Toronto Blue Jays thoughts

[Johnny93g]

The Jays are now 63-57, a season high 6 games over .500 playing with a rotation of Chachin, Towers, McGowan, Downs, and David Bush. Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly have been out for a while, and they arent missing a beat. CNNSI listed 3 jays, Chachin, Russ Adams, and Aaron Hill as 3 of the top 10 rookies in the AL.

My question to Yankee fans, Red Sox fans, A's fans, Angels Fans, and anyone who really follows baseball, how do you view this team? Do you think they can make a run at the wildcard this year? are you afraid of them? Do you still see them as a non-threat? are you worried about next season's team challening with the kids developing and the extra money we will have?

Im very curious to see how other people view these guys. Im really enjoying watching them play, and am very excited about their future

[MikeVic]

As a Jays fan, I'll say that I'm excited about the future as well. :) If we can get one solid bullpen guy and one solid power hitter, I believe we can challenge for the AL East next year... at least the Wild Card.

Hopefully they challenge the Wild Card this year too.

[Travis]

Like they are repeating on the telecasts right now, this is really the first prolonged winning "streak" the Jays have managed this season. Generally every team will have 2 or 3 long streaks where they can do no wrong (or no right), and for the Jays, it seems like they've really had to battle to stay at .500 until now. With this surge and the pending return of their top two starters, things could be looking very good for the Jays. If they can keep this sort of pace up until one or both of their top of the rotation guys return, that could be the shot in the arm they'll need to really kick it into the next gear and not only challenge for the WC but possibly for the division.

I think one of the biggest things helping them right now is the development of Rios at the plate. Their entire lineup is hitting pretty well, they're pretty strong off the bench (at least defensively) and for now at least, the bullpen is pulling their weight. That's still the area of the team that worries me the most, but for now they are definitely helping the Jays climb back into contention.

[PackerFanatic]

They had like 4 or 5 top play nominees on SC this morning, lol. Looked like a good game.

[MikeVic]

They had like 4 or 5 top play nominees on SC this morning, lol. Looked like a good game.

I believe I had another thread that said the Jays' play has gotten me back to watching baseball now. There always seems to be an awesome play in the games I watch. :)

[PackerFanatic]

I remember when the Jays won the series in the early 90s against the Phillies when I actually enjoyed baseball. I really loved watching them then.

[CraigSca]

From listening to New York-area sports radio, the Yankees (well, their fans) still consider them a mole on the back of their butt. As a non-Yankee fan, I've been intrigued with their excellent runs scored to runs allowed ratio and have looked to the Jays to provide yet another thing for the Yankees to worry about :).

[johnnyshaka]

Jays are fun to watch...for sure...and can only get better when Doc gets back.

Right now, they are scratching and clawing their way back to respectability...but, I don't know if they've got what it takes to give the Skanks much of a scare...much like my A's. Let's face it...the Skanks have underachieved HUGE this season and they are still in the hunt...can you imagine if they were firing on all cylinders??? This season, I don't think the Jays have what it takes to get to the playoffs...but next season might be a different story.

The Skanks really need to do some house cleaning...and I don't think George is going to disagree...so, look for some big changes in Yankee town next year...and that doesn't bode well for the Jays...or the Orioles, for that matter.

IMHO...the Jays are going to be a fun team to watch next year...but, still not competitive enough to give the Sox and Yankees much to worry about. Looking forward to seeing Rios' power stroke come around...Adams' already mature approach at the plate get even better...Hill and Gross make names for themselves in the Bigs.

[Blade]

With this surge and the pending return of their top two starters, things could be looking very good for the Jays. If they can keep this sort of pace up until one or both of their top of the rotation guys return, that could be the shot in the arm they'll need to really kick it into the next gear and not only challenge for the WC but possibly for the division.


I am really excited about the way they have been playing lately. As a Jays fan since before their World Series wins, it has been some long seasons in the past few years. This year, they are going to take a shot at the WC, but it is the coming years I am very excited about.

I am still worried about the injuries to Halladay and Lilly, though. Halladay is not expected to pitch until September now, and Lilly has no idea what is going on with his shoulder...

[Travis]

Realistically, the Jays this offseason need to look at catcher and the pen. They've got a few spare parts from the current club to play with, and that number may increase depending on who is ready to come up from the system.

Zaun, Hillenbrand, Hill, Adams, Koskie, Rios, Wells, Gross as your 8 positional players (though I do really hope we can pick up a new starter and use Zaun as a backup, and I expect to lose Hudson to free agency) would still leave J.P. with Hinske and Catalanotto as semi trade bait. I'd definitely like to see them keep Reed as a bench/platoon guy (likely with Gross).

A rotation of Halladay, Lilly, Chacin, Towers and Bush is strong, not necessarily scary. If we could add a #2 or #3 starter in free agency and have Bush or Towers in the pen, we'd get stronger in two areas. With the increased payroll, we should be able to afford a #2 calibre starting pitcher on the free market in addition to our current staff. It'll be interesting to see who from the pen can keep up their pace right now (and if they could duplicate it next year), but adding Towers or Bush to the pen in the kind of role Walker is playing right now would be a nice luxury (and possibly a good learning experience for either one of them), and you'd be able to go with the hotter hand as the 5 guy in your rotation (while also having some injury insurance).

So they'd keep a majority of their current team in tact, have some trade bait that would cut a decent amount of salary to allow them to upgrade at catcher, get a true #4 hitting DH and increase their pitching depth, without looking for any help from the minors. Yeah, next year should be fun, but in the mean time, I really hope the guys can keep them tight enough to make a run when/if we get Roy and Ted back.

[Young Drachma]

I was thrilled today to see they're only 4 games out of the Wild Card. I'm really excited for next season, especially to get Doc back and to see what this team can do if it gets another bat and an arm for that rotation.

I don't think they're overacheiving at all and in that division, with the Yanks creaky and aging, it's going to be a good few years for the Jays if Rogers spends like he says he will.

[johnnyshaka]

blade,

Just noticed your sig...man after my own heart...well done!!!

[Blade]

Heh...us Edmontonians need to stick together...I think we may be the only two on the board!

As Travis will tell you, Sherwood Park is not a part of Edmonton!

[johnnyshaka]

Pffft...Sherwood Park...I work in that dump...heck, I'm smack dab right in the middle of it right now.

I feel dirty.

[Travis]

You outsiders should feel dirty, it's such a clean and wonderful environment :P

Though I have never quite felt yuppieish enough to completely fit in...

[johnnyshaka]

Tell me about it...driving around in my beat up '91 VW GTI really makes me feel like the ugly, fat chick at a high school dance.

[Travis]

And that's exactly how we want all outsiders to feel. Especially you Edmontonians who keep trying to add us to your city. One day we'll get over our hatred for St. Albert and team up against the big city and take you guys over!

[Blade]

Nah...I give you guys 10 more years, and you will be annexed...

Oh, and just to reference the topic again...go Jays!

;)

[chrisj]

Heh...us Edmontonians need to stick together...I think we may be the only two on the board!

Nope, there is a third. :)

[sterlingice]

I was actually really curious about this thread. It's not like ESPN gives coverage to any but a handfull of teams so you can't really guage a national reaction to others. I thought they had made some good moves coming into this year but would be hard pressed to compete with the huge budgets in the East. Here's to you guys winning next year or, even better, the Wild Card this year. I'm all for seeing Toronto or Cleveland sneak in there.

SI

[johnnyshaka]

And that's exactly how we want all outsiders to feel. Especially you Edmontonians who keep trying to add us to your city. One day we'll get over our hatred for St. Albert and team up against the big city and take you guys over!

Actually...one of my moms (long story) lives in the Park...so, technically, I'm not really an outsider...per say...and since I've been working in this dump for 5 years my buddies assume I'm an original Parker. Lucky me!!!!

And piss me off...I'm still at work...IN DA GODDAMN PARK!!!!



PS...still have a soft spot for the Jays...grew up in Ontario...so, always hope they do well.

[Johnny93g]

ok, we suck again...4 losses in a row pretty much does us in......pathetic showing against the Tigers

[johnnyshaka]

At least you didn't drop 2 to the friggin' Bad News Royals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bbor]

and I expect to lose Hudson to free agency


Hudson won't be a UFA for another 3 seasons.He is entering into his first arbitration eligible off season this winter.

[chrisj]

ok, we suck again...4 losses in a row pretty much does us in......pathetic showing against the Tigers

I wouldn't say that yet. We're didn't lose much ground (went from 4 back to 5.5 back in the wild card), and there is still 38 games to go. Plenty of time - they just need to get back on track, and soon.