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Blue Jays put out the welcome mat

ROBERT MACLEOD

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 2:17 AM EST 16/01/08

Scott Rolen passed his physical on Monday and the Jays are expected to officially announce his acquisition ...Read the full article

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  1. dan vanman from vancouver, Canada writes: As an added bonus, we get rid of someone that was not really into being there anyhow. Glaus always looked pained to be in Toronto.

    Rolen, if healthy, is indeed a better all round player. Should be an interesting year if the Jays can stay out of the medical room.
  2. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Dan, agree with you on the team needing to stay healthy!

    I think the addition of Rolen will be significant particularily on the defensive end. With 7 Gold Gloves, he'll be a welcome addition by our pitching staff and will solidify a very solid infield.

    Glaus was a personal favourite of mine at least until the steriod thing came up. He was a power hitter and you took the strike outs with the homeruns. Rolen has some pop but will hit for gaps and has a better on base %, avg. etc. I think the Jays proved last year that building your lineup with power doesn't always translate into more wins.

    But again, for this team to be remotely competitive with the Red Sox, Yankees and the others in the division for that matter, they need to stay healthy and get off to a good start.
  3. THE LAKEMAN from Nova Scotia, Canada writes: Good health and getting down to business at the opening bell and we may have something exciting to watch this year in baseball. The Jays have only two problems left and they include the following. We need a new starting catcher and not as JP says a new backup catcher. Zaun cannot get the throw outs at second base, the other teams don't fear his arm. The second problem may already be solved if the Jays pitching staff can repeat last year and perhaps improve upon it. If last years pitching does not pick up where it finished with some improvements we are still in a rats nest.
  4. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Lakeman, agree with you 100% on your thoughts about Zaun. While he handles the pitchers well and calls a decent game, it's a track meet when guys get on base. Granted the pitching staff, collectively are not the greatest at holding runners, it is no secret that Zaun has a hard time getting the ball to second base in time.

    It's tough on pitchers and on the defense when runners get into scoring position. It needs to be addressed....and having Fasanno as a back up doesn't cut it.

    The Jays rotation was indeed the surprise of not just the team but perhaps in all of baseball. It's my hope they can continue the strong starts and get us late into games.
  5. Flinton Rice from Toronto, Canada writes: Another injured player... Not such a big fan of this trade in the same way I thought that the Frank Thomas signing was bad. Not sure what we're doing with our infield anymore. And, if possible, I think we might actually be slower on the basepaths than last year.

    I hope that our pitching is as good as last year - especially because we really don't have an offense to bail us out when things go bad.
  6. Brent Slobodin from Canada writes: I agree with the first 4 comments. My only comment to Flinton is to remember the offence not of last year but the year before. If Wells, Johnson and Overbay rebound and Hill continues to develop, then we are in good shape. Barring injury (and that is asking for alot, given the Jays of late), I think the pitching staff could be the best in the AL East.

    It's some other team's turn to spend the season on the injury list.
  7. Flinton Rice from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree that the offence COULD BE good but Vernon Wells has always been really streaky and not really that dependable from year to year. Same with Overbay. I think Johnson and Hill will keep doing well as they've done in the past. However, the infield is still a big question mark - especially at catcher position.

    One thing - the team that doesn't load themselves up with injury prone players will stay off the injury list. With Ryan, Rolen, Thomas,
  8. THE LAKEMAN from Nova Scotia, Canada writes: The only thing I want to add is a healthy Vernon Wells can play on my team anytime!!!!
  9. Brent Slobodin from Canada writes: Flinton:

    If you look at Overbay's career, he generally improved every year. Last year seemed to be a case of a nagging injury.

    The one thing I think the Jays need to do, overall, is learn to be patient at the plate. This business of hitting at the first pitch and it going for naught is a killer for them. I love those teams that can work pitchers.
  10. james ho from Vancouver, Canada writes: Actually the biggest problem for the Jays is playing with some consistency, i.e. getting on winning streaks and long stretches of winning baseball. This is what push a team into playoff contention, and separate the condenters with the pretenders . How many times in the past 2 seasons did we see the Jays playing really well in the first 3 games of a series and then lose a stinker, then head into a place like TB and promptly lose 2 out of 3. (so end up 4-3 after starting out 3-0) The Jays is a maddening inconsistent team the last couple of years, hopefully a change like this will help instill some killer instinct into this clubhouse. I am not convince about the Jays playoff chances in 08 until I see this team goes through its rotation at least once without losing.

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