It's the Blue Jays who really cares???????? Dear Member-for-a-day: If you don't care about a certain subject, sport, or team, just let it go. Petulant little statements like the one quoted above make you look, shall we say, less than intelligent. Also, one question mark is sufficient to signal that your post is a question, rhetorical or otherwise. Thanks, and have a Happy New Year.
Although the Jays have improved so much in the off-season their offense is bareley above average at best. And lets be honest, no matter how good your pitching rotation is, when you are facing a lineup such as the Yankees which has the AL MVP, the two top run scorers in the AL, an up-and-coming superstar hitter in Robinson Canoe, as well as some other guys such as gary Sheffield who hit 30,40 or 50 Hr's each season, no matter what you will give up runs. Or lets take the Red Sox as an example, their pitching is above average this year, they have two of the MLB's biggest power threats, an underated superstar fielder in Bill Mueler, and a catcher that almost every pitcher in the Major Leagues would want to work with because of his leadership and knowledge behind the plate. And so, even if the Jays didn't have week spots at second and right field, and an overload of corner infielders with a skill level ranging from allstar to decent, they wouldn't be able to contend with the top of the AL east. I would also like to say that because the Blue Jays haven't improved their team enough to contend in their division, that the most improved, or "MVP" of teams involed in offseason aquisations are the Rangers who recenlty aquired Kevin Millwood and have a chance of getting Roger Clemons puts them at the top of their div. and makes them the the most imroved team in 06. Or atleast best improved, shall i say, compared to the challengers they will face.
Ha - see? You're scared. With that glue-and-snot pitching staff you've got - I'd be scared too. Some notes: The Yankees have a better offence, no doubt. Worse bullpen and rotation. Worse than the Jays, White Sox, Indians and Athletics. His name is Cano - and calling him and up and coming superstar is maybe a little early. Remember - Eric Hinske was an up and coming superstar who won the Rookie of the Year. The Red Sox have not improved overall (aside from Beckett)- have no GM and superstar players who want to leave. You are easily one of the three people on the planet who would call Bill Meuller a superstar in any capacity - the other two people are Mr. and Mrs. Meuller. The Red Sox currently do not have a shortstop or centre fielder - talk about "week" spots. The Jays have managed to do this without trading any prospects, aside from Zach Jackson, and still have an overabundance of arms in the minors. Their farm system ranks among the best - ahead of both the Yankees and Red Sox. No, bronxbomber, the Yankees may still win thanks to that lineup, but I would suggest you take the Jays a little more seriously. They look to be contending for a few years now.
first of all weedy, I said Bill Mueller was a superstar fielder, which he is, and second if you want to talk about the Yankees pitching staff, talk about this: Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina are both healthy, Shaun Chacon is just going to get better with expierience, as is Ching-Mang Wang. also now Jaret wright (who i have to admit is iffy) is back and so is Carl Pavono who played a big wrole in the Marlins success. As for their bullpen; Mariano Rivera is coming off his best year ever, Aaron Small, who was an intricate part of the Yankees when they needed someone to step up is now able to move to the bull-pen (which is good because of his limited arm strength) and the Yanks also aquired Mike Kyers who is a decent middle relief guy. So, Weedy, im not worried at all. And by the way, I don't think its early to call Robinson Cano an up and coming star. The difference between him and Hinske is Cano will be learning and working with guys like Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Alex Rodriguez; natural leaders, and players wih or had a lot of skill. Cano will also be learning from Joe Torre who is easily one of the best managers in the MLB. Soo mark my words: in 3-6 years Robinson Cano will be if not the best, one of the best 2nd basemen in baseball, and will be considered, yes, a SUPERSTAR
That's like the greatest troll ever, except Rivera did have his bestest year ever if you go by ERA+. So I'm confused.
Randy Johnson and Mike Mussina are both healthy, Shaun Chacon is just going to get better with expierience, as is Ching-Mang Wang. also now Jaret wright (who i have to admit is iffy) is back and so is Carl Pavono who played a big wrole in the Marlins success. Every year, Randy Johnson gets a little bit less effective. Check his numbers, the home runs he's allowing. He's not the same RJ that he was 3 years ago. Mussina is also getting older, but is a horse. He should be fine. Wang has great stuff. Chacon is an average arm, at best, and will most likely get shelled once the league sees him for the second, third time. It happened in the National League (even with the colorado effect included). Pavano might not be able to cut it in NY mentally; he wouldn't be the first. Wright? Good luck getting a full season out of him. Small? Journeyman turned one-hit wonder is just SCREAMING off him. His stuff isn't good enough to win 12-15 games in this league. There are a LOT of questions in that rotation.
Aaron Small wont need wins because hes gonna be in the bullpen second, Pavano knows what its like playing under pressure, he was in the world series remember AT YANKEE STADIUM so i dont think the stadium should be a problem now that the fans are cheering for him. pshh Even if he isn't the cy young pitcher he was three years ago he Randy Johnson still has a lot of dominating performences in him and will be a 15-20 game winner and mabey even a few more now that he will be getting even more run support As for Chacon, i think you are right that he wont do as well for the same reason he didnt do well in Colorado but i think he will get 10-12 wins easy and be an above .500 pitcher
I'm putting the over-under on Randy Johnson wins this year at 11. He may have more run support, and he was one of the all-time greats, but his skills really are starting to go. By September, Wang (who I suspect will work out just fine) will be the top starter on the staff. But that won't be a good sign for the Yankees and whatever playoff hopes they've got.
bronxbomber, you're a complete and total homer. It's ok. Just don't be suprised when Scott Brosius doesn't get into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
I wish I still had BronxBombers enthusiasim when it came to my beloved Yanks, but I remain a skeptic. I'm at the point where I can't comment and find myself shaking my head in agreeance with a lot of yank-haters. Wasn't this thread about the Blue Jays? If you don't think they have improved, I say yee daft.
As a Yankee fan, I do think the Blue Jays are continuing to improve, and I'm happy about it. I live in western New York and go to Toronto a few times each year. It's a great city, and having the Blue Jays playing competitive baseball makes it a fantastic place to catch a game. As I mentioned several posts ago, I would only be concerned Troy Glaus stays healthy, which I don't see happening. If he plays an entire year, he's one of the top offensive threats in the game. I still think he'd make the most sense as a DH, because of the toll playing third takes on him over the course of an entire season. As for the Yanks, their staff is a toss-up. Getting a dominating year out of Johnson, at his advancing age, would be a bonus. They need Pavano to have a solid season, because he's still a huge unknown. He may be someone who's only capable of putting up good numbers in the NL.
My perdiction is that the dark (pitch black fits better) horse Tigers are going to take the nation by a storm, win the wildcard, sweep the Blue Jays, then Jeremy Bonderman will pitch a perfect game seven to beat the St. Louis Cardinals and win the championship! Can't disagree either since when the BoSox won the World Series all the pigs flew and hell froze over. See you all in October!
Yanks, Sox, Jays in a (fairly) tight race. The AL will go to the Tribe. God, I don't want football to end. Then we have to wait until baseball and suffer through NBA basketball. Yuck.
I don't want football to end. Then we have to wait until baseball and suffer through NBA basketball. Yuck. Skydivemom and dad completely agree. Although there is hockey and March Madness is always fun. Florida skies here we come to jump ya!
we'll see...
I kinda' like how this started out about the Blue Jays and has become about the Yankees, alot like the AL east...all about the Yankees!
I kinda' like how this started out about the Blue Jays and has become about the Yankees, alot like the AL east...all about the Yankees! Isn't that Toronto's initial goal when looking to improve: Overtaking the Yankees? You can't talk about a team in the AL East without talking about the team that's won the divison year after year after year.
I'm sure going to miss all those "web-gem" plays from Orlando Hudson.
Not to worry, Grum -- Aaron Hill will cover 95% of the range, hit 20-30 points better and I have a feeling you'll get used to seeing Glaus bomb the occasional ball off the upper-deck facade. Now if we can only rub a little of it off on Hinske ...
