Blue Jays 2012

[Perry Mason]

What, no one has started the annual Blue Jays thread as yet?

Well, here you go folks! :biggrin1:

What are your predictions for this year?

Mine:

If any 3 out of Lawrie, Rasmus, Johnson and McGowan have above average seasons, the Blue Jays will have a post season this year.

If Litsch can recover and make the roster as a reliever, he will have a tremendous season. I think he has great talent as a reliever... too bad he is so injury prone.

If Rasmus can't get it going, Gose will be in center field by May 15 and have a much better than average season.

If Lind can get it going -- and I think he will -- then Bautista will lead the majors again in home runs. If Lind can't get it going, everyone will pitch around Bautista and his production will fall from that of the previous two seasons.

Lawrie will lead the team in all offensive categories except home runs.

And when, oh when, is Drabek going to get his head into his game? If he doesn't, then he will simply become another A. J. Burnett... proving, once again, that talent without brains is only a flash in the pan.

Perry

 

[Ironhead]

Shall I be so bold as to not only predict the Jays in the playoffs, but the top WC as well.

I hope Perry's predictions come true. I would really like to see Lind bounce back and Drabek pull it all together.

 

[teassoc]

Bullpen blew 25 games last year but it looks like it's a lot stronger now.

Starting pitcher line-up looks very promising as well, especially if Cecil and McGowan can get back to their best.

 

[dj1470]

Here's hoping Brett Lawrie's groin isn't too bad.

I love the regular batting order:
(just how I would do it)
Rasmus
Johnson
Escobar
Bautista
Lind
Lawrie
Thames (DH)
Snider
Arencibia

 

[Casa_Nova]

I have real concerns about Lawrie's continued health. He plays the game like he's playing football. That's not good, despite what some fans might think about "giving 110%". The Jays play a loooong season, and you can't be going flat out all the time, pushing for every extra base, diving for every line drive, crashing into every wall. You have to be smarter. Sometimes, you've gotta play the percentages. ... And, ESPECIALLY in spring training, when you've got the job won.

Don't disagree, but that's been the way he has played all his life, and after all the hype as this high prospect, he came in and won the heart of the fans by his hustle. You can imagine that if he scales back, people are going to take jabs at him...it's typical Toronto media/fan mindset. It's like you can't win as a professional player here in Toronto. The Jays have it better than the Leafs and Raps already...

 

[blackrock13]

Don't disagree, but that's been the way he has played all his life, and after all the hype as this high prospect, he came in and won the heart of the fans by his hustle. You can imagine that if he scales back, people are going to take jabs at him...it's typical Toronto media/fan mindset. It's like you can't win as a professional player here in Toronto. The Jays have it better than the Leafs and Raps already...

Pete Rose made a career of playing like that, so who knows.

 

[The Oracle]

Here's hoping Brett Lawrie's groin isn't too bad.

I love the regular batting order:
(just how I would do it)
Rasmus
Johnson
Escobar
Bautista
Lind
Lawrie
Thames (DH)
Snider
Arencibia

You think Rasmus is going to lead off? That will be Escobar.

Edwin will be the DH as well.

Snider is having a good spring but can he consistently hit a major league breaking ball is the big question. My guess is that he can't.

So I'm seeing Thames in Left.

This dude Gomes in looking really good behind the plate. Along with D'arnaud they have some good prospects that will be ready soon.

Jays are going to be a powerhouse in 1-2 years but not this year.

 

[Dartman]

Snider is always hot in spring training, thats his problem cant play during the season

 

[gcostanza]

Here's hoping Brett Lawrie's groin isn't too bad.

I love the regular batting order:
(just how I would do it)
Rasmus
Johnson
Escobar
Bautista
Lind
Lawrie
Thames (DH)
Snider
Arencibia

Lawrie like to start season hitting 7th.
Rasmus more likely to bat 6th or 8th.
Bautista will bat 3rd.
You did manage to get Just Awful in the right slot (9th).

Where does Edwin Encarnacion fit?

 

[gcostanza]

Yeah, that ended really well.

I don't think there's ever been a whole lot of criticism of Pete's playing career, but more the off field breaking of the rules of baseball.

 

[Perry Mason]

Yeah, that ended really well.

Yes... but it had nothing to do with his Charlie Hustle routine!

If Lawrie can keep it up year long, more power to him!

Perry

 

[shack]

Here's hoping Brett Lawrie's groin isn't too bad.

I love the regular batting order:
(just how I would do it)
Rasmus
Johnson
Escobar
Bautista
Lind
Lawrie
Thames (DH)
Snider
Arencibia

I think Rasmus strikes out way too much to be leadoff.

Also Edwin is the DH. If Thames is DH and they want to sub for Snider, Thames is the guy to use, in which case, they lose the DH or put EE out there.

 

[blackrock13]

Yeah, that ended really well.

His problems were off field, not in the field. He's still called Charlie Hustle. Nobody played harder and he still has more hits than anyone, three world series, three batting titles, Rookie of the Year and 17 all Star appearances; not bad at all. If Lawrie does half that he'll be a success.

 

[blackrock13]

Rick Leach played all-out, and was constantly injured. If Lawrie has twice the success Rick Leach did, he'll be a total failure.

Rick who?

 

[blackrock13]

Rose is a terrible comp for Lawrie, and there is almost NO chance that he puts up Rose's numbers.
If, as it was originally proposed, he's a comp for Lawrie's ATTITUDE, I really really hope not.
Putting Lawrie and Rose in the same sentence is silly.
Fact is, most players who play all out end up injury prone. As the man says, you can look it up.

Oh, and gambling on games you're currently involved in and bowling over a catcher to score in a meaningless game are examples of ON-FIELD behaviour. Rose's off-field behaviour affected his in-game actions detrimentally, at times.

The only comparison attempted is the playing hard and physical and lasting, that's it. Do I think Lawrie will reach rose numbers, nope.

So you saying he threw games? I didn't know you were able to read minds.

 

[gcostanza]

Rick who?

Not much of a sports fan, eh blackie?

 

[blackrock13]

Not much of a sports fan, eh blackie?

No, just not a Rick Leach fan.

 

[gcostanza]

I bet if you were a fan of the Blue Jays back then, you would have been. 110%, flat-out, no off-switch, played like a football player.

He was a football player.

Four year starting quarterback for the University of Michigan. Co-MVP of the Rose Bowl (1979), 3 time All-Big Ten QB, finished 3rd in Heisman Trophy voting.

He was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round of the MLB draft, and drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 5th round (132nd pick) of the NFL draft the same year.

 

[mexican]

I like the look of the Jays Triple A team - I would actually like to see them but Vegas is too far. There was some talk about moving the team to Buffalo but I think they went with the Mets organization. Are there any other locations close by that might host the club?

 

[RandyAndy2]

OK, to state the obvious, there will be a few players who have career years, a few that fall flat on their face, and the rest in between. There will be a couple of major injuries, hopefully in positions where they have some depth. The result? My guess is 87 wins, no playoff spot, and third place in the division.