It’s been almost a week now since the Blue Jays completed their 2011 season, and like most baseball fans, my attention has been shifted to the MLB playoffs while things have quieted down on the Jays front. Surely there will be some general-managing action coming from part-time ninja Alex Anthopoulous in the coming days after the dust has settled, and the World Series decided; for now, however, things are likely going to be a little more low-key on this particular corner of the web (and the RS network). Not that there’ll be a shortage of baseball news, of course, just less Jays-related stuff going on…since we’re not in the playoffs and all.
Still, it’s been a fun season for the bluebirds, and there are lots to talk about in the off-season in terms of what transpired, what met/exceeded/fell below expectations, etc from time to time. The team managed to finish the season off with a W over the White Sox, finishing the season at 81-81. The record is slightly worse than 2010′s, but overall, the team’s core is definitely improved: no more albatross contracts, no veteran journeymen coming off career years looking to cash in on an unreasonable contract (John Buck for 18 mil, anyone?) – and perhaps most importantly of all, no Kevin Gregg. So, sure, it might look like the team took a little bit of a step back, but in the overall picture of actually rebuilding the team and trying to compete in a couple of years, I would say it’s been a positive step forward.
Speaking of the bullpen – remember how bad Frank Francisco was earlier this season? The fireballer started his season late due to shoulder injuries (which lingered from last season, I suspect) – and even as he was offering up cringe-inducing collapse after collapse, I still believed (although not as resolutely as I would have liked) that Francisco would end the season as one of the team’s best relievers. Starting from July on, that’s exactly what he’s been: posting a stellar 1.37 / 0.88 ERA/WHIP split, going 7-for-7 in save opportunities with opponents hitting just .188 off the righty. When healthy, this is what I’ve always thought Francisco was capable of doing, and I suspect that his first half may have been affected by the timing of his injuries. Regardless, he will exit the season as one of the Jays best relievers, and I hope they bring back the 31-year old back next season – the bullpen is going to need a lot of revamp work, and having a Francisco would help.
Also finishing the season strong is Brandon Morrow, who has surely sufficiently teased everyone about his age-27 season coming up in 2012 with his final three starts, where he allowed just 2 runs over 21 innings and completing his first 200 strikeout season. Where do you see him next season?
Then there’s the matter of the outfield positions, and the potential competition looming between Loewen, Snider, and Thames…and perhaps Encarnacion, who had been taking fly balls in the OF? That still sounds like a good ol’ trolling to me, but stranger things have happened than having an E5 play OF. He has been fantastic in the 2nd half at DH though, so what was a clear DFA before in June is now an intriguing decision. I was rather high on him in the DH role to begin the season until the team messed things up and put him at 3rd, but with Lawrie fully entrenched there, I think I would give him a good look over someone like…Adam Lind.
I will definitely have more to say about Lind later.
Not all of them will be nice things.
But first, the MLB playoffs awaits. Have fun cheering for your favourite teams – for my book, I’m gonna go with a Texas/Brewers final. Let’s see if I can predict at least one thing right this year!
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