The Blue Jays begin their march to a third consecutive playoff berth
Posted Apr 3, 2017 11:21:50 AM.
Last Updated Apr 3, 2017 11:41:10 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Blue Jays begin the 2017 campaign as underdogs. That’s hard to believe for a team which compiled a 182-142 record over the past two seasons, celebrated two trips to the postseason and made it all the way to the ALCS.
Even still, the Blue Jays enter 2017 as a dark horse candidate in the American League East as the Boston Red Sox being the “team to beat” in the division. Although this year looks like an uphill battle for the Blue Jays, I still their chances to go to the playoffs for the third straight season.
There was a lot of turnover on the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster this past offseason. The Jays had eight free agents walk out of the door and sign elsewhere, which meant the Blue Jays had to dip into the free agent pool to restock they roster more than the club typically would.
The Blue Jays’ front office brought in Kendrys Morales as a pseudo replacement for Edwin Encarnacion – they signed Steve Pearce to be the Blue Jays’ version of Ben Zobrist – they got Jarrod Saltalamacchia to be a capable backup for Russell Martin – and they got Joe Smith and J.P. Howell to help shore up the bullpen.
There’s no question that a lot of talent was subtracted from the roster, but the fact remains – the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster this year is arguably better than years past.
For the most part, the lineup which was Top 10 run-producing club in 2015 and 2016 is back. I’d expect the Blue Jays to be a middle-of-the-pack offensive team again in 2017, and if anything, the acquisitions of Morales, Pearce and Saltalamacchia make the Blue Jays are even more versatile and evenly-balanced.
If the Blue Jays merely tread water with their starting lineup, they’ll be fine. But the key to the Blue Jays’ success this season lies within the starting rotation. It’s up to Aaron Sanchez, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada, Marcus Stroman and Francisco Liriano to keep the Blue Jays’ playoff aspirations afloat.
Toronto’s starting rotation was a pleasant surprise in 2016, as they owned the best starting staff ERA in the American League (and the fourth best overall in Major League Baseball). It’s unfair to expect the rotation to duplicate their success from 2016 and remain entirely healthy in 2017, but it’s not unreasonable to expect the Blue Jays to at least employ a Top 10 starting five once again.
As with any Opening Day roster, there are question marks – left field and first base will probably be points of contention for the Blue Jays all season long. It could be a revolving door out there in left field, and with his “all or nothing” approach, Justin Smoak may drive Blue Jays fans mad. The bullpen also has some concerns, but what core of relievers doesn’t have concerns?
In years previous, almost everything had to go right for the Blue Jays to have a sliver of a chance to become contenders. But now that they’ve established themselves as contenders the past two seasons, the Blue Jays have a greater margin of error.
It won’t be easy, but the 2017 Toronto Blue Jays have all the makings to at least return to the postseason for a third straight year.
