Even the Toronto Blue Jays' level-headed centre-fielder Vernon Wells, usually a human shot of sunshine, has trouble seeing the usual reasons for optimism heading into the new year.
"It's going to be challenging, given how well Tampa's been able to do and how well they did last year," said Wells from his Texas home. "Given the acquisitions the Yankees have made so far ... and obviously they may not be done yet ... and with Boston in the same division, it will be difficult." However, the ever-realistic Wells sees some reason for optimism even without the club making any more off-season moves. He has spoken with concussed Aaron Hill and realizes if the talented second baseman comes back healthy it will be a boost.
"He's doing really well," he said. "He has the potential to be a big part of our offence, especially if he's hitting towards the top of the order, just getting on base and being a guy who can run. We just need him on the field and playing."
Wells understands how important last year's pitching staff was to the relative success of the team. He knows that the fault was with the underachieving lineup, led by Wells himself, that cost the American League East ball club any chance at a post-season berth.
"You talk about winning a championship or making the playoffs, you have to have all three things -- pitching, hitting and defence -- together and we haven't been able to do that," Wells points out. "Last year, we had two of the three phases working. The offence is the big thing. You have to be able to score runs to take pressure off your pitching staff. You look at the numbers our pitching staff put up and they're unbelievable. We just didn't hit. If we hit, obviously we'd have been in a much better position."
At the winter meetings, manager Cito Gaston suggested that Alex Rios could be a better player than Wells once he "learned to hit." The 30-year-old former Gold Glover, Wells finally got a chance to observe his younger teammate up close and personal only once Gaston installed them 3-4 in the lineup. He agrees with his manager's assessment.
"I was able to watch him mentally just get better. The makeup is the biggest thing with a young player. You come out and you just want to do so many things. Your approach is not always the same. When Cito and Gene (Tenace) came in, he just sort of took a different mindset. He was a little more aggressive. He doesn't realize how strong and talented he really is."
This is clearly a bridge season for the injury-riddled Jays' starting staff. It was suggested the Jays should sign aging veteran pitchers with past success like Kenny Rogers or others trying to re-establish themselves like Matt Clement.
They will try to make it through next season anticipating the healthy 2010 return of Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan and the emergence of other youngsters like Brett Cecil and Bradley Mills.
"Old, veteran guys who have pitched in this league for a while know what it takes to get guys out at this level. I think it will take a little pressure off of Doc (Roy Halladay)," Wells said.
