there will come a time where the Blue Jays will have to make some changes. Those said changes came today when the Blue Jays announced that they have optioned Alek Manoah to their Florida Complex League.
Everyone knows the talent that Alek Manoah has. Nobody has ever doubted that. Many question if it's the new rule changes that are getting in his head, maybe it's the pitch clock. Whatever the reason for Manoah's dreadful 2023 start, something will have to give one way or another for the Blue Jays righty. The hope is Manoah will be able to figure it out in the Florida Complex League and make his way back up to Toronto.