Ahhh.

You’ll have to excuse me while I stretch a bit, enjoy my new space. You see, it’s been quite some time since the Jays have held first place in the AL East, and it might be the only time all season I get to enjoy the view of the division from the penthouse suite. They’re doing it with an unconventional (for them) tactic, too: the prowess of their bats.

Consider that a team that finished in the bottom-third of the league and last in its division in runs scored in 2008 is now the league leader. The Jays are 2nd in the AL in run differential at +13 (only the Rays, after last night’s 15-5 thrashing of New York are better, at +15). I realize that the sample size is relatively small after only eight games, but this is an optimistic start for a team whose major shortcoming of recent history is hitting the ball.

There are some definitively encouraging signs. The Jays are hitting a home run roughly once every 21 at bats. That’s at least a home run a game, and well below the league average of once per 35 AB. As a team, Toronto is hitting .322 (1st overall) and have a .926 OPS (2nd, behind Tampa). Remember the Rays shot off to a great start last year and people were quick to write them off as pretenders. They apparently pretended all the way to the AL pennant.

Still, there are also some discouraging elements to the team’s hot start. Toronto, for all its hitting success, has grounded into 10 double plays in only 8 games. That’s a formula for rally-killing, even though the Jays have come from behind in 4 of their 6 victories thus far. One also has to be concerned that closer B.J. Ryan has a bloated 13.50 ERA, including a meltdown against Cleveland on Saturday (3 ER in 2/3 IP) that nearly cost Toronto a surefire victory. He got the save last night against Minnesota, but not without giving up a pair of singles. His performance is far from the lights-out bravado Toronto saw from him in 2006, his inaugural year with the team. Perhaps his arm woes that started in 2007 are flaring up again.

Let’s also hope that Jesse Litsch’s “forearm tightness” is nothing serious. Manager Cito Gaston has expressed “worry” over the injury and a trip to the DL is not out of the question. He will have an MRI today. The Jays are already minus three starters from last year’s squad (Burnett to FA, McGowan and Marcum to injury) and another potential (Janssen) out ’til June with an injury. So far, the youngsters Purcey, Romero, and Richmond have done a serviceable job, particularly Romero, but to call up another one might be inviting trouble.

That gloom and doom can hold off for a little longer. I’ll bask for the time being as a division leader. Who knows how many more opportunities a Jays fan might have.