Topic: Blue Jays Team outook 2012

[Blue Jays SH]

Projected starter, with OPS+ and defensive rating:

C: Carlos Santana (123, FR)
1B: Lance Berkman (132, AV/94)
2B: Jemile Weeks (??, ??)
3B: Ryan Zimmerman (123, VG/86)
SS: Alexei Ramirez (94, VG/87)
LF: Matt Holliday (132, AV/84)
CF: Josh Hamilton (??, ??)
RF: Fernando Martinez (88, VG/101) / Lastings Milledge (85, AV/96)
DH: Jim Thome (??, NA)

Bench:
C: Kelly Shoppach (??, ??)
UT: Nick Evans (95, rated at all 4 corner positions)
UI: Brent Morel (81, rated at 3B and SS)
UO: Justin Maxwell (84, average or better at all 3 OF spots)

Pretty strong lineup, with a weaknes at CF or RF (wherever Hamilton isn't playing). I think I can live with a platoon of Martinez and Milledge in RF and end up with ~100 OPS+ production out of the platoon, but wouldn't mind upgrading.  Last spot on the bench will depend on projections and flexibility, and current candidates are Maxwell, Borbon, and Darnell.

Rotation:

SP1: Hudson (109)
SP2: Padilla (97)
SP3: Vizcaino (95)
SP4: Bailey (94)
SP5: Vargas (91)

Definitely not a strength, but not a huge hole with 1 good SP, 3 average ones, and one poor one rounding out the rotation.. Still, with average or better D at every fielding position, the rotation should be good enough to keep the offense in every game.

Bullpen:


LR/MO: Samardzjia (99)
MR: Collins (102)
MR: Lidge (108)
MR: Melancon (??)
SU/CL: Robertson (146)
SU/CL: Marshall (149)


If I can make it to the late innings with a lead, Melancon/Robertson/Marshall should be able to put the game away.

Should be a top-notch offense, better than average defense, and average pitching. Hopefully that's enough to contend in the East.

Scot.

[Blue Jays SH]

Hmm. Hamilton gets a VG rating in RF, and Borbon gets a VG rating in CF. Is Borbon with a 79 OPS+ and a VG rating in CF and Hamilton with a VG rating in RF more valuable than Hamilton with an AV rating in CF and Martinez et al with a ~90 OPS+ and slightly better than average defense in RF? Probably, especially since Borbon's base running means that he's underrated by OPS+. Something for me to think about.

Scot.

[Cardinals]

Definitely more valuable with Hamilton in RF.

[Blue Jays SH]

Definitely more valuable with Hamilton in RF.

yeah, that's the way I'm leaning. I guess it's good luck that I haven't been able to sign a RF the last week.

Scot.

[Blue Jays SH]

Projected starter, with OPS+ and defensive rating:

C: Carlos Santana (B) (123, FR)
1B: Lance Berkman (B) (132, AV/94)
LF: Matt Holliday (R) (132, AV/84)
DH: Jim Thome (L) (123, NA)
3B: Ryan Zimmerman (R) (123, VG/86)
RF: Josh Hamilton (L) (117, VG/102)
SS: Alexei Ramirez (R) (94, VG/87)
2B: Jemile Weeks (B) (88, FR/132)
CF: Pedro Borbon (L) (79, VG/110)

Weeks and Borbon probably get the green light to run at will.

Bench:
C: Kelly Shoppach (R) (80, ??)
UT: Nick Evans (R) (95, rated at all 4 corner positions)
UI: Kevin Frandsen (R) (79, rated AV/FR at all 4 IF positions)
UO: Fernando Martinez (L) (88, rated at all 3 OF positions)
UO: Lastings Milledge (R) (85, rated at all 3 OF positions)

Lineup pretty much set, with the UI spot coming down to Morel or Cardenas depending on projections.

Rotation:

SP1: Hudson (109)
SP2: Padilla (97)
SP3: Vizcaino (95)
SP4: Bailey (94)
SP5: Vargas (91)


Bullpen:

LR/MO: Samardzjia (99)
MR: Collins (102)
MR: Lidge (108)
MR: Melancon (123)
SU/CL: Robertson (146)
SU/CL: Marshall (147)

Mediocre rotation, but I'm hoping that a strong bullpen and strong defense will be enough to help the rotation keep me in contention.

Scot.