Ricciardi: At 81 Game Mark We'll Know If We're For Real

[LittleOzzy]

J.P. Ricciardi went on New York's WFAN on Tuesday and was asked about what is responsible for their fast start to the 2009 season.

“I think it’s been our offense because we thought we’ve had a good offensive club here the last few years, but we’ve really underachieved and it’s been a byproduct of I think mostly of not having a healthy lineup," said Ricciardi. "And, I think you’re seeing the results of having a healthy (Aaron) Hill, a healthy (Scott) Rolen, a healthy (Vernon) Wells, those three guys in our lineup. I think (Travis) Snider being able to play at the Major League level has lengthened out our lineup and (Adam) Lind… Now, he’s just starting to become the player that we thought he could be offensively.”

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... _for_real/

[evilRyu]

i think at 81 games is a good time to gauge how good the team is... but even if we do keep this pace up, we'd still be battling until the end given the toughness the AL East presents

[Holmes]

Not sure how the 81 game mark will establish if we are for real. Maybe if we were in the Central or West but not when 3 of the most talented teams in the AL are in the East.

July 3rd would be the 81 game mark. In the last 81 games, we play the Rays, Yankess and Red Sox 39 times. That's 48%. 48% of our games in the second half of the season against those 3.

We are doing very well now and that deserves to be acknowledged. But the question becames can a rotation of Halladay, Richmond, Tallet, Romero, Purcey, Janssen, Cecil compete in multiple series with Tampa's Garza, Kazmir, Shields, and eventually Price, OR, Boston's Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka, and Wakefield, OR, New York's Sabathia, Chamberlain, Pettitte, and Burnett. We are talking about multiple 3-4 games series with each of these teams. Barring that our offense doesn't tale off (we are still getting less than stellar production from our 3-4 hitters) we may steal a few games here in there against those pitchers and when facing any of their potential fives. But the odds or not in our favour.

Here's to amassing a gigantic lead before that 81 game mark. Because the Jays will need it.