Blue Jays opening day lineup for 2008

[Halladay_is_God]

1. SS David Eckstein
2. LF Matt Stairs - Stewart may start if Stairs' back isn't feeling good
3. RF Alex Rios
4. CF Vernon Wells
5. DH Frank Thomas
6. 1B Lyle Overbay
7. 2B Aaron Hill
8. C Gregg Zaun
9. 3B Marco Scutaro

Bench
C Rod Barajas
LF Shannon Stewart
IF John McDonald
OF Buck Coats


Rotation
R Roy Halladay
R A.J. Burnett
R Dustin McGowan
R Shaun Marcum
R Jesse Litsch

Bullpen
R Brandon League
R Brian Wolfe
L Brian Tallet
R Jason Frasor
R Randy Wells

Setup man
L Scott Downs

Closer
R Jeremy Accardo


DL
3B Scott Rolen (4-6 weeks)
LHP B.J. Ryan (out for a month)
RHP Casey Janssen (out for the season)
* to note SP Gustavo Chacin is to start in AAA incase anyone was wondering, still going though some injuries



Not the lineup the Jays were hoping to start the season with, no Rolen who would have hit 5th-6th. No Janssen and Ryan in the pen, although as expected Ryan's early return was a little over-hyped from the start. Losing Janssen will really hurt, great season in 07 when he stepped up and took the setup role after Ryan went down.

Overbay and V. Wells are coming off injuries and looking like their old selves in Spring Training, both are expected to have big years especially Wells since his new contract starts this season and Overbay has to get back to 2006 form where he hit .312 avg, 22 HR, 92 RBI, and 46 doubles.

Thomas and Wells are notable slow starter, things have to change if the Jays wish to keep up in the AL East.

The bench is deeper than years before, may be the deepest since 1993 (that's right I went there), Barajas will help Zaun keep fresh and look for a 100/60 split in favour of Zaun but don't be surprised if it becomes a 80/80 when the season gets longer.

The pitching staff as a whole is young and looks quite inexperienced with McGowan, Marcum, Litsch, Accardo, Downs, League, Wolfe, and Tallet expected to fill big roles, Doc Halladay will again have to be the leader with help from Burnett, who has the most experience of any active pitcher on the Jays.

They should contend with the Yankees and Red Sox, but will they is the big question.


P.S. Fire General manager J.P. Ricciardi