Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Toronto Blue Jays 2009 MLB Record: 75-87
Toronto Blue Jays 2009 MLB Home Record: 44-37
Toronto Blue Jays 2009 MLB Away Record: 31-50

Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Betting

Toronto Blue Jays Odds to Win the American League: 35/1
Toronto Blue Jays Odds to Win the World Series: 75/1

Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Preview & Prediction

This will be a season to forget for the Toronto Blue Jays. When Roy Halladay was traded for prospects in mid December, general manager Alex Anthopoulos and president Paul Beeston both heralded the figurative turning of a page. Neither Beeston nor Anthopoulos has tried to sugar-coat what will be a torturous 2010 in the difficult American League East. Anything above a last-place finish will be considered a success for the stripped-down franchise. This will be the (hopefully) short-term pain part of rebuilding.

This much is clear: Other than Hill and Lind and one or two pitchers, this is a team of short-term fill-ins and trading chips. Ownership says it is prepared to spend upwards of $120 million on payroll when the team is ready to contend. They won’t have to make that call for two more years, at least.

Toronto Blue Jays Manager: Cito Gaston (11 Seasons) Record: 809 – 760

Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Projected Batting Order: LF Jose Bautista (R), ,2B Aaron Hill (R), CF Vernon Wells (R), DH Adam Lind (L), 1B Lyle Overbay (L), 3B Edwin Encarnacion (R), RF Travis Snider (L), ,C John Buck (R), SS Alex Gonzalez (R)

Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Projected Rotation: LH Ricky Romero, RH Shaun Marcum, LH Marc Rzepczynski, LH Brett Cecil, RP Brandon Morrow

Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Projected Closer: LH Scott Downs

2010 Toronto Blue Jays Rotation:

If both Shaun Marcum, who missed last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and Dustin McGowan, out until May (which is the best-case scenario) after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder and right knee, can provide some quality starts at some point, the Blue Jays have a chance to be competitive. Of the two, Marcum is the closest to contributing, which makes him the nominal ace of this pitching staff. The Blue Jays have high hopes for Ricky Romero, whose bid for Rookie of the Year hit a wall in the second half of the 2009 season. He went 4-5 with a 5.28 ERA after Aug. 1. To emerge as a true ace, the left-handed Romero needs to do a better job against left-handed batters, who hit .297 with 10 home runs in 209 at-bats against him last season. Lefty Brett Cecil has electric stuff. He is likely to occupy a rotation spot this season, but his future could be as a closer. Brandon Morrow, the former first round draft choice acquired from the Seattle Mariners, might have the highest upside of any pitcher on the staff. Jesse Litsch, who won 13 games two years ago, won’t be ready until July at the earliest after missing most of the 2009 season with an elbow injury. Both Brad Mills and Marc Rzepczynski have impressed the Jays’ brass. Rzepczynski, who pitched with savvy during his 11 starts last season, is a strong candidate to earn one of the five rotation spots. Kyle Drabek, the centerpiece of the Halladay trade, will be handled with extreme patience, although long-term, hopes are extremely high for the son of former Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek.

2009-2010 Toronto Blue Jays Bullpen:

Scott Downs took over the closer’s job on a full-time basis after BJ. Ryan was shipped out last July. Formerly known as a left-handed specialist, Downs was actually more effective against righties (.246 BA) than lefties (.263) last season. He finished the season with nine saves. Manager Cito Gaston trusts Jason Frasor as much as any pitcher on the staff. Frasor saved 11 games last season, and only allowed 43 hits in 57.2 innings of work. Beyond Downs and Frasor, the Jays actually have some depth in the bullpen, highlighted by the unheralded trio of Jesse Carlson, Shawn Camp and Brian Tallet. Jeremy Accardo has been in the organization’s doghouse for two seasons, but he made a case for himself with a strong finish to the 2009 season. Casey Janssen has an outside shot at a . starter’s spot, but he is likely destined for a swingman’s role. Zach Stewart and Josh Roenicke are two darkhorse candidates whose cost-effectiveness might allow them to take a roster spot.

2010 Toronto Blue Jays Middle Infield:

Aaron Hill is a mainstay at second base. The 28-year old earned a Silver Slugger Award in 2009 and was named the American League Con1eback Player of the Year. Hill has had no recurrence of the post-concussion syndrome that plagued him two seasons ago and had the team (and player) worried about his future. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hill add a Gold Glove to the trophy case soon. Shortstop has been the organization’s Achilles heel – no fewer than 20 different players started at the position during Ricciardi’s reign. All the Blue Jays want from Alex Gonzalez is some solid work in the field. That’s all they’ll get, too.

2010 Toronto Blue Jays Corners:

First baseman Lyle Overbay is no favorite of Gaston’s – the manager’s constant sniping at the popular Overbay was the cause of much clubhouse dissatisfaction – and the Blue Jays will attempt to trade him before his contract runs out. Overbay is too often confused at the plate and he has never regained the power he had before breaking his hand. In the meantime, however, he gives the club solid defense. Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been a mechanical mess on defense. His positioning is not sound, and he showed a tendency to drop his hand and sail his throws. The Blue Jays, however, are hopeful that offseason wrist surgery will help. Encarnacion had a scare over the holidays, but the injuries sustained to his face during a fireworks mishap on New Year’s Eve weren’t serious. Jose Bautista could end up at third if a trade is made involving one of the outfielders. With top prospect Brett Wallace, a corner infielder acquired from the Oakland Athletics in the Halladay deal, around, it will be a surprise if both (or either) Overbay and Encarnacion finish the 2010 season in Toronto.

2010 Toronto Blue Jays Outfield:

With Alex Rios no longer around, Vernon Wells is now target No.1 among Blue Jays fans. Wells, whose contract is an albatross for the organization, has hit .260 or worse in two of the last three years and averaged only 17 home runs per season from 2007-09. Wells, who underwent wrist surgery in the offseason, is saying all the right things about his desire to re-establish himself as one of the top outfielders in the American League. Adam Lind, one of the few bright spots last season, played 55 games in left field, but he is more comfortable as a designated hitter. If Lind does DH, Bautista, who can play almost anywhere on the diamond, is the likely starter in left field. Travis Snider, who hit. 241 in 241 at bats last season, has the inside track in right field. Joey Gathright is the only prototypical lead-off hitter on the 25-man roster, and the door is very much open for him with a good spring.

2010 Toronto Blue Jays Catching:

The Blue Jays’ best catchers – J.P. Arencibia, Brian Jeroloman and Travis D’Arnaud – will start the year in the minors. Arencibia, the most highly regarded member of the group, is at least a year away, meaning that John Buck (eight homers in 59 games for the Royals last season) will get a chance to do what Rod Barajas did in the previous two seasons – resurrect his career and then move on. Raul Chavez is the classic good throw/poor hit backup, but he will be pushed by Ramon Castro.

2010 Toronto Blue Jays Bench:

Lind won the Silver Slugger Award at designated hitter last year in what was a breakout season. He might be forced to play in the outfield, but the team is far better off if he can spend the majority of his time focusing on his hitting. The Blue Jays’ bench will not be very strong. John McDonald is a one-trick pony as a defensive shortstop. Bautista is a useful defender who can play the corner infield and outfield positions. Gathright is a threat on the base paths.

Toronto Blue Jays 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Toronto Blue Jays will finish 4th in the AL East Division .

Toronto Blue Jays 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 4th AL East 75
2008: 4th AL East 86
2007: 3rd AL East 83
2006: 2nd AL East 87
2005: 3rd AL East 80

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