tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post7846479969696246032..comments2023-09-11T10:35:26.165-04:00Comments on The Flagrant Fan: Bearish on the Blue Jays in 2012William J. Taskerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02313204947130235560noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post-42383288485627760382012-02-26T07:13:34.214-05:002012-02-26T07:13:34.214-05:00You're right, of course. The Blue Jays have v...You're right, of course. The Blue Jays have virtually no chance to be better than a 4th place team in the 5 team AL East. That said, think back to 2007 when things were looking up for the Blue Jays, particularly on the mound. 25 year old Dustin McGowan went 12-10, 4.08 with very solid peripherals in 27 starts, 25 year old Shaun Marcum chipped in with 12-6, 4.13 in 25 starts, and 23 year old Jesse Litsch made 20 starts, going 7-9, 3.81 and showing superb command. Along with a pair of 30 years olds - Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett - the Blue Jays looked to have a solid rotation for the next several years.<br /><br />Alas, it was not to be. McGowan made 19 starts in 2008 and then missed all of 2009 and 2010. Litsch had a fine 2008, going 13-9, 3.58 in 28 starts, seemingly delivering on his promise. Then he contributed a total of 11 starts in 2009 and 2010. Marcum had a solid 2008 in 25 starts (9-7, 3.39) but was then lost for all of 2009. A.J. became an 18 game winner in 2008 and parlayed that into a big contract with the Yanks and Halladay continued to be Halladay. Of those 5 starters back in 2007, the older guys are gone (though Halladay has merely improved with age) as is Marcum. McGowan and Litsch just began the comeback trail in 2011. Ah, what might have been.Thomas Slocumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post-63409548597215652302012-02-24T13:02:16.458-05:002012-02-24T13:02:16.458-05:00Yeah, Tom, his walk rate did jump out upon viewing...Yeah, Tom, his walk rate did jump out upon viewing his stats. He could be really good if he can carry something close to that for a full season. Thanks for the comment.William J. Taskerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02313204947130235560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post-15616865745037572602012-02-24T12:54:34.377-05:002012-02-24T12:54:34.377-05:00Good to see Toronto getting some love. I didn'...Good to see Toronto getting some love. I didn't realize how good Henderson Alvarez was last year in his cup of coffee. Did you know if he would have pitched enough innings to qualify, Alvarez would have led of baseball in BB/9 (1.13). He walked just eight batters in 10 starts. I think he's the most underrated young pitcher in the game.Tom Froemminghttp://www.baseballbytom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post-41868048931973941512012-02-24T11:57:23.334-05:002012-02-24T11:57:23.334-05:00Fair points, Anon. Time will tell.Fair points, Anon. Time will tell.William J. Taskerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02313204947130235560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5132588.post-57645114612049031852012-02-24T11:54:32.925-05:002012-02-24T11:54:32.925-05:00Regardless as to what the metrics indicate, it is ...Regardless as to what the metrics indicate, it is worthy to understand that players require time to understand the game, especially in the AL East. Did you expect JP to be able to hit CC's fastball all the time or to be a major league catcher from day 1? No, it is a learning process. It is for the majority of the BJ players. I am going to assume that these (young) players are in the middle of a process of getting better and the only way to accomplish that is in the big leagues. We know the skillset is there. Now it becomes an issue of building on the processes already set in motion. Does that mean 78 wins? Maybe, but if each individual can improve their own processes and thus performances, than they are really not that far away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com