Don't Count Out the Toronto Blue Jays

You've heard of him. His name will roll off the tongue of any devoted Blue Jay fan like the sweet bliss of the first day of spring.

That man is Cito Gaston. He was the first African-American manager in the Blue Jays' history, way back in 1989. He turned a struggling 12-24 Jays team into a division winning 89-73 team.

Yes, the year's different, but the same man is in charge. He was never given enough credit in his years in Toronto, but is always remembered as spearheading the 1992 and 1993 World Series runs.

Yes, the Jays are 47-48, and for the most part, they've underperformed, underachieved, and most of all frustrated.

But someone said baseball was like a marathon that never ends until the northerly winds return to make way for falling leaves and the cold, deep, dark lull of winter. The Jays are still looking up in the standings, and there are a lot of teams to leapfrog.

But one must remember: There's still a ton of divisional contests left.

Back in 1989, Cito's team was still messing around the .500 mark at this time of the year.

In 2008, The Jays closed out the first half with five inspiring wins in six days against division rivals, leapfrogging Baltimore into fourth.

The Yankees are the next target. The Jays sit just three behind them, 8.5 behind suddenly slumping Tampa, and nine behind Boston.

There are still 67 games to be played. Don't write off Cito's Jays just yet.

Here is why.

1) John Parrish

Little known to  most of the baseball world is Toronto's newfound hope, and while we're on an '80s theme, just as Luke Skywalker was for the Republic, and John Connor was for mankind against the machines in Terminator, John Parrish is for the Blue Jays.

Dustin McGowan, A.J. Burnett (although dominating at times), and sometimes Jesse Litsch have been models of inconsistency throughout the season.

Parrish comes out of AAA Dunedin with a stellar track record in his journey back to the major leagues as a starter, going 10-1 with a 2.74 ERA in the minors, and is 1-0, allowing just four runs in thirteen innings of work in two starts while up in the majors. He'll be a major player down the stretch for Toronto.

2) Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen....Brandon League

League is back. The dominating reliever of 2006 can only get better.

Accardo, who saved 30 games, should be back soon enough.

Casey Janssen could give the Jays a much-needed sparkplug out of the bullpen come September, if he's able to return this year.

3) Alex Rios

Rios, sooner or later, is going to find his homerun swing.

4) Lyle Overbay

He'll find his groove.

5) The Jays play better in the face of adversity

Injuries to many key players, like Vernon Wells and Dustin McGowan, will only make this team stronger once they play their way back into contention.

6) Cito Gaston

He makes the right moves. Burnett on three days' rest? Beautiful. Halladay in the opener against the Yankees? Beautiful. Parrish to finish off the Orioles? Sure.

7) The Infield Defense

When Aaron Hill returns in August, the Jays will not have a ball go through the infield ever again. Gold Glover Rolen, plus the best defensive SS in the league in John McDonald, plus Gold-Glover caliber Hill, and Gold-Glove caliber Overbay at first.

Doc might just throw a no-hitter after all.

8) Roy Halladay

11-6, 2.71 ERA, and a 6:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Tough to beat.

They've got all the pieces, these Jays.

As Cito begins to fit them together, you just watch out.

For all the doubters, well, Yogi Berra always said, "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Remember the Rockies? The 'Stros of '04?

Yeah. I thought so.