2006 Jays Preview

As the Toronto Blue Jays open Spring Training in Florida, we should all be excited about the upcoming MLB season. Thanks to a $25 million increase in payroll, it looks as though the Jays have a chance to make the post-season for the first time in over a decade. (Mr. Rogers – it’s about fucking time!) Soon, all of you “Jays haters” will have NO EXCUSE for ignoring baseball. Forget the Raptors and Leafs, let’s have a look at Toronto’s greatest sports team….

Weakness
Defence is questionable. Let’s start with the infield…
Russ Adams – weak arm, makes lots of errors
Troy Glaus – injury prone and not known for his glove
Aaron Hill - not Orlando Hudson!
Keep in mind that Halladay, Burnett and Towers are all ground ball pitchers, so the infield might be a small concern for the team.
In the outfield, the idea of having both Hinske and Cat worries me. Both are bad defenders with weak arms and have changed positions several times during their careers. Personally, I think Rios should be given most of the playing time in right field or else it’s going to be a busy season for Vernon Wells.

Strength
Pitching is deeper than it’s been in a long time. If Halladay and Burnett stay healthy, they should form a solid 1-2 punch, and let’s hope that either Towers or Chacin can continue being as effective as they were last year. With the addition of a legitimate closer in B.J. Ryan, the bullpen is now probably the best in the AL East. Combine Ryan with a bullpen that had an ERA in the 3.00s last season and you have yourself a scary group of relievers.

Biggest Improvement
Thanks to the addition of Glaus, Overbay and Molina, the batting order now looks much stronger. Molina has always been a very good clutch hitter (which the Jays lacked in 2005) and Glaus has 40-hr potential which they haven’t had since Delgado.

Breakout Year?
Aaron Hill is a defensive downgrade at 2B without a doubt, but don’t be surprised if he hits better than Hudson. He has potential to hit .280-.300 with power.

Mid-season Call-ups
Due to the lack of middle infield depth, I wouldn’t be surprised if prospects Ryan Roberts and Sergio Santos get the call sometime this season. An injury to Adams, Hill, or McDonald can bring either one to the majors.
FYI: Santos was the minor leaguer sent to Toronto in the Hudson-Glaus trade.