Welcome to jockr’s 2009 Team Sales Report, where we will offer fans consultative outreach and analysis of the comprehensive, results-based solutions they can expect from each franchise this upcoming quarter. Today’s entry focuses on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays
2008 year-end market position: 86-76 4th place, AL East
New Hires: LHP Brian Burres (waiver claim from Orioles), OF Jason Lane (free agent from Red Sox), INF/OF Brandon Fahey (free agent from Orioles), LHP Mike Maroth (free agent), C Raul Chavez (free agent from Pirates), C Michael Barrett (free agent from Padres), 1B/DH Randy Ruiz (free agent from Twins), RHP Matt Clement (free agent), SS Angel Sanchez (waiver claim from Royals), RHP Bryan Bullington (waiver claim from Indians), RHP Adam Loewen (free agent from Orioles), INF Kevin Millar (minor league free agent from Orioles)
Layoffs: LHP John Parrish, (free agent, signed with Orioles), OF Brad Wilkerson (free agent, signed with Red Sox), C Gregg Zaun (free agent, signed with Orioles), LHP Mike Gosling (free agent, signed with Twins), INF Hector Luna (free agent, signed with Dodgers), SS Pedro Lopez (free agent, signed with Pirates), LHP Gustavo Chacin (free agent, signed with Nationals), RHP A.J. Burnett (free agent, signed with Yankees), OF Mike Vento (free agent, signed with Nationals), OF Kevin Mench (free agent, signed with Japanese team)
Best Practices: The poor Blue Jays had a terrific season last year, but it was only good enough for fourth place in the gauntlet that is the AL East. Their strength a year ago was in their starting pitching. RHP Roy Halladay had an incredible season, picking up 20 wins and tossing an ML best 246 innings. Dude also threw nine complete games and posted an ERA of 2.78. RHP Jesse Litsch won 13 games and posted a 3.58 ERA. Unfortunately, those two are the only guys back to start this season north of the border. RHP Shaun Marcum was also excellent, and he had a 3.38 ERA over 151 innings before having to get some Tommy John sauce slathered up in his elbow in September. He’ll miss all of 2009. RHP Dustin McGowan also is very talented, but he had shoulder surgery and will be out until June. After shoulder surgery, it’s iffy that he’ll be able to come back at all and be as effective as he once was. But the biggest blow to the Blue Jays came when RHP A.J. Burnett opted out of his contract and signed a mammoth deal with the Yankees. So Halladay and Litsch have their work cut out for them as they’ll lead a staff that will include the likes of David Purcey, Casey Janssen, and Matt Clement (Matt Clement?!). Good thing Halladay’s one of the best in the biz, but will he hold up? The good news for the Jays is that they have a pretty solid bullpen. They have a solid array of righties and lefties leading up to shutdown closer B.J. Ryan, who showed he was fully recovered from elbow surgery in 2007 with 32 saves a year ago.
Pain Points: I don’t understand how they were so good a year ago with a lineup this uninspiring. Despite playing just 108 games, CF Vernon Wells led the team with 20 homers because RF Alex Rios, who’s supposed to be a stud, hit just 15 bombs a year ago. That’s not going to cut it, the Jays need Rios to anchor the heart of the order and be a 30 homer/100 RBI guy. They’re also going to need 3B Scott Rolen to produce more than the 11 homers and 50 RBI he had a year ago. That doesn’t seem likely because Rolen is about five years and one league removed from being an impact bat. So that leaves a lot of pressure on the shoulders of young guns Adam Lind and Travis Snider. Lind was one of the top prospects in baseball a couple years back, but has been solid if unspectacular so far in the majors. Just 21, Snider is one of the top 3 hitting prospects in baseball, and should step right in and be the Jays’ everyday left fielder. As a 20-year-old September call up a year ago, Snider hit .301 and hit a couple homers in 73 at bats. He’ll also be fun to watch because he’s a little butterball at 5′11″, 245 pounds. He should be able to pick up the slack for fellow shortstack Matt Stairs, who was traded late in the year ago and won a World Series title with the Phillies.
Key Thought Leader: MGR Cito Gaston. After firing John Gibbons about halfway through the season a year ago, the Blue Jays went with a blast from the past and hired Gaston, who was the manager in their early-’90s glory days. The Jays responded well, and were 14 games above .500 with Gaston at the helm. Gaston provides an interesting conundrum for Orioles fans because he was universally reviled back in 1993 for failing to put Mike Mussina in the All-Star Game at Camden Yards. However, Mussina is also a villain in Orioles land after spurning the O’s to sign with the Yankees following the 2000 season. What in the world are we to do about this?
Enterprise Outlook: Well, they can’t finish fifth because the Orioles are also in their division, but they sure can finish fourth again. With all the defections and injuries in the starting rotation, they won’t be able to compete with the three teams ahead of them, all of which might win 90 games or more. Sadly, it may be time to consider shopping Halladay at the deadline. 4th place, AL East
Tomorrow’s Target: Minnesota Twins
