Blue Jays plot northern course in standings

[LittleOzzy]

There is a growing sense of optimism surrounding the Blue Jays that this could finally be the year they challenge for a spot in the postseason for the first time since 1993.

Toronto still has plenty of question marks entering the year, in both the rotation and starting lineup, but there's no denying that the club currently has the pieces in place to improve on last season's 81-win total.

The Blue Jays will need bounce-back seasons from a variety of players coming off down years, but manager John Farrell is optimistic of his club's chances and wants to set the bar high.

"I think those expectations naturally heighten as the talent and the core group grows," Farrell said. "As guys in their early years in the big leagues become more established, you get to have a greater understanding and expectation of what their individual performance can be.

"We've gone through a year of change, I guess is the way to categorize last year, but there's no question what our overall vision has been. Steps needed to be taken along the way, but our vision is always to win a World Series. I think we've made a huge step in one year to get closer towards that."

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... r&c_id=tor

[LittleOzzy]

Blue Jays’ window may be opening soon

To be a Toronto Blue Jays fan to is sit up against a window, your nose pressed against the glass. On the other side are the real games — the ones involving the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Rays, and the 23 other major-league teams that have made the playoffs since the Jays played a game that really mattered, nearly 19 years ago. Almost everybody else gets to live or die with every pitch at least once in a generation. The Jays get a drought that can legally drink.

So when Ricky Romero talks about being sick of going home in October, and CEO Paul Beeston tells season-ticket holders he expects two to three playoff appearances in the next five years, and the team inspires glowing reviews from America’s national baseball writers while winning what seemed like every spring training game — well, you could forgive an impatient fanbase for fogging up the pane.

But that doesn’t mean the window will open this season. Not yet.

“I know everyone’s saying it’s only spring training,” says Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos. “I think [spring training] is more of an indication of where the organization is, the depth. [At the big-league level], we’re talented. We’re better. I believe we’re better than we were last year, but I believe the other three teams [Boston, New York, Tampa Bay] are better as well. I have no idea what the next six months hold.”

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/04/ ... t-to-open/

[kavan]

I think that we have a good shot only because of the guys that battled for spots could not perform we have guys that are ready to take that step we see first 2 months someone is not doing well and we are falling behind because of them.. SWITCH... send them down bring him up and if that doesn't work change it up again. We have the resources to try and stay as competitive as possible. Every win counts!