2011 MLB Team Preview: Toronto Blue Jays
Hard to believe, as many of us watch the snow fall outside, that the Boys of Summer are almost back. But it’s true; teams will report soon to 2011 Major League Baseball training camps and it’s time to start our team-by-team baseball gambling previews for the year.
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Blue Jays Calender
FEB. 1-18, 2011 – Salary arbitration hearings
FEB. 14, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players
FEB. 19, 2011 – Voluntary Spring Training reporting date for non-pitchers and catchers
FEB. 26, 2011 – Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players
It’s too bad the Blue Jays weren’t a year further ahead in their youth development. The general consensus around Major League Baseball is that, while the Red Sox have improved, the Yankees and Rays have gone a bit soft over the offseason. That means there could’ve been a hole for an 85-win team like the Blue Jays to exploit in their division. Will Toronto disappoint? Or will the young guns arrive ahead of schedule and bring the city to its feet?
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
World Series odds: +6000
After new general manager Alex Anthopoulos shipped Roy Halladay to the Phillies, 2010 was supposed to be a disaster for the Toronto Blue Jays. Many pundits picked them to finish among the very worst teams in all of baseball. Low and behold, the team exploded to lead the majors in homers and finish eight games over .500.
What happened? Some of it was fluke luck. Jose Bautista hit 54 home runs and knocked in 124. I repeat, JOSE BATISTA HIT 54 HOME RUNS. There’s just no way we can expect a repeat performance from a guy who was a borderline part-time player prior to last season.
Still – two of the Jays’ stars, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind, regressed significantly. Travis Snider developed slower than expected. So how did this team get better?
The answer: the young starting pitchers delivered far more than expected. Ricky Romero, Shaun Marcum and Brandon Morrow all flirted with no-hitters at various points in the season. Marcum is gone but Romero and Morrow both have the pedigree to become solid No. 2 big-league starters. Morrow in particular has a high ceiling; the enigmatic youngster struck out 17 in a game last year. You can whiff 10 guys in a game by fluke but you need special ability to strike out 17. 
The underrated Brett Cecil also looks like a solid mid-rotation contributor. The key for the Jays this year is if Kyle Drabek can step in and fill the void left by Marcum. Drabek was, of course, the main return in the Halladay deal. He has the reputation of being a young Doc, a fiery competitor who wants the ball in key games. He has ace potential.
Toronto’s bullpen looks more like a strength than a weakness this season, with Jon Rauch, Frank Francisco and Octavio Dotel joining the fray. All three have big-league closing experience.
2011 OUTLOOK
There’s plenty for Toronto Blue Jays fans to get excited about on this roster. Lind, Hill and Snider should bounce back. J.P. Arencibia is one of baseball’s top catching prospects and could start this year. Even if Batista regresses by 25 homers, 30 would be plenty useful. And Yunel Escobar could show sneaky-good pop as a shortstop.
Still – the rotation could take its lumps if Drabek isn’t ready. The Jays’ starters are young and talented but still inexperienced. Also, the team’s aggressive, undisciplined approach at the plate isn’t a blueprint for consistency. If they stop making contact, their offense could swoon.
Alex Anthopoulos is doing a nice job assembling good prospects, making the Jays reminiscent of the pre-breakout Tampa Bay Rays. However, in the vicious American League East, this team probably needs more seasoning. 2012 could be Toronto’s year – assuming the Yankees and Rays don’t retool before then.
Prediction: 4th, American League East
