Blue Jays head for Florida
Toronto looks to new faces for success in 2008
THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Tuesday February 12th, 2008
The Toronto Blue Jays begin gathering in Dunedin, Fla., for spring training this week, hopeful the arrival of new faces like Scott Rolen, David Eckstein, Rod Barajas and Marco Scutaro can help push them to a more fruitful 2008.
The core of the 2007 team that finished third in the American League East at 83-79 in a year of injuries and underperformance is predominantly back for another crack at things, seeking to contend for the franchise's first post-season berth since 1993.
Much of that will depend on a full return to health for stars like Vernon Wells, B.J. Ryan and Lyle Overbay, the ability of young pitchers like Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, Jeremy Accardo and Casey Janssen to continue to progress and whether the team can finally produce strong efforts at the plate and on the mound at the same time.
"This is the strongest club -- and we've put together some good clubs here -- with less question marks than we've had," manager John Gibbons said in a recent interview. "Barring injuries, we should be able to combine it all."
The Blue Jays head into their six long weeks under the Florida sun with only a handful of questions to answer. Their main orders of business will be determining if Ryan will be ready when they open the season March 31 in New York, who will be the team's fifth starter and how the batting order shapes up.
Ryan's recovery from ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow will be watched closely as his status affects both how the bullpen lines up and the battle for the final rotation spot. Janssen, outstanding in a set-up role last season, will battle rookie Jesse Litsch and lefty Gustavo Chacin for that job but will be returned to the bullpen if Ryan is not ready.
Although some in the organization badly want Janssen in the rotation, Ryan won't be rushed. With Accardo stepping into the closer's role so effectively last year, the Blue Jays can afford to be extra careful with the big lefty.
"You want to make sure when everything is a go there's no looking back, no setbacks," said Gibbons. "That means if you've got to take a little bit more time to make sure he's good and ready, then that's what you do. All that is going to revolve around B.J."
The first official workout for pitchers and catchers is Saturday, with the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 21. The Blue Jays play their Grapefruit League opener Feb. 28 at Lakeland versus the Detroit Tigers.