8/14/2019 Early Look at Jays' Starting Nine

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With spring training just over a month away, the big guns in the American League East are reloading. The Yankees bench, and pockets, are so deep that they won aWorld Series then jettisoned Series MVP Hideki Matsui without breaking stride. Up the coast in Boston, the Red Sox splurged on right-handed starter John Lackey($82.5 million U.S. over five years) and had enough spare change to scoop former Jays sparkplug Marco Scutaro (two years, $12.5 million). Must be nice. In Toronto,emerging from a 16-year playoff drought is unfolding at a more measured pace under rookie general manager Alex Anthopoulos. He has pledged to make the Jayscontenders through meticulous scouting and grooming of top prospects. But until those as-yet-undrafted gems are ready for the spotlight, the Jays still must com-pete in the toughest division in the majors. And with the season creeping ever closer, heres a look at how they could line up on opening day, with sophomore RickyRomero as the starting pitcher and Jason Frasor as the closer:

1. JoseBautista, RF

2. AlexGonzalez, SS

3. AaronHill, 2B

4. AdamLind, DH

5. VernonWells, CF

6. LyleOverbay, 1B

7. EdwinEncarnacion, 3B

8. TravisSnider, LF

9. JohnBuck, C

2009stats

.235, 13 HR,40 RBI, .349

OBP in 113games

.238, 8 HR,41 RBI in 112

games

.286, 36 HR,108 RBI,

103 runs

.305, 35 HR,114 RBI

.260, 15 HR,66 RBI, 17 SB

.265, 16 HR,35 2B, 65 RBI

.225, 13 HR,39 RBI in 85

games

.241, 9 HR,14 2B, 29 RBI,

77 games

.247, 8 HR,36 RBI in 59

games

2010salary

$2.4 million $2.75 million $4 million TBD($418,800in 2009)

$12.5 million,plus an $8.5million bonusMarch 1

$7 million $4.75 million TBD($401,400in 2009)

$2 million

Whyheshere

The leadoffslot? Hefilled in therelate lastseason. Andright field?Because hehas the armfor the job(11 assists in79 outfieldgames) andbecauseCito Gastonwasnt aboutto start withSnider inright andLind in left.

By default.His anemicon-basepercentage(.279 lastseason)prevents himfrom leadingoff, while hispedestrianbatting statskeep himfrom hittingany deeper inthe order.

Becausewhen youput up thenumbers Hilldid in 2009,you hit whereyou want.Hill, whowon a SilverSlugger lastseason, haslong seenhimself asa No. 3 hitter.

See Hill,right downto theSilverSlugger.

Because hemakes waytoo muchmoney not toplay, and theJays arehopinganotherseason in thefive slot willyield betterresults thanthe sluggish2009campaigndid.

Because hesstill a solidhitter. Lastyear, he hit.249 beforea July tradesent ScottRolen toCincinnatiand bumpedOverbay intothe cleanup.By seasonsend, he hadraised hisaverage to.265.

Because theJays needa rightyto bat afterOverbay,and Rolensnot hereanymore.

Hes inleft field soLind can DHand isbattingeighthbecause theclub is stillwaiting forhim to turnpotentialinto big-leagueproduction.

BecauseRod Barajasisnt. Rightnow, Buckis the onlycatcher onthe clubsmajor-leagueroster. Lastyear, hethrew outonly 8 of 41base-steal-ers.

Lookingforupgrade?

Sure Doubtful No No Not at theseprices

Possibly Possibly Nope ASAP

AN EARLY LOOK AT THE JAYS STARTING NINE BY MORGAN CAMPBELL