Blue Jays, OK

Look, I know I get a tad pessimistic around here, as usually there's a plethora of stuff to gripe about. However, after coming off the recent sweep of the O's and looking at this 2010 Jays roster, I must remind myself that practically everyone in the pre-season (myself included) predicted the two squads two be sitting in opposite spots in the standings.

With some very creative maneuvering in the front office, I once again have to hand it to AA The GM in seemingly getting this squad back on track sooner than later. I mean if you would've told me that in mid July the Jays would be two games over .500, eight and a half games out of the WC, and not sitting in dead last in the East or entire AL for that matter, I would've thought you'd have put heroin on my Chipwich.

But while it's not something to be blowing the Skydome roof off, it is a hell of a lot better than we all predicted. So I figure I should rattle off some good news, and put up a random list of ten things that should make you want to watch the Jays.

1. JP is long gone. And replaced by a guy who seems to know what he's doing.

2. The commitment to scouting. AA bolstered the number of scouts this year, as the Jays have to follow the Rays model by drafting well to compete in the Gordon Gecko AL East.

3. We had three all stars this year. Not just a token Doc. Huh? How many times would've you put your head through the wall laughing maniacally, if last year you heard that the 2010 Jays reps would've been Vernon Wells, Jose Bautista and John Buck? Wells is playing up to snuff, with n'ary an ill word about his contract. Bautista is leading the league in bombs. And Buck? What the fuck? Finally, a catcher who can gun guys down.

4. Speaking of Doc. How about those kids we got in return? Drabek's already pitched a no no in Double A, and Wallace on pace to have a career year for Las Vegas. Meanwhile the Phills sit in third in the NL East and Doc got positively rocked last night.

5. I know I've been saying it a lot over the last few days, and I know its early. But the Cuban.

6. As well as this other Cuban who's simmering in the system.

7. The Brandon Morrow experiment seems to be working.

8. The trade that brought him to the Dome makes Seattle look positively asleep at the captain's wheel.

9. First in jacks in the entire Bigs.

10. As mentioned before, the remaining July sched.