Blue Jays 2009

Are we better this year ?

  • yes

    Votes: 64 45.1%
  • no

    Votes: 49 34.5%
  • who cares the Yankees are going to win

    Votes: 15 10.6%
  • who cares the Red Sox are going to win

    Votes: 14 9.9%

  • Total voters
    142
RayFinkel said:
Since Cito took over last year, the Jays have a very good record.
I heard they are 20 games (or around there) over .500, with him as Skipper.

:D

Cito saved JP's job.
 
RayFinkel said:
Since Cito took over last year, the Jays have a very good record.
I heard they are 20 games (or around there) over .500, with him as Skipper.
Ever heard of wiki you drunk bitch??!!! :p

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cito_Gaston

51-37 last year, and then whatever added this year. You do the match
 
guyroch said:
I don't know about that .... Since Cito has come on board JP has had a lesser voice ... Heck Cito and Paul Beeston seem to be the voice of the Jays ... The arrogance of JP and Goddrey were destorying the brand " name " of the Jays

Well slapping himself on the back as some of his draft picks are starting to appear, is what I mean. You have to give him some credit for some of these great young players.
 
I can see the Jays winning about 86 games this year.
Lack of depth in starting pitching will likely do them in.
An extraordinary number of things would have to break Toronto's way for them to make the playoffs. Like injuries to key players on other teams and a lot of players having career seasons for Blue Jays.

Was at yesterday's game and noticed that Eric Chavez, A's 3rd baseman, seems to have lost about 20 pounds compared to how he looked 3 years ago.
When I last saw him 3 years ago he was like the incredible hulk with tremendous upper body mass and strength; but, he looks like a regular sized guy now.
 
Kilgore Trout said:
I can see the Jays winning about 86 games this year.
Lack of depth in starting pitching will likely do them in.
An extraordinary number of things would have to break Toronto's way for them to make the playoffs. Like injuries to key players on other teams and a lot of players having career seasons for Blue Jays.
Stop being such a negative nelly
 
The LoLRus said:
Stop being such a negative nelly

Not negative.
Very optimistic, just also realistic. There's a difference.
 
Kilgore Trout said:
Not negative.
Very optimistic, just also realistic. There's a difference.
Fair enough, but I think they can at least win the wild card.
And possibly more

This team reminds me of Anaheim Angels that won it a few years back
 
On paper, Yankees and Red Sox both have more hitting and more pitching than the Blue Jays. And they spend double and triple what Toronto spends on players.
That huge institutional advantage will play itself out over 162 games a lot more often than it won't.

Just look at period from 1998 to 2008. In AL East that's like 33 Seasons total between Baltimore, Toronto, Tampa Bay. In those 33 seasons total the triangle of To, Balt, Tampa - made the playoffs once.

By comparison in a single season you have 30 different team seasons and 8 of those team seasons will get into the playoffs. So, the math and the odds are greatly stacked against the Bermuda triangle of Balt, Tor, Tampa.

If system were top 4 out of 14 in AL and balanced schedule that would quadruple chances of a "gang of 3" member getting into the playoffs. If system were like that it's conceivable all 4 AL playoff teams would come out of the group that currently comprises the AL East.

In the meantime I'll just enjoy baseball and the Jays for what they are. I got to watch them win 2 world series in my life and I'm satisfied with that. To me, they don't really "owe" me anything.
By comparison I'll probably go through my entire life without once seeing the Leafs win a Stanley Cup. C'est la vie.
 
Call me a complete optimist if you want but I think the Jays could have their best season in recent years this year.

They are automatically a better team by having Gaston as the manager. He and/or his batting coaches have had a marked impact on the offence. why should that disappear over a long season?

As far as pitching is concerned, they have the 3rd best pitching in the AL right now and whilst some of the younger/less experienced pitchers might get 'found out' by other teams, by mid-summer there could be quite a lot of pitchers returning from injury.

You add to that current weaknesses in other teams in the AL East you can be pretty hopeful.

Won't necessarily be a case of history repeating itself as outlined above.
 
teassoc said:
Call me a complete optimist if you want but I think the Jays could have their best season in recent years this year.

They are automatically a better team by having Gaston as the manager. He and/or his batting coaches have had a marked impact on the offence.

The Rays came out of nowhere last year, so maybe the Jays can do the same in 2009.

BTW: Why can't Rios hit a darn?
 
Question for anyone who saw last night's game, what happened in the bottom of the 8th innings when the Jays had the bases loaded with one out? I read Barajas lined out to 3rd but was wondering why he didn't do a sacrifice fly to equalise the scores. Was it good pitching, managers orders or a small moment of madness. Result could have been different.

Poor game for Halliday. At least he did 8 innings to save the bullpen extra work and League did well as the closer to give the Jays a chance. With Purcey coming up tonight I'm not expecting much but I was last night. :(
 
I was wondering why he didn't hit a home run. Yeah Cito said try not to hit the ball too hard we just need a sacrifice. Yeah and why didn't Snider just hit a sinlge instead of popping out.
 
teassoc said:
Question for anyone who saw last night's game, what happened in the bottom of the 8th innings when the Jays had the bases loaded with one out? I read Barajas lined out to 3rd but was wondering why he didn't do a sacrifice fly to equalise the scores. Was it good pitching, managers orders or a small moment of madness. Result could have been different.

Poor game for Halliday. At least he did 8 innings to save the bullpen extra work and League did well as the closer to give the Jays a chance. With Purcey coming up tonight I'm not expecting much but I was last night. :(

Uh...this the bigs man. They try to hit the ball hard and put it in play. Just so happens that he lined out. Next time it could be that sac fly you wanted.
 
teassoc said:
Question for anyone who saw last night's game, what happened in the bottom of the 8th innings when the Jays had the bases loaded with one out? I read Barajas lined out to 3rd but was wondering why he didn't do a sacrifice fly to equalise the scores. Was it good pitching, managers orders or a small moment of madness. Result could have been different.

Poor game for Halliday. At least he did 8 innings to save the bullpen extra work and League did well as the closer to give the Jays a chance. With Purcey coming up tonight I'm not expecting much but I was last night. :(

I'm surprised Cito did not pinch hit for Barajas. The guy was facing a right hander and he is hitting just over .200. At least throw Millar in there.

Oh well, it's a long season.
 
Ref said:
I'm surprised Cito did not pinch hit for Barajas. The guy was facing a right hander and he is hitting just over .200.

As the season progresses, cracks are starting to show in the Jay's batting lineup. Both the number 3 and 4 batters are hitting under .300 and there is absolutely no power from the number 3 slot. The catcher is barely hitting .200.
 
SkyRider said:
As the season progresses, cracks are starting to show in the Jay's batting lineup. Both the number 3 and 4 batters are hitting under .300 and there is absolutely no power from the number 3 slot. The catcher is barely hitting .200.
I'm surprised that with the injury to Barrett they haven't called up J.P. Arencibia to have a look and get him some experience in the Show...
 
Captain Fantastic said:
I'm surprised that with the injury to Barrett they haven't called up J.P. Arencibia

Is Curtis Thigpen history now? Wasn't he suppose to be the catcher of the future?