So why is it too soon to push the panic button in Toronto? Let's start with this: If we're going to freak out over Dickey, we have to do the same with Stephen Strasburg, David Price, Matt Cain, and Cole Hamels, all of whom got roughed up on a terrible day for aces. There's also precedent for this kind of slow start to a season for Dickey, even if we only start counting from his successful years. In fact, in his third start last season, he posted a line very similar to Sunday's, allowing eight runs in 4â…“ innings against the Braves. In his next 11 starts, he went 9-0 with a 1.21 ERA. Are you concerned that, based on one start, the AL East might be Dickey's undoing? If we're going to obsess over such small samples, we can highlight Dickey's two straight one-hitters (with 25 combined strikeouts) against AL East opponents last June. Expanding it to Dickey's rotation mates, should we really draw conclusions based on a Red Sox series in which Boston smacked Dickey and Josh Johnson, but got whitewashed by, of all people, J.A. Happ?
We simply don't have anywhere near enough evidence to suggest Dickey's in trouble. Meanwhile, unlike the next two teams featured, the rest of Toronto's roster is in good shape. Brett Lawrie looks set to start a rehab assignment soon, and just about every other significant player on the roster is healthy. If you believe the Jays were good enough to deserve their lofty winter projections, nothing has happened that should make you change your mind.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/914 ... -mlb-teams
Great to read some reason in midst of all this negativity one week into the season.
