Toronto Blue Jays logo.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Toronto Blue Jays finished in fourth place in the AL East in 2011 and continue to be a .500 team.
In 2011, the Jays knocked in 186 homers, the fifth best in the Majors; and their 743 run total was the sixth most. The team’s batting average was .249 proves that they hit for power or don’t hit at all, and in the AL East that is just not going to cut it.
The last time the Jays played in October was in 1993 when they won it all. The drought has not given Toronto fans anything to cheer about, and the fan base has diminished because of it.
With the added Wild Card could 2012 prove to be the year the Blue Jays break their absence from the playoffs?
Let’s take a look….
THE POSITIVES:
Toronto batting line-up features slugger Jose Bautista who over the past two seasons has become one of the top hitters in baseball. In 2011, Bautista led the AL in home-runs (43), walks (132), slugging (.608) and was intentionally walked 24 times. There are four years left on 31-year old Bautista’s 5-year, $65 million contract, which is now considered a huge bargain since he has consistently preformed at an elite level for two seasons. Bautista is a monster at the plate and when hot is almost unstoppable with the bat.
GM Alex Anthopoulos revamped the bullpen in the off-season by acquiring right-handed closer Sergio Santos from the White Sox for top pitching prospect Nestor Molina. Marking his first season as a closer, the 28-year old former infielder threw 63 1/3 innings, posted a 3.55 ERA and made 30 saves in 36 opportunities in 2011. Santos has a wickedly deceiving slider that helped him strike out 92 batters and a K/9 rate of just above 13, which is unbelievable. Still, if any division can humble a pitcher it is the AL East so Santos will be tested. Overall, the Jays put themselves in a better place having Santos closing out games in 2012. AA also added a veteran reliever in Darren Oliver. In 2011, Oliver made 60 appearances and posted a 2.29 ERA coming out of the Rangers bullpen.
THE NEGATIVES: Continue reading ‘2012 MLB Team Preview: Toronto Blue Jays’ »
