Jose Bautista is the best player the past 2 years

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


CLEVELAND -- Jose Bautista's outstanding start to the 2011 season is second to none in Blue Jays history.

One swing on Saturday night made sure of it.

Facing Josh Tomlin in the third inning, Bautista hit a solo home run into the left-field bleachers at Progressive Field, giving him 30 for the season.

Not satisfied with that number, Bautista broke a 4-4 tie in the 10th inning with his 31st shot, also into the left-field bleachers. That blast proved to be the gamewinner.

Bautista is the first Blue Jays player to hit 30 homers before the All-Star break, which he did in his 83rd game. His first shot broke the record of 29, set by George Bell in 1987 in his 84th game. Bell finished with 47 long balls that year, a career high.

Bautista went deep 54 times last season, setting a team record.

Bautista is the first player to hit at least 30 homers in the first half of the season since Alex Rodriguez did it in 2007.