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Blue Jays 2008: The Bullpen
Posted February 9th ago via Bugs and Cranks
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Since we led off with the Starting Pitchers, it's only appropriate that the guys who follow them in this pre-season look at the 2008 Blue Jays are the guys who follow them when the game is being played.

Although my colleague from the Land O' Lakes and Mayor of Cloud City Landon 'Calrissian' Evanson had a bit too much insight into the bullpen, I'm not planning on making like Monica on Friends and getting all uppity that he stole my thunder. Instead, I'll just tell you that the one guy on the Twins who you're not familiar with that you should get to know is Jason Kubel. The kid can rake and is now 100% healthy, so a breakout is coming. There, now we're even. On with the show.

I'm a huge fan of nicknames, both individually and collectively. As such, I tend to bestow nicknames on nearly everyone I know and a whole host of people I have never met. The Blue Jays Bullpen is very much included.

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing The Northern Nasty Boys!
(An homage to both the Cincinnati Reds trio of Randy 'Pscyho' Myers, Rob Dibble and Norm Charlton and the long-time tag team of Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags, with a northern touch. Whattya think?)

BJ Ryan (0-2, 12.46, 3 SV, 2 BS)
There is no question that losing Ryan for the year last season was a big blow to the Blue Jays. One year after inking a long-term deal and delivering 38 saves, Bo Junior needed Tommy John surgery and was shelved after a horrific start. Anyone who saw Ryan fall apart in Tampa Bay knew something was wrong and it wasn't the back problems JP Ricciardi claimed they were in Spring Training.

Now, Ryan's injury provided the opportunity for Jeremy Accardo, who we'll get to next, to flourish as the Jays closer, so that can be seen as a silver lining, which ...

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