Hello and welcome to another installment of the Toronto Blue Jays preview. Hopefully I gave everyone enough to digest and contemplate every night last week before they go to sleep. Now let’s take a look at the pitching staff.
STARTERS:
Ricky Romero. 2010 stats: 3.73 ERA, 14-9, 1.29 WHIP. Brief: Romero was rock solid last year in his sophomore season. The question for the 26-year-old is whether he can take his game to the next level. There’s no question he’s a starter in the Show but to be the Ace on a team that competes regularly with the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays…we’ll that’s a different story altogether.
2. Brandon Morrow. 2010 stats: 4.49 ERA, 10-7, 1.38 WHIP. Brief: According to scouts, Morrow has “ace-like” stuff. He may have turned the corner last year in Toronto after being bounced between a starting and relieving role during his time in Seattle.
3. Brett Cecil. 2010 stats: 4.22 ERA, 15-7, 1.33 WHIP. Brief: Cecil didn’t have a job as the Jays broke camp last year (Sounds like me this year). However, having added a changeup to his fastball/sinker combination, Cecil solidified his spot in the Jays rotation by late April. Maybe I just need to develop a changeup to find a job.
4. Kyle Drabek. 2010 stats: 4.76 ERA, 0-3, 1.35 WHIP. Brief: Drabek is one of four pitchers in a competition for the final two spots of the rotation. He’s a groundball pitcher which could give him the leg up because as we all know chicks DO NOT DIG THE GROUNDBALL….which is a good thing for pitchers.
5. Jesse Litsch. 2010 stats: 5.79 ERA, 1-5, 1.46 WHIP. Brief: I read that hip surgery derailed Litsch’s recovery from Tommy Johns’ surgery last year. That sounded like a fun season.
RELIEF
Octavio Dotel. 2010 stats: 4.08 ERA, 22 saves, 1.31 WHIP. Brief: Prior to the acquisition of Frank Francisco, Dotel was thought to be the starter for the Jays. This could be for the best for Jays fans. The 12-year veteran has been known to have his struggles with left-handed hitters and has an affinity for surrendering the deep ball.
Closer: Frank Francisco. 2010 stats: 3.76 ERA, 15 holds, 1.27 WHIP. Brief: Francisco comes over from the Rangers and brings with him a nasty splitfinger as well as a 10 strikeout-per-nine inning average. Francisco should be the guy in Toronto but Dotel provides some insurance just in case.
ALRIGHT WE’LL BE BACK NEXT TIME.
