To start the key word is change and to the good more than to the bad lets start with the club house changes out are Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay who showed little to no interest to get the job done on the field as they both looked like guys just picking up pay checks with Vernon being hot and cold year to year. This is because he would not hit the ball @ home and then go on the road hit the cover off the ball and when he grounded out he would not hustle to first-base while Overbay never was a good hitter and had lost most of his power and we were being feed the line "O' Overbay is a great fielding first-baseman and he saves runs which is OK if he was getting paid 2 Mil but instead he was getting 7-8 Mil. This could very easily rub off on the younger players and in their place we have Jose Bautista who is a very vocal leader and works will with players from Dominican Republic and has already set a good example as Yunel Escobar played a ball with his head not in the game behind his head and it went down the line and after the game Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion (also from the Dominican Republic) sat down with Escobar and told him this is not the way we play here and Escobar went to John farrell and said "I'm sorry and it won't happen again" and then Escobar went out and hit 400 for the spring and played solid D.
The Infield
Arron Hill is a solid second-baseman and Yunel Escobar can be a suitable shortstop if he keeps his head in the game while Edwin Encarnacion is a big question mark with his throwing arm not as good as it needs to be to get the ball across the diamond to first base but Brett Lawrie maybe at third before the end of the season. Then there is Adam Lind who has picked up a first- basemen's glove and will be playing first and trying to keep the ball in front of him and not making errors and then there is J.P. Arencibia as the leader of the pitching staff also known as the catcher and he can be good but it will be the first long stretch as the No.1 catcher and more importantly Jose Molina is the back-up and is a question mark as he is a lazy back-up so the times he gets in he is slappy. The best thing about J.P. Arencibia is that he has worked with most of pitchers in the minors and has basically come up with them so he should know their way of getting the job done.
The Outfield
Rajai Davis is fast so he will be able to cover the outfield and that is what you want from center field and if he can judge the ball of the bat and make the right decisions he could be a lesser version of Devon White. Right field is Jose Bautista and he was there last summer so he should be comfortable in right field and Travis Snider will get more time in Left field as Cito is no longer able to keep him on the bench so Travis should be more comfortable playing everyday in the outfield.
Pitchers
Ricky Romero is a solid pitcher who can keep batters of the bases as they were hitting 2.42 against him last season with 174 strikeouts to 82 walks. Kyle Drabek is going to be interesting as it will be his first real test at the major league level because September ball is much different than April or May baseball. Brett Cecil is lacking a little on his fast ball coming into the regular season and will need to get his era down a little with a era over 4 last season while having 117 strikeouts in 172.1 innings compared to 54 walks while having given up 175 hits. Jessie Litsch has the most seasons with the Blue Jays and is a couple of years removed from a 13-9 season where he had 99 strikeouts and 39 walks with 178 hits given up in 176 innings pitched so it maybe a little bit of a make or break season for Jessie. Jo Jo Reyes who has had 1 season as a every 5 day starter and it was not pretty with a 3 and 11 record in 22 starts with 134 hits given up in 113 innings pitched with 52 walks and 78 strikeouts and then there is Brandon Morrow who hopefully will only miss a couple of starts and then him and his fast ball takes control of the betters and make them look silly especially if he can find his control because when he is on he is on and when he is off the defense will be kept busy as batters will be jugging down to first base as he can give up a lot of walks.
The bullpen
David Purcey and Marc Rzepczynski will be the guys looking to eat up innings if starters get lite up early along with Casey Jenssen and Casey maybe the first to go into the rotation as he was strong at times especially before his arm got tired so if it is a two or three game start he should be fine but if he gets up to like 10 straight starts the Jays maybe in trouble. While Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor, and Charlie Villanueva will be asked to bridge the gap between the 7th and 9 inning and Camp and Frasor will be able to do this as it is a lot less pressure for Frasor from being the closer last year and maybe asked to set-up for Jon Rauch who will be the closer early on this season.
The Batting Line-up
The big questions will be if Arron Hill and Adam Lind can get a good start to this season as they had a bad beginning to the season last year even though they still hit homers but everybody hit homers last year. Then Will Travis Snider be better at the plate as he will be playing everyday and be more comfortable as he knows he will not be taken out if he strikes out and how much of a deep of will Bautista have this season coming off a career season. Can Davis start the Blue Jays off on the right foot by getting on base and getting into scoring with a hit and run or a stolen base and how will Juan Rivera react to be a cold hitter as a DH after being an outfielder for a number of seasons and hopefully he can hit closer to 300 than to his 252 batting average of last season.
I think the Blue Jays can be in that 84-88 win range and lets hope the fans show up after opening day unlike the Expos before they left
Tom Mehegan
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Toronto Blue Jays profile - 27 Brett Cecil
27 Brett Cecil
Ht: 6'1 Weight: 235 Date Of Birth: 7/2/1986 Birth Place: Dunkirk, Maryland
Throws: Left-hander College: Maryland MLB Debut: 5/5/2009 drafted: round 1 (38th) in 2007
Brett Cecil is going into his third MLB season with the first season in 2009 he went 7-4 with a 5.30 ERA and 3.08 batting average against him in 93.1 innings in 18 games (17 starts) along with given up 59 runs (55 earn runs). While he gave up 17 home runs along with 116 hits. He hit 5 batters along with 69 strikeouts compared to 38 walks. In his second season in 2010 and went 15-7 with a 4.22 ERA and 2.64 batting average against him in 172.2 innings in 28 starts with 87 runs (81 earn runs)with 18 home runs and gave up 175 hits and have a 2-to-1 strikeouts (117) to walks (54 with 2 intensional) with a hit batter.
Career Highlights
- First Major league start May 5.2009 Vs the Cleveland Indians which was a 6 innings, 6 hitter with 2 runs (an earn run) giving up with 6 strikeouts and 3 hit batters
- May 10Th @ Oakland A's was a 8 innings of 5 hitter and 6 strikeouts and 2 walks but not given up a run
- May 3,2010 Vs Cleveland Indians was Cecil's double-digit strikeouts (10) game in a 8 inning pitching performance of an one-hitter given up a run and 2 walks
Brett Cecil the most famous Blue Jay who wears glasses next to Tom Henke
Tom Mehegan
Ht: 6'1 Weight: 235 Date Of Birth: 7/2/1986 Birth Place: Dunkirk, Maryland
Throws: Left-hander College: Maryland MLB Debut: 5/5/2009 drafted: round 1 (38th) in 2007
Brett Cecil is going into his third MLB season with the first season in 2009 he went 7-4 with a 5.30 ERA and 3.08 batting average against him in 93.1 innings in 18 games (17 starts) along with given up 59 runs (55 earn runs). While he gave up 17 home runs along with 116 hits. He hit 5 batters along with 69 strikeouts compared to 38 walks. In his second season in 2010 and went 15-7 with a 4.22 ERA and 2.64 batting average against him in 172.2 innings in 28 starts with 87 runs (81 earn runs)with 18 home runs and gave up 175 hits and have a 2-to-1 strikeouts (117) to walks (54 with 2 intensional) with a hit batter.
Career Highlights
- First Major league start May 5.2009 Vs the Cleveland Indians which was a 6 innings, 6 hitter with 2 runs (an earn run) giving up with 6 strikeouts and 3 hit batters
- May 10Th @ Oakland A's was a 8 innings of 5 hitter and 6 strikeouts and 2 walks but not given up a run
- May 3,2010 Vs Cleveland Indians was Cecil's double-digit strikeouts (10) game in a 8 inning pitching performance of an one-hitter given up a run and 2 walks
Brett Cecil the most famous Blue Jay who wears glasses next to Tom Henke
Tom Mehegan
Monday, March 28, 2011
Toronto Blue Jays profile - #4 Kyle Drabek
Kyle Drabek
Ht: 6'1 Weight: 219 No: 4 Throws: right
High School: The Woodlands High School Drafted: 2006 18 overall by Phillies
Place Of Birth: Victoria, Texas Date of Birth: December 8th,1987
Kyle Drabek is the son of former CY winner in 1990 Doug Drabek and Kyle will be always remembered for being apart of the Roy Halladay trade and made his Major League Baseball debut was on September 15Th, 2010 Vs Baltimore Orioles. Has a 0-3 career record with a 4.76 ERA and 12 strikeouts with 5 walks along 9 runs (9 earn runs) with 18 hits and 2 home runs in his 17 innings pitch. He will be the Blue Jays starting pitcher on April 2Nd, 2011 when the Blue Jays play the Minnesota Twins in the second game of the Blue Jays season and is looking like in his first full season in the majors will be him right behind Ricky Romero who looks like the Jays Ace to start the season.
I be in the crowd for his start on Saturday and maybe he will face Roy in July
Tom Mehegan
Ht: 6'1 Weight: 219 No: 4 Throws: right
High School: The Woodlands High School Drafted: 2006 18 overall by Phillies
Place Of Birth: Victoria, Texas Date of Birth: December 8th,1987
Kyle Drabek is the son of former CY winner in 1990 Doug Drabek and Kyle will be always remembered for being apart of the Roy Halladay trade and made his Major League Baseball debut was on September 15Th, 2010 Vs Baltimore Orioles. Has a 0-3 career record with a 4.76 ERA and 12 strikeouts with 5 walks along 9 runs (9 earn runs) with 18 hits and 2 home runs in his 17 innings pitch. He will be the Blue Jays starting pitcher on April 2Nd, 2011 when the Blue Jays play the Minnesota Twins in the second game of the Blue Jays season and is looking like in his first full season in the majors will be him right behind Ricky Romero who looks like the Jays Ace to start the season.
I be in the crowd for his start on Saturday and maybe he will face Roy in July
Tom Mehegan
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Toronto Blue Jays profile - #24 Ricky Romero
#24 Ricky Romero
ht: 6'0 weight: 210 Date of Birth: 1984-11-06 Drafted: Round 1 (6th overall) in 2005
Born In: Los Angles School: Cal State Fullerton Bats/Throws: Left
Ricky Romero started pitching for the Blue Jays in 2009 and has 61 career starts with a 27 wins and 18 losses in his career as a Blue Jays with an era of 3.74 with 3 complete games and 1 shutout in 210 innings in 2010 with 14 win and 9 losses record in 32 starts. While having an era of 4.30 with a 13 wins and 9 losses while pitching in 178 innings in 29 starts in 2009. In 2010 Ricky gave up 189 hits in 210 innings with a 2-to-1 strikeouts (174) to walks (82) while giving up 15 home runs and giving up 98 runs (87 earn runs). In 2009 he gave up 192 hits with less than a 2-to-1 strikeouts (141) to walks (79) while he gave up 18 home runs and giving up 89 runs (85 earn runs).
Career Highlights
- Ricky Romero made his debut on April 9Th, 2009 Vs Detroit Tigers where he gave up 2 runs on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks in 6 innings.
- July 1St, 2009 Vs Tampa Bay Rays he pitched 8 shutout innings while giving up 4 hits and 4 walks while striking 7 batters.
- April 13Th, 2010 Vs Chicago White Soxs he had his first 1 hitter over 8 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts.
- May 15Th, 2010 Vs Texas Rangers was Ricky's first career complete game shutout while giving up 5 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts.
Let's have a good season Ricky Romero
Tom Mehegan
ht: 6'0 weight: 210 Date of Birth: 1984-11-06 Drafted: Round 1 (6th overall) in 2005
Born In: Los Angles School: Cal State Fullerton Bats/Throws: Left
Ricky Romero started pitching for the Blue Jays in 2009 and has 61 career starts with a 27 wins and 18 losses in his career as a Blue Jays with an era of 3.74 with 3 complete games and 1 shutout in 210 innings in 2010 with 14 win and 9 losses record in 32 starts. While having an era of 4.30 with a 13 wins and 9 losses while pitching in 178 innings in 29 starts in 2009. In 2010 Ricky gave up 189 hits in 210 innings with a 2-to-1 strikeouts (174) to walks (82) while giving up 15 home runs and giving up 98 runs (87 earn runs). In 2009 he gave up 192 hits with less than a 2-to-1 strikeouts (141) to walks (79) while he gave up 18 home runs and giving up 89 runs (85 earn runs).
Career Highlights
- Ricky Romero made his debut on April 9Th, 2009 Vs Detroit Tigers where he gave up 2 runs on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks in 6 innings.
- July 1St, 2009 Vs Tampa Bay Rays he pitched 8 shutout innings while giving up 4 hits and 4 walks while striking 7 batters.
- April 13Th, 2010 Vs Chicago White Soxs he had his first 1 hitter over 8 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts.
- May 15Th, 2010 Vs Texas Rangers was Ricky's first career complete game shutout while giving up 5 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts.
Let's have a good season Ricky Romero
Tom Mehegan
Toronto Blue Jays profile - #24 Ricky Romero
#24 Ricky Romero
ht: 6'0 weight: 210 Date of Birth: 1984-11-06
Born In: Los Angles School: Cal State Fullerton Bats/Throws: Left
Ricky Romero started pitching for the Blue Jays in 2009 and has 61 career starts with a 27 wins and 18 losses in his career as a Blue Jays with an era of 3.74 with 3 complete games and 1 shutout in 210 innings in 2010 with 14 win and 9 losses record in 32 starts. While having an era of 4.30 with a 13 wins and 9 losses while pitching in 178 innings in 29 starts in 2009. In 2010 Ricky gave up 189 hits in 210 innings with a 2-to-1 strikeouts (174) to walks (82) while giving up 15 home runs and giving up 98 runs (87 earn runs). In 2009 he gave up 192 hits with less than a 2-to-1 strikeouts (141) to walks (79) while he gave up 18 home runs and giving up 89 runs (85 earn runs).
Career Highlights
- Ricky Romero made his debut on April 9Th, 2009 Vs Detroit Tigers where he gave up 2 runs on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks in 6 innings.
- July 1St, 2009 Vs Tampa Bay Rays he pitched 8 shutout innings while giving up 4 hits and 4 walks while striking 7 batters.
- April 13Th, 2010 Vs Chicago White Soxs he had his first 1 hitter over 8 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts.
- May 15Th, 2010 Vs Texas Rangers was Ricky's first career complete game shutout while giving up 5 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts.
Let's have a good season Ricky Romero
Tom Mehegan
ht: 6'0 weight: 210 Date of Birth: 1984-11-06
Born In: Los Angles School: Cal State Fullerton Bats/Throws: Left
Ricky Romero started pitching for the Blue Jays in 2009 and has 61 career starts with a 27 wins and 18 losses in his career as a Blue Jays with an era of 3.74 with 3 complete games and 1 shutout in 210 innings in 2010 with 14 win and 9 losses record in 32 starts. While having an era of 4.30 with a 13 wins and 9 losses while pitching in 178 innings in 29 starts in 2009. In 2010 Ricky gave up 189 hits in 210 innings with a 2-to-1 strikeouts (174) to walks (82) while giving up 15 home runs and giving up 98 runs (87 earn runs). In 2009 he gave up 192 hits with less than a 2-to-1 strikeouts (141) to walks (79) while he gave up 18 home runs and giving up 89 runs (85 earn runs).
Career Highlights
- Ricky Romero made his debut on April 9Th, 2009 Vs Detroit Tigers where he gave up 2 runs on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks in 6 innings.
- July 1St, 2009 Vs Tampa Bay Rays he pitched 8 shutout innings while giving up 4 hits and 4 walks while striking 7 batters.
- April 13Th, 2010 Vs Chicago White Soxs he had his first 1 hitter over 8 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts.
- May 15Th, 2010 Vs Texas Rangers was Ricky's first career complete game shutout while giving up 5 hits, a walk, and 12 strikeouts.
Let's have a good season Ricky Romero
Tom Mehegan
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Toronto Blue Jays look like they have a clear favorite for their closer for opening day
Jon Rauch is the clear favorite to be the opening day closer as both Frank Francisco who has an injured pectoral muscle but Dr. James Andrews found no structural damage and will most likely to begin the season on the disabled list. This is likely to mean that Francisco will be touch and go for a while where the question will be when will he be ready to pitch for the Blue Jays in a regular season game and the question will be asked until he does so it may be a distraction. Also Octavio Dotel is sidelined with a hamstring injury which could keep him from pitching for a while and a hamstring injury can be a lingering injury and can last a short amount of time or a long process to get him healthy.
Jon Rauch will be the starting day closer for the Toronto Blue Jays and his past in this position as last season he was with the Minnesota Twins and had 25 closing opportunities and ended up with 21 saves and last season he had a ratio of over 3 to 1 strikeout to walks. He will need to get his hits (61) to inning pitched (57.2) down if he is going to a solid closer and keep the confidence of the starters who may feel that they can not make a mistake during the game and almost having to complete the game. The problem with added pressure to the starters can have a compounding effect as if they try harder to focus on being almost perfect with every pitch means when a batter gets a hit off the pitcher and means that the pitcher will try even harder to get the next batter out and it can get the pitcher off his game or even getting hurt.
In the end as a Blue Jay fan I'm hoping Jon Rauch gets some early chances to saving games because we will only know if he can get the job done by watching him pitch under pressure and seeing if he can get the job done and lets hope there are 3 run games to start the season as it will be less pressure than a single run lead.
Lets have a good season Blue Jays as the season starts next Friday
Tom Mehegan
Jon Rauch will be the starting day closer for the Toronto Blue Jays and his past in this position as last season he was with the Minnesota Twins and had 25 closing opportunities and ended up with 21 saves and last season he had a ratio of over 3 to 1 strikeout to walks. He will need to get his hits (61) to inning pitched (57.2) down if he is going to a solid closer and keep the confidence of the starters who may feel that they can not make a mistake during the game and almost having to complete the game. The problem with added pressure to the starters can have a compounding effect as if they try harder to focus on being almost perfect with every pitch means when a batter gets a hit off the pitcher and means that the pitcher will try even harder to get the next batter out and it can get the pitcher off his game or even getting hurt.
In the end as a Blue Jay fan I'm hoping Jon Rauch gets some early chances to saving games because we will only know if he can get the job done by watching him pitch under pressure and seeing if he can get the job done and lets hope there are 3 run games to start the season as it will be less pressure than a single run lead.
Lets have a good season Blue Jays as the season starts next Friday
Tom Mehegan
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