Toronto Blue Jays Set To Win the AL East with Depth and Balance

I chose to write this article just prior to the Yankees/Blue Jays series, which starts later this evening at the Rogers Centre, because I didn't want to be one of those sports writers who watches the Jays win this series convincingly and jumps on the bandwagon.

I wanted to make it clear that the Blue Jays winning this three-game home series is a foregone conclusion in my opinion—although much of the skeptics and media personality types surrounding the club will make this out to be the Jays' biggest series of the season thus far.

The Jays will win this season just as they have won most of the season—with a balanced offense, depth in the bullpen, and a starting rotation that appears poised, calm, and in control.

It seems as if each game the Jays have, one or two players step up to the plate.

Just take a look at the Jays' recent five-game road trip in which they won three games.  Last Sunday in Oakland it was Rookie Pitcher Brett Cecil pitching eight Shutout Innings and Alex Rios going 2-for-4, HR, with three RBI.

Saturday, it was Brian Tallet pitching seven strong innings allowing only one run and two hits, while Lyle Overbay went 2-for-3, with an HR and three RBI. Marco Scutaro went 3-for-5 with one RBI, and the same went for Vernon Wells.

Wednesday, in Anaheim, it was a combination of home runs from Lyle Overbay, Scott Rolen, and Vernon Wells; the solid bat Aaron Hill, who leads the AL with hits; and Roy Halladay being Roy Halladay. The Jays gave it to the Angels 13-1.

I could go on with the same type of results that have fuelled Jays' victories all season.

This is a team that does not rely on any one or two particular players as did it in the past à la Veron Wells, Alex Rios, Roy Halladay, and Carlos Delgado. 

The scariest thing about the Jays, is that they are doing all of this without five different starting pitchers—Jesse Litsch, Shawn Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Casey Janssen, and the hopeful rookie Ricky Romero—and their closer B.J. Ryan.

Despite all the injuries, the Jays are still on top of the AL East, 34 games into the season.

However, much of the Jays' success, according to some, has come from the fact that they have not played many of their AL East rivals and hence have not been challenged all that much.

If you look into the numbers, the Jays have played teams that were just as good as their AL East counterparts, if not better.

Take a look at the records of the opponents the Jays have played this season:

Detroit 17-13 (.567), Kansas City 18-14 (.562), Texas 17-14 (.548), L.A. Angels 16-14 (.533) Minnesota 15-17 (.469), Chi. White Sox 14-17 (.452), Oakland 11-18 (.379), Cleveland 12-21 (.364).

Now take a look at the AL East:

Boston	20	12	.625	1
N.Y. Yankees	15	16	.484	5½
Tampa Bay	15	18	.455	6½
Baltimore	13	19	.406

The Jays have played a much more competitive schedule than the very teams in their division.

The Jays are for real.

These guys are scary...these guys are scary good, as one Buffalo Sabres announcer once proclaimed about their 2006-07 Sabres.

Just imagine how scary good they become when they get back some of their starting pitching, and if Wells, Rios, and Travis Snyder start hitting the bats to their full potential.

They will win this series against the Yankees, and they will continue their torrid place even against their division foes because the Jays have balance and depth, which is better than any other in the AL...let alone the AL East.