Jays short on pitching this year
The Toronto Blue Jays opened their baseball season Thursday in New York against the Yankees. While I don’t see the Jays winning the division, I do believe Toronto has enough offence to possibly finish second behind the boys from Gotham, which would mean a playoff spot.
There are, however, a couple of areas that concern me. Toronto’s lack of proven starting pitching and numerous question marks out of the bullpen could change my forecast and allow defending champion and pitching-rich Tampa Bay to grab the runner-up spot.
Toronto's team defence was near the bottom of the league last year and that had much to do with the daily changes to the middle of the diamond, which is a sure recipe for sloppy play. Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien have been playing together all spring and that should solve the middle infield defence. Another issue that bothered me about the Jays last summer was the atrocious hillbilly baserunning: trying to advance with the ball hit ahead of the runner and running into so many outs at third base. A cardinal sin in baseball is never make the first or third out at third base, but it occurred often last year.
If the Jays can clean up those issues, and if the pitching is just acceptable, the Jays should hold second spot in the division.
What I do like about the Blue Jays is their explosive attack with the likes of Teoscar Hernandez, Randy Grichuk, Bichette, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Rowdy Tellez, Cavan Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., plus the addition of two all-star players in Semien and centre-fielder George Springer. They will be exciting to watch, that’s for sure.
Let’s take a peek at the rest of the division.
The Yankees are the dominant team and their starting pitching is solid with ace righty Corey Kluber joining all-star Gerrit Cole, Domingo German and Jordan Montgomery in the starting staff. It looks like slugger Clint Frazier takes over from Brett Gardner in a power-laden lineup that includes Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres and D.J. LeMahieu among others. Home run king Luke Voit is out for the first month or so with a knee injury, but power-hitting left-handed hitter Jay Bruce is an able replacement.
Despite losing Charlie Morton and Blake Snell, Tampa Bay still has ace Tyler Glasnow, plus very good starters in Chris Archer, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Wacha, Rich Hill plus a host of young talented prospects, including Shane McClanahan and Josh Fleming. They have an experienced lineup and, if the kids come through, the Rays will challenge the Yankees and Jays.
We haven’t heard much from the Boston Red Sox, and local BoSox supporter Dr. Bobby Lund has been quiet during pre-season. Slugging first baseman Bobby Dalbec has been tearing up spring training pitching with seven home runs, and J.D. Martinez should rebound now that Major League Baseball has allowed video of previous at-bats in the dugout on game day. They have some pop in Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers but too many questions on offence and especially with the pitching staff and that tells me Lund will be having a quiet summer.
The Baltimore Orioles still have Chris Davis, a .150 hitter with a $25-million annual salary, but he hasn’t played much this spring with a back injury. Former Jays shortstop Freddy Galvis is a big help in the middle of the diamond, but it’s a rebuild, so don’t expect much.
CLOSER TO HOME
I wish a speedy recovery to former Summerside hockey and baseball great Coke Grady, who is now in a Saint John, N.B., hospital rebounding from health issues. A talented senior player in his day, Coke was often picked up by Charlottetown teams on the playoff trail, that’s how good he was. Get well soon old friend.
And how about a happy 60th John Gallant, who displayed a sweet swing and soft hands while playing on Charlottetown senior baseball teams representing P.E.I. at nationals in the 1990s. Many of his friends gathered in the city, adhering to COVID-19 regulations, last week. He is the brother of talented exSherwood Parkdale hockey great Robert (Greasy) Gallant and a real gentleman.
CONDOLENCES
The harness racing game lost another of its more colourful individuals with the recent passing of veteran owner and former Charlottetown Driving Park manager Jack Brown. He co-owned with Stanley Mayhew, Tammany Hall, who was second for driver Clarkie Smith in one of the early Gold Cup and Saucer races. He then owned a multitude of top horses like Foxboro top-class pacer Hi Trail, as well as invitational pacer Yankee Timber, Betcha, Queens Rambler, Glentohi N and Lord Moose, co-owned by Jack Hynes.
My condolences to wife Joan and to Scott and Heather.
HARNESS RACING
Today on Facebook, Stallion Breeding Auction Benefit Towards Fran Strongman gets underway with most Maritime breeders providing their stallion service for auction at this site.