Canada's Only Team

That was 16 years ago.

The Blue Jays haven't caught a whiff of the postseason, or even a pennant race if we're being truly honest, since that October night in 1993 when Joe Carter danced around the bases after smashing a World Series-ending homerun.

The unfortunate reality for Jays fans is that they find themselves in the same division as Boston, Tampa Bay, and New York, three teams who have made World Series appearances in the last seven years. Even without posting abysmal losing records, the Blue Jays find themselves mired in 4th place in the AL East. A playoff appearance for Cito Gaston's bunch will require both a spectacular season north of the border, as well as below expectation performances from at least two of the AL East's three power teams.

In order to beef up for the 2009 season, the JAys front office went on a free agent aigning binge. Rather than targeting big names, Toronto added more than a dozen players to its payroll on minor league contracts and offered many of its signees invites to Spring Training. Add in a few waiver claims and the loss of AJ Burnett to the division rival Yankees, and it was a real snoozer of an offseason at Rogers Centre. If one look around the Jays Spring Training Camp makes you think that you've accidentally wandered into a refugee camp for former Orioles, you're not entirely wrong. Baltimore castoffs Kevin Millar, Adam Loewen, Brian Burres, and Brandon Fahey will try to win spots on this year's Toronto roster. They are joined as non-roster invitees by a few recognizable names such as Michael Barret, Jason Lane, Mike Maroth, and Matt Clement.

The Pitching

Starters
Roy Halladay 20-11 2.78
Jesse Litsch 13-9 3.58
David Purcey 3-6 5.54
Casey Janssen DNP
Scott Richmond/Matt Clement/Brian Burres

Bullpen
BJ Ryan 2.95 ERA 51 Saves
Jeremy Accardo 6.59 ERA
Scott Downs 1.78 ERA
Brian Tallet 2.88 ERA
Jason Frasor 4.19 ERA
Jesse Carlson 2.25 ERA
Brandon League 2.18 ERA

Roy Halladay. If you're a Jays fan or own him on your fantasy team, just saying the words is probably enough to brighten any situation. In an era when pitchers rarely finish games and extended stays on the disabled list have become a common fear for staff aces, Roy Halladay is a rarity. He logged 246 innings in 2008 and compiled a remarkable 1.05 WHIP and 2.78 ERA in the process. Only a Denny McLain-eqsue season from Cliff Lee cost Halladay another Cy Young award.

Dustin McGowan, two years removed from a stellar 12-win effort in 2007 will be ready to go mid-season after season-ending surgery last July. He will provide the Jays with a third proven arm in the starting rotation behind Halladay and Jesse Litsch. The bullpen boasts several arms, Carlson, Downs, allet and League, who posted impressive ERAs in 2008. Much of the Jays success in 2009 may hinge on the ability of the bullpen crew to repeat their stellar 2008 numbers. With a starting rotation made thinner by the departure of AJ Burnett to the Yankees and the loss of Shaun Marcum to Tommy John surgery, the Jays bullpen should see plenty of innings. Closer BJ Ryan must prove that he can stay healthy for an entire season.

The Offense

The Blue Jays have, in the words of Baseball Prospectus, a number of complimentary players miscast as stars. Scott Rolen is no longer a real power threat at 3rd base and has more tha likely entered the twilight of his career. Alex Rios is very good (.516 SLG in 2006)but has never turned in a breakout season to elevate him into the game's elite. Lyle Overbay is a good hitter. Not a great one, but, his bat in the lineup certainly doesn't do any harm. The fact that he only slugged .419 last season makes his salary (more than $7 million per season) and the fact that he plays 1st Base (a traditional hangout for sluggers) something of a liability. Vernon Wells has yet to be fully healthy after an eye-popping 2006 campaign in which he crushed 32 homers and drove in 106. When healthy he may be the one true star in Toronto's attack.

A new face in Toronto's lineup this spring will be that of Travis Snider. The organization's top outfield prospect hit .301 in an end of year call-up last season and will likely be the everyday left fielder this season. He has put up impressive numbers at every level of the minor leagues, and, at 21 years old, his cieling is very high.

The offense could receive a big boost if the double play combo of Marco Scutaro and Aaron Hill improve on their 2008 efforts. Hill's 2007 season (.291 AVG 17 HR) faded into memory as injuries stinkified his 2008 campaign. After many seasons as a untilityman for the Athletics, Scutaro got regular at bats for the first time as a Blue Jay in 2008. Time will tell if playing everyday will have any impact on his modest offensive stats.

The team exercised their 2009 option on veteran backstop Rod Barajas. He brings some pop (11HR last season) to the lineup. Like many other journeymen on many teams, Barajas' actual job description this season is "Placeholder" while the Blue Jays await the arrival of catcher of the future JP Arencibia. Having only played a half season at Double A, most experts agree that Arencibia is still one year away from making an impact in the majors. If the Blue Jays find themselves out of contention in September, Arencibia may get a taste of the bigs.

Forecast

Roy Halladay will be excellent. Jesse Litsch will continue to grow. But the rest of the pitching staff and the offense is a house of cards. With an unbalanced schedule pitting them frequently against the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees, Toronto is overmatched. Not quite overmatched on a Baltimore vs the AL East level, but, in over their heads nonetheless. 78-84 4th Place AL East.