After watching the first series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees it is patently obvious why many baseball prognosticators picked the Blue Jays to win the American League wild card or even the AL East. The Blue Jays pitching appears to be the real deal with Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett and Dustin McGowan forming a potent top three. In addition, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch won 12 and 7 games, respectively, last season with ERA's around 4.00. Two of Litsch's seven wins were dominating performances against both Boston and New York. That is a real good rotation. The bullpen is strong with Jeremy Accardo, Brian Tallet, Scott Downs and Brian Wolfe. When BJ Ryan returns, the bullpen becomes virtually impenetrable.
But, the Blue Jays need something to boost their prospects to win this season.
The Blue Jays need Barry Bonds.
During the spring Frank Thomas did not hit very well, his bat speed looking very slow. After the recent three game series in New York, the bat speed has not improved. I would like to give Thomas a full month or two before full judgment can be passed, but by then, it could be too late for the Blue Jays.
Toronto is a very heavy right handed hitting lineup. They need a lefty presence to balance out the power of righty's Alex Rios, Vernon Wells, Thomas and Scott Rolen when he returns from his hand injury. Lefty's Greg Zaun, Lyle Overbay and Matt Stairs are adequate major league hitters, but offer limited power and run production. Last season, lefty's Zaun and Overbay each hit 10 HR's and batted under.250. Only Stairs offered any meaningful production with 21 HR and .289, but he is 40 years old and cannot be counted on to play every day. Those three hitters just do not scare many teams. Many managers could save their lefty specialist for important hitters.
Barry Bonds would vastly improve the Blue Jay lineup, but his knees and age are making him incapable of playing every day in the outfield. Bonds could still play left field several days a week and could spell Frank Thomas at DH against tough righties such as Josh Beckett, Dice-K or another righty Thomas has not fared well against. Plus, the Red Sox and Yankees will mostly throw RH pitchers against the Jays, and if Pettitte or Lester throws against the Jays, Bonds could have a much-needed rest from the Sky Dome carpet. This several days a week process would be benefit Bonds, Thomas and Stairs, but most of all; it would benefit the Blue Jays.
If Bonds played again, most people think he would be a shoo-in for the L.A. Angels or Oakland A's, but the Blue Jays are best equipped to handle the attention, his personality and temperament that Bonds usually demands. The Jays locker room is a nice mix of veterans and young players who have started to make their stride as major leaguers, especially a team with young pitching. Most importantly, this team needs a new bat, a predominately right-handed hitting team needing a lefty bat.
The Blue Jays have the right amount of veteran position players, but have good, young arms. Those young pitchers really wouldn't have to deal with Mr. Ego all that much. Frank Thomas and Vernon Wells would be able to hold court over Bonds' antics, especially Thomas, one of the only players to voluntarily speak with George Mitchell. Thomas' credibility might wear off on Bonds (I repeat MIGHT wear off), but, if Bonds gets out of control, the Jays could cut him and it would not cost a lot. Thomas is also intelligent enough to realize that even though Bonds would take away some of his at bats, Bonds is also needed for the Jays to win.
As a Yankee fan, I can't believe I am letting the Jays in on this, but it is a great deal for the Jays...if they can get Bonds on their own terms. What's a one year, deal for $5 million (with incentives) when you have $100 Million tied up between Burnett and Ryan, and are going to throw $65 million more at Rios? A total of 450 plate appearances by Bonds would help the Jays in the middle of that right-handed hitting lineup, both with power numbers and on-base percentage. Imagine Bonds pummeling balls off the Green Monster and powering balls into Yankee Stadium's upper deck - like he did on June 8, 2002.
Speaking of upper decks, Bonds on the Blue Jays would put more fannies in the upper deck of the Rogers Center, virtually paying for Bonds' salary.
Also, since the federal goverment is seeking a new indictment of Bonds and his perjury trial was pushed back to a point after the 2008 season, Barry's legal troubles would not be a concern.
This speculation is all predicated on Bonds taking a one-year deal for reduced money, but having nice incentives in the contract. He needs to be willing to keep his ego in check, but without another opportunity and the chance to play again in Fenway Park and the last season of Yankee Stadium; Bonds would be stupid to say no.
And the Blue Jays would be stupid not to make the offer.
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I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you sir. The Jays room was a mess last year, as there was only one "real" leader in Halladay, and a few fake leaders in Burnett and Wells. They addressed that in the off-season by bringing in hard-working vets in Rolen and Eckstein to bring a sense of urgency and accountability to a club that sorely needed it. While Bonds will bring good AB's and a high OBP, he will also bring a myriad of distractions that would hinder the club in the long-run. I think the Jays will be fine, they don't need a huge ego/perjury case looming over them for the season.
Just my two cents, and good blog man.
Bentley00
(.)(.), ON
Total Comments (1349)
And that was a damn good series the Jays and Yanks just had, they will be playing each other tough all season me thinks...
Bentley00
(.)(.), ON
Total Comments (1349)
good point about Rolen and Eckstein.
thejobarules
Point Pleasant, NJ
Total Comments (149)
As a jays fan, I couldn't agree more of having Bonds on board. The problem is no one really knows how much distraction Bonds will create for the team. Potentially, it could make the team turn south, much like what he did to the Giants these past few seasons.
I think the safe move for JP is to wait till June to see how Bonds' legal mess is upto and what position the Jays are at. If Bond's doesn't get sued or that the Jays are already in a catch up position, it is worth the risk to pull the trigger. However, once again, that's assuming the Bonds is willing to agree on a 1yr deal full of incentives .
moncheri
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I respectfully disagree to moncheri's claim that Bonds-related distractions did anything to harm the Giants. Sure, he rubs some players the wrong way in the clubhouse and the dugout. Take Jeff Kent for an extreme example. But in no other town, not even Pittsburgh, will you find so many Barry supporters and die-hard Barry fans as you will find in San Francisco. They're so avid in his support, they'd be willing to look the other way on a federal indictment on baby-napping or jewel heist charges. No, San Francisco proved to the world and kept proving it for years and years that Barry not only brings a ton more expected wins to your team, but also puts a lot more paying customer's in the seats to watch your team. Circus or no circus, some folks just plain forgot what a circus is all about (i.e. making money, duh!)! The Jays seem to be in contract-signing mode right now with Rios and Hill. Could this mean that they're trying to console their key players by caving into some of their contract demands in exchange for them not objecting to a Bond's signing? I know that Barry Bonds wants to win a championship, big time. If the Jays have an outside shot of making the playoffs (and the pitching staff holds out some hope of this), a Bonds signing might make good sense as insurance against the Big Hurt's waning production and to inject a lefty in the lineup to help break up the opposing starter's rhythm.
Double Steel
Livermore , CA
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Nobody needs Bonds - The negativeity he would bring to the clubhouse would be irrepairable !!
Gordiek
Total Comments (14)
Seems Thomas handled Beckett alright the other day. I don't think Bonds is necessarily a requirement for the Jays to have success this year. If Toronto could sign a Clean Bill of Health for the team to a $5 million a year deal then they might get somewhere...
Winkle
Milwaukee , WI
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BONDS UPDATE: The Toronto Blue Jays released DH Frank Thomas today. The Blue Jays said that lefty hitting Matt Stairs and righty Rod Barajas will now share the DH duties. The Jays also brought up catcher Robinzon Diaz from AAA Syracuse to give the Blue Jays an extra option behind the plate on days when Barajas starts at DH.
thejobarules says: this clears the way for Barry bonds to eventually join the Blue Jays as the permanent DH. At his advanced age and tender knees, Bonds cannot be an everyday two-way player and needs to be a DH and part time outfielder, as his power from the left side and high OBP are highly desirable by the Blue Jays. This is the perfect opportunity for Bonds and the Blue Jays to work out a 1 year, incentive laden contract.
When the Blue Jays do sign Bonds, it gives the Jays a deeper lineup and a the power LH bat they desperately need to counter the right handed starters of division rivals Red Sox and Yankees.
Look for the Blue Jays to give Matt Stairs every opportunity to win the full time job, but Stairs is not the threat Barry Bonds can be at the plate. Bonds??? presence will also sell more tickets for spacious (and empty) Rogers Centre.
thejobarules
Point Pleasant, NJ
Total Comments (149)
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