Politics and Blue Jays musing while staring out at the Pacific. Life is tough.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Jays New Bling Goes Yard.

The reworked Jays take the field this week. AJ, the last concern pitched very well this morning and will be ready on the 16th as was hoped.

So, will the Jays new Bling fly? Short answer, YES!

Because I can see the future what follows are more than just predictions, mine come with guarantees. I guarantee they are all 100% correct! Or... well that's where the guarantee is slightly weak.

Offense:

The Excellent: Glaus will hit at least 40 dingers, might even hit 40 just at the Rogers Centre. Wells is hot this spring and will start hot, for the first time since 03. Overbay is a doubles machine. Rios will hit at least 20 homers if not more. He has arrived. The three platoons, LF, RF and C will give the Jays above league average production for those three positions.

The Rest: Hill and Adams will continue to grow. Combined they will be just a twinge below league average. There is not ONE black hole in the lineup. This offense will score at least 840 runs.

Pitching:

WOW, Cy Halladay followed by AJ Burnett are the best one two in the AL. Lily, Towers, Chacin and several talented youngesters presently at AAA ensure that the starters will win at least 78 games! BJ Ryan, Frasor and Speier are the best 1-2-3 in any bullpen in the AL. Behind them is experience ,and talent, with much more chaffing at the bit in AAA and AA.

Defense:

Get over the O'Dog! Hill be be AT LEAST as good as any 2nd bagger in the league not named O'Dog. Glaus and Overbay are both at least average defensively. Wells is a gold glover and the the outfield corners are both only slightly below average defensively. The Jays defense is at least equal to any of the big three in the AL East.

Final results? 95 wins, the wildcard, represent the Al at the WS and beat whatever bit of rough the NL put against them.

Bank on it!