Buffalo Boy's Blog

In the past the starting rotation has lived and died with Roy Halladay. This year that may all change. Yes the Blue Jays need their ace to be a Cy Young contender, especially if they want to win the AL East or contend for the wild card. However, they have help for Halladay which will hopefully allow the Doc to relax out there this year knowing the next guy is capable of winning.

The Jays had four guys win 10 or more games last year and had Jesse Litsch been up all year, he may very well have made it five. one through four, I love the Jays rotation, Im still not sold on Jesse Litsch. Thats not to say he isn't a good pitcher, thats to say that with him in the rotation, they have five right handers.

To me you need a left hander to sandwich in between those four righties. You need one lefty to throw a team off in a given series. Gustavo Chacin will hopefully be given every chance to earn the fifth spot back because I still think, healthy, he could be a great left hander for this team.

If Chacin doesn;t make the rotation, I would like to see the team go out and try to acquire one via trade to slot in that rotation. That to me is the only move left, the only big thing I want to see, is a lefty in the starting rotation could complete the rotation as one of the, if not they best rotation in the AL.

AJ Burnett if he proves he can stay healthy all year is a 15-20 win pitcher waiting to happen, especially with this offense. Marcum and McGowan should both continue to mature and improve and should both be 12-15 game winners. Litsch and Chacin which ever wins the fifth spot, are both potential 10-15 game winners as well. Chacin has won 12-15 games already so this rotation should be able to go out and win 55-65 games all by itself.

The rotation should be the strongest part of this team this year and with any luck the offense will come around. Only 1 more day left till pitchers and catchers report.