The Toronto Blue Jays are off to a very nice start, and to quote the great Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys "I hate to say a-tot-a-soe, but A "expletive" tot-a-soe!”

If you are wondering what I am talking about, click on the picture of Ricky. (WARNING : Lot's of REALLY greasy language here, it's not safe for work, or for kids under 18ish, or people who just don't like curse words, but this is one of the funniest clips I have ever seen, the best part is at the 3:35 mark.)

During Spring Training, I stated that the Jays would flirt with playoff contention all summer, and be at least within striking distance by September. As of tonight, Toronto is 8 and 3, and sit atop the AL east.
 

While there is still 151 games to go this season, using the phrase “...if the playoffs were to start today..” (I know that phrase is the king of stupid, useless phrases, just ahead of "If tomorow never comes, I'll be young forever" or "letting it ride on black is a 100% garauntee win, 50 percent of the time") the Jays would be perched atop the ultra competitive American League East.
 

For this team to be successful, a series of “ifs” needed to occur:

If Adam Lind and Travis “The Franchise” Snider (Yes I went there, after the kid has only played 24 MLB games) could make the jump to the next level. Check!

If the Jays could get solid starts from their young and inexperienced rotation (Jesse Litsch, Ricky Romero, David Purcey, and North Vancouver’s Scott Richmond). Check!

(Side Note: Do the Jays have the worst training staff in all of baseball, or does Brad Arnsberg"s pitching regimen just ruin young arms. Casey Janssen, Shawn Marcum, Dustin MacGowan, BJ Ryan, Jeremy Accardo and now Litsch have all gone down with arm injuries within the last two years.)

If the Jays can get more consistent power numbers from their corner infield positions. (Scott Rolen, Kevin Millar and Lyle Overbay are contributing to better numbers from those positions than last year.) Check!

If Cito and Hitting coach Gene Tenace can turn last year’s dismal offense around. (First in most offensive categories) Check!

Why can’t Cito break out the Oakley’s circa 1992? As well, if you are wondering how you know the name Gene Tenace, click on Champ Kind to find out.

If Aaron Hill can recover from his concussion injury. ( .380 BA, 12 RBI, 3 bombs in 11 games, and stellar defence.) Check!

If the bullpen can play up to last year’s standard, even though they are likely to pitch more innings. (with the exception of BJ Ryan and Brandon League) Check!

If Halladay can sustain countless trade rumours, be the professional that he is, and continue to be the most dominant pitcher in all of basball. I’m biased, but CHECK!

After 11 solid games, everything seems to be going right for the Jays. Once perennial slow starters Vernon Wells and Alex Rios, AKA - the heart of the Jays lineup, get going, this offense could be lethal. The Jays could use another starting pitcher, especially since Litsch went down (Pedro Martinez anyone?) and Cito could improve his game management, but at 8-3, who’s complaining?

With all the talk about how the jays will start to falter, and how there is no way this team is going to make the playoffs, I leave you with this. There was a team last year who everyone was saying those exact same things about, a young team that looked alot like the Blue Jay team we're seeing this year, who was that team you ask? It was the Tampa Bay Rays, and we all remember how their season went.
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By the way, on a total side note, for the first time in the last 20 years, I did NOT have goose bumps at the start of the NHL playoffs. How could this happen you ask? I turn the TV to CBC, and what do I hear? Well, I am not sure what it was, but it was not the Hockey Night in Canada Theme! It just doesn’t sound the same on TSN.

Gary Nickle is the producer for The Drew Remenda Sports Show