JAys better then most think?

[Flamingweazel]

YEs yes I know, it's only early, and a lot rests on the health of guys who have had issues staying healthy, but I think with Hutch, Mcgowan, morrow this team can stay in contention this year. Baseball is a funny game, and I like what I see so far, their plat approach also seems improved. My biggest concern is obviously health and RA dickey, nice guy but I cringe watching him pitch, he is supposed to be our ace.

 

Beautiful too see a catcher who seems to have a clue back there, I think this well help the staff more then people realise. JP was a disaster.

 

Bautista if he stays healthy looks to be primed for a monster season.

[DickeyJohnsonWang]

the houston astros are 2-0.

[SAAviour]

I've been saying all along, the difference replacing JP will make along with improved overall defence will be a massive upgrade for the team. If they keep having good at bats then it's another improvement. After that health will be the key.

[Flamingweazel]

Health is key yes. I hope this place is not a forum where negativity drowns out the positive posts, and where positive posts are frowned upon.

[Flamingweazel]

I've been saying all along, the difference replacing JP will make along with improved overall defence will be a massive upgrade for the team. If they keep having good at bats then it's another improvement. After that health will be the key.

 

Health is key yes. I hope this place is not a forum where negativity drowns out the positive posts, and where positive posts are frowned upon.

[Flamingweazel]

the houston astros are 2-0.

 

I never said anything about win loss record.

[Angrioter]

Astros 2-0; Mariners 3-0

[Flamingweazel]

Astros 2-0; Mariners 3-0

 

Ah this is one of those boards, bunch of internet tough guys, who dwell on being pessimist all the time.

[Chappy]

I will say this, the good defence up the middle is refreshing to see. It sucks that it comes from guys who have well below average bats, but I'd rather see a 3-0 game with good D than an 8-6 game with mistakes all over.

[Chappy]

Ah this is one of those boards, bunch of internet tough guys, who dwell on being pessimist all the time.

 

It actually is one of those type of boards, lol. Welcome to the forum.

[DickeyJohnsonWang]

I never said anything about win loss record.

no that's fine, I'm just saying this thread wouldn't be here if the jays started 0-3. It's a quick reaction, but you're bang on with your points on health, plate approach, and catcher.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

I will say this, the good defence up the middle is refreshing to see. It sucks that it comes from guys who have well below average bats, but I'd rather see a 3-0 game with good D than an 8-6 game with mistakes all over.

 

Last year on OD we had Mark DeRosa, Bonifacio, JPA, and Melky-with-a-tumor playing defense.

 

The defense is night and day compared to the start of the season last year.

[CHRIS]

I think it's pretty safe to say that the playoffs will be easy to make.

[admin]

Jays are better than most think. This isn't much different than the team that was predicted to win it all last year. We failed so hard last year, most gave up hope.

AA still should have made atleast one decent upgrade though, frustrating that you take the team so far, and are afraid to add one more piece that could put you over the top.

[NorthOf49]

Ah this is one of those boards, bunch of internet tough guys, who dwell on being pessimist all the time.

Most of us actually think this is a decent team that has a good shot at 85+ wins.

 

You're not getting pessimism, you're getting a response to the reactionary nature of your points. "I like what I see so far, their plat [sic] approach also seems improved."

 

I've liked the approach so far too, but I wouldn't say it's "improved" because there's no guarantee it will continue. It's only three games after all.

[Chappy]

Last year on OD we had Mark DeRosa, Bonifacio, JPA, and Melky-with-a-tumor playing defense.

 

The defense is night and day compared to the start of the season last year.

 

Yup. The funny thing is, as much as people seem to hate Goins and Diaz for being offensive liabilities, our overall D is significantly improved all around the diamond and we still have an offence that can do some damage even without Reyes. I think AA and Gibbons made the right choice to go all D while Reyes is out.

 

Now of we could send Thole down and add another useful bat, we would have the needed roster flexibility to PH later in games and not have to worry if someone gets hurt and one of our 3 catchers has to play another position.

[Chappy]

Most of us actually think this is a decent team that has a good shot at 85+ wins.

 

You're not getting pessimism, you're getting a response to the reactionary nature of your points. "I like what I see so far, their plat [sic] approach also seems improved."

 

I've liked the approach so far too, but I wouldn't say it's "improved" because there's no guarantee it will continue. It's only three games after all.

 

This is an 85 win team. A good start to the season can push that number higher, but it's still way too early to form any type of opinions. So far I like what I see, but I would like to see this team 5 turns through the rotation to get a better idea of what we can really expect out of our SP.

[TheHurl]

Pitching depth will help...lack of depth/starters that shouldn't be starters on offense will hurt. I still don't like the way the team is built but team's I've disliked have done well before.

[Stangstag]

I think it's pretty safe to say that the playoffs will be easy to make.

 

Hehe

[TwistedLogic]

To be honest, I'm very surprised with the at-bats I saw yesterday (first game I've had the chance to watch), not used to seeing these guys be patient. I don't know if they just did that because they knew Moore is very prone to walks, and that was the approach that Seitzer told them to take, but I loved it. I'm not sure how long it's going to last, guys (especially on this team) tend to get a bit more impatient as the season goes on and slumps take their toll, but if these guys can continue showing a little more patience at the plate, I'm really liking this offense that much more.

[Pulk_Pull]

This season is all about health. There's no doubt this team can be competitive, but most prognosticators based their predictions on at least a few key pieces returning to the DL, and a pitching line-up with a few huge question marks.

 

If the middle of the rotation can provide what it has over the past two outings, this team should be playing meaningful ball in August.

[Smedley Butler]

Ah this is one of those boards, bunch of internet tough guys, who dwell on being pessimist all the time.

 

Obvious ZeeDogg is obvious.

[Flamingweazel]

This season is all about health. There's no doubt this team can be competitive, but most prognosticators based their predictions on at least a few key pieces returning to the DL, and a pitching line-up with a few huge question marks.

 

If the middle of the rotation can provide what it has over the past two outings, this team should be playing meaningful ball in August.

 

totally agree, that's why I mentioned health in the first post, as that really is the key. A couple starters go down and it could turn south fast. I am hoping we are in contention or at least clsoe enough AA makes a move before the deadline to shore up the staff. I'll be happy with just meaningfull baseball in Sept.

[Halladays]

I think the general consensus here is where the hell was Gibby's ability to manage a ball club before last nights game. I really wouldn't of mind seeing that kind of chess out of him more often. The only thing he ever knew how to do back in the day IMHO was call Scott Downs in at the right times to relief.

[Spoonovic]

I think the general consensus here is where the hell was Gibby's ability to manage a ball club before last nights game. I really wouldn't of mind seeing that kind of chess out of him more often. The only thing he ever knew how to do back in the day IMHO was call Scott Downs in at the right times to relief.

 

Gibby has always been a great bullpen management guy. He was fantastic last year in regards to the bullpen.

[Sparky12]

We should have a good offense, pen and defense. It really all comes down to the starting pitching for me, the upside is certainly there but there's a lot of risk to count on. I'm certainly optimistic tho

[John_Havok]

YEs yes I know, it's only early, and a lot rests on the health of guys who have had issues staying healthy, but I think with Hutch, Mcgowan, morrow this team can stay in contention this year. Baseball is a funny game, and I like what I see so far, their plat approach also seems improved. My biggest concern is obviously health and RA dickey, nice guy but I cringe watching him pitch, he is supposed to be our ace.

 

Beautiful too see a catcher who seems to have a clue back there, I think this well help the staff more then people realise. JP was a disaster.

 

Bautista if he stays healthy looks to be primed for a monster season.

 

Most fans tend to look at last years win total, then see no real turnover in the roster, and automatically seem to think that this year the Jays are starting out as a 74 win team at best. It's faulty and severely flawed thinking, but it is what it is.

 

Any team that does well in any season usually sees several things go their way. Breakouts from players you don't expect, limited problems with injuries especially with key players, and almost always, pitching that outperforms everyone's expectations. There's no real way to predict this though, but it has just as good a chance as happening to the Jays as any other team. It's just unlikely.

 

This team does have a lot of chronic injury bug players, look no futher than Reyes going down on the first AB of the season. There's a very decent chance that several key players will miss 100-150 Ab or 5-10 starts each, but... maybe not. Who knows?

 

If they're all healthy, we'll be in it. If not, probably not.