Getting Specific About Blue Jays Needs

Sep 22, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY SportsEveryone knows the Blue Jays top priority this offseason is to get good starting pitching that can compete in the American League East.

But what exactly makes a starting pitcher good?

The Blue Jays starting pitching staff gave up 136 home runs last year. Only the Orioles and White Sox gave up more.

It seemed like during all of 2013 the Jays were losing games because of starters giving up ill-timed home runs, a very annoying way to lose games.

So they need starting pitchers with a low career fly ball rate. In the American League East all the ball parks are hitters ball parks, so the less fly balls a pitcher gives up the less home runs he’ll surrender pitching in this division.

The Jays also need starting pitchers with a low career walk rate because all the lineups in the AL East are patient, so the last thing the Jays need is someone who’s going to get themselves into trouble.

They also need pitchers with a low fly ball rate.

It would also help if they got starting pitchers with a high strikeout rate. It’s harder for the opposition to get on base if they can’t put the ball in play.

Have I mentioned the Blue Jays need to target starting pitchers with a low fly ball rate.

They also need a catcher that can play decent enough defense, hit and get on base enough for a league average catcher, who’s maybe even good at pitch framing.

It would also be great if they could acquire starting pitchers with a low fly ball rate.

It would also serve the Jays well to get a 2nd basemen that can hit, get on base and play good defense. It would really help if he was fast learner to learn how to play on the Rogers Center turf. You probably don’t want a guy that’s going to take a month or two to learn to handle it. Maybe a 2nd basemen who has enough experience playing on turf or experience in general to make the adjustment.

Starting pitchers with a low fly ball rate would rate would be fantastic too.