Toronto Blue Jays: Analyzing the Team's Biggest Edge in the AL East

Coming into this season, fans of the Toronto Blue Jays had high expectations.

After hovering around the .500 mark last year, people were ready to see this team finally emerge as a contender in the fiercely competitive American League East division.

During some stretches early on, it appeared as though the Jays were, in fact, poised to become contenders and challenge for a postseason berth in 2012.

As the season progressed, however, the Blue Jays' youth became apparent and led to extremely inconsistent play, never allowing the Jays to really exceed the .500 plateau.

Then there was a suspension to up-and-coming third baseman Brett Lawrie, followed by a rash of injuries to the pitching staff and even the organization's top prospect that were enough to convince most Jays fans that this is probably not the season they were to return to the playoffs.

Despite all of this, do the Jays still have some sort of advantage over the rest of the division?

Absolutely they do.

It just isn't an advantage that will lead them to success this season.

I know many Jays fans are tired of hearing about the future, but right now, it's the best they've got.

Don't get me wrong, the Jays' roster as it stands (or stood on opening day) is surely one that can compete.

Both the lineup and rotation are loaded with talent, they both just need to further their development and gain some experience.

Other than the New York Yankees, there is no team in the division that can hit for as much power as the Blue Jays.

From Edwin Encarnacion, to Jose Bautista and players like Colby Rasmus, Kelly Johnson, J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie, the Jays have players that can hit 20 home runs in a season from the top to the bottom of their order.

Heck, in the American League, only the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees have scored more runs in 2012 than Toronto.

The Jays also sit second to the Yankees in the home run category with 111 (the third-place Rangers haven't even eclipsed the 100 mark).

The team's slugging percentage and OPS are also top five in the AL, sitting fourth in each of those categories.

Toronto's ability to hit for power is something that will be extremely important when the team is finally ready and healthy enough to force their way into playoff contention.

The Jays' other major advantage over their AL East counterparts would be that they have what appears to be the brightest future of any team in the division.

By that, I mean they have by far the most talented and deepest prospect pool among AL East teams. The only team coming close to the Jays would be the always-loaded Tampa Bay Rays.

Don't believe me?

Let's check in with the experts.

First up, we have fangraphs.com who ranks the Blue Jays at No. 2 behind only the San Diego Padres.

Next up, we have Baseball Prospectus, who also have the Jays at No. 2 behind the Padres.

Finally, Keith Law of ESPN, has the Jays with the third best prospect pool behind San Diego and Tampa Bay.

So even though the Jays may not have a clear-cut edge over the rest of the division in 2012 and fans may be tired of hearing wait for next year, that's precisely what they need to do, considering that next year could be a big one.

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