MikeRaw
Guest
Alright folks, I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm gonna declare that the Toronto Blue Jays will pull a Tampa this year, and be this year's Rays. I have statistical evidence to back it up, as well... :shifty:
As far as pitching goes, the Jays are about the same as last year's Rays... Our pitchign isn't quite as good as last year, but it's still pretty damn good...
Roy Halladay > Scott Kazmir/ James Shields
This one is easy. Halladay is a top pitcher, top 3 at least (I know this, and so do the players... Just read an article in the NY times about players leaving the AL just so they don't have to face him)
Jesse Litsch > Edwin Jackson...
Litsch is only 24, but has more expierience that Jackson, and has great stuff. Could be a number 1 guy in a rotation in a few years
Purcey < Garza
Tampa wins this one. Purcey is good, but unproven, and a bit shakier than Tampa's Garza
Romero = the bottom of the Jays rotation
And the Jays Bullpen is unstopable. They were the best bullpen in the league statisically last year, and so far this year, seem to be doing it again. Tampa's is decent, but the Jays have about 3 guys who could all be dominant closers, and a slew of great relievers. The Jays win this one by a landslide.
So, as far as pitching, the Rays rotation is SLIGHTLY better, but the Jays bullpen makes up for it, and the pitching as a whole is even...
Defensively, the Jays were the best team in the AL East last year, and the past several years. With guys like Rolen, Overbay, and Rios, and Hill, that'll continue this year.
Offensively, the Jays are healthy this year, and I think we have about the same as Tampa did last year.
The catchers for both teams are about even in terms of offense. Navarro (Tampa) and Barajas (Toronto) are pretty equal at the plate.
At 3rd base, Rolen is slightly better than Aybar.
At SS, Sutaro and Bartlett are tied. Neither is really offensively gifted.
Hill is better than Iwamura by far
The one that the Rays have better though, is Carlos Pena. He is better offensively than Lyle Overbay...
In the outfield, Rios is better than Carl Crawford.
Vernon Wells is alot better than BJ Upton
And Travis Snider is ths year's Evan Longoria. Already a ton of RBI's this year, and a great average, and only 21. He'll easily hit 20-25 Homers
Don't forget Adam Lind DHing for the Jays either. 9 homers last year at 24, and already 2 this year, with 8 RBI's.
There you have it folks, love it or hate it, only time will tell, but based on superior defense the Jays have over the Rays, and equal pitching, and equal offense, I'm calling it... This year's Jays are the equivilent of last years Tampa Rays.
As far as pitching goes, the Jays are about the same as last year's Rays... Our pitchign isn't quite as good as last year, but it's still pretty damn good...
Roy Halladay > Scott Kazmir/ James Shields
This one is easy. Halladay is a top pitcher, top 3 at least (I know this, and so do the players... Just read an article in the NY times about players leaving the AL just so they don't have to face him)
Jesse Litsch > Edwin Jackson...
Litsch is only 24, but has more expierience that Jackson, and has great stuff. Could be a number 1 guy in a rotation in a few years
Purcey < Garza
Tampa wins this one. Purcey is good, but unproven, and a bit shakier than Tampa's Garza
Romero = the bottom of the Jays rotation
And the Jays Bullpen is unstopable. They were the best bullpen in the league statisically last year, and so far this year, seem to be doing it again. Tampa's is decent, but the Jays have about 3 guys who could all be dominant closers, and a slew of great relievers. The Jays win this one by a landslide.
So, as far as pitching, the Rays rotation is SLIGHTLY better, but the Jays bullpen makes up for it, and the pitching as a whole is even...
Defensively, the Jays were the best team in the AL East last year, and the past several years. With guys like Rolen, Overbay, and Rios, and Hill, that'll continue this year.
Offensively, the Jays are healthy this year, and I think we have about the same as Tampa did last year.
The catchers for both teams are about even in terms of offense. Navarro (Tampa) and Barajas (Toronto) are pretty equal at the plate.
At 3rd base, Rolen is slightly better than Aybar.
At SS, Sutaro and Bartlett are tied. Neither is really offensively gifted.
Hill is better than Iwamura by far
The one that the Rays have better though, is Carlos Pena. He is better offensively than Lyle Overbay...
In the outfield, Rios is better than Carl Crawford.
Vernon Wells is alot better than BJ Upton
And Travis Snider is ths year's Evan Longoria. Already a ton of RBI's this year, and a great average, and only 21. He'll easily hit 20-25 Homers
Don't forget Adam Lind DHing for the Jays either. 9 homers last year at 24, and already 2 this year, with 8 RBI's.
There you have it folks, love it or hate it, only time will tell, but based on superior defense the Jays have over the Rays, and equal pitching, and equal offense, I'm calling it... This year's Jays are the equivilent of last years Tampa Rays.