Bad ST Start

[PJ-34]

Well the Jays start in New York this season and then go back to Toronto for the home opener against the Red Sox.

[Knick9]

I really don't know what it's going to take to topple Boston or New York, the division hasn't been in neither of those teams' hands since 1997. They're always playing a game of 1-upping each other and the rest of the AL East suffers.

I am not buying the Rays hype at all. They are the Rays after all, and they always find a way to screw things up and finish in dead last. Only one fourth place finish in the team's history. Come on.

Baltimore is a sad, sad story. They should've rebuilt the team years ago and instead did nothing to help themselves (thanks Angelos for being so cheap), messed around by keeping the same group of players through the years (Surhoff, Gibbins, etc.) The O's are going nowhere.

Boston and New York...well we know about them year in and year out. Thanks ESPN!

With the Jays, I don't know. If there's any team in the AL East that can really give the Yanks and Sox a run for their money, it is the Blue Jays. Now the only thing to do is to actually beat them head to head more often. They gotta be more consistent in those games.

[Defense Counts!]

Spring training records are not only meaningless ... they're misleading. Managers are juggling the lineups so much that it's impossible to tell how good the team is. The preseason is all about individual players. Does pitcher A have good velocity? Is the backup shortstop able to field effectively? The team is irrelevant.

[Big_Mac]

The Rays are not contender good. They would scare you as a September spoiler team but nothing else. Troy Percival is likely going to be their closer for god sake and I think we know what a bad bullpen can do to a team. They are still young and while they are no Baltimore, they are no real, legit contender.

[Chris from NY]

Have any of you even paid attention to the off-season? I know I have because I'm the only person who posts here!!! the Rays got good, they got possible contender good.

In order to be a contender, the Rays have to be on par with the the other Wild Card teams in the AL. In theory, they should have to be the second best team in the AL East. I put them fourth in the AL East. Not good enough to be a contender. You're right, they did get better in the off season, but that's because it would have been difficult for them to get any worse. There's no way they improved enough to add 30 or so wins to their record.

[PJ-34]

Have any of you even paid attention to the off-season? I know I have because I'm the only person who posts here!!! the Rays got good, they got possible contender good.

[gojays]

So why are you starting now?

Well, 2-7 is tough to ignore. But I guess i should look at the rest of the standings too, since the next worst AL teams are the Red Sox and Indians. Let's just hope the standings will be the other way around by the end of the season. And since the Rays are leading, that might not be too hard.

[runningshoes]

I never put much stock in ST games

So why are you starting now?

[Chris from NY]

I'm gonna ignore that. You all know this is the same thing that happened last year so keeping the faith is hard...but I do. Sox...pffft.

Just helping ya remember who your team is. :gt

[PJ-34]

I just looked at the standings. First through fourth place among American League teams is Tampa Bay at 5-1, Oakland at 6-2, Kansas City at 5-3, and Texas at 5-3. Looks like Tampa Bay and Kansas City should plan the parade route already.



Go cheer for the Red Sox or Yankees. I think you'd be much happier.

I'm gonna ignore that. You all know this is the same thing that happened last year so keeping the faith is hard...but I do. Sox...pffft.

[Shotgun Shuba]

I wouldn't worry about Spring Training records at all. If you can have a .400 winning percentage you are doing fine. It's more important to see what your players can do and where they will fit.
To deviate a little, The Jays are in a VERY tough position under today's system. The Red Sox and Yankees will never have down years together so you will always battle one for the division, at least. Usually,8 years out of 10, they both will be very good and you will have an uphill climb. The Jays can compete though if they stick to a system and don't chase recklessly after free agents. The Boston and New York media will always pressure their teams to make stupid moves. The Jays should stay smart, grow talent and take a playoff spot every now and then. A championship every 15 years would be pretty good.

[Chris from NY]

I just looked at the standings. First through fourth place among American League teams is Tampa Bay at 5-1, Oakland at 6-2, Kansas City at 5-3, and Texas at 5-3. Looks like Tampa Bay and Kansas City should plan the parade route already.

I'm getting myself prepared for another classic Jays no playoffs season like I do every year.

Go cheer for the Red Sox or Yankees. I think you'd be much happier.

[PJ-34]

This happened last year and I said the same damn thing and everybody said it doesn't matter, it's just spring well guess what it isn't, I'm getting myself prepared for another classic Jays no playoffs season like I do every year.

[gojays]

Is anyone else worried about the Jays spring training record so far? I never put much stock in ST games, but 2-6 is not a great start to the season.