"He needs to be sent down to the Fisher Cats" - Jays fans running out of patience with Alek Manoah after his 6th straight loss

Alek Manoah was seen as one of Toronto Blue Jays' trump cards coming into the 2023 season. Now, after another questionable performance from the left-hander, fans are having their doubts.

Judging from his performance last season, fans were right to place high expectations on the 25-year-old. Last season, his first full campaign in the big leagues, Manoah put up a 2.24 ERA to coincide with his 16-7 record. On account of the stellar year, he was named to his first All-Star team and finished third in AL Cy Young voting.

On May 31, Alek Manoah made his league-leading 12th start of the season against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 6-foot-6 hurler lasted only four innings, surrendering a two-run home run and three hits, and only managed to strike out three. After the game, an exasperated Manoah elaborated on the mental struggles that have come alongside his woes on the mound.

"“It’s been tough, obviously. I’m not doing what I’m meant to be doing. So just got to keep fighting, keep finding positives, and building off them," Manoah said.

Toronto Blue Jays fans, however, were not so keen to forgive Manoah. His last win on the mound came against the Kansas City Royals on April 5. Since his first and only win of the season, Manoah has had six losses and four no-decisions alongside an ERA of 5.82.

Many feel that Manoah, who is known for his complacency and cockiness, is failing to back up his persona. Alek Manoah is no stranger to trash talk and showboating, going as far as to brand divisional foe Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees "the biggest cheater in the game."

Concurrently, the Toronto Blue Jays have found themselves sliding down the standings. Despite being touted as one of the best teams in their division coming into the season, they now find themselves 10 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

For Alek Manoah, the path forward is uncertain. He is still under a one-year contract, but may be in for a big extension come the offseason. However, if he continues to pitch the way he has, he may have to regroup in the minor leagues, as some fans suggested.

Alek Manoah needs to remember how dominant he can be

Any pitcher who can say that they were a Cy Young contender at the age of 24 is the real deal. Unless last season was a fluke of epic proportions, Manoah is a strong pitcher who belongs in the MLB.

While every pitcher goes through tumultuous stretches, Manoah will need to learn to harness whatever mechanisms work for him to ensure that he can get back into the form that fans and teammates expect.