Francisco, Dotel and Morrow on the DL Oh My

According to the Globe and Mail, Brandon Morrow, Octavio Dotel and Frank Francisco will start the season on the DL.

I don't know how you feel about the Toronto Blue Jays 2011 team going into opening day next week, but my feelings for this team have been going back and forth from one extreme to another all spring.  You ask me one day 'how will the Toronto Blue Jays do in 2011', and I might tell you that they will really surprise a lot of people this year.  That they have a young, athletic and very talented club that may even make the playoffs.  Then you ask that same question the next day and I'll tell you that I will be shocked if this team doesn't finish in last place.

However, now with Dotel, Francisco and Morrow starting the season on the DL, the wind has really been taken out of my Blue Jays hopes sails.  On those days where my hopes were high, I'd probably tell you that Francisco will be an elite closer this year, that his numbers have been repressed from pitching in an offensive friendly ballpark in Texas, that the Blue Jays have great bullpen depth that will hold most leads into the 9th inning.  Now the Jays start the season with Jon Rauch as their closer and will most likely backed up by Jason Frasor, Carlos Villanueva, David Purcey, Casey Janssen, Shawn Camp and Marc Rzepczynski.  It's not a terrible group, at least I hope not, is it?

Again on the days where I have visions of 2011 Blue Jays glory, I would tell you that this is the year Brandon Morrow becomes an ace.  I'd reference all time great K to inning ratio's, a second half turnaround and a pedigree on par with Tim Lincecum.  He still may only miss one start and go on to prove me right, however it's never a good sign when a pitcher has forearm inflammation.  I really hope this is nothing to worry about, but I'm scared like hell.

It also doesn't help increase my confidence in this team when Jesse Litsch earns a spot the rotation.  I know he had seasons just as good as Shawn Marcum blah, blah, blah.  I know the numbers, however nothing has lessened this strong feeling I have that he will be a complete disaster this year.  Sorry Mike Wilner, I know you think he can be one of the best pitchers in the league, well I don't.

For the Blue Jays to be competitive in 2011 they need just about everything to go right for them, so far it sure hasn't started out that way for them.