It’s November 1. The Red Sox captured the 2007 World Series title — their second in four years — a mere four days ago. The Toronto Maple Leafs own a record of 5-5-3, and the Raptors (of the NBA variety) tipped off their ‘07-’08 campaign last night. But as far as I’m concerned, the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2008 season starts now.
Heck, in three and a half months, pitchers and catchers will report to Dunedin, Florida for another Spring Training. Though many have already pegged the BoSox to repeat in ‘08, the reality is this: There’s no sure thing in baseball.
For the Blue Jays, making the playoffs means — at least — finishing ahead of the New York Yankees or the Sox. In order to do so, however, they’ll have to be healthy. They were anything but in 2007. An injury-plagued lineup struggled offensively, finishing with a .259 team batting average — the lowest in the AL East and third-lowest overall. As GM J.P. Ricciardi is quick to point out, though, given a healthy lineup all year, the Blue Jays would have surely hit better.
What will 2008 have in store? Not so fast. First up is the offseason, where the Jays will look to upgrade in a few areas. Certainly, there will be no shortage of news during the winter months. I encourage you to visit often, as The 500 Level will break down the ‘comings and goings’ of the Toronto Blue Jays. Stay tuned …
