New Manager Takes Over Toronto Blue Jays
New Manager Takes Over Toronto Blue Jays
New Manager Takes Over Toronto Blue Jays
With Cito Gaston retired, new manager John Farrell takes over a Toronto Blue Jays team that hit a lot of home runs last season but did not get on base enough. The teams 85-77 finish was respectable but good for just fourth place behind the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox in the competitive American League East Division. The team hopes that the addition of speed and an improved bullpen will give them a better chance to compete in 2011.
After he hit 20 home runs and 67 runs batted in while hitting just . 243, former first baseman Lyle Overbay signed a one year, $5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Adam Lind takes over at first after hitting . 237 with 23 homers and 72 RBIs in 2010. That was some what of a disappointment following 2009 when Lind hit . 305 with 35 home runs, 114 RBIs and scored 93 runs. The team hopes he can rebound with a bit more pop while adding more base hits.
Jon Rauch comes to the Toronto bull pen after pitching for the Minnesota Twins last season. With Twins stopper Joe Nathan sidelined due to Tommy John surgery, Rauch served as closer until mid season when Minnesota traded for Matt Capps from the Nationals. The Blue Jays signed free agent Octavio Dotel who finished last year with the Rockies. He also pitched for Pittsburgh and Los Angeles last year and is a journeyman, having also pitched for the Astros, White Sox and Royals in his career. He is effective when healthy however and adds a veteran presence to the Jays relief corps.
Also added to the relief mix is former Rangers closer Frank Francisco. Francisco saved 25 games for Texas in 2009 and has averaged 66 strikeouts, a 3.43 earned run average and an impressive 1.16 WHIP. Along with the solid Shawn Camp and Jesse Carlson, the additions to the Toronto bullpen should make them deeper and even more effective.
Last season, third baseman Jose Bautista led all of baseball with 54 home runs. His former career best was 16 home runs, leading many to wonder if he can come close to his 2010 numbers. Even if he hits between 30 to 40 home runs, Bautista would provide a major force in the middle of the Toronto batting order.
Of course, one of the biggest developments in the off season for Toronto was the trade of long time fan favorite Vernon Wells. Wells was traded to the Angels in a salary saving move designed to give the Blue Jays payroll flexibility in the future. In the trade, the Jays got Mike Napoli, a power hitting catcher, and Juan Rivera, an outfielder, in return. Just days after the trade, Toronto flipped Napoli to the Texas Rangers in exchange for reliever Frank Francisco. Rivera is another power bat option capable of 25 home runs if healthy.
At just 23, outfielder Travis Snider is already entering his third major league season. Injuries plagued Snider last year, but he still hit . 255 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs, but he finished the season strong, hitting six homers in September. If he puts it all together as expected, Snider is seen as easily a 30 homer, 100 RBI hitter.
In addition to strong pitching and an improved bullpen, the Toronto Blue Jays feature one of the most powerful lineups in the American League. Leading the offense is third baseman Jose Bautista who had an unbelievable season in 2010, pounding out 54 home runs while driving in 124 with a . 260 average and a . 617 slugging percentage. The Jays are sure to score plenty of runs and with the potential contribution from Drabek, Toronto could contend with the Red Sox and Yankees in 2011.
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