Sportsnet's Buck Martinez on Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: He can't make another start

National Post

09-06-2025

Just because you haven't heard Buck Martinez on the air covering Blue Jays games over the past couple of weeks doesn't mean that the venerable voice of the team doesn't have some thoughts.
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In fact, he has a few.
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First things first: Martinez, who is taking some extended scheduled time off from his regular analyst's role on the Sportsnet broadcasts, will return for a home stand against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre starting on June 30.
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In the interim, studio analysts Joe Siddall and Caleb Joseph will take turns filling the air alongside play-by-play voice Dan Shulman.
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'I'm taking some scheduled time off,' Martinez told the Toronto Sun on Monday. 'But I'll be back for that homestand (against the Yankees). And then I'll have a good chunk of July off for my 50th anniversary. My schedule is to do 100 games.'
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And with that, the 76-year-old Martinez shifts the conversation to his favourite topic — the Jays — who were scheduled to begin a three-game series in St. Louis on Monday night, part of their current nine-game, 10-day trip.
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The long-time Jays broadcaster certainly is clear in what he thinks about the Toronto rotation minus Max Scherzer and the alarming struggles of Bowden Francis.
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'(The Jays) are playing pretty good, but they can't start Bowden Francis another start,' Martinez said. 'It's the one thing that's causing them so many issues. The fourth and fifth spots (in the rotation) have been the issues all season long.
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'Unfortunately (Max) Scherzer can't pitch right now. It's just the way it is.
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'I'd be surprised if they start (Francis) again. He's just too inconsistent. It just highlights how difficult it is to be a long-term starter in the major leagues. It's the toughest position in baseball, to be a consistent starter.
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'Now hitters have made adjustments and he has to establish that he can throw on both sides of the plate.'
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Martinez believes that if the struggles of Francis, combined with the bullpen days for the fifth spot in the rotation continue, the rest of the bullpen will wear down.
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'It's already cost them Yimi Garcia (who is on the injured list with a shoulder issue) and it's going to cost them someone else,' Martinez said.
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The former catcher has been impressed with the Jays recent surge at the plate, which largely has been the reason they've gone on a 9-1 run and sit in a three-way tie for the top AL wild-card spot prior to Monday's action.
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'Everything has come together offensively,' Martinez said. 'They've cut down their strikeouts. They're more patient. And they're realizing one or two guys aren't going to carry the team. They're getting contributions from everywhere in the order.'