Official 2009 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[gosensgo101]

I know there are a few other Jays fans on here, plus I know other will take an interest.

Here's their projected roster for starters:

SP-Roy Halladay
SP-Jesse Litsch
SP-David Purcey (L)
SP-???
SP-???

On the cusp:
RHP Casey Janssen
RHP Scott Richmond
RHP Matt Clement
LHP Brad Mills
LHP Ricky Romero

As long as Janssen continues to pitch decently and doesn't suffer any setbacks he should have a rotation job locked up. Cito has said that Clement is on the outside looking in so it seems that the 5th starter's job is Richmond's to lose. Youngster Brad Mills has pitched well so far this spring though, so don't be surprised if he breaks camp with the big club. Barring injuries or a few spectacular outings, Romero will start the year with Triple-A Las Vegas.

CL-BJ Ryan (L)
SU-Scott Downs (L)
SU-Brandon League
SR-Jesse Carlson (L)
MR-???
MR-???
LR-Brian Tallet (L)

On the cusp:
RHP Casey Janssen
RHP Jeremy Accardo
RHP Jason Frasor
RHP Brian Wolfe
RHP Shawn Camp

Cito has already said that the four lefties are the only locks in the pen. League's job should be safe as well. If starting does not work out for Janssen, he has a spot locked up in the pen. Otherwise, there are 2 spots to hand out to 4 deserving righties. Accardo and Frasor would be the favorites, especially with Wolfe having an injury scare last week. I believe Wolfe also has an option left, which doesn't help his cause. If JP decides to trade one, Accardo and Frasor have the most value and would be the first to be sent packing.

C-Rod Barajas
1B-Lyle Overbay (L)
2B-Aaron Hill
3B-Scott Rolen
SS-Marco Scutaro
LF-Adam Lind (L)
CF-Vernon Wells
RF-Alex Rios
DH-Travis Snider (L)

Bench:
C/1B Michael Barrett
???
???
???

On the cusp:
1B/LF Kevin Millar
SS/IF John McDonald
UT Joe Inglett (L)
UT Jose Bautista
OF Jason Lane

In recent years the Jays have almost always carried 4 bench players, and I don't expect that to change this year. Barrett is a shoe-in as backup catcher, but it remains to be seen if he'll see extra at bats at 1st base and DH against lefties. All indicators point to Bautista making the team. I don't neccessarily agree with this, but whatever. I would like to see McDonald and Inglett be the other two bench players, but they could very well drop one and take Lane (who's having a great spring) or Millar to play against lefties.

I past years I've been optimistic about the Jays chances (mostly due to their rotation) but with a much worse rotation than last year, I don't have high hopes for this year's club.

[RedsoxRockies]

I like the Jays, they are cool. I think Bautista, Inglett, and Millar should be on the bench. They all know multible positions, and have decent bats.

[Mike67]

I think Accardo will make the team before Frasor.. Considering both Gibbons and Cito didn't use Frasor unless in a blowout situation, or in a place where there was no pressure..
I'd rather see Clement make the team over Richmond.. Haven't been all that impressed with what I've seen of Richmond..

[Arctic Blast]

I thought they'd basically said already that Downs is definitely moving in to the rotation this year?

[Mike67]

I think once Spring Training started they decided Downs is better used in the pen.. I mean either him or Tallet can spot start.. I wouldn't want them to take from their strength to possibly make no impact in the rotation..

[actionjackson]

2006-2008: Great hopes...no playoffs.

2009: Not much hope...Playoffs?!

[filihok]

2006-2008: Great hopes...no playoffs.

2009: Not much hope...Playoffs?!

More likely 5th than 1st I think. Sorry

[actionjackson]

More likely 5th than 1st I think. Sorry

Hey, you don't have to tell me that, but I'm gonna go with that great sage Joaquin Andujar (because reality is too painful) on this one and say: "Youneverknow."

[BINGLEBOP]

If the Jays had a decent marketing team, they could have an entire campaign devoted to "defeating" the Baltimore Orioles to stay out of last place this season.

[koolzach1]

Toronto has a baseball team?

[gosensgo101]

[gosensgo101]

Janssen had a set-back and won't be ready to pitch in the bigs (atleast as a starter) by opening day. Looks like Richmond and Mills could be the 4,5 guys. (Mills only has 6 starts above A ball. Yikes!)

[actionjackson]

Toronto has a baseball team?

Toronto has a rich baseball history too. 12 HOFers (excluding ones that played for the Jays) spent time here either on the way up or on the way down. Maybe you recognize some of them: Sparky Anderson, Ed Barrow, Dan Brouthers, Hugh Duffy, Charlie Gehringer, Burleigh Grimes, Carl Hubbell, "Wee" Willie Keeler, Joe Kelley, Ralph Kiner, Nap Lajoie, and Heinie Manush. Non-HOFers include Buck Freeman, Reggie Smith and Urban Shocker. Some 19 year old punk named Babe Ruth (what kind of a name is that?) hit the first professional homerun of his career here. Still in Canada, but not Toronto, before his cleats ever touched the turf at Ebbets Field, Jackie Robinson debuted up here in Montreal with the Royals.

It's not enough that I have to put up with a sports media that's 95% hockey, which has made me hate a game I used to love, but then I have to listen to the uninformed that think that all Canadians do is play hockey, watch hockey, eat backbacon drizzled in maple syrup and wash it down with beer. Baseball fandom may not be as widespread as it is in your country, but those that are fans are huge fans and know the game inside out because we've had to overcome the hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey that's incessantly shoved down our throats.

So endeth the rant. Not necessarily all directed at you koolzach1 but at anyone who spreads these ridiculous stereotypes. You just provided the trigger. Sensitive? Yep, no denying it. Also fed up with these stupid Canadianisms.

[Arctic Blast]

I'll say it right now...our beer sucks just as hard as American swill does, and I HATE maple syrup.

[koolzach1]

Toronto has a rich baseball history too. 12 HOFers (excluding ones that played for the Jays) spent time here either on the way up or on the way down. Maybe you recognize some of them: Sparky Anderson, Ed Barrow, Dan Brouthers, Hugh Duffy, Charlie Gehringer, Burleigh Grimes, Carl Hubbell, "Wee" Willie Keeler, Joe Kelley, Ralph Kiner, Nap Lajoie, and Heinie Manush. Non-HOFers include Buck Freeman, Reggie Smith and Urban Shocker. Some 19 year old punk named Babe Ruth (what kind of a name is that?) hit the first professional homerun of his career here. Still in Canada, but not Toronto, before his cleats ever touched the turf at Ebbets Field, Jackie Robinson debuted up here in Montreal with the Royals.

It's not enough that I have to put up with a sports media that's 95% hockey, which has made me hate a game I used to love, but then I have to listen to the uninformed that think that all Canadians do is play hockey, watch hockey, eat backbacon drizzled in maple syrup and wash it down with beer. Baseball fandom may not be as widespread as it is in your country, but those that are fans are huge fans and know the game inside out because we've had to overcome the hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey that's incessantly shoved down our throats.

So endeth the rant. Not necessarily all directed at you koolzach1 but at anyone who spreads these ridiculous stereotypes. You just provided the trigger. Sensitive? Yep, no denying it. Also fed up with these stupid Canadianisms.

Lol, wow, I am glad that you have a strong passion for baseball, but......

I wasn't talking about how baseball isn't relevant up in Canada. I was just kidding about how the Toronto Blue Jays have been irrelevant for quite some time. They weren't bad last year, it was mostly just a poke at them because they haven't made any big moves for awhile... or even semi-big moves.

Oh, and don't think that I don't know anything about Canada... I wacthed the movie "Canadian Bacon."