Archive for April, 2009
Not content with their project finish of last place in the AL East, the Blue Jays hammered the Kansas City Royals 8-1 to retake the lead in the division over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Vernon Wells had 3 hits, including a double, and 3 RBIs to lead the Jays. The team got a great start from Scott Richmond, who is now 3-0 with an ERA under 3.00.
The Blue Jays got a spectacular starting performance from Ricky Romero, but Jesse Carlson had a rough 11th inning as the Twins beat the Jays, 3-2 on Tuesday night. Among the highlights for the Blue Jays were a 2 for 3 performance from catcher Rod Barajas, including a double, and a 2 for 4 night for Scott Rolen, who I’m constantly told is over the hill.
The Blue Jays are now 6-3 on the season and just a half game back of those pesky Baltimore Orioles. Thank goodness we don’t have to worry about those bottom-dwellers of the AL East, the Yankees, Rays, and Red Sox. I’m sure they won’t be threatening to take the division crown this season.
Let’s be serious here. The Blue Jays are not expected to win the American League East division this year. They have three stacked teams in front of them in the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays, and a young and talented team in the Baltimore Orioles. So how can the Blue Jays surprise everyone and come out on top this year? Well, it’s not likely, but it is possible. First off, we need a Cy Young-caliber year from Roy Halladay. He’s got to get 20 wins this season and throw a lot of innings. Scott Rolen must return to the all star form he had 5 or 6 years ago. I know, that’s not likely, but he could rediscover his old self. Vernon Wells needs to do the same. We need him to be a solid slugger. Lyle Overbay has to hit .300 this year. That’s 20 points over his career average, so we’re talking about a career year. We also need our starting rotation to emerge as star pitchers, including Jesse Litsch, David Purcey, and Ricky Romero. These are young guys with little major league experience, but the Jays need them to break through this season to have any chance of winning.
The Blue Jays current formula for building a baseball team is abysmal. They’ve got one veteran starter and a lot of young guys. Their lineup is mostly aging and washed-up has-beens or never-was’s. As a Jays fan, it hurts me to look at this team and what they’ll be facing this year. I’m not sure how they’re going to get their wins this year, but I’d have to say they are one of the longest odd teams in baseball right now. You can tell that even management believes this, because they’re spending so much effort bringing together a 1992-1993 Blue Jays reunion. When the season is about to begin and the team is spending its time celebrating championships from 16 years ago, you know something is very wrong.
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