Jays Roundtable: The '07 Season

Though baseball's second season is about to begin, the one and only season for our beloved Toronto Blue Jays is, alas, over. Now, there's an awful lot of rambling to be done about 162 games. So sometimes you need to bring in reinforcements. To look at the Jays' 2007 season -- what went right, what went wrong, and where they go from here -- we've amassed six of the country's finest baseball aficionados (who were willing to spend a few minutes shooting off answers to a series of 10 questions). Your panelists are:
Daniel, 24, Ontario, the Endy Chavez of softball
Elena, 22, Ontario, queen of on-base percentage
Mark, 25, Nova Scotia, certified flamethrower
Paul, 26, Nfld. & Lab., Brad Fullmer's nephew
Chris, 26, Nova Scotia, president of the Shaun Marcum Fan Club
Cole, 23, Nova Scotia, beer league legend

And now for the rambling...

What was the best play / moment / game of the Jays' 2007 season?
Daniel: I'm probably biased because I saw this live, but Aaron Hill's straight steal of home off Mike Mussina. I was in the 500 section behind home plate and we could all see the play developing. The TV guys don't lie when they say the place went absolutely nuts when it happened.
Elena: No doubt the best play of the year was when Aaron Hill stole home on a straight steal. Exciting, gutsy AND successful. And against the Yankees!
Mark: Anytime the ball is hit slightly out of John McDonald's range. Watching him make spectacular grabs in the infield is very exciting.
Paul: Favourite moment was Dustin McGowan's almost no-hitter because it was great to see a young guy with electric stuff that night. Favourite play would be any one of the Alex Rios bombs to home plate for the out! I can’t think of any specifics right now but I will leave it up to the ramblers to pick one for me. [Editor's note: They're all awesome.] Favourite game... I always loved the late games out West against Oakland. Any of those.
Chris: Anything John McDonald did at shortstop. The guy is amazing, and if he doesn't win a Gold Glove, well, steroids aren't the only thing wrong with this league.
Cole: Josh Towers's big comeback performance -- when he got pulled in the 8th, I think, and ran off to a standing ovation and tipped his cap -- was pretty good for me. I have always been on the Towers bandwagon, and I literally was choked up when I watched that game. It was almost like Towers was my own son, I was so proud. Jesse Litsch's first start was pretty sick too.

Where did the season go wrong?
Daniel: I usually hold out hope for longer than is justified. But the moment I knew the season was officially over was when they lost to the Devil Rays on a pinch-hit, extra-inning, walk-off homer by a supposedly crippled Carl Crawford.
Elena: I'm going to say the nine-game losing streak in early May. That's when people started to get hurt, and it was just too deep a hole to ever climb out of.
Mark: When Reed Johnson got hurt.
Paul: Right from the start when the Jays were decimated by key injuries.
Chris: The season went wrong before it started. Reed Johnson's injury did bad things to this team. I know sabermetrics fools don't think having a good leadoff man is important, but this team does a lot better with a healthy Reed first in the lineup.
Cole: In a word, injuries. Not saying the Jays would have necessarily made the playoffs if they stayed healthy, but when they only played a small portion of the season with their whole lineup intact, it was a little difficult to see what they could have accomplished. Although some people stepped up while players were injured, the ton of man games the Jays lost to injury would presumably translate into at least a few more wins [Editor's note: about 1,100 man games in total].

Who was the best Blue Jay in 2007?
Daniel: Aaron Hill. This year he proved to be reliable and consistent at the plate and in the field. He's a doubles machine, has found his power stroke, and is solid defensively.
Elena: I can never pick just one, so I'll say Marcum from the pitching staff, McDonald defensively and Stairs offensively.
Mark: Alex Rios, hands down.
Paul: The best Blue Jay in 07 would have to be Johnny Mac… Royce Clayton who? The combo of Johnny Mac and Aaron Hill up the middle is wicked!! Second vote goes to Matt Stairs.
Chris: Tie: Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Casey Janssen, Jeremy Accardo. These guys filled the biggest hole this team had. Coming into the season the offence was supposed to be the team's strong suit, but these guys turned the pitching staff into one of the best in the majors.
Cole: Alex Rios was the most consistent and overall the best player. However, for the price and for exceeding expectations, there's also a strong vote to be made for Stairs.

Who was the biggest letdown?
Daniel: Gustavo Chacin. It was injury and not performance, of course; but this was poised to be the year he established himself (for good or for bad) and it turned into the longest stint on the "15-day DL" in history.
Elena: Does Chacin even count anymore? If not him, then Glaus.
Mark: Vernon Wells. Just signed the contract and had a disappointing year. He'll be healthy next year, let's try again.
Paul: Gregg Zaun. Sure the guy can hit, but any player in the league can and does run on him... that sets up a runner in scoring position all the time and usually a run scored for the other team... just that fact cost the Jays many games this year.
Chris: Vernon Wells, no question. All around disappointing year. And am I the only one who thought it was a little too convenient that he blamed his performance on an injury nobody knew about until the end of the year?
Cole: Chacin and Ryan playing more or less no games was a pretty big disapointment. Although I'm not sure how Chacin would have factored into the grand scheme of things with the way the rest of the staff performed. As for players who played, the biggest letdown obviously begins and ends at Vernon Wells. Even Thomas brought it around at the end and ended up putting up decent numbers, Wells just didn't provide any spark to the offense all year.

What is J.P. Ricciardi's #1 priority for the offseason?
Daniel: Sign Hill and Rios to long-term deals, a la Hinske and Wells a few years back, and hope neither of them turns out like Hinske.
Elena: J.P. needs to take a good look at what he's got on his bench and decide what type of offence they'll play next year, i.e. keep with the all-power-all-the-time routine, or play more small ball. In terms of players, he should explore a third baseman and pitcher.
Mark: Hiring a new trainer. Maybe snag the Giants' trainer. If he can keep all those old guys healthy, he can keep the Jays in shape.
Paul: Sign A-Rod. A-Rod proved he is the man at third and at the plate this year… A-Rod + Jays = back to back World Series.
Chris: Trade Troy Glaus. Glaus can't hit anymore, is a defensive liability and is now going to be bogged down in all the steroid bullshit.
Cole: Truthfully I think this is one of the best positions the Jays have been in going into an offseason in a long time. The biggest noticeable thing is that they actually have a defined starting rotation that is somewhat reliable. Most other years they have 1-2 pitchers they can count on, one or two possibles, and the rest is wide open. The bullpen pitched well, the starting rotation was one of the best in the league in the second half, and the offence doesn't have any glaring holes.
That being said, I think a top hitting outfielder may be in the cards if at all possible. I've heard rumours Johnson is on his way out, and you really can't expect Stairs to have another season as big as he did this year. 3B could be another spot too, as Glaus could get traded and/or be hobbling around like a gimp all season. Actually, just thinking of it now, a starting SS would be good too. Sure, Johnny Mac is great and all, but, I think he's much more useful as a utility player who can fill in when needed and get more time if he performs offensively. His defence isn't that much greater than the average SS to warrant his batting average if a solid SS is available.

What does the future hold for Troy Glaus in Toronto?
Daniel: It depends on where this steroid story goes. The Jays don't have a legitimate back-up third baseman, either way. Let's just hope the surgery will mean he rediscovers his pop.
Elena: If he's healthy, then Glaus should play an everyday role. If not, platoon with Adams, and if he's beyond repair, get rid of him.
Mark: He's still a slugger and the best third baseman on the roster, albeit brittle. I say keep him and maybe ship him at the deadline if the Jays are out of it next August. He can take his steroids and ankles with him.
Paul: Troy Glaus was initially cool but now he sucks and I think he has no future in TO.
Chris: A one-way ticket out of town. See the previous question.
Cole: Good question - probably more fake limps when he is 0 for and doesn't feel like playing anymore. I swear, I don't doubt he was injured, but I'm almost certain from time to time he would just pull up lame if the Jays were getting killed and he felt like hittin the showers early. I wouldn't be too torn up if they traded him away, although I think his stock would be somewhat lower due to his terrible health.

What about Matt Stairs?
Daniel: He's a sentimental favourite and I hope they find a way to bring him back. Of course, if they do, it'll be at the expense of Johnson or Lind. But with the power and clutch hitting he showed this year, they just can't let him go.
Elena: This is the toughest call. They do not want to give him up, but should he platoon with Johnson? Will that keep them both happy? He's good insurance as a fourth fielder, but if he doesn't want that role then they probably can't keep him. All in all, try to bring him back, as long as it's the right move for the whole team.
Mark: Another solid veteran who is willing to play from the bench, but has the durability to play everyday. He's also Canadian, good hook. Keep him.
Paul: Matt Stairs poses an interesting dilemma. Too good a bat to to ride the bench but no room for him on a Jays team full of good defence... But I would keep the status quo with Matt. Look how much he played with all the injuries. An asset to the team, and to Canada.
Chris: Do whatever it takes to keep him, and then find a way to put him in the lineup at least every second day. This guy, as a backup player, was one of the Jays' most productive. Hopefully he'll be signed before the free agent period, because I suspect he's going to get a lot of money otherwise.
Cole: Well, I get the impression he doesn't want to sign on as a role player next year, which brings up an interesting quandry. Sign him and get him to play 1st, trade away Overbay for a SS or a bullpen member? I don't know... Do whatever it takes to get Stairs back on board... Or try to resign him and trade him? I don't know, it's a tough call... I'm indecisive.

Who will be in the Jays' five-man rotation in 2008?
Daniel: Halladay, Burnett, McGowan, Marcum, Chacin
Elena: Barring any craziness - Halladay, Marcum, Burnett, McGowan, and free agent. Litsch should develop more, Towers is probably gone and I think Chacin will be off inventing a new cologne.
Mark: Hallday, Burnett for about 20 starts, McGowan, Marcum, Chacin for about 15 starts (Litsch for the rest)
Paul: Halladay, Burnett, Marcum, Litsch, McGowan
Chris: Halladay, Burnett, Marcum, McGowan and Janssen. But hopefully J.P. picks up a good lefty and Janssen can stay in the pen.
Cole: Halladay, Burnett, McGowan, Marcum, Chacin. I think Litsch starts season in AAA, or, it hinges on how well he throws in Spring Training.

What do the Jays need to do to contend for the playoffs in 2008?
Daniel: Hope George Steinbrenner runs out of money. Barring that, win a road game once in a while.
Elena: The Jays need to move divisions or poison the clubhouse water in New York or Boston. Realistically, they need to improve the clutch and situational hitting, and giving their pitchers run support.
Mark: A dip in the river Styx, health first.
Paul: The Jays need to stay healthy to win in 08… and they need to swing the bats better.
Chris: Get some more left-handed hitters. The current lineup was built to face left-hand pitchers. We saw how well that worked this season.
Cole: Stay healthy, play more consistently on the road and win more than 4 games in a row. Essentially though I'm pretty stoked to see what their starting rotation and lineup could do for a whole season if it stayed relatively healthy.

If you could anoint one player as a Blue Jay of the Future, who would it be?
Daniel: Alex Rios. Five-tool players are hard to find, and if the Jays can lock up Rios, they'll have two in their outfield for the long term.
Elena: Aaron Hill is definitely a Blue Jay of the future. He's broken or tied a couple of Alomar's offensive records this year and will only get better as a hitter, and his defence is outstanding and almost always reliable.
Mark: I really like this team, I can't see any holes. It looks like they have solid fielding up the middle, they can hit for average, the bullpen came together even without Ryan, and if Vernon Wells can achor the lineup the runs should come in. I like the rotation even with Burnett's flimsy arm.
Paul: Shaun Marcum.
Chris: You know I have to say Marcum. (But really I think McGowan has a brighter future. This guy's stuff is nearly unhittable when he's on. As he gains some experience, he'll be on his game more and more often.)
Cole: Alex Rios as someone on the active roster. Chip Cannon as someone who is not yet on the squad.

Well, wasn't that exciting. As we (Blue Jays fans, that is) descend into another winter, the flames of optimism still flicker within us that one day, the glory of the early 1990s will be recaptured. To borrow an oft-quoted line from fans of another Toronto sports franchise: wait till next year...