Yesterday, the Roster looked at the Jay offence, and this morning, it was the pitching and defence. It is time for some Friday afternoon fun. We asked the Roster to supply their win predictions, and keys to the season in a sentence or two.
Mike Green- 88 wins. The keys to the season are the development of Marcum and Janssen and the health of Halladay and Burnett. Luck is indeed the residue of design, and it would have helped had the middle infield been addressed more constructively.
Pistol: I guessing 825 runs and 750 runs allowed - that gets the Jays to 89 wins. I don't think I'm going out on a limb saying that the key to the season will be the health of the top players and the emergence of quality starters at the backend of the rotation ala Chacin and Towers in 2005.
Magpie - My 848 scored and 737 allowed suggests 92-70, and it's time they caught a break from Pythagoras. Just a couple of games, so 94-68, first place.
Matthew E - 86 wins, and here's how it's going to happen: there will be some injuries, and those injuries will be blamed for the team not doing any better... but it won't really be because of the injuries; it'll be because that's about how good the team is. (If one of the young starting pitchers puts it all together, forget everything I just said.)
Dave Till - I don't have a clear feel for how this team is going to perform. The roster is much less settled than it's been in past years, and there are several players that could get better or might not. I'm going to go with 85 to 90 wins and second place. But it could swing either way: the Jays' offense could score a ton of runs, or the pitching could completely implode. 95+ wins and under .500 are both real possibilities.
#2JBrumfield - Pitching wise, I feel the rotation will be a lot better thanks to improved quality and health. Somebody will come out of nowhere like Pat Hentgen in '93 and win close to 15 games (read Casey Janssen or even more off the wall, Dustin McGowan). I think J.P. will find a way to beef up the bullpen through the trade route. Offensively, I expect Reed Johnson and Troy Glaus to drop off from last year but that should be more than offset by Frank Thomas, Aaron Hill, and Alex Rios. Mark me down for 91 wins.
Gerry - I guess I am the pessimist at 85 wins. I am worried about injuries to players like Troy Glaus and Frank Thomas and the effect of almost full time play by Greg Zaun and Royce Clayton.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=2007032809500972