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Jays face 'challenges' in wake of significant pitching losses

By Paul White, USA TODAY

The Toronto Blue Jays farm system has been responsible for the team's rise to the top of the American League in pitching. Homegrown pitchers started 122 of the team's games last season, and that number could increase in 2009. It might have to.
And the surrounding circumstances could keep the Jays from making any gains in an AL East that is even more difficult than usual.

"I'm not nervous," manager Cito Gaston says. "A little bit excited, because it's a challenge. I like challenges. They're fun."

Challenge enough would have been trying to revive a Toronto offense that has fizzled from nearly five runs a game in 2006 to 4.7 in 2007 to 4.4 last season. Now, even if that flourish were to happen with pretty much the same cast as last season, Gaston can't count on anything similar to the pitching staff that led the AL in ERA, fewest runs, fewest hits, fewest home runs and most complete games in 2008.

Gone is free agent A.J. Burnett, who was 18-10 and provided 34 of the 40 starts in 2008 that didn't come from products of the Toronto farm system. He has joined the New York Yankees, who are aggressively trying to catch up to the division's two playoff teams from last season, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.

Also gone for 2009 is Shaun Marcum, who was 9-7 in 2007 with a 3.39 ERA that was second on the Toronto rotation to ace Roy Halladay's 2.78. Marcum is expected to miss the season after elbow surgery. Plus, Dustin McGowan will be out until at least May after shoulder surgery.

The only potential outside addition to the rotation is Matt Clement, who signed a minor league contract after being out of the majors the last two seasons because of shoulder problems.

So that leaves the Blue Jays to sort through more homegrown candidates.

David Purcey, who got his first 12 major league starts after the injuries hit last season, is almost a sure thing for a rotation spot. Casey Janssen, who has been a starter and a reliever but missed last season because of a shoulder injury, will be in the spring competition.

So will prospects ranging from the top two pitchers in the system (Brett Cecil and Brad Mills); to lefty Ricky Romero, the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft; to Scott Richmond, who had five big-league starts last season.

If all else fails, the Blue Jays would consider dipping into their deep bullpen for help.

"They can count," Gaston says. "When they go into spring training, they can see that we have three starters, at the most. They know there's a couple of jobs open."

Gaston didn't spend much time lamenting the loss of Burnett. In fact, the injuries make it easier to take.

"If we had McGowan back this year (2009) and we had Marcum back this year, then you really might go after A.J. this year," Gaston says. "But without those two guys, does it really mean we're going to win with A.J., you know?"

If that sounds like a rebuilding year, the question arises about patience. Gaston has it, having just begun his second term as Toronto manager after replacing John Gibbons in June.

But with a search on for a club president after Paul Godfrey stepped down, any slippage from 2008's 86 victories could increase pressure on general manager J.P. Ricciardi.

"This team is moving in the right direction," Gaston says. "I see them for the next five years being a competitive team after this year. This year, we're going to be OK. It depends how well we pitch."

As for that offense, rookie Travis Snider is the one likely newcomer in left field, the spot Adam Lind took over last season. Lind is still plenty capable, but Gaston likes defense better and plans to move Lind to DH.

While the Blue Jays could use better seasons from first baseman Lyle Overbay and third baseman Scott Rolen, a key question on the offense is second baseman Aaron Hill. He is coming back from a concussion suffered last season in a collision with David Eckstein and says the symptoms are gone, but his status won't be certain until he begins playing every day.

"I think challenges are good," Gaston says, "because is just gives you an edge."