| | ESPN.com
Check the list of active pitchers with the best career winning percentages and you'll find that five of the top seven reside in the American League East.
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BLUE JAYS LOWDOWN |
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|  | | David Wells has averaged 16 wins the past five years. |
1999: 84-78
Runs: 883, 5th in AL
Allowed: 862, 9th in AL
Key facts
In just 98 games with the Jays last year, Tony Batista hit 26 home runs and drove in 79 runs.
Carlos Delgado's HR totals since 1995: 3, 25, 30, 38 and 44.
David Wells led the AL in innings pitched (231.2) but had the third-highest ERA of his career (4.82).
Tim Kurkjian's scenarios
Best-case: The young pitching rises quicker than expected and the Jays contest for the wild card.
Worst-case: The Jays miss Shawn Green, the young pitching isn't quite ready, David Wells complains about not contending and is dealt to a contender in July.
Prediction: 3rd in AL East
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There's No. 1 Pedro Martinez (.682) in Boston and No. 2 Mike Mussina (.673) in Baltimore. New York has a trio -- No. 3 (Roger Clemens, .648) and two tied at No. 6 (David Cone and Andy Pettitte, both at .638).
And yet, it's not much of a stretch to suggest that, potentially at least, the Toronto Blue Jays might have the division's best rotation, from top to bottom.
Start with David Wells, who, even in a sub-par season than started with a devestating trade from his beloved New York, led all lefties in the league with 17 wins and led all AL pitchers in complete games and innings pitched.
Follow with the homegrown trio of Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay and Kelvim Escobar, who combined for 31 wins last season, and it's not hard to imagine Toronto trotting out four pitchers capable of winning 15 games, a depth only the Yankees could hope to match.
Consider, too, that while Escobar led the three with 14 wins a season ago, the Jays believe Carpenter has the highest ceiling of the bunch, followed by Halladay.
None of the three has as much as three years of major league service time.
"There are very few pitchers who come up in their first year and are dominant," Blue Jays manager Jim Fregosi said. "It takes time to get that experience and confidence, but they've all advanced, mentally and physically."
The fifth spot is admittedly a question mark. Joey Hamilton is healing slower than anticipated from shoulder problems that date back to last year, leading the team to cast about for another starting pitcher. They've talked to San Diego about Sterling Hitchcock, who would give them another lefty with which to neutralize division rivals Boston and New York.
In many ways, last year was a lost year for the Blue Jays. They changed managers in spring training and every one of their starters but Wells lost time because of injury.
Now, with the benefit of experience, they're that much more advanced, and after a scare concerning Carpenter's elbow this spring, healthy.
"There's only one thing left to do -- win," said Fregosi.
-- Sean McAdam
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Lineup comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Player
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Comment
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Grade
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S. Stewart, LF
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A rarity in today's game-an emerging star leadoff hitter
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B
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Homer Bush, 2B
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Ability to figure things out should produce a big season
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B
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R. Mondesi, RF
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Two NL scouts bet his SkyDome numbers will top Shawn Green's in L.A.
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A
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C. Delgado, 1B
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Could have a 50-HR, 150-RBI season anytime. But should have it at DH
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A
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Brad Fullmer, DH
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If ever anybody was born to be a DH, it's this natural-born hitter
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B
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Tony Batista, 3B
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Can turn on fastball and get it up in the air. What was Arizona thinking?
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B
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Jose Cruz Jr., CF
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Either he jumps out hot or phenom Vernon Wells gets the job
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C
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Darrin Fletcher, C
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Can still sit on pitches and drive them for power
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C
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A. Gonzalez, SS
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Great fielder. Needs to develop patience to improve five-year .306 OBP
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C
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Pitching comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Pitcher
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Comment
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Grade
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David Wells, SP
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People are waiting for the breakdown, but he led AL in IP and complete games
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B
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C. Carpenter, SP
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Only question is health of elbow. No question he has stuff and heart of a No. 1
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B
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Roy Halladay, SP
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Look for him to emerge with 95 mph fastball and electric knuckle-curve
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B
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K. Escobar, SP
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Time to connect the dots between stuff, grit and performance
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C
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P. Quantrill, RP
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If Gordie Howe had been a setup man, he?d have been Paul Quantrill
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C
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Billy Koch, RP
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Jim Fregosi (in majors since 1961): "Billy has the best stuff I've ever seen"
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A
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