Toronto Blue Jays: Projecting Individual Stats for the Starting Lineup

The Toronto Blue Jays kicked off the season this past weekend as they were in Cleveland for a three-game series against the tribe.

They played a total of 36.5 innings during those three games, giving us an opportunity to look at what we can look forward to on the offensive side of the ball.

Toronto picked up right where they left off last year with three homeruns and eight extra base hits. The Blue Jays were able to win the series over the Indians, picking up two out of three games and the bats will need to continue to be there if they want to be a competitive team this year.

The next few slides will project how each player in the batting order will do statistically in 2012.  

Yunel Escobar

The Jays shortstop and leadoff hitter, Yunel Escobar, had a rough opening series. He had the most at-bats on the team (19), but managed only two hits and struck out five times.

I wouldn’t worry too much with Escobar, however. It is still early and he had only one plate appearance in 2011 between Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe.

2012 statistics: .286 batting average with 12 homeruns and 45 RBI

Kelly Johnson

Toronto sent Aaron Hill and John McDonald over to the Arizona Diamondbacks last August for second baseman Kelly Johnson. Johnson had a lot of upside when he came over as he had a .284 average with 26 homeruns in 2010 and had 18 homeruns in 2011 before the trade.

After an average month of baseball, many analysts pointed to Johnson as one of the keys to the Jays offensive success in 2012.

He had a solid spring training and continued that success into Cleveland where he went 5-for-14 with a homerun, two RBIs and four walks. Toronto is in pretty good hands when it comes to their middle infield.

2012 statistics: .281 batting average with 22 homeruns and 60 RBI

Jose Bautista

What can you say about Jose Bautista that hasn’t already been said? The guy is simply amazing. Not only has he hit 97 homeruns over the past two seasons, he has also walked 232 times and batted .302 last year.

Bautista hit .333 against Cleveland with two RBI and four walks. He also scored the first run of the year for the Blue Jays, hitting a solo shot on opening day.

2012 statistics: .296 batting average with 42 homeruns and 108 RBI

Adam Lind

One of the more interesting players on the roster is first baseman Adam Lind. Lind went from hitting .305 with 35 homeruns in 2009 to hitting .251 with 26 homeruns in 2011.

By no means do I expect him to return to 2009 form, but if he wants a starting job next year, then he either needs to hit .250 to .260 with 40+ homeruns or he needs to get his average up between .270 and .280 with 30 bombs.

2012 statistics: .271 batting average with 25 homeruns and 86 RBI

Edwin Encarnacion

With Travis D’Arnaud and David Cooper sitting in the minors, Edwin Encarnacion will have to stay on his toes.

Like Lind, Encarnacion is one of those guys who has to improve either his batting average or his homerun total. As a designated hitter in the five spot, if he is only hitting 17 homeruns, then that average has to be up close to .290. If not, then he better continue to be clutch (see opening day).

2012 statistics: .280 batting average with 18 homeruns and 65 RBI

Brett Lawrie

The most hyped player on the Blue Jays roster going into the 2012 season has likely been Canadian born Brett Lawrie. Lawrie played 43 games with Toronto in 2011 after being called up from triple-A and hit .293 with nine homeruns.

After a great spring training, Lawrie was a bit anxious, striking out five times in 14 at bats. Once he settles down, I see him having a batting average similar to last season’s.

2012 statistics: .288 batting average with 24 homeruns and 82 RBI

Eric Thames

Eric Thames is another player that is under a bit of pressure and will have to stay on his toes this year, with not only Rajai Davis and Ben Francisco on the bench, but Travis Snider in the minors.

The 25-year-old played 95 games for Toronto in 2011, hitting .262 with 12 homeruns, 24 doubles and five triples. Thames had a great spring, but was 2-for-11 against Cleveland. Thames will have to step it up over the next few weeks or we could be seeing Travis Snider sooner rather than later.

2012 statistics: .270 batting average with 17 homeruns and 55 RBI

JP Arencibia

The hero of game one, JP Arencibia hit a three-run shot to left in the top of the 16th to take the first game of the season from Cleveland 7-4. Arencibia entered 2011 as the Jays starting catcher for the first time and hit 23 homeruns with a .219 average.

JP has a ton of power that could wind up going to waste if he is overused at catcher. The Jays should look for Jeff Mathis to play two or three times a week and let Arencibia DH. If this happens, he will have a good year throughout. If not, he will start to fade as the year goes on.

2012 statistics: .235 batting average with 25 homeruns and 75 RBI

Colby Rasmus

Colby Rasmus is a guy that is really tough to watch because he is really good when he wants to be. Watching him swing in the opening series was like watching a 12-year-old try to swing his dads slo-pitch bat.

There are a couple of little adjustments that the guy has to make before he can become a good hitter in this league and I really don’t see all of them being fixed this year. He will have his moments, but will lack the consistency to hit at the top of the lineup.

2012 statistics: .258 batting average with 10 homeruns and 42 RBI