Blue Jays core better than 1 year ago

[LittleOzzy]

General manager Alex Anthopoulos feels the Toronto Blue Jays are in a better position than last year despite finishing fourth in the American League East for a second straight season.

"Although the wins aren't the same, I think we're in a similar place," he said Thursday at a media conference. "But I think our jumping off point is much better. I think we have a better core in place right now."

The Blue Jays posted an 81-81 record this season under new manager John Farrell after defeating the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday.

Last year, under Cito Gaston, who was retiring as manager, the club finished 85-77.

Anthopoulos said all the coaches from this season will be offered contracts. He expects them all to return, saying they did the best with what they had to work with.

He also praised Farrell for the job he did and appreciated his frank self-appraisals as a first-year manager.

"You look at our monthly wins and we've been pretty much in the same spot the whole time, although we didn't get there in the same way," Anthopoulos said comparing 2011 to 2010. "There's a lot of comparisons to last season.

"I think we're in a very similar spot, one was 85 wins and one was 81 wins."

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/story ... eason.html

[satyr9]

I think so many of us on this board are so ready for a competitive Jays team, we often forget just how far this team has come in a very short time. The franchise is finally in a place where it can make moves to compete. Now those moves are more difficult than make the moves to get you into that position, but I don't think we've had a team in that position in a very very long time.

I don't think there's any doubt that by virtually any metric the Jays franchise is a healthier one and has more overall talent than it did a year ago.

[flatjacket1]

Corey Patterson lost us like what? 4 wins? So we can count it as two 85 win seasons right?

But its amazing what happens when you trade Wells (4.0 WAR in 2010) and receive (in a separate trade) Colby Rasmus (-0.9 WAR in 2011) the take the reins.

Not saying it was a bad trade but many moves were made for the future this year, and 4 wins might be the cost. (Short term)

[number15]

I guess.... but to be honest

- our pitching went from promising future star studded to big
question mark.... that's the biggest hit. Jays were suppose to be
set for years there. Even after the Marcum deal, it was suppose
To be solid.... ouch

Pitching wins games.

We r not better in that respect atleast.