The Blue Jays may or may not make a long-awaited run at a postseason berth, but they should have a lock on the Comeback Player of the Year.
Throw a dart anywhere at the Jays roster and the chances are good it will hit the name of a player who is coming back off some sort of injury suffered in 2007.
Topping the list is closer B.J. Ryan, who made just five appearances before he needed Tommy John surgery, wiping out his season.
Then there is center fielder Vernon Wells who played the entire season with a torn left labrum and underwent offseason surgery. He hit just .245 with 16 homers and 80 RBI.
Misery? No Jay suffered as much as left fielder Reed Johnson, who missed three months following back surgery and upon his return couldn't hit for average or power and ended the year with a .236 average, two homers and 14 RBI in 275 at-bats.
Left-hander Gustavo Chacin made just five starts because of shoulder problems. First baseman Lyle Overbay had 10 homers and 44 RBI in 425 at-bats and had two surgeries on his right hand. Right-hander Brandon League suffered back muscle and shoulder problems, lost his velocity and made just 14 appearances. Catcher Gregg Zaun lost time because of a broken right thumb.
You get the picture.
Naturally enough, general manager J.P. Ricciardi and manager John Gibbons simply want their recovering players to all return to health and for the team to remain healthy -- something it has not been able to do each of the last two seasons.
The Jays believe they have enough punch in the lineup and talent in the pitching staff to be a contender. But they need to stay healthy. It's that simple.
WHERE, WHEN: Knology Park, Dunedin, Fla. First exhibition game is Feb. 28 against Detroit.
TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE
C Rod Barajas had a lost season last year with the Phillies as he lost the starting job and received little playing time. A year ago the Jays believed they had him signed to a two-year contract, but Barajas backed out of the deal. He has shown power in the past with the Rangers and might have something to prove.
TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT
LF Matt Stairs, given a chance to play more when Reed Johnson was out, was the surprise of 2007 as he produced 21 homers and drove in 64 runs in 357 at-bats. Stairs will be 40 when he arrives at spring training and will start the season in a platoon role with Johnson in left. It's hard to imagine he could approach last year's production.
AUTHORITY FIGURES
Manager John Gibbons (270-266) enters his third full season with the Jays and is under the gun in the final year of his contract. Gibbons, a straight shooter, has the respect of his players. General manager J.P. Ricciardi believes his team is capable of contending, and if the Jays slump through the opening months of the season, Gibbons could be thrown under the bus.
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