Blue Jays 2008 Season

[salsamarc]

WELCOME BACK !!!

We have some new faces in the team and we are also sad to see some faces no longer with the team .......Glaus I am going to miss this guy but hopefully the rest of the Jays can have better seasons and remain healthy (Thomas, Rios, Wells, Johnson, Overbay, Chacin) just to name a few


JP has signed Rios to 1 year and some of us hope that is just a prelude to a multi-year signing

 

[teassoc]

WELCOME BACK !!!

We have some new faces in the team and we are also sad to see some faces no longer with the team .......Glaus I am going to miss this guy but hopefully the rest of the Jays can have better seasons and remain healthy (Thomas, Rios, Wells, Johnson, Overbay, Chacin) just to name a few


JP has signed Rios to 1 year and some of us hope that is just a prelude to a multi-year signing

Right now I'm wishing for more of the same from the pitchers who came through so well last season and much better batting performance from Wells, Johnson and Overbay. Is that too much to ask?

 

[JohnLarue]

The Blue Jays will be a good team in 2008, however, they will need a break (ie serious injury trouble for Boston or NY) to make the playoffs

 

[salsamarc]

here is a few of the questions the fans asked JP during the press conference:

Two fans asked Ricciardi to rationalize his reasons for keeping Gibbons at the helm, resulting in more than a few claps from the audience.

"After watching every game last year with the Jays," one fan began, "what I came to conclude was John Gibbons looks like a great guy and probably gets along great with the players, but the bottom line is he hasn't been able to win yet."

Ricciardi pointed out that Gibbons boasts a winning record as Toronto's manager and that he led the Jays to winning marks in each of the past two seasons -- campaigns that were each marred by health issues. Prior to last season, Toronto hadn't posted consecutive winning seasons since 1998-2000.

That didn't stop another fan from chiming in.

"A winning record is getting us third place," the fan said to Ricciardi. "I'm surprised, if we have the talent that we're told every February that we do, that we're not getting the most out of it. I, unfortunately, have to point the finger to the manager.

"If you're bringing in new personnel every year to improve the team, and I do believe that you are, it doesn't compute that you're doing your job and he's doing his job if we're getting 85 wins a year."

(source: The Toronto Blue Jays website)

 

[salsamarc]

Right now I'm wishing for more of the same from the pitchers who came through so well last season and much better batting performance from Wells, Johnson and Overbay. Is that too much to ask?

well you could ask for a healthy Chacin and Rolen and also hope that Gibbons does not go toe to toe with Rolen since both individuals have had this kind of issues in the past.....but managers are a dime a dozen and gold glove third basemen are a rare luxury

 

[bigdik]

well you could ask for a healthy Chacin and Rolen and also hope that Gibbons does not go toe to toe with Rolen since both individuals have had this kind of issues in the past.....but managers are a dime a dozen and gold glove third basemen are a rare luxury

Or you could hope that an asteroid strikes Fenway, bounces onto Yankee Stadium, deflects to Comerica, hangs a hard left to US Cellular and finally comes to a stop in Angel Stadium, cuz that's the only way there's beisbol in Tranna after Sept. 28th.

 

[teassoc]

well you could ask for a healthy Chacin and Rolen and also hope that Gibbons does not go toe to toe with Rolen since both individuals have had this kind of issues in the past.....but managers are a dime a dozen and gold glove third basemen are a rare luxury

Not sure about Chacin - if he has a good year it will be a bonus. Rolen however needs to contribute - but Glaus didn't do much last year either.

Number one priority must be to keep that quality of pitching going as if they had started with it they may have got to the post season, despite quite batting performances at times.

 

[blueline]

Or you could hope that an asteroid strikes Fenway, bounces onto Yankee Stadium, deflects to Comerica, hangs a hard left to US Cellular and finally comes to a stop in Angel Stadium, cuz that's the only way there's beisbol in Tranna after Sept. 28th.

Don't forget about the Indians as well........... there are a lot of very good teams in the American League.

 

[bigdik]

The RedSox and Tigers have players on their bench and at AAA who would start for the Jays
The Jays are counting on guys that wouldn't start in AAA.

End of story. Tha Jays are as likely to get to the postseason as the Giants are to win the Super Bowl

Oh, crap, wait a tick...................

 

[bigdik]

Don't forget about the Indians as well........... there are a lot of very good teams in the American League.

You are correct. They came awfully close last year, 'til the Sox got 'em where they wanted 'em, up 3 - 1

 

[blueline]

The RedSox and Tigers have players on their bench and at AAA who would start for the Jays
The Jays are counting on guys that wouldn't start in AAA.

End of story. Tha Jays are as likely to get to the postseason as the Giants are to win the Super Bowl

Oh, crap, wait a tick...................

I think there may be a couple of teams who could find a spot for Clay Buccholz in their rotation. Looks like he could be slated for Pawtucket to start the season. I can't wait for the season to begin. Thank goodness the Sox get to play in Toronto on weekends this season. All weekday games last year.

 

[salsamarc]

but Glaus didn't do much last year either.

way I see it he did more than VW (considering that Glaus played 35 games less than him) ....

 

[shack]

way I see it he did more than VW (considering that Glaus played 35 games less than him) ....

Two times nothing is still nothing.

 

[Pleasing_Brian]

Right now I'm wishing for more of the same from the pitchers who came through so well last season and much better batting performance from Wells, Johnson and Overbay. Is that too much to ask?

Much better batting performance from Wells, Johnson, and Overbay (don't forget Thomas... who only really came on after the season was decided) is NOT too much to ask. In fact, I think you'll get it. The problem is going to be the pitching... these young pitchers who performed so great last year are, for the most part, going to take a step back this year. Better hitting, worse pitching = similar results. A little over .500 and 3rd place (maybe even 4th... watch out for Tampa one of these years).

 

[bigdik]

I think there may be a couple of teams who could find a spot for Clay Buccholz in their rotation. Looks like he could be slated for Pawtucket to start the season. I can't wait for the season to begin. Thank goodness the Sox get to play in Toronto on weekends this season. All weekday games last year.

I dunno

Your fifth starter is either a guy who won the deciding game of the WS or a guy who threw a no-hitter. Geez, doesn't look that promising, does it?

 

[teassoc]

Much better batting performance from Wells, Johnson, and Overbay (don't forget Thomas... who only really came on after the season was decided) is NOT too much to ask. In fact, I think you'll get it. The problem is going to be the pitching... these young pitchers who performed so great last year are, for the most part, going to take a step back this year. Better hitting, worse pitching = similar results. A little over .500 and 3rd place (maybe even 4th... watch out for Tampa one of these years).

Yes, maybe but that sounds too pessimistic if you are a Jays fan - more like the hopes of a Boston or Yankees fan. It would be a big disappointment if all that young pitching plus the return of Ryan and Chacin (and departure of Towers) didn't lead to another good pitching year. To be really successful they need to be firing on both fronts of course - with everything firing for them as others have commented.

 

[blueline]

I dunno

Your fifth starter is either a guy who won the deciding game of the WS or a guy who threw a no-hitter. Geez, doesn't look that promising, does it?

Looks like the decision on a 5th starter just became a little easier. Schill is on the shelf with shoulder problems. The same problem that shut him down last season for two months. He will not be ready for the start of spring training. Dam it's only February and I'm starting to look up on top of my roof, trying to figure which way to jump. I been training all winter, practicing my climbing and jumping routines. ........ lol

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/

Sorry to hijack the Jays thread ....... carry on.

 

[salsamarc]

Two times nothing is still nothing.

aaahhhh Grasshopper, you are wise beyond your years....


#10 reason why the Jays are better this year..... no more Towers

#9 expect a healthy Ryan back as closer and fully rested as well

feel free to carry on.....

 

[shack]

aaahhhh Grasshopper, you are wise beyond your years....


#10 reason why the Jays are better this year..... no more Towers

#9 expect a healthy Ryan back as closer and fully rested as well

feel free to carry on.....

#8 Almost impossible to have as many injuries to key players as last year.

#7 Overbay and Wells to rebound from subpar years

#6 Frank Thomas to have a better 1st half

#5 Starting with a bunch of young pitchers (instead of Zambrano, Thompson etc.) who now also have an extra year of experience.

#4 Another year of experience for Hill and Rios

#3 An improved left side of the infield and still have Johnny Mac's glove as a backup and more depth behind the plate

#2 A full year of great stuff from Burnett

#1 Goddammit, we're way overdue for a year when things go right for us.

 

[salsamarc]

Don't pencil Curt Schilling into the Boston Red Sox rotation for 2008

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3235556

post 17 was about this already LOL