The 2008 starting rotation was excellent in 2008, but now the Blue Jays need to find more then 400 innings of work because three fifths of the rotation that broke camp last season will not be available this year. Disaster? I don’t think so, the Blue Jays have pitching, they have lots of pitching prospects that are very close to the show and will be able to break camp with a solid, above average starting rotation. Will it lead the league in ERA again, probably not but they will surprise a lot of people. Here it was a project as the Blue Jays starting rotation come April 6th:

Roy Halladay- In other sports, they say greatness is defined by the ability to make others around you better and that is exactly what Roy Halladay does. It has been a treat to watch Halladay the last 7 years and how he interacts with the other starting pitches. When younger pitches come up, they see an example of what a starting pitcher should be and they aspire to be like him. Roy is a very intimidating person for younger players and they do everything possible to get and stay on his good side: they come early in the morning to work out, and they lift weights and run as much as Halladay does. This process in turn, makes them better, much better. The best example of this is when the Blue Jays are on the field. Say Burnett is pitching (in 2008), who is sitting next to Roy Halladay: Litch, Marcum, and McGowan. Little things like this make Roy Halladay a true ace in baseball who not only produces CY Young numbers every year, he also elevates the game of others around him.

Jesse Litch- Litch is one of the more underrated players, not only in the AL East but all of baseball. He doesn’t have the best stuff in the world, doesn’t strike out a lot of batters but he can flat out pitch. He has produced two straight sub 4.00 ERA seasons, and finished 13th in the AL with a 3.58 ERA last season. Since returning from AAA last season he was throwing his fastball at 95mph with movement and he will become more of a strikeout pitcher this season. He will make his start every 5 days and pitch more then 200 innings. Is he your prototypical number two pitcher? No. But who is?

David Purcey- Purcey is the most intriguing name on the staff because it will be interesting to see if he can put it all together this year. Last year, he was up and down, with some good outings (a start against Tampa Bay comes to mind) and some outings when he couldn’t find the strike zone. With a full spring and year under Brand Arnsberg, I think he can turn corner and become a legitimate, above average starter. Purcey has big league stuff, but like all young pitches, he needs to be consistent and not allow things to get to him over the course of a game. Purcey will end the year with a ERA in low fours and prove to be a very productive starter for the Blue Jays.

Brad Mills- Mills is a raw lefthander who has yet to pitch a day in AAA but as of now he makes the club. He has been good this spring and has jumped into the forefront of the battle for the rotation. He has above average stuff but like Purcey he sometimes struggles with control and consistency but the Jays feel he can compete in the AL now. He probably won’t stay the whole year with the big club, but he’ll get a look for at least 4 or 5 starts and there are low expectations that could easily be achieved: 5-6 innings, 3-4 runs an outing.

Scott Richmond- Richmond’s progress this spring has been slowed by his WBC commitments but is still in line for a rotation spot. The Blue Jays like Richmond and feel he can be a solid back of the rotation guy who can give the team a chance to win each time out. He’s not going to throw no-hitters but he is a battler, a pitch to contact guy who can be effective.

If it wasn’t for a spring setback a few days ago, Casey Janssen would be breaking camp as the fourth starter. Everyone in the organization likes Janssen: his stuff, his competitiveness, and his attitude. Baring setback, he will not be in either AAA or extending spring long before he is in the rotation. Probably by late April or early May he will be with the big club. Janssen has great make up for a starter and will excel as a starter when he arrives. The Blue Jays want to see Rickey Romero with the big club because of criticism they have faced for drafting him and his struggles early in his career. He is not ready to break with the team, he is still shaky giving up to many hits and walks. He should start in AAA and work on consistency with his execution. Because of the pitching depth both Mills and Richmond will be on short leashes and changes will be made quickly if they are not effective. Dustin McGowan will not be rushed back, but he should be back sometime in June or July and work towards 2010. He has great stuff and has overcome lots of adversity in his career and will prove by the end of the year that he is a solid, front of the rotation pitcher going forward.

Next up: The Bullpen