3:40 PM Eastern
Just listening to the Blue Jays and Phillies celebrate the end of the pre-season, the regulars have all come out and I thought I should follow through on my promise to offer forth my predictions for the upcoming season.
But before I do – man, it’s nice to be home, even if it’s only for less than 36 hours before I hit the road to NYC for Opening Day. Great to sleep in my own bed again – even though when I woke up in the middle of the night to, umm, take care of a little business, I groggily got out of bed and hung a left directly into the wall (again groggily, so the impact was minimal), because that’s where the en suite was at the Cay Club, where I’d slept for the last five weeks. As great as it is, it’s been a rough 24 hours.
I left my work laptop at the gate in Tampa, which would be among the more stupid things I’ve ever done. Thing is, the laptop usually goes in my work bag, but because of packing and space issues and stuff like that, I brought it along as part of my carry-on in its laptop case. So, I sat, waited for the delayed flight, chatting with a couple of the Jays’ clubhouse employees who were on the same plane, and then got up, grabbed my jacket and my work bag and got on the plane. Luckily, someone turned it in early this morning, and I should have it in my hot little hands by tonight, thanks to the Jays’ Executive Baseball Assistant, Major League Operations Heather Connolly, who I can’t thank enough for hauling it back with her on her flight home tonight.
And this morning, on the way to the radio station for the pre-game, someone who I can only assume is a very nice lady thought she would do a physics test and see if she could fit her car into a space on the road that, at the time, was currently occupied my car. Not the best idea, but at least no one was hurt.
And that brings us here to this final exhibition game of the spring. Nice to see several Jays end their pre-seasons on high notes: Shannon Stewart goes 2-for-2 with a sac fly, Frank Thomas singles sharply in his last at-bat, Lyle Overbay and Marco Scutaro each go 2-for-3 and Aaron Hill’s final swing of the spring winds up in the seats in left. It was nice to see Brandon League pitch out of the bases-loaded jam of his own making in the 5th by ringing up Pat Burrell and getting Pedro Feliz on a ground ball, and equally nice to see Jason Frasor throw a 1-2-3 6th that included a three-pitch strikeout of Jayson Werth, the man for whom he was traded back in 2004. I wonder which of those two will have more of an impact on the 8th inning as B.J. Ryan continues to convalesce. Scott Downs, who we know will be out there in the 8th, got the Phils in order and barely broke a sweat in his inning.
OK, so it’s prediction time. Everybody seems to be listing the order in which they think every team will finish, and who will win the major awards. I will start off by saying that I believe most of these predictions will be ludicrously incorrect, but if I get one or two right, I’ll make sure to remind you about it late in the season.
I believe the playoff teams in the American League will be Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Toronto (damnit, it’s time!) and in the National League, it will be New York, Cincinnati, San Diego and Atlanta. Hey, you can’t pick safe all the time, then you’d be just like everyone else.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will have the best record in baseball, and the Baltimore Orioles, by a longshot, will have the worst. In all seriousness, I really think the Orioles could threaten the 1962 Mets. Not because they’re all that awful (though they’re really bad) but because they have 72 games against the Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays and Rays. And they might lose 60 of them.
The playoffs are a crapshoot, so I almost want to refuse to predict. Thing is, in a best-of-5 or best-of-7, it doesn’t matter which team is better, it just matters which team has the better week or week and a half. There’s also the quandary that exists in having picked the Blue Jays to win the wild card. See, the thing is, if the Jays have a good enough year to make the playoffs, it means that Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett and Dustin McGowan all fulfill expectations. If that happens, there’s no team who wants to run into them in the playoffs. But I don’t want to be the guy to pick the Jays to win the World Series, it’s kind of unseemly. I’ll put it this way – if the Jays are in the playoffs, there will no better top 3 starters in the game, and no reason to pick against them winning.
So, I’m not predicting the playoffs, except that I think the Mets take the N.L. behind Johan Santana and a resurgent Pedro Martinez.
As for post-season award winners, that’s just silly, but I’ll do it anyway. We all know who the best players are, but who among them will have the best year? I have no idea, and anyone who says he or she does is full of it. That said:
A.L.:
Cy Young – Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
MVP – David Ortiz, Red Sox (finally)
Rookie of the Year – Evan Longoria, Rays (Hebrew Hammer style)
Manager of the Year – John Gibbons (this is the thing: I have predicted that the Blue Jays will make the playoffs. If the Blue Jays make the playoffs, there is no way Gibbons doesn’t win manager of the year).
N.L.:
Cy Young Award – Johan Santana, Mets
MVP – Mark Teixeira, Braves (too many people are picking David Wright)
Rookie of the Year – Jair Jurrjens, Braves
Manager of the Year – Dusty Baker, Reds (even though Cincy wins the division in spite of their new skipper, not because of him)
As for exactly how the divisions will shake down, I’ll be ecstatic if I get 9 of these 30 right:
A.L. East: 1. Boston 2. Toronto 3. New York 4. Tampa Bay 8. Baltimore
A.L. Central: 1. Cleveland 2. Detroit 3. Minnesota 4. Kansas City 5. Chicago
A.L. West: 1. Los Angeles 2. Texas 3. Seattle 4. Oakland
N.L. East: 1. New York 2. Atlanta 3. Philadelphia 4. Washington 5. Florida
N.L. Central: 1. Cincinnati 2. Pittsburgh 3. Chicago 4. St. Louis 5. Houston 6. Milwaukee
N.L. West: 1. San Diego 2. Los Angeles 3. Arizona 4. Colorado 5. San Francisco
Man, some of those picks are stupid, especially the N.L. Central. I just have a feeling about the Pirates, though. Also, it took everything I had to leave the Yankees third and the Rays fourth, and not flip that around. Oh, well, time to get ready for the final pre-season JaysTalk!
Comments are encouraged, as always. Tomorrow is a travel day to the Bronx, so I’m not promising a post, but there might be one. If not, to Opening Day!!!!
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I like the Texas pick there, they have a solid team.
What’s the deal with MLB.com cutting off the broadcast after the game is over? I can’t listen to the post-game show online or on the 590 site. Any thoughts?
MW: I didn’t know that. If it’s cut off of mlb.com then it should no longer be blacked out on the FAN. Weird.
- KarmanHey Mike, I like how you predict the Jays beat the Yankees for second place in the AL East. Whats your reasoning behind that ?
MW: Plain and simple, the Jays pitch and play defense better, and I think they might do it better enough this year to get past the Yankees.
- AndrewThey actually cut the feed off allot while blacking out the Fan still, I miss most of Jays talk because of that, those of us dependant on the internet for the Fan 590 get a raw deal from MLB.
So Mike, any inside scoop on the hold up in the Rios negotiations. Is it the money, or a no trade clause? Or does Rios want more Limo rides for his girlfreind(s) than Burnett gets for his wife?
MW: I’m pretty sure it’s all about money. That was the indication I got when we all talked to Rios about it the other day. I don’t know if there’s anything I can do about the blackout stuff, but I’ll try to get our engineers on it.
- clintNice predictions Mike, myself as well thinks that the Yankees will finish in the 3rd due to a lack of pitching. I have to disagree with you on picking Cleveland over Detroit.
Also great job bashing Baltimore, isn’t SF as bad as them?
MW: San Fran’s not good, to be sure, but they don’t have to play 72 games against the Red Sox, Yanks, Jays and Rays. Mark my words: Detroit will not make the playoffs.
- tercetHi Mike, I agree, it’s “time” for the Jays to have a playoff year and I like their chances.
I do have to ask what you’re smoking to generate that feeling you have about the Pirates in the NL Central? I’ve been a split Jays and Pirates fan for about the last 30 years and I want the Bucs to finally have a winning season, but I have come to terms with the fact that last year’s team sucked, and this year’s team is the same as last year’s team, therefore they suck (again…for the 16th time in a row).
MW: Honestly, I don’t know. It’s the combination of the weak division, the idea that Duke and Gorzelanny might just get it, the reasonably balanced offense with a resurgent Bay to go with LaRoche, Sanchez, Bautista, Morgan, Nady and Paulino. They could be OK, and OK could be good enough for second in the Central.
- JeffHey Mike.
Your predictionon the AL East. No like.
My prediction 1. JAYS 2.3.4. doesn,t matter.
Mike what do you think the improvement of the Tamoa Rays is going to help the Jays. The Jays always struggle with the Rays, now hopefully the Bosox & the Yanks will too.
MW: The Jays could win the division. But they could just as easily finish third or fourth. The Yankees tend to struggle with the Rays, too, just like the Jays, but I think Tampa being better affects everybody.
- Paul SDo you honestly think the Jays can get by the Yankees? The Yankees can make a major in season trade if they are struggling. The Jays cannot. Secondly, Yankees have more depth and amazing offense to balance the crappy pitching.Plus, the jays offense is not that good.For the Jays to get the wild card everything would have to go right which is unlikely. Everything does not have to go right for the Yankees. I want the Jays to do well but the reality is the odds are against them to make the playoffs.
MW: There’s no question the odds are against them. But the Yankees were a .500 team at the all-star break last year and they’re a year older now. Of course, I’ve been predicting the end of the Yankee playoff dynasty for three years now, so what do I know?
- aviMike, how many home runs will Vernon Wells hit this year because I believe that he will bounce back from his bad year and I heard on jaystalk that you don’t like the tiger rotation and that why your’re picking them second right?
MW: I think Vernon will hit 32 homers or more this year. I think the Tigers’ rotation is vastly overrated and their bullpen is full of holes.
- andrewMike, for your AL predictions, I’d make two changes — 1) Blue Jays to finish FIRST, ahead of even the Red Sox (reason — better pitching, top to bottom, especially after Ryan returns, and almost as good hitting), and 2) Seattle second, ahead of Texas, third, in AL West.
Being a Jays fan, I don’t follow the NL as closely as the AL, but I don’t think I’d have Milwaukee last in the Central, or Colorado all the way down in 4th in the west.
But, as you say, nine out of 30 would be batting .300, and who can argue with that?
MW: Exactly! I don’t think you’d find too many people who believe that the Jays’ hitting is almost as good as Boston’s, and I think the Mariners are way overrated, hence my picking them for third. Brad Wilkerson your 5th hitter? I mean, maybe in 2003, but come on!
- NormI didn’t want to put Milwaukee last, but someone had to go there. I think that whole division may only be separated by 7 or 8 games, and the NL West might be even closer.
Mike I’ll bet the Giants lose more games then the O’s
MW: No chance.
- Dan MooreHey Mike,
So excited for Monday, although I don’t think my boss will let me off early enough for the first pitch.
What are the odds Lou Piniella plays Reed when the Cubs come to Toronto in June? I know it’s all hypothesis, but say Reed plays the way we know Reed can, yet he’s still off the bench come June, do you think Piniella has the class to play him in a city where he’s still loved? (I’ll make the trip from Sudbury if there’s even a good chance he’ll start).
MW: It depends on how Felix Pie is playing, and whether Lou wants to shift one of his outfielders to DH or use a guy like Aramis Ramirez there. Or, on a myriad of other things that could happen between now and June.
- MattOne more thing Mike, which other pitchers are in contention for the Cy Young Award other then Roy Halladay?
MW: Lots. There are at least three dozen pitchers in the American League capable of having a good enough year to win the Cy Young.
- andrewI will go on record and say you’ll be 0-6 in the NL Central. You’ll be regretting those picks by Shavuot. St Lou and Houston are the only two you have a chance on… All of this just in my opinion of course.
- Eric HSpeaking of MLB/blackout restrictions, does MLB.tv block out Jays games? If you were in, say Ottawa, and ordered MLB.tv could you actually watch Jays games?
- JeffHow much money per year would Alex Rios make if he were to test the 2010 free agent market? Second why did you pick the cubs to finish third in their division?
MW: Lots. Unless he gets hurt between now and then, in which case that figure would turn into lots less. I picked the Cubs third because I wanted to pick the Reds to win, and then I wanted to be cool and sneak the Pirates in up there as well. Believe me, I contemplated dropping the Cubs even lower.
- juliana agree 100% with the jays making the playoffs and gibbons geting manager of the year. Also makes perfect sense saying if the jays make the playoffs with this rotation they can’t be beat
MW: Whoa. I never said that, and I never will. One of the dumbest things you can say is that team A “can’t be beat”.
- mike tmike, your logic that the jays have better pitching than the yanks so they will win more games makes no sense. this was true last year and what happened? it’s the biggest myth in baseball that you need pitching to win. you don’t. toronto, minn, and oak were 2, 4 and 6 in era but won 83, 79 and 76 games resp. why? because they were 10,11 and 12 in runs scored. the pathetic yanks at num 8 in era won 94. det and sea were 9 and 10 in era yet won 88 games each. for the jays to win 95 games it will have nothing to do with pitching, it will depend on if they score 800+ runs. that means players like thomas wells overbay have to have monster years and I don’t think that will happen. but I hope I’m wrong.
- les paisMike, If the Jays can hit, they’ve got a shot at the WC. I tend to think that Frank Thomas’ days are done and that Stairs will become our DH.
- DanMike,
Further to an earlier topic on Jaystalk. In the event that The Big Hurt just is not hurting anybody by the end of May, do the Jays get Bonds for cheap? Crazy I know, but a consideration at least?
MW: It’d take a lot of money, and I don’t think that Rogers would want to take the PR hit.
- Craig Bonedude who kool-aid are you drinking get back to reality detroit will win the wild card.never thought you to be a fanatical fan.email me back kid
MW: Detroit will not make the playoffs. I’m not a fanatical fan, I harbour no dislike towards the Tigers or Detroit. They’re just everyone’s darling right now, and I don’t see it happening. I didn’t think they’d make the playoffs last year, either.
- moosehey kid mike you have some onions i like it.but come on you cant convince me the jays are a playoff team. to injury prone. goooooooo detroit murders row line up.
come on mike come back to reality please!!!!!!!!!!
- detroitHi Mike,
If betting on sports was legal which its not (cough, cough) I’d definitely be taking the Reds over 78 wins. But to win the division? In order for this to happen you are going to need 4 if not 5 rookies (Cueto, Volquez, Bailey, Votto and Bruce) to make major impacts on this team. You’re also going to need Encarnacion to actually fulfill his potential. I just don’t see it happening this year especially with innings limits placed on young pitchers but I like the forward thinking. Both the Rays and Reds have built great young teams who should compete for years to come.
Even more crazy than the Reds finishing first is the Brewers in last. Care to comment on this? I realize the pitching is a little suspect but this is the national league … there are no AL caliber staffs.
MW: The reason I picked the Reds to finish first is because it’s a crappy division. They don’t need all those kids to come through to win it. I mean, two would be nice, but you’ve still got Freel, Dunn, Griffey, Encarnacion and Ross to provide some offense, Harang, Arroyo and let’s say one of Cueto and Volquez at the front of the rotation and Cordero at the back of the bullpen. That’s enough to win the NL Central, I think. And the Brewers in last might be a bit of a reach, but that’s just where they wound up when I was done. It’s going to be close, top to bottom.
- MattHey Mike,
I was the guy that asked the question about Frank Thomas contract in regards to the potential poor start (my cell cut out and I missed half of your comment). If Thomas isn’t hitting well (750 OPS or lower) why would the Jays let him continue to rack up plate appearance and let his contract vest, instead of signing or trading for a decent righty (Mike Piazza?) to platoon with Stairs? I can’t see Thomas letting Thomas play through a prolonged slump when that means having to pay him next year too (I actually think Thomas will hit pretty well this year, 850+ OPS)?
Completely agree with you about the Jays making the playoffs and being a huge force in the playoffs with their top 3 SP. Detroit may make the playoffs but it will be because they mirror the ’07 Yankees (great hitting, mediocre pitching).
Look forward to your response.
MW: Detroit has 5 great hitters, one of whom has only had one great year ever and is currently broken. The other four (Sheffield, Ordonez, Cabrera, Polanco) I’m not going to rip at all, but this is not a murderers’ row. Carlos Guillen can hit, sure, but is he an above-average bat for a first baseman? No. What did Edgar Renteria do the last time he was in the AL? Ivan Rodriguez’s obp has been under .295 two of the last three years, and Jacque Jones? They have good hitting and mediocre pitching.
What would the Jays do with Thomas if they signed or traded for that decent righty to platoon with Stairs at DH (making Stewart the everyday LF)?
- AdamOakland looked really good this spring training, and if Harden keeps healthy, with Blanton, they do have a pretty interesting team on their hands.
I would just have to think they could do better then fourth.
Texas has an awesome team, but they just don’t have the starters to give them the amount of innings they needs to contend.
- DaveMy thoughts is the Jays would either:
a. trade Thomas (highly unlikely, since no team will want his contract if he is slumping) or
b. cut him
Personally, I think it is better to cut him if he isn’t playing well that let him continue to play poorly and be stuck with another year of his contract in ’09. Yes, it seems like a clossal waste of money to cut him in ’08 and continue to pay him, but if he is playing poorly I don’t want that it ’09 too.
If this scenario does come to fruition (I really hope it doesn’t) I would cut Thomas, let Stewart play full-time in LF, try to find a righty platoon for Stairs, and potentially call up Lind from AAA if he is hitting well enough.
I realize there are other political issues cutting Thomas and highly unlikely, but if he is not hitting by mid-May I think it’s the right move.
Thoughts?
MW: Highly, highly unlikely that Thomas gets released, in any case. But I think this cart is WAY ahead of its horse. Remember, we’re talking about the guy who LED THIS TEAM in homers, RBIs and on-base percentage just last season!
- AdamI have to respect your picks just because you didn’t just play it safe. As you say, it’s all a complete guess anyways, and what fun is picking the top teams to win everything, there’s no glory in that.
I do think you’re still drugged up from your flight with your NL Central picks though, The NL Central could fall a lot of ways, but I’d put Chicago, Cincy, and Milwaukee in the upper 3 and the Pirates, Astros, and St. Louis in the bottom 3 (St. Louis could easily lose 100 with their pitching).
I also wouldn’t put Minny ahead of both Chicago or K.C. (maybe one but not both), with Liriano in the minors they have almost no starting pitching and at least Chicago and K.C. have an ace who could probably win 15 games.
That said, I like that you took the risks because if even one pans out then you can lord it over everyone all of next season.
MW: Me? Lord something over people? Surely you jest. And Liriano ain’t gonna be in the minors that long.
- ColinMW
You must be drinking the same kool-aid JP is, if you think Gibby will win manager of the year. He’ll be gone before the end of the year.
My picks for the playoff teams are Boston, Detroit, Cleveland and LA.
I pick the Jays to finish 3rd in the AL east providing they stay healthy. If they skip a beat at all, I think Tampa could catch them.
Until the Jays prove they can hit with runners in scoring position, win on the road and sweep series against weak teams, they have no chance to get into the playoffs.
The Yanks have too many resources; if they need help by the All-Star break, they’ll do whatever is necessary to make sure they don’t fall to 3rd.
MW: All I said was that if the Blue Jays make the playoffs, Gibbons is a lock for manager of the year. You can’t question that. And since I picked the Jays to win the wild card, I had to pick Gibby.
- gerryMike, I understand Thomas’ 2009 contract is dependant on 2008 plate appearances. Is he non-tradeable?
MW: I would say quite probably he is.
- AdaHey mike,
First nice job with giving us updates this spring, it was interesting to read them all.
Its also been interesting now that you have started commenting on the fans comments.
Just a couple of complaints though, HOW DO YOU NOT GO WTIH TIGERS IN THE CENTRAL? I understand that you want to mix it up and don’t want to play it safe but there I still dont see how the indians will beat the Tigers.
With the injuries to Beckett and Schilling I guess the Tigers might do even better than Red Sox.
I like the Toronto pick (mainly cause i am a fan). I would agree with you on the fact that if, IF Toronto makes it to the play-offs then they would be a team to watch out for since you need 3-4/7 wins and you can easily get those with Halladay, health Burnett, Mcgowan and maybe a pitcher we trade for nearing the deadline.
MW: I think the Tigers are overrated. I’m not convinced that Rogers/Robertson/Willis at the bottom of the rotation is all that good, and their bullpen is awful.
- HarshMike,
You have one of the best jobs on the planet and i cant wait for the season to start. I love listening to the post game talk and as much as i love listening my girlfriend hates you (not a baseball fan) so here’s to many jays wins and hoping i dont have to many fights battling for control of the radio!!!
- DarrenHey Mike, thanks for the pre-season bloggage, which was required daily readage for me, and provided hours of enjoyage and has forced me to start adding “-age” to the ends of words….age.
Two quick questions for you:
1 – The common line with this team is “if they’re healthy, they’ll compete”. No team is ever 100% healthy through the year, and it’s doubtful they’ll see 5 pitchers make 32 starts, etc. etc. So how healthy does the team need to be to compete? Obviously the level of last year wouldn’t work, but how much can the team sustain given its improved depth? Or are we honestly saying nobody can get injured (save those who already have) for the team to compete?
2 – Has blogging for all these weeks given you any sort of opinion on the broader “blogosphere”? Is it something that should be taken seriously, as some professional teams have done accrediting their bloggers, or are you of the old-school opinion that they’re a bunch of low-quality amateurs?
Thanks again, Mike.
MW: 1 – I don’t think they have to stay completely healthy, but I don’t think they can sustain a ton of long-term injuries, like happened last year. They can’t lose six guys for half the season.
2 – Blogging like a madman for the last five weeks has certainly made me appreciate the work that our fine writers do, but it hasn’t changed my opinion about the bloggists. I read most of the “amateur” bloggers’ work, and I think that most of it is great stuff. I have my favourites among them, the ones I make sure I read every day, and there’s certainly plenty of quality out there. I don’t believe that one has to have played the game at an elite level to have an informed opinion about it, nor do I believe that one has to have daily access to the players to have an opinion about the jobs they’re doing.
- TylerMike… Is it just me or is brian wolfe the most underrated guy in the pen? Given League’s inconsistency, do you think he should be considered to set up Accardo?
MW: Wolfe threw some high-leverage innings for the Jays late last season, but he had real trouble getting lefties out. League has better stuff, but Wolfe and Downs could potentially form a killer combo in the 8th. I don’t see him getting many opportunities, though.
- ronMike,
Heard you on TheFan590 today with Alex.
Enjoy Yankee Stadium. I was surprised to hear you’d never been there.
I made the trip a couple of years ago when the Jays got smoked at the beginning of August when it was 100°. Let’s hope the Jays return the favour…
The atmosphere in the place is unbelievable….it’s “electric”.
The role call at the beginning of the game is cool…and hearing Frank do “New York, New York” at games end is magical…
Hopefully Bob Sheppard, the Stadium announcer is still able to grandly announce the games and you’re able to hear him live….more magic.
- DJJAYGutsy picks. I’m fianlly glad someone is picking the Jays, but sad to see it’s a Rogers employee.
MW: Several people have picked the Jays, not just me, but my choices have nothing to do with who signs my paychecks. No one from Rogers has ever said a word to me about what I should and shouldn’t say, and if they did, you wouldn’t hear me on the air anymore.
- RyanYikes, Christian Guzman is leading off for the Nationals! Maybe Eckstien isnt that bad? haha
MW: Hey, Guzman had a .380 on-base last year. I mean, he’ll never do that again, but at least it’s something.
- SteveHey Mike,
I am interested in your comments regarding the Blue Jays prospect Brian Pettway. I was surprised to read on bluejays.scout.com that the former outfielder is now a Pitcher for Lansing. Is this because he was not going to make it as an outfielder or that the Jays believe that he has a better chance of making it as a Pitcher?
MW: I didn’t see Pettway at all this spring, so I’ll have to ask one of the front officers.
- KevinIn the dictionary beside the word “homer” should be a picture of Mike Wilner… John Gibbons manager of the year????? are you kidding me? How about this? John Gibbons fired before May 15th…
Give your head a shake kid.
MW: Kid? Anyway, one more time with feeling – IF THE BLUE JAYS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, JOHN GIBBONS WILL BE MANAGER OF THE YEAR. This is fact. All but unassailable. SINCE I PICKED THE BLUE JAYS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, I MUST THEREFORE PICK JOHN GIBBONS TO WIN MANAGER OF THE YEAR. Logic 101. Nothing I can do about it.
- Danny TongWatch everybody be completely wrong and the Kansas City Royals come out of nowhere to win 85 games and finish second in the AL Central
- MarkHey Mike. I live in Peterborough and love to listen to the Jerry and Alan, and your post game show. However, they aren’t broadcasting the games in Peterborough on 980AM anymore. Is there anything that can be done?
MW: Yes. Complain! Loudly and often! Demand the return of your Blue Jays to the Peterborough airwaves.
- Ross CruikshankHi Mike, like your optimism and hope you’re right. I have two concerns re the Jays (besides all the talk about staying healthy).
1. I think their changes at short and left are a big step back defensively from Johnny Mac and Reed Johnston (I know listening to you you’re a fan of both and wanted them to keep Johnston instead of 11 pitchers). The broken finger at third makes the left side defense very weak on a team whose pitching needs great defense. Worse, the change at short and left seems to shove Aaron Hill to the bottom of the order, another one of your peeves.
2. I worry about Gibbons leadership. How often has he been in disputes with players when things are sour? I don’t see him lasting till July.
They say you build champions with pitching and defense. Seems the Jays are willing to trade defense for offense on the left side. The disaster scenario is if Doc starts the year 0-3, gives up a bunch of unearned runs on catchable balls, and gets fed up.
Hope I’m wrong.
Cheers, Brian
MW: Brian, here’s the thing: The Jays HAD the pitching and defense last year (2nd in the league in ERA, best defense in MLB by available objective assessments) but they only won 83 games because they didn’t hit, so they felt that adding offense at the expense of defense was the right move. I don’t think the changes shoved Hill to the bottom of the order – he rarely hit higher than 6th last year, and I’m not sure Gibbons was ready to move him up anyway. Last year, Hill was 1-for-25 when hitting in the first two spots in the batting order – WHICH MEANS NOTHING, of course – but I think it made an impression on Gibbons, scared him a bit.
And as far as bringing up the Hillenbrand and Lilly things – yeah, Gibbons overreacted both times, but the first one was a blowup at a player who’d been undermining him for months, and the second was Lilly’s fault. Dude was in the process of blowing an 8-run lead in the 3rd inning and he had the nerve to give Gibbons a hard time – out in public, on the mound – for giving him the hook. No one complains about Lou Piniella’s leadership abilities when he’s throwing Randy Johnson into a locker on camera.
- BrianAL East, NYY, TOR, TB, BOS, BAL
AL Cent, CLE, DET, MIN, CHI, KC
AL West, SEA, LA, OAK, TEX
NL East, PHI, NYM, ATL, FLA, WSH
NL Cent, CHI, HOU, STL, MIL, PIT
NL West, ARZ, LA, SD, SF
Cy Young, AL – velander NL – haren
MVP, AL – cabrera NL – utley
world series philly over detroit 7 games
- toddMike you’re so biased towards the jays its NOT EVEN FUNNY. Blue jays wont make the playoffs because as soon as halladay goes down… theyre f**ed. they’re a dead chicken. john gibbons for manager of year? dont make me laugh. the blue jays will make the playoffs when they get the flukiest year ever where they have no injuries. yea right. injuries will plague them this year. and cincinatti for first? yea right.
MW: Talk to me in September. And dead chicken, really? That’s the best you could do?
- StevenLets face it. Burnett is gonna get hurt. Halladay is gonna get hurt. Litsch is badly overated. The pitching staff will be in trouble soon enough. Who’s gonna pitch for them when that happens. and what you said on the radio… randy wells MLB debut? no. he pitched inthe national league.
MW: No, Randy Wells never pitched in the National League. And what makes you say Halladay is going to get hurt? Is his appendix gonna blow again?
- Steven