RealGM

They have been great this spring, and no one can deny that, but can they have this success in the regular season? Obviously there is going to be those games where everything goes wrong, but can they have success for most of the season?

The roster is nearly identical to the one from last season

I'm not expecting 90 wins, although if they don't lead the league in blown saves, I guess it's possible

They certainly have the potential to be great, however as long as management is unwilling to make those moves that push them 'over the top', we'll continue to be just a 'good' team.

Didn't this identical thread just exist before it suddenly disappeared? Spring Training is way more meaningless (has way less meaning?) than any other major sport preseason; most runs come against prospects, AAA lifers and Astros. I mean, yeah, Brett Lawrie is the greatest baseball player ever, but let's still not forget that the Jays still have a lot of holes. The Jays definitely have a chance to make the playoffs this year, but let's not use 12 meaningless games to start a thread about it.

gei wrote:They certainly have the potential to be great, however as long as management is unwilling to make those moves that push them 'over the top', we'll continue to be just a 'good' team.

You know nothing about Jays management, do you.

Tyrone Slothrop wrote:Didn't this identical thread just exist before it suddenly disappeared? Spring Training is way more meaningless (has way less meaning?) than any other major sport preseason; most runs come against prospects, AAA lifers and Astros. I mean, yeah, Brett Lawrie is the greatest baseball player ever, but let's still not forget that the Jays still have a lot of holes. The Jays definitely have a chance to make the playoffs this year, but let's not use 12 meaningless games to start a thread about it.

It did not disappear. It was merged with the spring training thread.

I don't like to put much weight into the preseason though so I doubt they will be a top team. I think they will be better by a little bit because I have to believe that more of our starters will start being consistent this season as well as having Lawrie for a full season will help. I'm predicting something like 86 wins this season.

UN-Owen wrote:The roster is nearly identical to the one from last season

Wut? We had Jayson Nix playing 3rd, Patterson in LF, Rivera DHing, Davis in CF, Jo-Jo Reyes pitching, Jon Rauch saving for the first half of the season. The roster may be the roster we finished the season with, but you're saying it nothing's really changed. Full season without those useless scrubs is a huge thing. Plus the bullpen shakeup.

Exactly Kwame...this team is completely different in that respect. We have Alvarez and McGowan in there instead of Reyes etc, we also have a revamped bullpen, which will help us with the Blown Save factor.

Add to it Lawrie at third for a whole season, Encarnacion at DH/1B for a full season, Thames/Snider for a full season, KJ at 2nd for a full year, and of course a full year of familiarity with the game for Arencibia behind the plate...the Jays can easily win 10 more games this season than last if all goes to plan.

That'll put them in a dead heat for a WC berth.

I agree with others that ST doesn't mean much, and it's way to early to tell. As stated already, a lot will depend on guys like Rasmus/Lind/KJ playing up to expectations and seeing if the back-end of our rotation and bullpen can improve on what we got last season. If those things fall into place, I don't see why not, but I'm not expecting it. Call it a lifelong Toronto fan's cynicism. But I am a lot more hopeful for 2013 and beyond.

jalenrose#5 wrote:this team is completely different in that respect. We have Alvarez and McGowan in there instead of Reyes etc, we also have a revamped bullpen, which will help us with the Blown Save factor.

Add to it Lawrie at third for a whole season, Encarnacion at DH/1B for a full season, Thames/Snider for a full season, KJ at 2nd for a full year, and of course a full year of familiarity with the game for Arencibia behind the plate...

And Farrell can only get better.

Not enough starting pitching yet IMO