SUCCESSFUL EXTREME MAKEOVER OR LINEUP IMPL0SION?

The grapefruit season is here! We are nearly ready to hear “PLAY BALL”again!

The Toronto Blue Jays have been one of the most active teams in the major league baseball off-season. Does it look like the moves they have made will equate to success on the diamond next season? The Jays haven’t been in the playoffs since ’93 and the fans are becoming increasingly restless watching only four winning seasons during that time.

Without going into comparisons with the other American League clubs, because other teams have also been tweaking their rosters, lets take a look at some of the “New Jays” with major League Ball experience.

INCLUSIONS

RHP A.J. Burnett

LHP B.J. Ryan

LHP Brian Tallet

3B Troy Glaus

1B Lyle Overbay

These additions are expected to give the rotation needed experience with starter A.J. Burnett and closer B.J. Ryan expected to lead the way. Glaus and Overbay should add needed clout to the their line-up with the two of them likely fitting into the 3 through 6 spots along with carry-overs Vernon Wells and Shea Hillenbrand.

The Blue Jays seem to be set in the outfield with no major changes expected from last year’s fly shaggers. Golden Glover Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Frank Catalanotto and infielder/experimental outfielder Eric Hinske along with Reed Johnson will likely roam the outfield for the Jays with Wells being the only fixture, in center.

EXCLUSIONS

3B Cory Koskie (traded to Milwaukee for only a prospect, with the Jays picking up some of the balance of his contract.)

2B Orlando Hudson, American League Rawlings Gold Glove Winner, (part of the Glaus trade.)

RHP Miguel Batista (part of the Glaus trade.)

Koskie, ex of the Minnesota Twinkies was injured for much of last season and did not really live up to his pre-billing. Interestingly, the Jays offered Koskie back to Minnesota but they were rebuffed, leaving the Jays with not a lot of options, as they were heavy with infielders. Batista had a so-so career with the Jays, but it is believed that losing Hudson will leave a huge hole in their infield, and Hudson was also a major leader in their dressing room and was quite active in the community.

MAKEOVER OR IMPLOSION?

As with all attempts at making changes to sports teams, the results cannot really be quantified until the players involved have had a chance to prove themselves. The Jays management could definitely be accused of over paying the new additions, particularly in the cases of Burnett and Ryan. The expectations for these two players will be very high, and because Toronto is not considered a “big market franchise,” the fans will be expecting big things in view of the money those hurlers were able to grab! I don’t like seeing Hudson leave and I think the Jays may end up regretting that move; he was their main steadying influence in the middle. If Hudson isn’t adequately replaced and the two new pitchers struggle, it will be looked at as an implosion in the Jays nest, and not a makeover.

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JOHN PAUL “SPORTY” SPN CORRESPONDENT

SPORTS PLAYER NETWORK (SPN)

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