A new season is sneaking up on us. Please god let there be not-so-much endless gab and hand-wringing about innings limits this year.
From a Blue Jays perspective, I am not sure what to expect. I heard a couple of impartial, non-Toronto experts gabbing about the Jays' - and they both projected them around .500 for the season. One guy I think landed on 79 wins as his prediction which is below .500.
I say bullshit. I think the Jays are better than that. The top of the rotation looks good. Obviously we hope for a pleasant surprise or two from depth guys. If Jose Bautista could return to his average offensively, that would be big. Hopefully there is progression and not a sophomore jinx from Joe Biagini. That would be so important to the bullpen.
But who knows? There are question marks for sure. I'd kinda prefer to never see Melvin Upton at the plate again. The bullpen is full of uncertainty (but the Jays are far from the only team in that boat.) I could go on and on.
Injuries blah, blah, blah.
The Red Sox are clearly pretty scary within the division right now - but I don't see them as the unstoppable juggernaut that some do. Papi is gone. Price might be declining (but then again he might not). But they do have Sale. And then after that they got a bunch of guys in the rotation like the Jays where, if they pitch like their best year, great - but if they pitch to their average ---> not so scary. Cy Young winner Rick Porcello is the prime example of that.
But then same can be said of J.A. Happ.
Dunno. Looking forward to it. Go Jays!