Toronto Blue Jays Season Preview

2012: 73-89 4^th in AL East

The Toronto Blue Jays are the team to beat in the AL East. They have the offense, the have the defense and they have the starting pitching. However, the big question is whether they can avoid the dreaded “Miami Marlins Syndrome.” Whose symptoms include, but are not limited to, a large amount of player acquisition, usually including Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle, with sudden World Series expectations, only to fail miserably. Luckily, the Blue Jays are keeping the same ball-park, and the same name, otherwise I would say they’re destined to huge disappointment. 

Brett Lawrie

The fact is, the Miami and Toronto comparison is completely illogical. Unlike the Marlins, the Blue Jays actually had a foundation to build around before their huge acquisitions. Everyone knows about Jose Bautista’s mamo bombs but get used to hearing the names Brett Lawrie and Brandon Marrow. Lawrie is only 23 years old, and unfortunately Bryce Harper and Mike Trout justifiably overshadowed his rookie campaign in 2012. Nevertheless, Lawrie is really good, and his tattoos combined with his Canadian blood make him really intimidating. Brandon Marrow is a hard throwing former first round pick of the Mariners who just needs to stay healthy. He is expected to be the number two pitcher in the rotation behind Dickey. Some people are claiming that there is a “Dickey effect,” meaning any pitcher who follows R.A. Dickey in the Blue Jays’ rotation will benefit from opposing batters losing their rhythm, their focus and maybe their aggressiveness after trying to zero in on dancing knuckleballs less than 24 hours earlier. If this is true, and Marrow stays healthy, expect him to be really good. Finally, I hope you haven’t forgot about Ricky Romero, you know the guy who has a no hitter and in 2011 he won 15 games and posted a 2.92 ERA, oh by the way he is now the Blue Jays number five starter.

What’s going to need to happen for the Blue Jays to win their first AL East title in who knows how long? Well first off Jose Reyes has to be.. well Jose Reyes. If Jose can be electric at the top of the lineup, that will put Jose Bautista and Juan Encarnacion in prime RBI situations, which in theory will lead to a lot of runs. Next, R.A. Dickey needs to be an Ace. I’m not saying he needs to win another Cy Young, he just needs to consistently put the Blue Jays in a position to win. There’s been debate whether he can sustain his sudden and unexpected success, for his sake I hope he can, he’s a great story and a great person to represent baseball.

Prediction 93-79 1^st in the AL East

Encarnacion and Lawrie will unexpectedly have huge years for the Blue Jays and they will win the division. Jose Reyes will be one of the finalists for MVP and Bautista will have an on base percentage over .400