Home »
MLB Predictions »
2008 MLB
Predictions
2008 Toronto Blue Jays Predictions & Season
Preview
The
Blue Jays clearly have one
of the elite starting
rotations in the American
League led by ace Roy
Halladay, but it appears the
Jays might not have enough
pop in their lineup to give
the Yankees or Red Sox a run
for their money. Find out
just how World Champion MLB
Handicapper Jimmy Boyd sees
things shaping up in his
2008 Toronto Blue Jays
predictions.
Starting Rotation/Bullpen
Toronto’s strong suit is its
pitching. Roy Halladay is a
Cy Young threat each and
every season. He pitches
late into games and demands
the ball in big spots. The
Blue Jays desperately need a
big year out of A.J. Burnett
and they believe they’ll get
it as he has the option to
opt out of his contract
after the season. Dustin
McGowan had a breakthrough
season and was extremely
tough on righties. Shawn
Marcum didn’t suffer a loss
until after his 11th start
last season and finished
12-6 on the year. And the
Jays will bring Casey
Janssen out of middle relief
to take over the fifth spot.
With B.J. Ryan back from
Tommy John surgery, the pen
should improve instantly. He
had 74 saves over the
2005-2006 seasons. Jeremy
Accardo filled in as a
closer last season and
picked up 30 saves. He
provides the Jays with some
insurance and also a solid
relief pitcher.
Batting Order
G.M. J.P. Ricciardi may be
convinced that he has a
lineup capable of competing
with the beasts of the East
when healthy, but I’m not.
Don’t get me wrong, this
lineup can get Toronto 90
wins, but it’s just not of
the same caliber of the
Yankees and Red Sox. David
Eckstein comes over from St.
Louis to fill the lead off
spot. He hit for average
last season, but 58 runs and
just 10 stolen bases are
hardly upper echelon leadoff
numbers. Lyle Overbay fills
the two-hole and will have
something to prove. He hit
just .226 after returning
from a broken hand last
season. Vernon Wells is the
Blue Jays biggest star, but
even he had a down year,
batting just .245 with 16
homeruns and 80 RBIs. It was
the first time in five
seasons that he did not belt
at least 20 homeruns. Did
Wells just sign that fat
contract extension and relax
or was a shoulder injury to
blame for the lack of
production? Either way, he
has to do more for Toronto
to compete. Alex Rios was
the biggest bright spot for
Toronto last year. He ranked
among the AL top 10 in 10
categories. He has speed to
go along with his power. If
Scott Rolen is healthy, he
will give Rios even more
opportunities to shine as
pitchers won’t pass on Rios
to get to the former NL MVP
contender. Frank Thomas may
have a few swings left as
may Matt Stairs. Aaron Hill
showed some pop last season
with 17 homeruns and 78 RBIs
and Greg Zaun’s power
numbers continue to improve
as well.
While Toronto has solid
pitching, its lineup lacks
the power that the Yankees
and Red Sox bring to the
table. It may have been
presumptuous of Ricciardi to
convince ownership that they
could bop with the big
boppers in the East. But,
it’s only his head, right?
The Jays should take home
the number three spot in the
tough AL East.
Jimmy brings his #1 MLB
world ranking into the 2008
season and he's going for
the repeat. Another world
handicapping title for Jimmy
means another big winning
season for he and his
clients. Sign up for a
package of his
baseball picks to take
you clear through the season
and make more over the
summer with Jimmy than you
ever have in a year.
Odds to win AL East:
5/1
Odds to win 2008 AL Pennant
15/1
Odds to win 2008 World
Series:
30/1
Other Predictions for the 2008 Season:
Updated February 12th, 2008
|
