2010 Toronto Blue Jays

[Cat Smasher]

Pisses me off that they have the $ to compete, but choose not to. Damn it.

Oh well, it's going to be pretty miserable without Halladay, I'm predicting he gets the CY in Philly with the team they have, and that's not a stretch.

Lots of questions this season. Unless they pull a Tampa, but with a lot less talent, they should finish last.


2010 Toronto Blue Jays Preview

In: John Buck, C (free agency); Kyle Drabek, SP (trade); Alex Gonzalez, SS (free agency); Kevin Gregg, RP (free agency); Morrow, SP (trade); Wallace 1B (trade)
Out: Rod Barajas, C (free agency); Roy Halladay, SP (trade); Brandon League, RP (trade); Kevin Millar, 1B/DH (free agency); Marco Scutaro, SS (free agency)

[Cat Smasher]

Romero makes pitch to be opening day starter

Left-hander has solid spring debut, stays in running to take over role Halladay left behind.

[Phila26Flyers]

To add insult to injury I read on Drunk Jays Fans that the one or all of the games in the Phillies series in Toronto this June may have to be played elsewhere because of security measures taken when the G12 Summit is in town. It has to do with Rogers Center's proximity to the building where the meetings will be held. Probably being completely overblown by the fans though. I think all three games will be held at Rogers Center, no problem.

[Cat Smasher]

Vernon Wells tries to cut down on killer swings

Vernon Wells admits he tried to shake a season-long slump by swinging for the fences last year.

“You go quite a few games without hitting one and it’s like, ‘I’ve really got to hit a home run,’ ” Wells said before his Toronto Blue Jays opened their exhibition season in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday.

“Before you know it, you haven’t hit one for another two weeks and it’s like, ‘OK, maybe I should stop trying to do this.’ ”

This spring, he says, he is focusing not on power but consistency: hitting the ball up the middle and in the outfield gaps. With a consistent swing, the power will return, he said.

“It’s just about trying to undo all the bad habits I formed last year in my swing. That’s what I’ve been working on every day, just getting back to driving the ball up the middle and having a more consistent swing over the whole season.”

This comment sums it up best..."I can't believe any seasoned pro would talk himself into trying to hit home runs in order to 'end a season-long slump', especially knowing he had a damaged wrist. Who coaches these guys? Doesn't VDub have anyone intelligent to talk to in these matters?"

[Cat Smasher]

Baseball Prospectus Top 100 Prospects

SI released the list of Baseball Prospectus' Top 100 Prospects today, and lo and behold, the three players we got in the Doc deal are on it. Kyle Drabek is at 25 (with prospect rating 70 on a 20-80 scale), Brett Wallace right behind him at 27 (also 70) and Travis D'Arnaud is at 81 (rated 60). I was hoping to see Zach Stewart on it but no such luck. Looks like the front office did a pretty darn good job on that trade.

Other prospects of note:

Michael Taylor is rated below Wallace at 29 and a rating of 65.

Aroldis Chapman is number 22 with an 80 rating.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...cts/index.html

[Cat Smasher]

5 Burning Questions: Toronto Blue Jays

1: Can Vernon Wells return to form? Wells is coming off a year in which he had his second lowest AVG and OPS and put up the fewest HRs and RBIs since becoming a full time starter in 2002 (.260, .711, 15, and 66 respectively). This lack of production found him dropped down in the lineup and put him in the doghouse of Toronto fans last year, leading to occasional booing from the Rogers Centre faithful. Adding injury to insult, Wells recently has suffered from chronic hamstring problems and is also recovering from offseason surgery on a wrist that has troubled him the past two seasons. With the trade of veteran ace SP Roy Halladay in the offseason and the scheduled departure of skipper Cito Gaston following this season, the Blue Jays are in desperate need of a leader both in the clubhouse and on the field. With a clean bill of health, will Wells be able to step up and take that roll? Or at 31 years of age and with injuries piling up, was last season a start of an overall decline in production?


2: Who can step up now that Halladay's gone? Last year the Blue Jays were led by stud RHP Roy Halladay (17-10, 2.79 ERA) and surprising rookie LHP Ricky Romero (13-9, 4.30 ERA). Beyond those two lay a sea of dismal production with all other starters combing for a 28-41 record on the season. Romero is the obvious choice for opening day starter, but can the second year man be counted on to lead the rotation? His WHIP of 1.52 needs to come way down for him to take his production to the next level, but an impressive rookie year gives hope that he can continue to improve. New pitching coach Bruce Walton will have his hands full with one of the youngest rotations in the league.


3: Can Lind and Hill replicate last year's production? Adam Lind and Aaron Hill put up career years for the Blue Jays in 2009. DH/LF Lind hit .305 with 35 HRs, 114 RBIs, and an OPS .932 in his first full season in Toronto. 2B Hill complemented him by batting .286 with 36 HRs, 108 RBIs, and an OPS of .829. If the Blue Jays are to have any success this year, they will need both of these players match their 2009 numbers. With unproven starters and a pitching staff in flux, the Jays need to put a premium on scoring runs.


4: How will the impending change in manager effect the team? As the 2009 season wore on, the natives became restless in the Toronto clubhouse thanks to a constant swirl of trade rumors and poor production. Gaston, who guided the team to a disappointing 4th place finish in the AL East with a 75-87 record, announced he will be returning to the front office following the 2010 season. This announcement was coupled with changes at the hitting and pitching coach positions. While it is highly unlikely the Blue Jays will drastically shake up their coaching staff following this season, it is important to have a stable base for a team that is clearly now in rebuilding mode.


5: Where will the Jays finish the season? BoDog Sports has Toronto at 60/1 to win the American League and 100/1 to win the World Series. In a division where the top three teams (New York, Boston, and Tampa Bay) could possibly finish with records good enough to win any other AL division, it's hard to see Toronto climbing any higher than 4th in the AL East. In fact, they may very likely find themselves in the AL East cellar. Toronto's best hope this year is to see their starting rotation stabilize and progress, some prospects come up and play well when called upon, and hope Lind and Hill can stay healthy and continue to produce.

[brawls16]

Las Vegas has Toronto in a tie for last in wins, with SD and Kansas.

It's obviosuly not going to be a .500 season this year in Toronto. But even without Halladay, the Jays aren't going to be basement dwellers. Hell, Las Vegas even has Pittsburgh ahead of Toronto?

If Wells and Overbay can even just put up 'ok' stats, the Jays lineup will be enough to keep Baltimore behind us.

The rotation is the youngest in the league now, but even that has signs of promise.

Ricky Romero, David Purcey, Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Brett Cecil, and Marc Rzepczynski will all start at points during the season, and all have the right stuff in order to win ball games. Richmond and Litsch can also toss some quality starts when they get back from the DL.

The pen looks solid with Scott Downs, Jason Fraser, and now Brandon Morrow and Kevin Gregg. By the late innings the games will be over by then, but still, a very solid pen and perhaps one of the best in the league.

We don't have Doc which means a couple more losses against the Yanks and RedSox, but I don't see the Jays being the laughing stock of the league and finishing 30th place or so.

It's going to be a long and frustrating season to watch, but we can all just sit back and watch some young MLBers doing their thing. Hill, Lind and Snider will still hold my attention. I just hope we can use some of our prospects this time seeing as it's an official rebuilding mode. Hopfefully Arencibia, Drabek and Wallace get playing time at some point.

I can't wait for Philly to come to town, it's possibly the only game I'll be attending this year I'm afraid. I usually have my 1st rows for opening day by this point, but not this year. If the Jays front office wants to save money and not help this team out in the coming years, then I'll save my money aswell and not spend $1000 on 5-7 games like I usually do.

It sucks really, the Jays are already stacked with young talent. If Ted Togers were still with us, we'd be spending $100 million again and locking up a couple star veterans to help this team compete.

We're so close, but it's going to be all for nothing.

[brawl lover]

Originally Posted by brawls16

Las Vegas has Toronto in a tie for last in wins, with SD and Kansas.

It's obviosuly not going to be a .500 season this year in Toronto. But even without Halladay, the Jays aren't going to be basement dwellers. Hell, Las Vegas even has Pittsburgh ahead of Toronto?

.

Spend some money then.

[antonio106]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

Lots of questions this season. Unless they pull a Tampa, but with a lot less talent, they should finish last.

Rzepczynski and Romero will be the make or break guys for the Jays this season, IMO. Don't think they're going to finish last in the East, if only because the Orioles will race them down there.

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by antonio106

Rzepczynski and Romero will be the make or break guys for the Jays this season, IMO. Don't think they're going to finish last in the East, if only because the Orioles will race them down there.

Don't forget about Marcum. I read the Jays starters haven't let a run in yet this spring.

[Daaaa B's]

Will Brett Cecil be in the starting rotation to begin the year?

I thought he showed a lot of promise last year and along with Romero will be the clubs top pitcher in the future.

[44_]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

Don't forget about Marcum. I read the Jays starters haven't let a run in yet this spring.

That is a pretty impressive stat but then again it is only spring training, but even though Toronto has lost there ace they still have some promising starters

[brawls16]

Don't forget that Marcum was leading the AL in WHIP, .BBA and strikeouts before he went down in '08. He was having an All-star type of season while being shadowed by Halladay. He's got some great stuff, but his arm is damaged goods now. I can only hope he puts in a full year and eats up some much needed innings, All-star caliber stuff or not. I think it would be deemed a succes if he could give us 30+ games and go 14-14 with a 3.50-4.00 ERA.

[bigjohnson]

I always had a soft spot for the Jay, just always liked 'em. Hopefully they come in 2nd in the AL East (behind Boston, however that is very unlikely.

It must be sort of sad to be a Toronto sports fan now. The Leafs are probably a few years from becoming good (looked solid last night), the Blue Jays don't appear to be headed in the right direction, and the Raptors are probably the best team and 3rd most popular.

[Cat Smasher]

Projected Opening Day Roster