The Blue Jays: 2009 Season Thread

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by flambers

Fact is the Jays have zero depth at Starting Pitching. This is the organization biggest weakness... compared to the Yankee and Red Sox. When the offense levels off the loses will start to pile up.

Jays have to hope Litsch and Romero and Jannsen can be activated very soon.

Tallet and Burress are not starters IMO... These guys will get hit every time they go out.......

while the depth looks bad right now, this is because the Jays have lost 5 potential starters. Of course the depth looks bad now.

Halladay, Litsch, Marcum, McGowan, Purcey, Romero, Richmond all battling for a starting spot next year and the depth looks significantly better.

To me this season was always about getting the young guys the experience needed to content next year and onward. The good start is exciting but i've never expected it to last. I'm just looking for good exciting baseball this year with a keen eye on the kids.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by flambers

Fact is the Jays have zero depth at Starting Pitching. This is the organization biggest weakness... compared to the Yankee and Red Sox. When the offense levels off the loses will start to pile up.

Jays have to hope Litsch and Romero and Jannsen can be activated very soon.

Tallet and Burress are not starters IMO... These guys will get hit every time they go out.......

I don't know a lot of franchises that can survive with injuries to a list like McGown, Marcum, Romero, Litsch, and Janssen.

That's arguably pitchers #2-#6 in the organization. That leaves the Jays with their 1st, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th best starters in the organization. Basically they're down to depth starters at the AAA level.

[Sylvanfan]

Any MLB organization would be in tough to overcome an injury list like that to their starting rotation. Even the Red Sox and Yankees have missed the playoffs when they have an injury list that long to their pitching staffs.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Any MLB organization would be in tough to overcome an injury list like that to their starting rotation. Even the Red Sox and Yankees have missed the playoffs when they have an injury list that long to their pitching staffs.

Yankees and Red Sox would have added during the off season... especially knowing that #2 and #3 Pitchers were gone for the seaason.

Jays choose not to add anything which has created the issue of having zero depth. While its exicting to see the young guys hit so well...... it would have been nice to add at least one starter.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by flambers

Yankees and Red Sox would have added during the off season... especially knowing that #2 and #3 Pitchers were gone for the seaason.

Jays choose not to add anything which has created the issue of have zero depth. While its exicting to see the young guys hit so well...... it would have been nice to add at least one starter.

Yankees and Red Sox have the luxury to spend a lot of money on pitching. Even so, take out the 2 to 6 guys in their rotations and they'll have pitching issues too. It's not like the Blue Jays went out and spent money on much of anything this offseason. So it's not like they chose not to spend money on pitching and spend it on hitting. It's more along the lines of they chose not to spend the money.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Yankees and Red Sox have the luxury to spend a lot of money on pitching. Even so, take out the 2 to 6 guys in their rotations and they'll have pitching issues too. It's not like the Blue Jays went out and spent money on much of anything this offseason. So it's not like they chose not to spend money on pitching and spend it on hitting. It's more along the lines of they chose not to spend the money.

Yep and the Jays will finish 4th maybe 5th in the East. Problem is the Yanks / Red Sox would never have went into a season with the same issues as the Jays.

Make matters worse Jays say next year is the year however Doc is due to be a UFA at the end of next season..... No way he ressigns IMO.

Jays will be forced to make a big decision at this years trade dead-line do they move him or do they go into next season knowing Doc is probably going to leave.

[bluejays]

I think Doc is one of the most respectable players in the league. If he has an inkling he's going to leave, I think he respects the organization enough that he'll let them know something, and probably won't make it public, so much so that the Jays will have an opportunity to get something for him. I cannot think of a better guy to have as the face of the Jays, and for some reason if he does decide to leave, it will be very sad. What the Jays could get for him though, could be astronomical IMO. Hands down the best conditioned pitcher in the league, probably has the most complete games, and gets easy grounders for his fielders to play. IMO the best pitcher in baseball.

[postal]

Well, first series loss of the year. To the Royals. ugh
Burres is garbage...he proved that last year I thought with Baltimore. Tallet I thought was best as the long-relief guy.
Anyways, anybody here found any good Blue Jays wallpapers??? I can't seem to find anything decent out there.....
Thanks

[tanguay'sstillgood]

I must say, I am getting very sick of Sportsnet treating the West region as if the Yankees are our home team. Guess what, Not everybody wants to order all 4 of your garbage channels. I can't wait to sit down on the weekend a write a little letter to them. I know it likely wont make a difference, but it'll let me relieve some frustration.

On a side note...come on CBC/TSN - you know you want the Jays rights back!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by postal

Well, first series loss of the year. To the Royals. ugh
Burres is garbage...he proved that last year I thought with Baltimore. Tallet I thought was best as the long-relief guy.
Anyways, anybody here found any good Blue Jays wallpapers??? I can't seem to find anything decent out there.....
Thanks

Kansas City will compete in that division this year. Much better team than the last few years. Two legitimate #1 starters.

I don't think there's as much shame in losing that series as your reaction suggests.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Kansas City will compete in that division this year. Much better team than the last few years. Two legitimate #1 starters.

I don't think there's as much shame in losing that series as your reaction suggests.

Its not the Kansas City series but its the view on how the starters are performing...

Other than Doc and Richmond the others are all struggling.... Who knows how Litsch will do when he returns.

[Machiavelli]

Yeah, the lack of pitching will eventually catch up with the Jays - there's only so many situations you can hit your way out of.

Hopefully at least Romero will be back soon; I think his 15-day DL stint is almost over.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by flambers

Problem is the Yanks / Red Sox would never have went into a season with the same issues as the Jays.

The Yanks/Red Sox owners didn't die and have the people calling the shots pull back the purse strings in tight economic times either.

The Halladay situation is completely dependent on if the Jays think they can compete next year. And that's completely dependent on what happens this year. If 2 of Romero, Litsch, Richmond, and Purcey can establish themselves as legitimate starters and the bats continue to hit well then making a big play for Halladay is economically viable. If not, we're better off cutting out ties with Halladay at the trade deadline and get a can't-miss prospect (and more) in return.

[Jiggy_12]

I read today that Marcum is far ahead of schedule. Will have a 35 pitch bullpen session this week, followed by 2 more bullpen sessions then a minor league stint.

My guess is he'll be back in a month.

[Jiggy_12]

As well, today the Jays sent down Purcey, Burres, and Bullington. Called up Cecil, Ray, and Wolfe.

Its good to see them not sitting around on bad pitching...one dart doesn't stick, throw another and another until one does.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JayP

The Yanks/Red Sox owners didn't die and have the people calling the shots pull back the purse strings in tight economic times either.

.

Oh please Ted Rogers passing has nothing to do with the Jays budget (i.e. JP was cutting payroll last season). Jays unfortanetely do not pull in the revenue of the Red Sox or Yanks and they never will. As long as the Jays are in the same division the comparision is valid.

Jays can say all they want but they can not spend like the big two in their division so their other option is develop great young players like Tampa has done....

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

As well, today the Jays sent down Purcey, Burres, and Bullington. Called up Cecil, Ray, and Wolfe.

Its good to see them not sitting around on bad pitching...one dart doesn't stick, throw another and another until one does.

Very curious to see how Cecil performs... Wonder is Purcey is another fellow who will be put on the IR in the near future....

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by flambers

Jays can say all they want but they can not spend like the big two in their division so their other option is develop great young players like Tampa has done....

It is, but Tampa was a last place team in all of MLB for how many years until they stocked up enough players to have a break through year. Even that team would have a hard time dealing with 4 players whom they were hoping would be part of their starting staff go down with injuries. A team like the Jays is going to need pretty much everything to fall into place for them to compete and that includes staying relatively healthy over a 162 game season. Even big spending teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have had problems when they've lost a couple starting pitchers to injury too.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

It is, but Tampa was a last place team in all of MLB for how many years until they stocked up enough players to have a break through year. Even that team would have a hard time dealing with 4 players whom they were hoping would be part of their starting staff go down with injuries. A team like the Jays is going to need pretty much everything to fall into place for them to compete and that includes staying relatively healthy over a 162 game season. Even big spending teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have had problems when they've lost a couple starting pitchers to injury too.

Totally agree.... However the Yanks//Red Sox load up every off season which the Jays can not do... This is the fundamential difference.

As for the prospects.... Jays have done a really good job with drafting the last few years which is really nice to see (Cecil, Snider, etc.....)

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

As well, today the Jays sent down Purcey, Burres, and Bullington. Called up Cecil, Ray, and Wolfe.

Its good to see them not sitting around on bad pitching...one dart doesn't stick, throw another and another until one does.

Works for me. Purcey and Burres were just awful.

Originally Posted by flambers

Very curious to see how Cecil performs... Wonder is Purcey is another fellow who will be put on the IR in the near future....

Cecil has had a rough minor league start, but yeah...we'll see how he does.