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TORONTO -- It’s the long weekend and the Blue Jays have a long list of things to fix around the house.

Some are simple, while others are far more complicated, requiring tools the Blue Jays might not have in their garage yet. The ticking of the clock grows louder, though, and the Blue Jays could be facing a pivot point for this organization by midseason if they don’t turn things around soon.

Early Saturday, general manager Ross Atkins met with the media for the first time since Toronto’s April 8 home opener. Here’s what he had to say about how this can be fixed at each level.

PHILOSOPHY 101:

Let’s get big and broad about this lineup. The Blue Jays rank near the bottom of baseball in runs scored (29th, entering Sunday) and home runs (tied for 27th), which needs to change.

“Doing damage is definitely going to be part of the equation,” Atkins said. “We don’t have to hit 15 to 30 home runs per the six guys at the top of our lineup, but we do have to be driving the ball harder. We do have the exit velocity. We’re seeing guys hitting balls hard. They’re not going over the fence and there are not enough. We are working very hard to correct that.”

Manager John Schneider pointed to the level of modern MLB pitching. Stringing together four hits just isn’t the wisest plan. There needs to be some level of power driving this turnaround.

“I don’t want to say the word ‘damage’ anymore, it’s just about hitting the ball hard,” Schneider said. “I feel like I’ve worn that word out. We all have. It’s not just home runs. Especially in at-bats that have less than two strikes, we’ve got to hit the ball harder. I think we do a good job of putting it in play with two [strikes]. Those numbers are pretty high against the league average, but until we have two strikes, we’re really focused on hitting the ball hard.”

THE COACHING STAFF:

Schneider is taking plenty of heat externally. That’s the gig for a manager. When things aren’t going well, they’re first in line for public scorn. There’s been plenty of change on this coaching staff year-to-year, though, which Atkins addressed first.

“I know this is not the satisfying answer for a fan because we don’t have the results,” Atkins began, “but the addition of Matt Hague, the addition of Don Mattingly on the offensive side, the patience and steadiness to their approach, the unbelievable work ethic they’ve put in and that sense of urgency that has been so consistent is so impressive to see. The fans don’t get to see that. When I see it, that’s where it allows us to be patient.”

Later, Atkins addressed Schneider’s work more directly.

“He has been strong, steady and patient in a really trying time,” Atkins said. “His in-game decision-making has been really consistent. His communication with our players has been tireless. He’s been very strong through a very difficult time.”

INTERNAL HELP:

“We have good Triple-A players who can contribute here,” Atkins said. “We have talented players, and we have some time for things to correct. The sense of urgency has always been there and it remains.”

The Buffalo Bisons are rolling. Orelvis Martinez (No. 2 prospect) has 10 home runs and an .836 OPS. Leo Jimenez (No. 5) has nearly as many walks (26) as hits (30), holding a .434 on-base percentage, and is a plus defender. Addison Barger (No. 6) has a .961 OPS and has improved his plate approach. Spencer Horwitz (No. 16) has a .453 on-base percentage. There are options here.

Martinez comes with some of the best power in the organization, but Atkins laid out why the 22-year-old hasn’t gotten a look in the Majors just yet.

“It’s a combination of where he would play here, him learning to play second base at a level that would be average to above-average and the benefit of player development in that time for a 22-year-old,” Atkins said. “Those three things are what are keeping him in Triple-A at this point.”

EXTERNAL HELP:

Atkins says the Blue Jays would be “paying a premium” to make a trade right now, but that the organization is open to the idea as it always is. More likely, this turnaround is up to the players on this roster, and if it doesn’t turn around, that’s when this roster starts to look different.

“There’s not a hard date,” Atkins said. “We’re at the quarter pole. Once you get to the halfway mark, there’s not much you can do if the hole remains the same.”