Who Will Jays Take North?

It's just about that time again!

Here we are, half way through spring traint. Time to predict what the Toronto Blue Jays roster will look like, come opening night, on April 1st, against the Twins

Starting off, lets look at the starting rotation.

Ricky Romero
Brandon Morrow
Brett Cecil
Jesse Litsch
Kyel Drabek

That is most likely the five men, who will be starting this year for the Jays. I have a feeling, that Jesse will get the fourth spot. Little more experience, and you may want to break up the power arms, with Jesse who throws a little bit slower, and then come back with alittle more heat, with Drabek.

A couple dark horses, Zach Stewart, and Jo Jo Reyes. Stewart, is having a great spring, but he's still young, and the organization, probably wants him to spen another year in the minors. Although, look for Stewart, to get the call sometime this year. Reyes, was acquired  last year from the Braves, in the Yunel Escobar deal. Reyes is out of options, so the Jays will take a hard look at him. He's been impressing also this spring, and could wind up with a bullpen job aswell

Staying with pitching, this is how I see the bullpen shaping up

CP-Frank Francisco
SU- Octavio Dotel
SU- Jon Rauch
       Jason Frasor
       Shawn Camp
       David Purcey
       Casey Janssen

Few dark horses include Jo Jo Reyes, who I talked about above, Carlos Villanueva ,also Jesse Carlson. But I feel Purcey will win the lefty job over Jesse.


Now to the guys, who will be counted on, in scoring the runs. The lineup

CF-Raja Davis
SS-Yunel Escobar
1B-Adam Lind
3B-Jose Bautista
2B-Aaron Hill
LF-Travis Snider
RF-Juan Rivera
DH-Edwin Encarnacion
C-J.P Arencibia

The bench will look something like:

C-Jose Molina
IF-John McDonald
IF/OF-Mike McCoy
OF-Corey Patterson

I would love if Canadian Brett Lawrie was the opening day third baseman, but i feel the Jays wont want to rush him, even tho he is having a great spring. We will see him up sometime this year, but Brett probably starts the year in AAA Las Vegas

Looking over this roster of the 2010-2011, edition of our Jays, it really gets me excited. This team is not far off from championship contention, and who knows, if things fall into place, and we avoid injuries, that wildcard spot, is very reachable.

I just want to quickly give props to Jays GM Alex. When he took over for JP, the Jays farm system was ranked almost dead last, not many prospects, and the idea of signing the likes of Frank Thomas.
Under Alex's leadership and the importance he feels in scouting and drafting, the Jays farm system is ranked all the way up, at #4, with many top prospects.

There are some great years ahead for this franchise, and its very exciting.
In the very near future, we will be back where we belong, playing some October ball

Thanks for reading

We'll chat again soon

Keep your eye on the ball!

MR