Wild Card not out of reach
Posted Apr 4, 2012 03:41:06 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s been 20 years since their first World Series title and 19 years since the Toronto Blue Jays last made the postseason, but optimism surrounds this years’ version of the ball club thanks in no small part to a record-setting spring.
Toronto went 24-7-and-1 in Grapefruit League action, their best ever showing in the pre-season, and most fans and even some baseball experts are giddy as a young Jays squad put it all together in March.
Blue Jays broadcaster on Sportsnet Radio Mike Wilner tells 570 News that another year of experience for the clubs young starters, Brandon Morrow, Henderson Alvarez and Kyle Drabek, is going to pay dividends on the field sooner rather than later. He says ace Ricky Romero will have another strong season.
Wilner was tempering expectations saying that a number of things will have to break Toronto’s way to make the postseason, despite the fact Major League Baseball added an additional Wild Card spot, but he adds its not as far a stretch as it was a few years ago.
Wilner says the strength of the club, like last season, will once again be an offence led by rightfielder Jose Bautista, baseball’s home run in back-to-back seasons. He says the potential is there for every hitter outside of leadoff man Yunel Escobar to hit 25 homeruns.
The bullpen has improved in the off-season, according to Wilner, with the additions of closer Sergio Santos and former Reds closer, now set-up man, Francisco Cordero.
The architect behind all of the moves that have transformed the Jays from pretenders to contenders is young General Manager Alex Anthopoulos. Arash Madani from Sportsnet.ca takes a look at the wonder-kid GM.
The Blue Jays open the season with a 3-game set in Cleveland, before the home opener at Rogers Centre next Monday April 9th, against the Boston Red Sox.
Wilner says that if the team plays like it did in spring training, they could go a long way in what will surely be a tough AL East division.
Don’t forget, you can listen to Jays games all season long on 570 News.
