Editor's note: Every Saturday, NESN.com Red Sox reporter Tony Lee will look at Boston's competition in the AL East.
The Blue Jays had a feast or famine type year up and down the lineup in 2010. They rode a breakout season by Jose Bautista to reach a franchise record in home runs, but a handful of guys had some down years. Lind led that charge with a remarkable decline. After winning a silver slugger award in 2009 by batting .305 with 35 homers and 114 RBIs, he saw his average drop 68 points and his OPS more than 200.
The primary culprit was Lind's sudden inability to do anything against left-handers. He hit an unsightly .117 (16-for-137) vs. southpaws, striking out 52 times while drawing only five walks. With no Vernon Wells and a likely return to Earth for Bautista, Lind's ability to rediscover his stroke is imperative.
Oh yeah, he's also penciled in as the team's first baseman, a position at which he has started eight games in his career.
