Buffalo Boy's Blog

Center Field: Vernon Wells, on the left, had a subpar year last year. However, he is still the leader of this team. Regardless of Scott Rolen or Frank Thomas or any other veteran on the Jays team this year, if Vernon Wells has a good year, so will this team. Wells is the leader, hes been there the longest, besides maybe Roy Halladay and is the captain of this outfield group in center field.

So in order for the Jays to seriously compete they need Vernon to be on his game and healthy all year. A bad year for Vernon is like Jeter having a bad year for the Yankees. Hes that important. Vernon needs to get back to 30 HR, 100+ RBI and 200 hits/.300+ batting average type numbers this year. That would leave no doubt in anyones mind that he is the number three hitter in the batting order.

Right field: Alex Rios had an All Star year last year but for some reason I kept looking at him and saying, there is so much more that we haven't seen. Physically, he is the most gifted athlete on this team, hes big, strong and fast. He can hit, run and play defense. Im waiting to see an Alfonso Soriano type season, 40+ HR, 110-120 RBI and 110+ runs and 40 stolen bases. Hes got the tools to do it. We have all wondered where the power is, he seems to improve a little every year and last year he improved just enough to make the All Star team but theres more, and if the Jays really want to make the playoffs, we need to see it. We need to see Alex Rios take flight this year and put up all time great Jays numbers. The kid is dripping with talent, now lets see what hes got.

Left Field: Reed Johnson is coming off back surgery for a herniated disc. He came back mid season last year and never looked comfortable. This makes his position on this team less certain that it has been in the past. If he can come back solid and have a Reed Johnson type season (15 HR, .280 average, 170 hits, 80 RBI, 80 Runs) and play decent to good defense, I think the Jays would take that. Anything less than that and I think you need to look for a left fielder.

Backup Outfielders: Matt Stairs and Marcus Scutaro. If there is a rash of injuries look for Adam Lind again, however Jays brass is intent on letting him mature at triple A this season in Syracuse.

Overall, its a group that if healthy should be one of the top three units in the AL, the key there after last season is, IF HEALTHY. Lets hope they stay healthy for the sake of the Jays making a playoff push.