powered by Google  
CBSSports.com MLB Sports News   Track your favorite teams and players.
Free membership, Register Now
Already a member, Log In
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Home   Fantasy     NFL  |  MLB  |  NBA  |  NHL  |  College FB  |  College BK  |  Golf  |  More CBS College | MaxPreps | Mobile | Shop  
MLB Home | Scoreboard | Standings | Schedules | Stats | Teams | Players | Transactions | Injuries | Video | Fantasy News
  Toronto Blue Jays logo

Register to Customize or Login

Toronto Blue Jays
Location: Toronto, Ont. | Ballpark: Rogers Centre (49,539) | Spring Training: Dunedin, Fla.
Owner: Rogers Communications | GM: Alex Anthopoulos | Manager: Cito Gaston | World Championships: 2
Team PageScheduleStatsRosterDepth ChartTransactions Team Report PhotosHistoryMessage Board
 

It's Not Too Late - Get a chance to win the $10,000 Grand Prize with FREE Fantasy Basketball!

 
Blue Jays report: Inside pitch
 

The Sports Xchange
 
 
Inside pitch · Roster · Notes, quotes
 

 

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.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

 
 

Toronto Blue Jays Message Board
Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Jul 20, 2009

November 6, 2009 5:40 am
With the off season among us, yes i know my Phillies only lost 2 days ago but the easiest way to get over it is to think about next year, well heres my question.  I know Roy Halladay is the face of the jays but what do you think is going to happen to him over the off s ...(more)
Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 22, 2006

October 24, 2009 12:00 am
Okay, that ugly Blue Jays season is behind us now, and we're enjoying some nice playoff baseball.

Let's look to next spring then.  You know, where everyone thinks everyone can make the playoffs. (Unless you're the Pirates........ahhh, what the heck?  The Pirate
...(more)
Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 3, 2008

October 30, 2009 10:44 pm
 This is more a far-off idea... But let's say, that the Boston Red Sox do aquire Adrian Gonzalez. This make David Ortiz possibly available, and he may be pricey at $13 Million a year, but I thnik he is ...(more)
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 15, 2008

October 27, 2009 8:38 pm
***Mark McGwire's Five-Step Approach To Hitting***
The Mac is back!  Big Mac, Mark McGwire is back with the Cardinals to be their hitting coach.  McGwire has always been a fan favorite in St. Louis, but it’s almost a written fact that he t
...(more)
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 3, 2008

October 26, 2009 8:16 pm
I think I asked a question like this before but I don't remember.....

If the Jays put Wells on waivers..... and a team was dumb enough to claim him.... (maybe he gets hot for a day or 2 and then put him on waivers).... and the jays let him go for nothing like rios.... can Wells exercise his no-trade clause and refuse to go to that team? or does waiver claim not count as a trade
...(more)
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 3, 2008

October 24, 2009 8:44 pm
(POLL) I have read alot of articles and most people think cito should be fired, what do you guys think?

He has taken alot of heat for giving millar playing time.... i don't get why this is bad... i am not defending millar but does anybody think overbay is good? 15 HR at 1B does not cut it for me..... i would rather the Jays have a promotional night everygame where one lucky fan gets to play 1B
...(more)
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 3, 2008

October 26, 2009 8:10 pm
(POLL) Who will be the Jays best non pitcher player next year?
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 3, 2008

October 26, 2009 8:08 pm
(POLL) Who is the Jays worst Blue Jay now
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 28, 2006

October 3, 2009 4:29 pm
After 8 long seasons of finishing behind the Yankees and Red Sox (even the Rays...that was suppose to be us last year?), the blue jay brass finally gave the pink slip to JP. After another disapointing season, ...(more)
Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:May 8, 2007

October 3, 2009 12:02 am

If I'm Paul Beeston, I have two agendas for the off-season. They are as follows:

1- Fire J.P. Ricciardi

How can this not happen? I think there would have been a Roy Halladay trade at the deadline this year, but the team just couldn't allow our incompetant GM to make such a franchise shaping move. If this i ...(more)

Reputation:83
Level:All-Star
Since:Jul 10, 2009

September 21, 2009 11:15 am
If Kevin Millar gets one more at bat this year.  I say fire Cito.  Why waste 1 more at bat on a guy who guaranteed not to be here next year. 

Poor decision even to bring him here.... The one guy he was supposed to be helping in the club house -Scott Rolen - asked for a trade>


Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 14, 2008

September 15, 2009 7:57 am

I still dont know how this guy still has his job? He is one of I think 6 GM's that have been in the same job for longer than 6yrs in the entire MLB and the other 5 have either won a world series or been to the world series! When they hired him I thought it was a great move considering what he had done in Oakland but come on I think he has had more then enough time to put together a winning team ...(more)

Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 29, 2006

September 30, 2009 11:51 am
http://fullcountpitch.com/2009/09/3
0/adam-linds-quiet-season/


Is Lind the recipient of some FCP Karma or is it the other way around?
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 3, 2008

September 24, 2009 8:14 pm
Any thoughts on moving Snider to 1B.... I have not been following the Jays too much lately and not sure how ruiz is doing... Snider seems built to play 1B.... and overpay sucks
Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 3, 2008

September 24, 2009 8:12 pm
Like I said in previous posts.... this was a good trade for the Jays.... Encarnacion is heating up with now 11 HR and .223 average from .200 at the time of trade.... I will be picking him up if available in nexts years AL Only fantasy draft in the last round sleeper.... Expect .260 - .275 next year with 25-30 HR.... I would advise you guys to do the same....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fantasy Baseball