Toronto Blue Jays: Bullpen Will Have to Carry the Load in 2009

Last year, the strength of the Toronto Blue Jays was their strong starting pitching staff. Most nights, the staff would be able to carry the team to the seventh inning or beyond. This allowed the bullpen to stay fresh and only have to work for a minimal amount of innings. It was the main reason they were able to shine so brightly during the 2008 season.

Time brings a new season and new expectations for the entire organization. Given the economic downturn, the Toronto Blue Jays have scaled back on the team's payroll for 2009. This has brought questions to a major part of the roster for the Jays.

The starting staff has witnessed the loss of AJ Burnette (Yankees), Shawn Marcum (season ending injury), and Dustin McGowan (out until May or June injury). This will mean longer innings for the bullpen, which will undoubtedly take a toll on their production during the upcoming season.

While the injury bug has hit the starting staff very hard, the bullpen has remained healthy. Fans should be ready to welcome back two workhorses, as Cam Jansen and Jeremy Acardo will both return. These two should help keep the innings down for the remainder of the pen, unless, of course, the young arms the Jays are relying on in the starting staff don't work out. If that happens, then watch for Jansen or Downs to slide into the starting staff. The Jays will be welcoming back all of the bullpen from last season with a few new additions throughout the year.

The only question remaining is whether or not the signings of Matt Clement, Mike Maroth and Ken Takahashi will have any impact on this picture. Two of the three are coming off injuries which have left them off the field for quite some time. The other is a 39-year-old with 14 years of experience in Japan. 

Time is all the Jays have since they have announced that this coming season will be a rebuilding year. Time will tell and time is coming quickly, as spring training opens in a little over a week.

See you at the ball park.

Steven R Kozma