All the best in Wisconsin, Shaun

Maybe the most impressive part of last season’s Toronto Blue Jays team was not the 257 home runs, but the young and talented pitching staff. Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow, Brett Cecil, and Shaun Marcum combined to post a record of 52-31 and an ERA of 3.98 across 117 starts. The best part of it? All of this done with an average age of 25. Yes, it certainly seemed like the Jays had a solid core of pitching talent with which to build their team around. Now the question is: Do they still have enough?

            Shaun Marcum was officially dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers today for AA prospect Brett Lawrie; a high ranking 20 year-old second baseman in the Brewers farm system. This seems to fall into the pattern of GM Alex Anthopoulos’ moves since taking over the Jays. Toronto has moved proven veterans Alex Gonzalez and, of course, Roy Halladay in the past year in exchange for a wealth of, well… basically potential. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. With a payroll that will never match that of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox, the Jays must build internally and through well scouted trades; i.e. the Rays’ way. But is it ever a good sign to see a team trade its Opening Day starter two winters in a row?

            Ricky Romero will take over as the pseudo “ace” of the staff now that Marcum is gone, although the point can be made that he already was. Romero possesses ace talent, but there’s still a question of consistency and maturity. He has made just 61 career starts and shown a tendency to struggle with his accuracy at times, leading the league last year with 18 wild pitches. But I think it was just a matter of time before Toronto asked Romero to step into this role. He was even considered for the Opening Day start last year before it was given to Marcum. One of just 21 AL pitchers to throw over 200 innings last season, Romero will again be asked to shoulder a heavy burden.

            Brandon Morrow and Brett Cecil also remain and will be looked upon to increase last year’s success. Morrow finally got the opportunity to consistently start for a team after coming to the Blue Jays from the Seattle Mariners; where he was used mainly as a back-end bullpen guy. Morrow was up and down during the beginning of the season, posting a 5-6 record and a 4.86 ERA, but finished off the year strong going 5-1 in his final 8 starts. A stretch that included a complete game 1 hitter, that saw Morrow take a no-hitter 8.2 innings while striking out 17. He was shut down early in an attempt to not stress his arm, but as the lone remaining right-handed starter, Morrow will be key to any Jays’ success.

            If Romero and Morrow have the best stuff in the rotation, Brett Cecil certainly is the most consistent member of the staff. Cecil led the team in wins with 15, and though some of it might be accounted to his tendency to pitch with great run support, he also only lost consecutive starts twice. Cecil, like Morrow, also closed out the 2010 campaign with style, winning four of his final 5 starts.

            So it’s now a matter of who’s left to round out the rotation, and I stress the word “left”. Top prospect Kyle Drabek is an obvious choice for a spot in the staff. He pitched 17 innings last season across three starts with a 4.76 ERA, but maybe more importantly, he represents the only foreseeable (the next 3 seasons) payoff of the Halladay deal. Brad Mills made three starts in 2010, Jesse Litsch is an option when he’s healthy again, and even Marc Rzepczynski won his final three starts last year; though the fact his constant short outings were a main cause of Brian Tallet seeing actual game time doesn’t bode well. Nothing says “we’re giving up” more than a Tallet appearance in the 3^rd inning. Who knows? Maybe a player even breaks out in Spring Training.

            Or maybe this is all part of something bigger. It’s not exactly a secret Toronto’s been looking into Zack Greinke, and it doesn’t take much more than common sense to realize how hefty his price tag would be (too hefty if both Travis Snider and Drabek are involved).The Jays have a young shortstop in Yunel Escobar and have much money and hope tied up in second baseman Aaron Hill. They also have touted middle infield prospect Adeiny Hechavarria in AA. So the move to acquire another middle infielder in Lawrie, however talented he may be, is suspect. As much as it would pain me to see Lawrie traded (I find Toronto constantly trades or has no interest in getting Canadian talent; note the Trystan Magnuson deal earlier this off-season), I’m under the impression this is the first in a long line of transitions for Anthopoulos.

            Is the current rotation good enough to get the Jays to the playoffs? No. But that's not saying it can't develop into one effective enough. Romero and Cecil will be entering just their 3rd full seasons as major league starters, as for Morrow, it'll be just his second. Another thing to consider is how the staff gels with not just new manager (and former MLB pitcher and pitching coach) John Farrell, but also with new and expected everday catcher J.P. Arencibia. That's right Morrow, Jose Molina can't be your personal catcher forever.

            But remember, the off-season is as young as the pitching staff and there will be a lot of interest in what the Jays do during the rest of the winter. Maybe the most since the names Lyle Overbay, A.J. Burnett, and B.J. Ryan meant excitement and hope to Toronto fans, not disappointment and betrayal.

MV for MVP?

One of the most common perceptions in Most Valuable Player arguments is that if a player is truly “valuable”, then that player is irreplaceable on their team. It is that player, and that player alone, that is the key to the success of the team, the difference between wins and losses. This season the NFL has a rare opportunity to clearly promote this logic. For not only is there is no greater example of a player meaning everything to his team than Michael Vick, but there is no example so obviously evident.

           There are several requirements to winning MVP. First off, and most basic, a player must have incredible statistics. A player must lead their team to success. A player must be a leader. The thing about all these requirements, is that in 99% of cases, they involve the player being on the field at all times. But along the same lines as addition by subtraction, doesn’t seeing how a team reacts when the player in question isn’t on the field seem just as important?

            However it’s ludicrous to imagine a player not only putting up great numbers, winning games, and establishing himself as a leader, but also missing a few contests so that it can become a glaring certainty just how important he is. Or is it?

            If all goes according to plan, Michael Vick will play in 13 games for the Philadelphia Eagles this season, starting 12. That includes the week 4 match-up with Washington that saw Vick leave in the 1^st quarter with a rib cartilage injury. Now, 13 games would be a fair assessment in say, the 1969 MVP race. Winner Joe Namath only played in 14. Then again, that was an entire season in 1969. Imagine giving Usain Bolt a two second head start in a 100 meters race. Now think what Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady can do in 3 games.

            In just 268 attempts this year, Vick has 2,243 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. He also has 467 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns. Both his yard and touchdown totals place him in the lower half of starting quarterbacks, but Vick’s QB rating of 105.7 is second in the NFL to just Tom Brady, slightly better at 105.8. Vick is also second to Phillip Rivers in yards per attempt at 8.4, as well as top 10 in the league in completion percentage at 63.8%. What makes these numbers more impressive is how vastly they differ from his career stats. Vick entered this season with a career high QB rating of 81.6, a completion percentage under 55%, and a TD-INT ratio of 1.38:1. From 2001 to 2007 he had only 2 games where he threw for over 300 yards. This season alone he has 3. Factor in a 3-year absence from the starter’s role and Vick’s amazing play this year really makes very little sense.

            Of course that absence, and the reason for it, plays a role in this debate as well. There is no doubt that what Vick did was heinous. No question that he should have been locked away for his actions. But he was. He served his time. Vick is now very outspoken and open about the mistakes he has made and also takes the initiative to speak out against animal cruelty and violence. For some this changes nothing, but what’s the point of a second chance if a person is still being completely judged upon their previous actions? There’s a reason not every sentence is a life one.

            Vick’s on the field play has been a revelation and nothing short of spectacular. There are reasons why he shouldn’t win the award, but one overwhelming reason why he should. Past all the stats and opinions there lies just one thing: winning. This season when Michael Vick starts and completes a game for the Philadelphia Eagles, they are 6-1. Without him, they are 2-3. How irreplaceable is that?    

Houston, We Have A Problem

What exactly happened to the Houston Texans this season? Was this not supposed to be the year they broke through? The year the aging Colts could be overthrown by the young, upstart Texans? A team destined to build off an 8 win 2008 and 9 win 2009? Well, the Colts look more vulnerable than they have in almost a decade and yet it is Houston that sits at the bottom of the AFC South; poised to watch the playoffs again, as this franchise has done every year since its inception.

            Granted, it is extremely difficult to make the playoffs in the AFC (Unless you play in the West). As it stands now, the two wild-card teams would be the Patriots (9-2) and the Steelers (8-3); teams that aren’t exactly backing their way into January. That leaves the Dolphins, Chargers, and Colts on the outside looking in. Three teams with above .500 records. But that being said, the 6-5 Jaguars aren’t exactly running away with the Texans division either.

            Houston currently ranks 7^th in the NFL in total offence. They have a top 10 passer in Matt Schaub; the NFL leader in rushing yards, yards from scrimmage, and rushing TD’s in Arian Foster; and arguably the league’s best receiver (and MMA fighter) in Andre Johnson. But offence was never a problem for the Texans, this is a team who put up great numbers with Steve Slaton and Ahman Green getting starting running back carries.

            No, it’s just that unlike the Indianapolis team they wish to dethrone, Houston can’t win with a great offence and horrible defence. Yes, starting middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans has been out since week 6. However does that justify ranking 28^th in total defence and points allowed per game, while ranking 31^st in pass defence? You won’t make it far when your best corner, Jason Allen, was a mid-season waiver pick up and career special teams player. Unless Mario Williams and Brian Cushing somehow spontaneously multiply, the Reliant Stadium grounds crew better keep a fresh supply of light bulbs around for the visitor’s side of the scoreboard.

            Still, the Texans are a young team in terms of both their roster and franchise. They don’t appear to be headed to the playoffs this season, but were arguably a few lucky breaks away. Mike Thomas won’t always be around to catch 50-yard, deflected, desperation passes. That won’t ease the disappointment though. But I guess when you consider your week 1 match-up with the Colts as a playoff game; it’s the only playoffs your team is going to see.

Welcome

Hey everyone... or possibly just the single person out there who will read this thing, this is my blog. As interesting and fast-paced as my life is, it will not be about my amazing adventures or hilarious observations about life, but rather sports. I'll try and write as often as I can and I welcome all feedback. Thanks for reading.