Quick Quiz...Name Yankees you would rather have vs their couhterparts on TBay
1) Milky C vs BJ....nope
2) Cano vs Aki....okay, maybe
3) Jeter vs Bartlett....probably...but I wonder just how far apart they'll be stat wise when you factor JB's stolen bases and more accurate throwing arm
4) AROD vs Willie Aybar...heh
5) Posada vs Dion...okay
6) Mastsui vs CC...uh...NO
7) Giami vs Pena...uh...NO
Pitchers
1) Wang, Rivera, Chamberlin and maybe Hughes....Remaining seven NYY pitchers all pretty much monkey meat, just like typical Rays back half of staff
1) Milky C vs BJ....nope
2) Cano vs Aki....okay, maybe
3) Jeter vs Bartlett....probably...but I wonder just how far apart they'll be stat wise when you factor JB's stolen bases and more accurate throwing arm
4) AROD vs Willie Aybar...heh
5) Posada vs Dion...okay
6) Mastsui vs CC...uh...NO
7) Giami vs Pena...uh...NO
Pitchers
1) Wang, Rivera, Chamberlin and maybe Hughes....Remaining seven NYY pitchers all pretty much monkey meat, just like typical Rays back half of staff
I think you have a decent shot there. I put their pitching staff near the top of the AL and they have guys that can hit. The concerns I have for the Jays are:
1 - How will BJ Ryan return from Tommy John surgery. If he can come back and be the closer he was in Baltimore and Toronto the back end of their pitching staff is very strong.
2 - AJ Burnett. The guy shows signs of being a dominant pitcher but cant seem to stay healthy. They need 30 starts from him to have any shot. They dont have the depth to lose any of their starters for an extended period of time.
3 - Frank Thomas and Scott Rolen. Does Thomas have anything left and can Rolen stay healthy. So far it looks like no and no.
Its a long season but this is the best Jays team since the World Series years.
You might be right. Having watched the first few games it seems like the veteran players are looking old and the young guys are looking pretty green.
I like the start Hughes had, Joba has looked good and Kennedy really struggled. They need Mussina and Pettite to have much better seasons then last year and at their age I'm not sure if they have enough left in the tank.
The offence will come around, the hitters are too good to only put up 2-3 runs again.
Their playoff chances hinge on what their starting pitching will give them and it might not be enough.
It could be a lot worse I guess, I could be a Tigers fan.
