Alright so this year is kind of a giant question mark. Unlike other years, where the Jays have postured like they were poised to compete with the giants of the AL East (and then were subsequently beaten into submission and even leap-frogged by the 08 Tampa Bay Rays)
The past few Blue Jays teams have hung their hats either on the pitching or on the offence, with the other being a large question mark... it's rare that the two are both supposed to perform and it is even more rare that the two are actually grooving at the same time.
This team is a bit different.
They had the best bullpen in the major leagues in 08, bar none. But that bullpen also pitched the least innings, as the Blue Jays dominant starters led the major leagues in innings pitched by a starting rotation. So how good is the 'pen really? Well we'll see this year for sure, as a season ending injury to Shaun Marcum and a possible season ending injury to Dustin McGowan have left the rotation depleted to the point that three rookie (I think David Purcey still has rookie eligibility) starters have earned themselves jobs.
Anyways, let's examine the staff, as it were.
Starting Rotation
1. Roy Halladay
The Doctor is in. There isn't much to say about Hallady except that he is a beast and is due for a freak injury this year, as based on his past bad luck. However, if Halladay can stay healthy, he is an absolute horse (led the majors in both innings and complete games last season. In fact, he had more complete games by himself than most teams in the majors)
2. Jesse Litsch
The feel good story of 2007, the 5th starter in 2008, is now being counted on to shoulder a much heavier load. Litsch is apparently throwing harder this spring (hitting 91-92, consistently, on the gun, as opposed to his usual 87-90) and came into camp much about 20 pounds lighter, ready to handle a heavier workload. I like Litsch because he is young, willing to work on his game and has a nice change-up. But having him as our number 2 starter is giving me a gastro-intestinal disorder.
3. David Purcey
Purcey will actually start the Jays second game of the season, as he is a lefty, and Cito wants to split up the righties and lefties in the rotation. But for all intents and purposes, he is the third starter, in terms of importance/experience. Purcey actually has great stuff. He's huge and throw a nice 92-94, with a dirty slider. But he also walks a BUTTLOAD of people. If he's hitting the strike zone, he is solid. He should go to Randy Johnson camp and learn to just hit that mitt. That being said, he is our third starter and only had 11 starts in the majors last season. Did you hear that? that was an angel losing its wings.
4. Ricky Romero
Another lefty in the rotation. The Jays 2005 first round draft pick, selected ahead of the likes of Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Garza and Jacoby Ellsbury. He has nice stuff, throws 92-93 and can throw both his breaking pitches for strikes, and is developing a nice change-up. He did lead his university squad to the collegiate world series championship and, while people have hated on him for not progressing more quickly, he is still only 24 years old, which is young for most starting pitchers. In fact, he was in camp this year as a lock to start at Triple A and maybe get a mid-season call-up if things were in the toilet. Instead, he produced enough to earn him a spot right out of camp. Good for him. The fact that the Jays really have no other options should allow him to, hopefully, settle in and be allowed some growing pains.
5. Scott Richmond
Made the team in the last week, after not pitching at all for Canada in the WBC. As much as I love a feel-good Canadian story (Richmond is 30 or so, a career minor leaguer who finally got his shot with the Jays last season and didnt shit the bed, hence the feel-good) Richmond isnt all that impressive. Touches 90 on the gun and has all around average stuff. Knows how to chuck though or he wouldnt still be around. Can be effective when he hits his spots... like any pitcher. Cito likes him because 'he keeps you in games'... I still don't think he'll last long and once Brett Cecil comes back up in mid-May (he is the Jays top prospect, optioned to Triple A Las Vegas so that we could control his contract rights for another year) I think we will see Richmond traded, sent down or cut loose altogether. But maybe he'll surprise us. Who knows.
Bullpen
This will be much less long winded. Less winded? lwinded? swindled? ok lets just get at it.
1. Brian Tallet LHP, Middle (Long) Reliever
Solid guy who can eat a lot of innings. A rare lefty who is actually more effective against righties than lefties. This would be bad if he were our only lefty, but we have a plethora.
2. Jason Frasor RHP, Middle Reliever
The knock against Frasor (other than the fact the he looks like he's 15 and trying to buy beer with a fake ID) is that he can't pitch on consecutive days. However, he is a right handed arm out of the pen who can touch 95 with his juice. He abandoned a nice overhand curve that let him save 17 games for the Jays back in 06, for a slider that would be less discernible to hitters and I think, overall, that has limited his effectiveness.
3. Shawn Camp RHP, Middle Reliever
Both Camp and Frasor are probably going to pitch a lot in April as the Jays attempt to deal them while Jeremy Accardo works out his problems (mainly with his splitter) in Triple A. Camp is serviceable but he did get cut from the Rays before the Rays were the RAYS. Enough said.
4. Jesse Carlson LHP, Middle Reliever
Last years big surprise, Carlson is a soft tossing lefty with a deceptive motion and a devastating breaking pitch that baffles lefties and righties alike. Throws tons of strikes, eats lots of innings and seems to have a rubber arm.
5. Brandon League RHP, Middle Reliever/Set-Up
League is the only Jay who can throw absolute gas. After hurting a shoulder muscle two offseasons ago that dropped his velocity to around 88-91 mph, he is back to his hard throwing self, hitting 97-98 on a regular basis, with a serviceable sinker to keep hitters off-balance. When he is throwing the sinker well, he is nearly unhittable. The closer in waiting.
6. Scott Downs LHP Set-Up (Closer?)
There has been talk about Downs closing some days until BJ Ryan works himself into mid-season form. Downs has led the Jays relief corps in appearances the past two seasons and has been incredibly effective in all situations. Spots his fastball nicely and has a big sweeping curve that baffles lefties and causes righties to pop up. Not really long-term closer material because he lacks true strike-out ability.
7. BJ Ryan
We need the foaming at the mouth, rattling-the-bullpen-cage-like-the-Ultimate Warrior BJ Ryan that came to the Jays three seasons back. Unfortunately Ryan has only been hitting 84-87 on the gun throughout spring training and may have (at least temporarily) lost his closing job until he can work himself into shape. However, for those that thought the big man from down south was throwing 95 or 96 when he first came to the Jays, he wasn't. He really only ever threw 90-91, with a nasty slider and an incredibly deft motion and rhythm that intimidated hitters. Anyways we'll see how BJ is doing but there is a distinct possibility, even if he is totally fine, that he could be dealt to a contender around the deadline.
alright folks there's your pitching staff. coming soon, your 2009 position players.
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