2013 Blue Jays Preview: The Time is Now

The Blue Jays audaciously acquired every big name player not named Josh Hamilton that was available on the market this past offseason. The fate of the Blue Jays will be determined by how their superstars blend. The entire season the Blue Jays will be measured on a scale ranging from Philadelphia Eagles to Miami Heat, the latter being the best possible scenario.

As of now, the Blue Jays are the team to beat in the American League East, with the battered Yankees, iffy Rays, and train wreck Red Sox. The only real competition for the Jays would be the Orioles, but their youth will be the deciding factor for that pennant race.  The Blue Jays have the division title locked up if the youth of the Orioles becomes lack of experience.  However if the youth of the Orioles enables them to endure through August and September, things will get interesting between them and the win now designed Blue Jays.

The Jays most likely will win the division, however they can also fall like so many other teams trying to emulate the Yankees. Between their streaky and eternally tempted players, age, and the amount of egos in the clubhouse, things can go south very, very quickly, like last year’s Miami Marlins.

Journeyman knuckleballer and reigning NL Cy Young winner, R.A. Dickey will be given tomorrow’s Opening Day start. Aside from last year’s dominant season, it is not possible to be assured of what a knuckleball pitcher will do. There is too much that can go wrong with the spinless pitch to base a rotation and franchise around. The Blue Jays rotation will be hit or miss this season, with three veteran pitchers in Dickey, Mark Buerhle, and Josh Johnson, followed by an inconsistent Brandon Morrow, and a streaky J.A. Happ. For the Jays, it’s all or nothing. There may be a lot that can go right, but just as much could go wrong for them this year. At best, the rotation can combine for about 75 wins, easily reserving their playoff spot. At worst, they can combine for close to 60 losses, discounting their spot starters down the stretch.

The lineup may be star studded, but it is second to an Angels team with Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout, and Albert Pujols. The Blue Jays lineup is like the pitching staff - it is all or nothing. There is a lot of speed at the top of the lineup, with Emilio Bonifacio, Melky Cabrera, and Jose Reyes. The Roger Centre’s turf might provide more triples and inside the park homeruns for these three, but it also could wear out the main weapon to their game, their legs.  Jose Batista should not have an issue with RBIs with this lineup ahead of him, and he will continue his career’s renaissance of power. The bench is pretty good for the Jays, with Mark DeRosa, Canada’s pride and joy in Brett Lawrie, and a versatile lineup capable of playing other positions.

For the Jays this year, there are only two options for them. They can and should win 95 games, but they also can and might flop to the cellar of the division like last year’s Marlins. This is the year to win the division. With the Rays looking for the final piece to their puzzle, the Yankees and Red Sox in rebuilding modes, and Baltimore maturing, the time is now.  The division title is up for grabs, and the Jays are in the best position to win it, however, can they?