renuszm
03-27-2003, 09:05 PM
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/teams/preview/TOR
Season Preview
Team Info
2002 record: 78-84 (3rd in AL East)
Pythagorean W-L*: 80-82
2002 payroll: $76,864,333 (11th)
Manager: Carlos Tosca, 2nd year (58-51)
Stadium: SkyDome (45,100; artificial)
* -- Pythagorean W-L, developed by Bill James, determines the record a team would have been expected to post given their runs scored and runs surrendered.
Scott Miller's Take
Now that everybody has forgotten about the Blue Jays, now that their world championships of the early '90s are long forgotten and now that they've bottomed out ... the Jays are getting close to taking wing again.
Strengths
They're not ready to contend yet, but in addition to first baseman Carlos Delgado, the Jays have several young, talented players. Third baseman Eric Hinske is coming off of a Rookie of the Year campaign and should get better. Center fielder Vernon Wells hit the 100-RBI mark last summer. They keystone combination of second baseman Orlando Hudson and shortstop Chris Woodward is very raw.
Weaknesses
The Jays are many things but, outside of Delgado, they are not very experienced. Manager Carlos Tosca is in his first full season, and he and several of the Jays are going to have to figure it out as they go. Also, Toronto isn't flush with cash thanks to shrinking Skydome attendance, so the pressure is on GM J.P. Ricciardi to hit on his evalutations of young talent.
Difference Maker
Roy Halladay emerged into one of the AL's true aces last year, going 19-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 34 starts. He had never before won more than eight games in a season for the Jays. If he's on like he was last year, the Jays will have one less thing to worry about every five days.
Prospect on the Rise
Josh Phelps. He was the Jays' minor league player of the year last year according to Baseball America, and in a 74-game test run with Toronto he hit .309 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs. He'll DH, and he'll be worth watching.
Prediction
Third. But they need a whole lot of help before they contend for a wild card spot.
PROBABLE LINEUP
Batting
1. Shannon Stewart, LF
Has hit over .300 four consecutive seasons
2. Eric Hinske, 3B
Patient hitter who goes to all fields
3. Vernon Wells, CF
Line-drive hitter coming off 100-RBI season
4. Carlos Delgado, 1B
If healthy, 35-40 HRs and 100 RBI should be automatic
5. Josh Phelps, DH
His power presence could help Delgado
6. Frank Catalanotto, RF
Versatile player prone to injury
7. Chris Woodward, SS
Shortstop with some pop
8. Ken Huckaby, C
Pitchers' friend behind the plate despite some passed balls
9. Orlando Hudson, 2B
Switch hitter should enjoy first full season in the bigs
Starters
1. Roy Halladay, RHP
Jays expect 200 innings and 17-20 wins
2. Cory Lidle, RHP
Not overshadowed by A's aces anymore
3. Tanyon Sturtze, RHP
Looking to redeem himself after 18-loss season with D-Rays
4. Mark Hendrickson, LHP
A 6-9 lefty who played four years in the NBA
5. Justin Miller, LHP
The righty looking to avoid first-inning woes
Closer
Kelvim Escobar, RHP
Jays would love more consistency from the hard-throwing righty
Season Preview
Team Info
2002 record: 78-84 (3rd in AL East)
Pythagorean W-L*: 80-82
2002 payroll: $76,864,333 (11th)
Manager: Carlos Tosca, 2nd year (58-51)
Stadium: SkyDome (45,100; artificial)
* -- Pythagorean W-L, developed by Bill James, determines the record a team would have been expected to post given their runs scored and runs surrendered.
Scott Miller's Take
Now that everybody has forgotten about the Blue Jays, now that their world championships of the early '90s are long forgotten and now that they've bottomed out ... the Jays are getting close to taking wing again.
Strengths
They're not ready to contend yet, but in addition to first baseman Carlos Delgado, the Jays have several young, talented players. Third baseman Eric Hinske is coming off of a Rookie of the Year campaign and should get better. Center fielder Vernon Wells hit the 100-RBI mark last summer. They keystone combination of second baseman Orlando Hudson and shortstop Chris Woodward is very raw.
Weaknesses
The Jays are many things but, outside of Delgado, they are not very experienced. Manager Carlos Tosca is in his first full season, and he and several of the Jays are going to have to figure it out as they go. Also, Toronto isn't flush with cash thanks to shrinking Skydome attendance, so the pressure is on GM J.P. Ricciardi to hit on his evalutations of young talent.
Difference Maker
Roy Halladay emerged into one of the AL's true aces last year, going 19-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 34 starts. He had never before won more than eight games in a season for the Jays. If he's on like he was last year, the Jays will have one less thing to worry about every five days.
Prospect on the Rise
Josh Phelps. He was the Jays' minor league player of the year last year according to Baseball America, and in a 74-game test run with Toronto he hit .309 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs. He'll DH, and he'll be worth watching.
Prediction
Third. But they need a whole lot of help before they contend for a wild card spot.
PROBABLE LINEUP
Batting
1. Shannon Stewart, LF
Has hit over .300 four consecutive seasons
2. Eric Hinske, 3B
Patient hitter who goes to all fields
3. Vernon Wells, CF
Line-drive hitter coming off 100-RBI season
4. Carlos Delgado, 1B
If healthy, 35-40 HRs and 100 RBI should be automatic
5. Josh Phelps, DH
His power presence could help Delgado
6. Frank Catalanotto, RF
Versatile player prone to injury
7. Chris Woodward, SS
Shortstop with some pop
8. Ken Huckaby, C
Pitchers' friend behind the plate despite some passed balls
9. Orlando Hudson, 2B
Switch hitter should enjoy first full season in the bigs
Starters
1. Roy Halladay, RHP
Jays expect 200 innings and 17-20 wins
2. Cory Lidle, RHP
Not overshadowed by A's aces anymore
3. Tanyon Sturtze, RHP
Looking to redeem himself after 18-loss season with D-Rays
4. Mark Hendrickson, LHP
A 6-9 lefty who played four years in the NBA
5. Justin Miller, LHP
The righty looking to avoid first-inning woes
Closer
Kelvim Escobar, RHP
Jays would love more consistency from the hard-throwing righty