Delpo you must realize that overall last year was pretty much an off year as far as AL East teams go... I think next year the competition will be a lot more difficult...
No doubt the Jays have young exciting pieces but you cant expect to make a play off run with Brett Cecil (the guy was barely clocking 90 MPH on his fastball last season) Dustin Mcgowan and a young unproven Rookie and an average Brandon Morrow in the American League East...
Not to mention that the Jays have ADAM LIND batting cleanup behind Bautista... The league has Linds number now... Bautistas gonna see very little to hit unless they find someone better to bat behind him...
With that said the teams offense anything is possible... Its just a complete shame to the franchise and more importantly the fans that the front office couldn't acquire a SP that they so obviously desperately need.
Delpo you must realize that overall last year was pretty much an off year as far as AL East teams go... I think next year the competition will be a lot more difficult...
No doubt the Jays have young exciting pieces but you cant expect to make a play off run with Brett Cecil (the guy was barely clocking 90 MPH on his fastball last season) Dustin Mcgowan and a young unproven Rookie and an average Brandon Morrow in the American League East...
Not to mention that the Jays have ADAM LIND batting cleanup behind Bautista... The league has Linds number now... Bautistas gonna see very little to hit unless they find someone better to bat behind him...
With that said the teams offense anything is possible... Its just a complete shame to the franchise and more importantly the fans that the front office couldn't acquire a SP that they so obviously desperately need.
I don't know about this Blue Jays team. They seem to always start off well then they just fall apart. I agree with Ricky Romero he is a stud (have always liked him) Brandon Morrow I think can also be a good one but an 11-11 record and a 4.71 era doesn't cut it. The other three guys on that rotation who knows what you'll get. Someone else on here mentioned Adam Lind being a guy who's up and down and I agree. He had (I believe 3 years ago) a great season with Aaron Hill and then they just dropped.
Jose Bautista: Great hitter and he will get his numbers.
Lind: Toronto fans I'm sure want to see flashes of 2009 numbers 35HR's and 114RBI.
Romero ( Good Ace)
3B: Brett Lawrie: Looks like he is the real deal
Closer: I think Jays fans are finally happy they have not 1 but 2 good closers in Santos/Cordero.
Catcher: If I was a Blue Jays fan I would be happy Toronto didn't re-sign Molina. Now more at bats for J.P Arencibia and the kid can hit. Last season 23 HR's and 78 RBI. He almost put up the same numbers as Adam Lind.
I don't know about this Blue Jays team. They seem to always start off well then they just fall apart. I agree with Ricky Romero he is a stud (have always liked him) Brandon Morrow I think can also be a good one but an 11-11 record and a 4.71 era doesn't cut it. The other three guys on that rotation who knows what you'll get. Someone else on here mentioned Adam Lind being a guy who's up and down and I agree. He had (I believe 3 years ago) a great season with Aaron Hill and then they just dropped.
Jose Bautista: Great hitter and he will get his numbers.
Lind: Toronto fans I'm sure want to see flashes of 2009 numbers 35HR's and 114RBI.
Romero ( Good Ace)
3B: Brett Lawrie: Looks like he is the real deal
Closer: I think Jays fans are finally happy they have not 1 but 2 good closers in Santos/Cordero.
Catcher: If I was a Blue Jays fan I would be happy Toronto didn't re-sign Molina. Now more at bats for J.P Arencibia and the kid can hit. Last season 23 HR's and 78 RBI. He almost put up the same numbers as Adam Lind.
A lot is going to have to go right for the Jays to compete this year but it's not all that out there. They could have easily won 5-10 more games last year with just a good closer alone. Last years lineup had the likes of Cory Patterson, Rajai Davis and Jayson Nix playing on an everyday basis while Aaron Hill struggled with a .200 average during his time with the jays playing every day. Those guys have been replaced by Lawrie, Rasmus and Kelly Johnson. Significant upgrades all around. If even one of Travis Snider or Rasmus lives up to their potential this offense could be amongst the best in baseball.
From the pitching side after Romero, Morrow's peripheral stats suggest his ERA should be much better than the ERA he's posted the last couple seasons. Will be interesting to see if he can get that ERA to move towards his FIP and xFIP numbers. Henderson Alvarez is still raw making his debut as a 21 year old. He only k's just over 6 per 9 despite throwing upper 90's gas with incredible control. I think as the Jays coaches work with him and he begins to miss more bats he has a very bright future. Dustin McGowan was the Jays ace of the future before shoulder injuries have sidelined him for 3 seasons. Will be interesting to see if he can make a Carpenter like comeback to the majors. Cecil is what he is .... he's at best a back of the rotation starter on a contender in the AL East but serviceable none the less. Last year his velocity dropped from low 90's to upper 80's and was really the difference from his previous success. He has a very good slider but really needs his fastball to be in the 91-92 range to be effective. If any of these back 3 struggle the Jays have Drabek, Drew Hutchison and Deck McGuire who are all very good prospects waiting in the wings who are major league or near major league ready.
A lot is going to have to go right for the Jays to compete this year but it's not all that out there. They could have easily won 5-10 more games last year with just a good closer alone. Last years lineup had the likes of Cory Patterson, Rajai Davis and Jayson Nix playing on an everyday basis while Aaron Hill struggled with a .200 average during his time with the jays playing every day. Those guys have been replaced by Lawrie, Rasmus and Kelly Johnson. Significant upgrades all around. If even one of Travis Snider or Rasmus lives up to their potential this offense could be amongst the best in baseball.
From the pitching side after Romero, Morrow's peripheral stats suggest his ERA should be much better than the ERA he's posted the last couple seasons. Will be interesting to see if he can get that ERA to move towards his FIP and xFIP numbers. Henderson Alvarez is still raw making his debut as a 21 year old. He only k's just over 6 per 9 despite throwing upper 90's gas with incredible control. I think as the Jays coaches work with him and he begins to miss more bats he has a very bright future. Dustin McGowan was the Jays ace of the future before shoulder injuries have sidelined him for 3 seasons. Will be interesting to see if he can make a Carpenter like comeback to the majors. Cecil is what he is .... he's at best a back of the rotation starter on a contender in the AL East but serviceable none the less. Last year his velocity dropped from low 90's to upper 80's and was really the difference from his previous success. He has a very good slider but really needs his fastball to be in the 91-92 range to be effective. If any of these back 3 struggle the Jays have Drabek, Drew Hutchison and Deck McGuire who are all very good prospects waiting in the wings who are major league or near major league ready.
I will be playing a lot of Jays games over the total this year. Good lineup with speed and power. Rotation is decent but nothing to write home about, all to go along with an average bullpen.
I will be playing a lot of Jays games over the total this year. Good lineup with speed and power. Rotation is decent but nothing to write home about, all to go along with an average bullpen.
I will be playing a lot of Jays games over the total this year. Good lineup with speed and power. Rotation is decent but nothing to write home about, all to go along with an average bullpen.
agree ... although I will be betting really small daily ...jays overs seems smart ... then again maybe the bullpen is much better this season
BEST OF HEALTH, HAPPINESS,WEALTH, BLESSINGS and LUCK TO ALL !!
I will be playing a lot of Jays games over the total this year. Good lineup with speed and power. Rotation is decent but nothing to write home about, all to go along with an average bullpen.
agree ... although I will be betting really small daily ...jays overs seems smart ... then again maybe the bullpen is much better this season
85 wins at best, they still won't challenge the Yanks...... yet, they need a few more years. Their pitching is okay, their hitting is okay and their bullpen is okay. They will be just an okay team in 2012.
85 wins at best, they still won't challenge the Yanks...... yet, they need a few more years. Their pitching is okay, their hitting is okay and their bullpen is okay. They will be just an okay team in 2012.
I know I'm going to get shit on and people will say this is a homerish statement, but the Jays will definitely compete for a playoff spot this year. Starting pitching is looking. My uncle told me a story about when he was sitting behind the plate last year for a Jays game, and the Red Sox scouts were there. He was listening in on their conversation, and the Boston scouts said that if Morrow could improve his command, he would be one of the best pitchers in the game. They said the kids got asbolutely lights out stuff, he just needs to comand the strike zone with more consisntency. We agreed that if Morrow can win 16+ games, then the Jays make the playoffs this year. Romero is one more great year away from being considered an Ace (people throw around that word too much, there are only about 15-20 true Aces in baseball). I saw Alavarez pitch 4 times last year, and this kid is the real deal. 40 K's and only 8 walks, the kid as an absolutely lights out fastball, that has movement on it as well. The kid has no problem with his command, and he is extremely confident as well. Apparently Cecil had problems last off season and that's what led to his decreased speed in his fastball, apparently he is expected to be back to 2010 form this year. Farrell has already stated that since McGowan has been actually throwing and not rehabbing, he has been throwing some of the best stuff he has ever seen, period.
The bullpen is the key this year. How can most of you guys have Toronto pegged at around 80 wins? Last year they finished with 81, and that is including 40 blown leads in the 8th and 8th inning combined. He don't blow 15 of those 40+ and all of a sudden we are in the playoffs. Santos is expected to be the next big closer in the game, so that is definitely something to look forward to.
Again, this may sound homerish, but if the Jays stay healthy this year, I can guarantee they compete for a playoff spot, and win 87+ games.
It is frustrating being in the AL East because if Toronto was in any other division, they would make the playoffs every year. The Red Sox and Yankees aren't "real" baseball clubs, all they do is buy players for lots of money. Toronto grows most of their talent through drafting and their farm system. I have said it for years that baseball will be a joke until they enforce a salary cap.
Again, just my opinion. Good luck to everyone this baseball season.
I know I'm going to get shit on and people will say this is a homerish statement, but the Jays will definitely compete for a playoff spot this year. Starting pitching is looking. My uncle told me a story about when he was sitting behind the plate last year for a Jays game, and the Red Sox scouts were there. He was listening in on their conversation, and the Boston scouts said that if Morrow could improve his command, he would be one of the best pitchers in the game. They said the kids got asbolutely lights out stuff, he just needs to comand the strike zone with more consisntency. We agreed that if Morrow can win 16+ games, then the Jays make the playoffs this year. Romero is one more great year away from being considered an Ace (people throw around that word too much, there are only about 15-20 true Aces in baseball). I saw Alavarez pitch 4 times last year, and this kid is the real deal. 40 K's and only 8 walks, the kid as an absolutely lights out fastball, that has movement on it as well. The kid has no problem with his command, and he is extremely confident as well. Apparently Cecil had problems last off season and that's what led to his decreased speed in his fastball, apparently he is expected to be back to 2010 form this year. Farrell has already stated that since McGowan has been actually throwing and not rehabbing, he has been throwing some of the best stuff he has ever seen, period.
The bullpen is the key this year. How can most of you guys have Toronto pegged at around 80 wins? Last year they finished with 81, and that is including 40 blown leads in the 8th and 8th inning combined. He don't blow 15 of those 40+ and all of a sudden we are in the playoffs. Santos is expected to be the next big closer in the game, so that is definitely something to look forward to.
Again, this may sound homerish, but if the Jays stay healthy this year, I can guarantee they compete for a playoff spot, and win 87+ games.
It is frustrating being in the AL East because if Toronto was in any other division, they would make the playoffs every year. The Red Sox and Yankees aren't "real" baseball clubs, all they do is buy players for lots of money. Toronto grows most of their talent through drafting and their farm system. I have said it for years that baseball will be a joke until they enforce a salary cap.
Again, just my opinion. Good luck to everyone this baseball season.
Well the extra play off spot definitely helps the Jays. They have A LOT of upside... But a lot can go wrong in a season...
Its a shame the jays couldn't land a stud starting pitcher... I think that would have put em over the top...
The rotation is just too inconsistent... Cecil and Mcgowan are COMPLETE question marks... Alvarez will no doubt have growing pains and who knows whether Morrow will continue to be average...
With that said this offense should be pretty damn lethal... I'm just not sure it'll be good enough to compensate for the weak starting rotation.
The jurys still out on the bullpen too... Guys like Oliver and Frasor aren't going to be much help... Santos should be a stud though.
Will be exciting to watch anyhow... God knows I'll be cheerin for em!
Well the extra play off spot definitely helps the Jays. They have A LOT of upside... But a lot can go wrong in a season...
Its a shame the jays couldn't land a stud starting pitcher... I think that would have put em over the top...
The rotation is just too inconsistent... Cecil and Mcgowan are COMPLETE question marks... Alvarez will no doubt have growing pains and who knows whether Morrow will continue to be average...
With that said this offense should be pretty damn lethal... I'm just not sure it'll be good enough to compensate for the weak starting rotation.
The jurys still out on the bullpen too... Guys like Oliver and Frasor aren't going to be much help... Santos should be a stud though.
Will be exciting to watch anyhow... God knows I'll be cheerin for em!
Also the Jays win total from last year isn't really relevant IMO... The East was pretty tame last year... I expect a big bounce back year from Boston and New York looks devastating and TB is only getting better...
Also the Jays win total from last year isn't really relevant IMO... The East was pretty tame last year... I expect a big bounce back year from Boston and New York looks devastating and TB is only getting better...
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