What makes this team different than 2006?

[statquo]

The last time we opened the wallet in 06, we looked pretty good on paper as well. This time some people are saying we're contenders? What makes this team different than 06?

06 Notables - Glaus, Overbay, Rios, Wells, Ryan, B. Molina, Hinkse, Catalanatto, Hill, Hillebrand, Halladay, Burnett, Lilly, Accardo, Spieir....

[2009mvp]

Umm, 25 different players is what makes it different. What point are you trying to make here?

[GrumpyOldMan]

2006 wasn't horrible. We were second in the East behind a 97 win Yankee team. We not only don't have as strong of a Yankee team to deal with now, but we also have an extra wildcard spot that we would have been contenders for.
I'll be extremely happy with meaningful September games again, and even happier if we can have meaningful October games.

[FlakeyFool]

That lineup is poo compared to 2012

[Vampirate]

We are not spending huge amount of money on a Closer.

We are not paying for a .500 pitcher, who proved why he was a .500 pitcher.

We are not paying for a way passed his prime DH (although Thomas was still good)

EE is a better offensive 1B than Overbay.

Troy Glaus was our 'home run hitter' but we got more power now than we did then.

Reyes could be our best SS ever.

Bautista IS the best RF we ever had.

But the biggest reason is the Yankees are not the giants they were in the past.
Boston will be in last place most likely.
Baltimore needs to prove last season wasn't a one and one thing.
Tampa Bay has the pitching but nowhere near the hitting Toronto has.

[mtf]

I hate this revisionist history from the media and fans. AJ Burnett and BJ Ryan were not huge prizes.

BJ Ryan had one single good season before becoming a member of the Blue Jays and he was a closer. Bullpen players are not impact players. Playing a single inning once every couple of days is really overblown in terms of impact.

AJ Burnett had 2 reasonably good seasons before becoming a member of Blue Jays, and neither were amazing.

It speaks volumes about Rogers and the Blue Jays, up until this past month, that these were the standards by which to judge all off-season acquisitions during their tenure of ownership.

In the grand scheme of things, it was really an unremarkable off-season in the winter of 2006.

[Krylian]

Umm, 25 different players is what makes it different. What point are you trying to make here?

The only thing we can all agree upon is that the game isn't played on paper...so regardless of what the team looks like, they still have to play the season and then we see where the chips fall.

I know that's obvious...but people shouldn't count their chickens yet.

[mike_noodles]

Two reasons for me.

Better core to build around. Sure we had the true ace in 06, but that's just about it. Now you have a couple of starters, a good DH, a great RF and a promisng 3B.

Better players this time around. At his worst, Buerhle is the same as Burnett was while he was here, Johnson's unquestionably better. And while there are injury risks, the same was for Glaus. And we all know how BJ Ryan turned out for us. The ceiling is much higher with this group of talent.

[Krylian]

Two reasons for me.

Better core to build around. Sure we had the true ace in 06, but that's just about it. Now you have a couple of starters, a good DH, a great RF and a promisng 3B.

Better players this time around. At his worst, Buerhle is the same as Burnett was while he was here, Johnson's unquestionably better. And while there are injury risks, the same was for Glaus. And we all know how BJ Ryan turned out for us. The ceiling is much higher with this group of talent.

That's the point. Burnett was suppose to be way better. And until the games are played we won't know how any of them will perform.


On paper, I like the 2012 team better...but come this time next year, who knows what kind of season we will have seen.

[Bombtista]

What Rotation is better?

JJ
Morrow
Romero
Buerhle
Happ

or

Halladay
Burnett
Marcum
McGowan
Litsch

I think its our current one.

[Farsight]

Burnett was actually a good pitcher when he was healthy during his tenure with the Jays. He had amazing peripherals and put together a great season in 2008. In actuality, his contract was not that "bad",

[Vampirate]

What Rotation is better?

JJ
Morrow
Romero
Buerhle
Happ

or

Halladay
Burnett
Marcum
McGowan
Litsch

I think its our current one.

2012 has 3 possible #1 pitchers, a former but reliable #1 pitcher and happ.

2006 has the best pitcher in baseball at that time, a talented .500 pitcher, a good #2 pitcher, Mr injury at #4 and Litch at #5.

[Farsight]

What Rotation is better?

JJ
Morrow
Romero
Buerhle
Happ

or

Halladay
Burnett
Marcum
McGowan
Litsch

I think its our current one.

How are you comparing them? Based on potential? or Actual performance?. Because if we are basing it off performance I'd take our 2008 pitching rotation over this one as they were the best staff in all of baseball that year (best ERA, 2nd best FIP, and 3rd best xFIP) Also, there are way too many question marks in our current one. Based on potential, id still take the 2008 rotation of Halladay, Burnett, and a "rising star in McGowan". Moreover, Marcum became a middle of the rotation starter. For me its an easy answer

[mike_noodles]

That's the point. Burnett was suppose to be way better. And until the games are played we won't know how any of them will perform.


On paper, I like the 2012 team better...but come this time next year, who knows what kind of season we will have seen.

Whoops, meant to say Buerhle at his worst is the same as Burnett when he was here.

[phillipmike]

The last time we opened the wallet in 06, we looked pretty good on paper as well. This time some people are saying we're contenders? What makes this team different than 06?

06 Notables - Glaus, Overbay, Rios, Wells, Ryan, B. Molina, Hinkse, Catalanatto, Hill, Hillebrand, Halladay, Burnett, Lilly, Accardo, Spieir....

The difference is that the 2013 spend money on premier positions (Rotation) and in most cases the best players at their positions (Reyes and Bautista). 2006 spend money on good players who had great seasons so their stats were not expected to stay great. The Jays are playing very good players and are paying them fair contracts and if they are not fair then they are short term. There is a good mix of star talent and young talent with bright futures on rookie deals.

The biggest difference is the 2013 have MLB ready prospects from one of the best systems in the league where in 2006 we had the worst. Competition is essential to ensuring success and the Jays in 2013 have potential starters on their bench that can fill in if there is an injury or an under performing player. And the off-season isnt not even over!!!

Player for player the 2013 Jays are better than the 2006 with the exception of Halladay and whoever will be our 2013 ace and MAYBE Hill and our 2013 2B.

JP spent money to add to a weak foundation. AA built a strong foundation and brought in star players to compliment an already strong foundation.