Rebuilding No More: Blue Jays' Time Is Now

With the miraculous NFL season coming to a close, and Spring Training coming ever so closer with each yearning day, it's time to see how things might shake out in arguably the best division in baseball, the AL East.

Although the best rivarly in all of sports exists in this division, people not connected with it, both abroad and within the division, must be getting awfully sick of the Yankees' and Red Sox's success.

Granted, it's fun to watch and the media hype is like no other, but there're three other teams in high-profile cities that are lost in the shuffle.

High-profile acqusitions, unlimited budget expendures, and adoring fanbases have been a given for both the Yankees and Red Sox since the early '90s, or quite frankly, since the strike in 1995.

Before then, both teams were inferior and their franchises seem to be in distress.

Compared to today, roles were reversed as this was the time of Toronto Blue Jays' dominance, winning back-to-back World Championships and regarded as the best team in baseball.

However, the work stoppage which followed hit the Jays the hardest of the teams in the AL East, causing players to leave via free agency, disinterest from fans (generally seen in all of Canada, Montreal Expos folding up), and the reign of the Yankees and Red Sox coming to fruition.

In the newly-built SkyDome, the Jays set attendance records in every season before the strike, but since then the (now) Rogers Centre is more than half empty on many occassion.

The late '90s were filled with mediocrity and the Blue Jays spent the next six seasons after the strike only faintly sniffing at the playoffs.

The turn of the century brought a renewed sense of vigor for the Jays, when Rogers Communications took the majority share in the club in 2001, and the Gord Ash era had come to an end as the team was struggling with revenues and player salaries.

Thus ushered in the J.P Ricciardi Era.

Since then, Ricciardi has promised progress and a so-called 5 year plan to take the team to the next level of contention.

We're now entering 2008 and after signing an extension to remain the GM of the Blue Jays for the next few years, people in Toronto are wondering...when is this plan actually going to come to frution, and will playoff baseball ever be seen in Toronto again?.

The team itself has developed a solid young core with players such as Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill, Roy Halladay, Alex Rios, Reed Johnson, Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen, and others that Ricciardi has been trying to build around.

The past two years have seen dramatic increases in payroll, (nowhere near the contrast to the two teams above the Jays however) bringing in such players as Troy Glaus, BJ Ryan, AJ Burnett, Frank Thomas, Lyle Overbay, Bengie Molina, and other minor "retred" players to return the Jays to the playoffs.

There is no doubt that some of these moves have caused excitment, and the win-now approach has given hope to Blue Jays fans.

But I, like many others, am tired of waiting.

Two years ago the Jays approached 90 wins and appeared to be making a strong bid for the postseason with a few minor tweaks.

The 2007 season did not go according to plan though, with mounting injuries seemingly destroying any chances by midseason and having Jays fans crying for Maple Leaf hockey by late August.

I am tired of the excuses that seem to be keeping this team from contending at a playoff level.

The time is now. With expiring contracts coming by the year 2010, this team will look a lot different, and if the wins don't come, it could get ugly north of the border.

Now granted the team sent 13 different players to the disabled list, and by September half the team was different from what was projected on opening day, some players just didn't live up to numbers they had put up in the past.

Part I: The Offense

This offseason, Ricciardi claimed we had the core to put together a playoff-type team and thought only minor tweaks were needed.

At the winter meetings, he signed utility man Marco Scutaro, a super-sub player that the Jays desperately needed.

Did you see the Jays bench last year? It was ugly, and barren of major league talent.

So long to Howie Clark, Hector Luna, and Ray Olmedo.

Scutaro can play second, shortstop, third, and even some OF when needed, and provides some pop and experience off the bench.

I've also seen him come through in the clutch on several occassions (walk-off HR off Mariano Rivera). I know Oakland fans were displeased to see Scutaro leave.

The next question going into the offseason was shortstop.

The Jays haven't had a solid, dependable shortstop since 1999-2000.

Two years ago, Russ Adams just didn't pan out. He showed promise but now appears destined for the minors or a back up role at best.

So last year Ricciardi decides to sign an apparent stopgap in Royce Clayton, who was gone by mid-August as he lost major playing time to John McDonald.

Now granted, McDonald was amazing to watch in the field, but he was basically an automatic out.

You can give me the OBP and all that, but he just didn't provide any sort of threat in the lineup, and it was getting hard to watch.

Surprisngly to me, Ricciardi seem to think McDonald deserved the full-time gig and signed him to an extension, pronouncing him as the starter for the upcoming season.

I was not happy with this decision, but as long as we upgraded in other areas, it shouldn't hurt as much.

Then to everyone's surprise, Ricciardi decides to sign David Eckstein to a one-year deal, very similar to that of the Clayton signing.

People argued, "Why are you paying almost six million combined at the shortstop position and proclaiming the infield was set to your liking?"

Well, I credit this move to Ricciardi.

He realized we couldn't go status quo at shortstop, and saw a chance to add a quality bat, energy, and experience to the team.

Reading Blue Jays' Forums online, I saw the outcry from some Cardinal fans who were very upset with Eckstein's departure.

This attests to what he brings each and everyday to the team.

Fans argued that the defense will take a major hit with this signing, as McDonald had people chanting Gold Glove last season with some highlights he made.

Fans also looked at Eckstein's fielding stats last season and were discouraged at the high number of errors made on a relatively poor team.

However, Eckstein had a career year at the plate and gets on base a ton more than McDonald did or ever would in his career.

Eckstein, not a speedster by any stretch of the imagination, can also steal a base or two, and I think provides leadership on the field and presense so desperately needed at the top of lineup.

I can recall the Jays used Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, Gregg Zaun, Matt Stairs, and Reed Johnson at leadoff last season.

That shows not only injuries, but instablity.

Eckstein will bring needed stability to the lineup and he knows how to work a pitcher into deep counts.

McDonald just wouldn't cut it against the big boys of the AL.

Eckstein gives the Jays arguably the second-best shortstop in the division behind Jeter. Compared to last season, where the Jays seemingly had the worst in terms of offensive production on a day to day basis.

Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen?

Now this really surprised me.

Glaus was never right last season, and it was painful to watch him play with the bone spurs in his ankle and other various issues.

In fact, he never really looked healthy in all his time with the Jays organization.

There were questions this offseason that it was uncertain if his ankle would react and heal properly for him to stay healthy enough for a full season.

I thought Glaus was finally succumbing to his injury riddled body and might have been past his prime entering this season.

When Scott Rolen and his highly controversial feud with Tony LaRussa ended with a trade request from Rolen, I for one didn't think Rolen was even on the Blue Jays' radar.

He was rumoured to be going to the Brewers or the Rangers depending on reports, and I didn't pay much attention to the situation.

Ricciardi kept quiet until rumors popped up about Rolen coming to Toronto for Troy Glaus.

At first I was shocked, and not pleased.

After a somewhat humorous rounds of physicals for each player, the trade became official, and I still did not understand J.P.'s logic in the move.

Since then, I've looked at many vitals for each player and have rethought about the trade for many hours.

As you all know, Rolen is an all-time great defensive third baseman, winning multiple Gold Glove awards, so from that perspective it's a solid upgrade from Glaus, (a solid defender in his own right).

Add Rolen to an infield with McDonald, Hill, and Overbay gives the Jays perhaps the best infield in baseball in terms of fielding on the slick surface of Rogers Centre.

Watching Rolen last year at the plate was also painful though, and at first I thought Ricciardi had blown up the potentially potent offense.

But if Rolen's shoulder can heal and he can return to even a sniff of his old form, he's a .290-.300 hitter with 20 HR power and a run producer.

In the spacious gaps of Rogers Centre, I think Rolen will thrive on run-producing doubles, and the pressure will be off him for providing much of the offense for the Jays if Wells, Overbay, etc...can rebound.

Glaus was a strike out machine and often couldn't come up with the big hit the Jays would need in certain situations. 

Rolen strikes out a little less than Glaus and gives the Jays a guy who can get on in a number of ways besides the homerun.

Rolen is also familiar playing with Eckstein and should make up for any defeciencies in Eckstein's fielding on the left side.

Like Eckstein, he brings World Series experience and has been in many battles in the postseason, something the entire Blue Jays team lack.

Thus, I think Ricciardi made another smart move, knowing Rolen can teach, lead, and be a voice in the clubhouse that could make the Jays a strong cohesive unit.

Now, I would have liked to see Ricciardi try to upgrade in LF, but sticking with Reed Johnson and Stairs is good for chemistry, and if Johnson can be the player who led the AL in OBP for leadoff men two years ago, the Jays from top to bottom have a lineup comparable to anyone in the AL.

Eckstein—Rios—Wells—Thomas—Overbay—Rolen—Hill—Zaun—Johnson

From top-to-bottom on a everyday basis, there is not one hole in the lineup.

The Jays also decided not to upgrade at catcher, keeping Zaun as the incumbent starter.

I'm not a big fan of Zaun, but he calls a good game, and provides stability at the position.

The organization is high on Curtis Thigpen, but he needs time to develop more as seen when he was called up last summer.

They're also high on Robinson Diaz, who will probably start at AAA this spring and also needs a ton of time to develop.

Ricciardi decided to re-sign Sal Fasano and sign free-agent catcher Rod Barajas who provides good depth, at least for the start of the season.

Last year when Zaun went down, the backstop became another black hole for the offense. This year, should an injury arise, the Jays should be comfortable with the options they have to choose from.

The bench should include Scutaro, Barajas, Stairs, Lind (AAA), and potentially a few others who gained valuable experience last season.

There's a lot of "if's" here concerning the offense.

Yes, health is key, and the upgrades Ricciardi made are for a win-now mentality.

If it gels right, the lineup can be scary. This team resembles the Tigers from two years ago, who built around a solid core and deep bench, went all the way to the World Series against the Cardinals.

I think Ricciardi has added just the right mix to make a serious run this year.

However, time is running out on the Jays with players such as Frank Thomas, Rolen, Rios, and others who, in a couple years will not be under contract with the Jays.

Without any major prospects in the minors, besides heralded Travis Snider and other low level players such as J.P Arencibia and Kevin Ahrens, only time will tell what is to become of the Jays financially in the future.

Who knows how long some of these players will be with the franchise.

Part II will look at the pitching staff and how it might project this season, and its developing role of the Jays organization.

I will also look at the entire division and break down each ball club on a smaller degree.