A preview of the Toronto Blue Jays 2008 season

Romer Bautista, staff

As seems to be the case every year, the Toronto Blue Jays head into the 2008 season as the third-best team in the money-loaded American League East. That’s not to say that hope is already lost before a single pitch is thrown, but realistically, a lot of things are going to have to fall into place is Toronto hopes to top its rivals from Boston and New York. If they don’t, this could be J.P. Ricciardi’s final go-around as general manager of the Blue Jays.

Here is a look at the Toronto Blue Jays 2008 team.

Infield

Projected starters: Lyle Overbay (1B), Aaron Hill (2B), Scott Rolen (3B), David Eckstein (SS)

The left-side of the Blue Jays infield has undergone a complete makeover. Out are the inconsistent play of Troy Glaus, John McDonald and Royce Clayton, and in are a pair of players who bring with them experience and veteran leadership, two things that recent Blue Jay teams have sorely lacked.

In Eckstein, the Blue Jays are getting a former World Series MVP (2006), who by all accounts is one of the grittiest players of the past decade. What he lacks in stature (5-7, 175 pounds), he more than makes up for in heart and determination. His scrappiness will prove useful as Toronto’s leadoff hitter.

Statistically, the move from Glaus to Rolen at third base is nearly a wash. Glaus might be a little bit better offensively, but Rolen is slightly better defensively. The Blue Jays, however, are hoping that a change of scenery will re-ignite the fire in Rolen. Toronto could also use Rolen’s voice in the clubhouse.

Outfield

Projected starters: Alex Rios (RF), Vernon Wells (CF) Shannon Stewart (LF), Frank Thomas (DH)

There will be a familiar face patrolling left field in the Rogers Centre this year, as Stewart returns to the team for the first time since being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2003. To make room on the roster for Stewart, the Blue Jays had to cut the hard-working fan favourite Reed Johnson, who was never able to return to form after suffering a herniated disc last year. Stewart should find himself sharing left field duties with Matt Stairs.

Not only are the Blue Jays banking on a strong bats from Stewart and Stairs, they will also need strong offensive outputs from Wells, Rios and Thomas. Wells, especially, will need to be more like his 2006 self (32 HR, 106 RBI, .303 AVG), and less like the 2007 version (16 HR, 80 RBI, .245 AVG). Rios, entering just his fifth season in the big league, has been one of Toronto’s most consistent players the past two seasons (especially when he isn’t recovering from a staph infection), and there doesn’t look to be any reason for that to change this year.

Starting pitching

Projected rotation: Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch

There is not much to say about Halladay. He’s the rock of the Blue Jays rotation and, barring injury, should find himself in the thick of the American League Cy Young Award hunt come season’s end.

But while Halladay may be Toronto’s most important pitcher (and likely the team’s most important player), the key to Toronto’s season may be the play of the team’s second starter, Burnett. Burnett has shown glimpses of brilliance in his two injury-riddled seasons with the Blue Jays, but, as of yet, has failed to live up to his five-year, $55-million contract. If he can somehow find a way to make at least 30 starts this year — something he has only done once in his nine-year career — the Blue Jays rotation should be in good shape.

And that’s because starters three through five are young and loaded with potential. McGowan, Marcum and Litsch each got valuable experience as starters last year, and each showed that they have the stuff to be full-time starters this year. McGowan especially has shown that he has star potential, as evidenced by his complete-game one-hitter against the Colorado Rockies last year. If these three young arms give the Blue Jays anything similar to their performance last year, Toronto may be able to boast to having the division’s best rotation.

Bullpen

Key relievers: Jeremy Accardo, B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs

While Ryan’s season-ending Tommy John surgery last season was a devastating blow to the Blue Jays, one good thing that did come out of it was the emergence of Accardo. In filling in for Ryan, Accardo proved that he could be the team’s full-time closer, converting on 30 of 35 saves last year and posting a 2.14 ERA. That experience will be essential this season as well, as it looks as if Accardo will begin the year as the team’s closer.

While they may be able to float above water for a bit without Ryan, who continues to recover, they will need their hard-throwing lefty back on the field as soon as possible. Once recovered, Ryan should move back into the closer’s role, while Accardo will slide into the set-up position — a spot vacated by the injured Casey Janssen, who is out for the year with a town labrum in his right shoulder.

Downs should continue to be Toronto’s number one left-handed option in relief. He excelled in that role last year, posting a 2.14 ERA in 81 appearances.

Other Blue Jay relievers who are likely to get the call in some key situations this year will be Jason Frasor, Brian Tallett and Brian Wolfe.

Last word

There is no denying the talent on this Blue Jays team and, if they played in the NL, they are very likely a playoff team. But in reality, they play in a division that has the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and the free-spending, big-name New York Yankees in it. To get past either (or both) of those playoff stalwarts, the Blue Jays will need, among other things, another strong season from its pitching staff, a bounce-back year from Wells, and most importantly, they need to stay healthy.

Even if the Blue Jays manage to get past even one of those AL East giants, they will still have to compete with the likes of the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox for the wild-card spot.

In short: the playoffs are a long shot, but stranger things have happened.