Toronto Blue Jays @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Hillenbrand story continues unfolding

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:17:00 +0000

07/20/2006
TORONTO -- The kind of media circus that typically follows the Yankees around was in full force at the Rogers Centre on Thursday. New York happened to be in town to face the Blue Jays, but the horde of reporters flocked to Toronto's side for once.
Behind the wall of cameras and sitting on Toronto's bench was Jays manager John Gibbons, who carefully pieced together his words for the crowd of digital recorders and coinciding notepads. Gibbons had quickly become the focal point of a story worthy of the New York tabloids and wanted to shed some light on what happened the night before.
On Wednesday, Shea Hillenbrand -- Toronto's former designated hitter -- made critical comments about the Blue Jays organization in an angry pregame tirade. He later expressed his anger with Gibbons, who entered a players-only meeting and criticized Hillenbrand in front of his teammates -- an outburst that stemmed from a message the player wrote on a dry-erase board in the clubhouse.
According to multiple reports, Hillenbrand said the manager challenged him to a fight in front of the team and then said he would never play another game as long as Gibbons was at the helm. At that point, Hillenbrand said he was instructed to leave the team and Toronto designated him for assignment. That means the Jays have 10 days to either trade or release him.
"I don't have anything to say, other than he got his wish," Gibbons said. "I know he wanted to get out. That's no secret. To be honest, I don't think he wanted to be here for the last two years."
Gibbons had a lot more to say, though, and most of it dealt with what led up to Hillenbrand's dismissal. Toronto's manager confirmed that Hillenbrand had written, "This is a sinking ship," among other things, on the board in the clubhouse.
"Yeah," said Gibbons, when asked if Hillenbrand had written the message. "That's a fact. That's how the whole thing got started anyway. I just thought the timing of it all and the meaning of it -- the circumstances -- either you're with us or you're not."
A source within the team indicated that the meeting was in fact intended for just the players and was in no way called because of anything Hillenbrand had said or done. During the meeting, Gibbons entered the room and began to chastise Hillenbrand.
Hillenbrand didn't return a message left on his cell phone prior to Thursday's game against the Yankees, but it was reported on Wednesday that he took the blame for the note when confronted by Gibbons. On Thursday, Hillenbrand denied writing the words and also denied another report that claimed he ripped a Canadian flag patch off his hat after being removed from a game on Canada Day.
"It was a team meeting, and he singled me out and was cursing at me in front of the team," Hillenbrand said in a radio interview on Thursday. "He challenged me to a fight, and wanted me to get up and punch him in the face."
Another source, who was present at the meeting, said that Gibbons did, in fact, try to provoke Hillenbrand. The manager was vague when asked about the heated confrontation on Thursday.
"He had his chance to defend himself yesterday in front of his coaches and his teammates," Gibbons said. "He chose not to do that. Everybody reacts differently. We'll just leave it at that."
Gibbons did admit that he told Hillenbrand that one of them was going to be leaving the team because, "It got to the point where we weren't functioning well together."
"I believed in what I was doing," Gibbons said. "I meant it. It was going to be him or me. I came in and I told him he won't see the field as long as I'm here. If the front office feels differently, then he wins and I lose. Then I'd be the one out of here."
That was all Gibbons would allow himself to say about what took place behind closed doors.
"We're not going to get into one of those, 'He said, she said,' things," Gibbons said. "I know what happened. He knows what happened. His teammates know what happened. I can live with that."
So could Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi.
"[Hillenbrand] can say what he wants," Ricciardi said. "I've known John Gibbons for 20-something years, and if you can't play baseball for John Gibbons, then you can't play for anybody. I know there's been some rumors out there that Gibby's job is on the line. I'm here to tell you that Gibby's job is more secure today than it's ever been."
The feud between Hillenbrand and Gibbons runs deeper than just Wednesday's events, which began with the player fuming about being kept out of the starting lineup and calling the organization a "disgrace" because no one from the front office had congratulated him on adopting a baby girl recently. He was away from the team for three days to tend to the adoption process before rejoining the club on Tuesday.
Hillenbrand added on Wednesday that he "should've been traded two months ago," when he was rumored to be part of a deal that would've sent him to the Angels.
"I would rather lose than sell myself out and have someone play here that says those kinds of things about our organization," Ricciardi said. "I wouldn't even want the job if it meant I'd have to change everything I believe in. Someone else can be the GM here and act like that."
Hillenbrand, who also plays first and third base, had complained on and off about serving as Toronto's primary DH for the last two seasons. Last year, Corey Koskie and Eric Hinske occupied the corner positions, and Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay start at third and first, respectively, this season.
"We told him he was going to be the DH," Ricciardi said. "He knew the role. [When we acquired Glaus and Overbay], he could've asked to be traded and he didn't. Sometimes we should be thankful for what we have instead of complaining about what we don't have."
Hillenbrand also was quoted as saying he had gone to Gibbons' office on numerous occasions to ask why he wasn't in the starting lineup for certain games. According to reports, Hillenbrand said Gibbons never offered "justifiable" explanations.
"I've seen some of the things written, and I've listened on the radio," Gibbons said. "There are a lot of things being said that are wrong, but I'm not going to get into that."
"He didn't come in to complain," Gibbons said later. "That might've been once."
Gibbons added that it was also "very inaccurate" that he and Hillenbrand hadn't been speaking for two months, something another report quoted Hillenbrand as saying.
"Maybe I come from a different line of thinking and contrary to maybe what some of you guys think," Ricciardi said, "but you make $5.8 million, you're healthy, you wake up in the morning without any physical problems and you're not happy? I don't know. I don't know what happened."
Gibbons didn't think the situation warranted any more discussion.
"I'm probably saying a little more than I intended," Gibbons said. "He's not here anymore, so we'll just move on."

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Jays right to cut loose Hillenbrand

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:13:00 +0000

07/20/2006
The Toronto Blue Jays parted ways with Shea Hillenbrand on Wednesday night for one basic reason -- they had no other choice.
When a player makes it clear he no longer wants to be a part of your team, you have to consider moving that player to another team.
When a player writes the words "This ship is sinking" on the clubhouse bulletin board, there is nothing else to be considered. The player has to go. Immediately!
According to news reports out of Toronto, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has confirmed that Hillenbrand wrote those words on the bulletin board in the Blue Jays' clubhouse prior to Wednesday night's game.
The words sent Gibbons into a rage, and rightfully so.
It's one thing for a player to be unhappy with his role. That's a common complaint all too familiar to the ears of managers and general managers.
It's another thing for a player to use words that express doubt about his team's ability to win.
A manager and a team can't live with a player who feels the team is "sinking" and expresses these thoughts in an open fashion.
Gibbons was so upset, he reportedly told Hillenbrand, "You're gone! I'll be gone before you ever play another game in this organization."
In other words, it's you or me. That's how strongly Gibbons felt about the player's expressed sentiments.
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi did the only thing he could do. He supported his manager.
Before the evening was over, Ricciardi made the technical move to immediately remove Hillenbrand from his team's roster.
The contract of Hillenbrand was "designated for assignment." The Blue Jays now have 10 days to trade or release Hillenbrand.
Ricciardi shouldn't have a problem finding a new home for Hillenbrand. He is batting .301 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs.
If you wonder why the Blue Jays simply didn't release Hillenbrand, there is a simple answer -- he is being paid $5.8 million for the season.
As the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we once had a player who expressed doubt about our chances to win.
I knew the player had been unhappy with his role, but when he didn't feel we could win and expressed these thoughts to me, I knew it was time to say goodbye to the player. The contract of the player was designated for assignment.
Managers and general managers grow accustomed to players complaining about their roles and lack of playing time. You don't like to hear the complaining, but there are times you have to live with the situation.
You can say you're unhappy and that's one thing. Once you say you're unhappy and the ship is sinking, it is time for the player to set sail on his own.
John Gibbons made a bold move on Wednesday night, but he has shown me he is a good captain of the Blue Jays' ship.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Notes: Where will Hillenbrand land?

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:12:00 +0000

07/20/2006
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays weren't necessarily planning on trading Shea Hillenbrand before the July 31 deadline. The strange turn of events on Wednesday has now forced the issue, though.
After Hillenbrand's angry pregame tirade, in which he criticized the Toronto organization, the Jays designated their DH for assignment during Wednesday's loss to the Rangers. That means Toronto has 10 days to either trade or release Hillenbrand.
The way the situation quickly unraveled could have negatively effected the number of inquiries the Blue Jays received on Thursday about obtaining Hillenbrand's services. Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said that -- even though designating Hillenbrand could lower the return the team might receive in exchange for him -- the club has already gained plenty of interest.
"Actually, we are [hearing from a lot of teams]," Ricciardi said. "We got several calls today and we're pretty confident that we'll be able to move him."
Ricciardi didn't believe Hillenbrand's conduct on Wednesday would cause teams to be hesitant about dealing for him, either.
"I don't think this behavior is inconsistent with what his reputation has been," Ricciardi said. "People know the deal. The cards are on the table. So if someone wants Shea Hillenbrand -- obviously, enough clubs called today. We'll try to make a deal."
In May, Hillenbrand was rumored to be part of a potential deal that would've sent him to the Angels in exchange for second baseman Adam Kennedy. That deal fell through at the time, but Los Angeles could still be a possible suitor. Other teams already mentioned as being in the mix have included San Diego, Texas and Milwaukee.
Ricciardi added that he didn't believe the Jays would have to pick up any of the remaining money Hillenbrand is owed on his $5.8 million deal for this season. Any club that trades for Hillenbrand would owe him a prorated amount of the contract for the remainder of the year.
If he is not dealt in the 10-day period and clears waivers, any team that signs Hillenbrand would only owe him a prorated sum based on the league's minimum salary. In that situation, Toronto would still have to make up the difference of the $5.8 million.
Ricciardi said that Toronto is leaning heavily towards acquiring another pitcher because he is content with the offense the Jays have in place, considering that right fielder Alex Rios is set to come off the 15-day disabled list soon. That means the Blue Jays might not be serious about trading for Tampa Bay shortstop Julio Lugo, who has had his name included in trade rumors involving Toronto.
Phillips back with Jays: With Hillenbrand out of the picture, Toronto decided to purchase the contract of catcher Jason Phillips to fill the roster spot. The move gives the Blue Jays a third option behind the plate, which will help, considering that catchers Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina will each see some time as the DH now that Hillenbrand is gone.
"If we've got both those guys in the lineup, now we don't have to worry about one of them getting hurt without having a catcher here," Ricciardi said. "At this point, it gives us a chance to get those guys in the lineup."
Toronto signed Phillips, 29, to a Minor League contract during this past offseason. He began the year with the big-league club when Zaun was on the 15-day disabled list with a calf injury, but was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse upon Zaun's return.
In 65 games with Syracuse, Phillips hit .268 with seven homers and 65 RBIs. He will join Zaun, Molina and outfielder Eric Hinske as an option at DH. Hinske will see more time at that spot once Rios returns from the DL.
Chacin on schedule: Earlier this week, Gibbons indicated that injured left-hander Gustavo Chacin would most likely throw off a mound on Monday. Ricciardi said on Thursday that Chacin had actually thrown off a mound recently and might be ready to rejoin the rotation by Aug. 8-9.
"He's feeling good," Ricciardi said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed."
Ricciardi said that he wasn't completely certain about Chacin's upcoming schedule, but he believed the pitcher would throw in a simulated game around July 31, when the team is in New York. After that, Chacin, who has been on the 15-day DL with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, would make one or two Minor League rehabilitation starts before starting again for the Blue Jays.
Glaus back in lineup: Jays third baseman Troy Glaus was back in the No. 4 hole of the lineup on Thursday against the Yankees. Glaus left Sunday's game due to a case of patellar tendinitis in his right knee and then sat out all three games against the Rangers earlier this week. Glaus leads Toronto with 24 home runs.
Did you know? Toronto's .292 team batting average, entering Thursday, ranked first in the Majors and was the highest in club history through 94 games of a season.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Wells walks off with win

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:09:00 +0000

07/21/2006
TORONTO -- Any game that ends with a walk-off home run will inspire the winning club to swarm home plate and congratulate the hitter with a joyous series of helmet-slaps and high-fives.
On Thursday night, however, it seemed as if the Blue Jays were celebrating more than just Vernon Wells' 11th-inning solo shot that sealed a dramatic 5-4 victory over the Yankees. It seemed as if the team was casting off a chaotic week that included two other extra-innings wins, two heartbreaking losses and some behind-the-scenes turmoil.
"It's been a tiring few days. And tack on that weekend on top of that, it makes it even longer," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "Guys are tired, and I think we needed that. It was a good way to finish today."
Wells' home run was the second walk-off hit by a Blue Jay this season. The first ended a 3-2 win over the White Sox on May 27 and was hit by Shea Hillenbrand -- the soon-to-be-former Blue Jay who was designated for assignment after publicly criticizing the team and entering into a clubhouse shouting match with Gibbons before Wednesday's game.
Gibbons looked particularly happy after Wells' homer, and was pumping his fist on the field in celebration.
"There was no hidden message in that," Gibbons said of his fist pump. "I was just excited and tired."
It was the Blue Jays' third extra-inning win in their last six games, after needing a combined 25 innings to top Seattle twice on Saturday and Sunday. The euphoria of those wins and a 10-1 thrashing of Texas on Monday, however, were erased by a pair of losses to the Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday due to late-inning blown leads.
In this game, however, it was Toronto which came back. Down, 3-0, and held to just two hits in the first five innings by Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina, the Jays (53-42) scored four runs on four hits in the sixth. The biggest blow was a two-run double off the bat of third baseman Troy Glaus, who was playing in his first game since Sunday due to a case of patellar tendinitis in his right knee.
"Good teams respond after they lose a lead," Gibbons said. "We did good tonight."
Toronto ace Roy Halladay threw 7 2/3 gritty innings, during which the right-hander was touched for three runs, but he escaped some jams thanks to a pair of inning-ending double plays. Halladay left the game on track for his Major League-leading 13th win, but closer B.J. Ryan couldn't retire the Yankees (55-38) with two outs in the eighth. After a hit and a walk, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada delivered a bloop single to left-center that scored pinch-runner Bubba Crosby.
Posada's hit was similar to the seeing-eye hits that Texas used to beat the Jays, but Wells said his team wasn't discouraged by this seeming case of deja vu.
"It's going to happen," Wells said. "We've [had] broken bats flying all over the place and balls dropping in over the last week, and it's something you don't want to get used to, but that's baseball."
Ryan and relievers Justin Speier and Brian Tallet (3-0) held New York off the board and gave Wells a chance for his late-inning heroics against New York closer Mariano Rivera. It was the first homer allowed this season by Rivera (4-5), and the first walk-off long ball he has allowed since July 24, 2004.
Wells said he was just happy to make contact against the future Hall of Famer's famously nasty cut fastball.
"My thinking in that situation is just try to get started early and try to hit it," Wells said. "Whatever happens after that happens."
The homer was a suitably dramatic in a playoff-esque setting at Rogers Centre. The 42,366 fans in attendance hung on every pitch in seeming realization that Toronto's season may be made or broken by this four-game series. The win moved the Jays three games behind New York in the American League East, and they remained 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Red Sox.
With the importance of this series in mind, the Blue Jays sounded like a team ready to put the past week's events behind them and move on with their season.
"This is a game we needed, no matter what happened in the past," Wells said. "We've got to win, we've got to win now, and win as many as we can against these guys. This is one of many, hopefully, and this is a good start."

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Notes: Speier braced for recovery

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:50:00 +0000

03/01/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Justin Speier was spotted throwing at camp on Wednesday, wearing a Blue Jays hat, some Blue Jays warmups and a blue splint on his right middle finger. It was the second time that the reliever played catch since returning from seeing a hand specialist last week.
"It's a little awkward to throw with that splint on," Speier said. "But the reason I have that on there is so I don't push the finger back too far, to let it heal in there a little more."
Speier, 32, began feeling pain in his middle finger on Feb. 22 during the first live batting practice session, and he said he felt a "very minor" pop before cutting his workout short. Speier suffered a strained tendon in the same finger on Sept. 27 in Boston, an injury that put him on the shelf for the remainder of the year.
On March 9, Speier will throw without the splint, and if he doesn't experience any more setbacks, he anticipates appearing in seven or eight games during Spring Training. He said that amount would have him prepared to join the bullpen by Opening Day.
If Speier develops lingering pain from next Wednesday's bullpen session, he'll receive a cortisone shot and probably won't be ready for the start of the season. If that's the case, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Ben Weber or James Baldwin could be possible replacements.
Speier, who went 3-2 with a 2.56 ERA last year, is optimistic about his chances of recovering without any problems, though.
"[My doctor] gives me a 70 percent chance of breaking with the team, and I'll take those odds," Speier said. "But we're going to take it slow."
Last week, Speier flew to Baltimore, where Dr. Thomas J. Graham examined the finger. The diagnosis was that the injury shouldn't develop into a major concern and that surgery would be highly unlikely, but Speier has still been frustrated that his offseason rehabilitation didn't prevent the injury from flaring up this spring.
"I had the whole winter, so I really had four months," Speier said. "I took every precaution this winter. I was shaking peoples' hands with my left hand, I wasn't lifting anything heavy, I wasn't playing any golf or anything like that. It's just one of those fluke, freak things.
"John Thomson had the same injury last year with the Braves and he missed three months of the season and came back to pitch in the playoffs," he added. "I talked to him the other day and he said, 'You just have to give it time.' I gave it time this whole winter. He was lucky and didn't have a setback. I've had a setback and it's frustrating."
We are the world: Center fielder Vernon Wells announced on Tuesday that his left leg was 100 percent and that he had made up his mind to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Wells just needed to discuss it with Gibbons and Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi on Wednesday before the official decision.
"Yeah, he's fine," Ricciardi said. "We weren't going to let him go unless he was healthy and he's healthy. I think it's great -- it's awesome. He's looking forward to it, too. It's a great honor."
Wells, who injured his left quadriceps while lifting weights on Feb. 19, will catch a flight to meet up with Team USA in Arizona on Friday morning.
Alex Rios (Puerto Rico), Gustavo Chacin (Venezuela), Frank Catalanotto (Italy), Vince Perkins (Canada) and Adrian Burnside (Australia) will all be with the Jays for their spring opener against Tampa Bay on Thursday. Rios will play center field, Chacin will pitch a couple innings and Catalanotto may play in left field so Gibbons can see them in a game before they leave to join their Classic teams after the contest.
"I'm kind of curious to see how it goes. It'll probably be exciting," Gibbons said. "The only [concern] is if Chacin gets enough work to get himself ready. ... [Pitching coach Brad] Arnsberg will talk to the [Team Venezuela coaching staff] to make sure he is [getting his work done]."
Catcher Guillermo Quiroz originally planned on trying to play for Venezuela, but said on Wednesday that he decided against participating. Catchers Victor Martinez, Ramon Hernandez and Henry Blanco are already on the Venezuelan roster and Quiroz said he felt he would get more work done with the Blue Jays than during the tournament.
Burnside will be joining the Australian team later this week.
Setting up: Speier's injury raises an important question about the late-inning relievers. If Speier's situation turns into the worst-case scenario, where he wouldn't be ready for Opening Day, who would be the setup man for closer B.J. Ryan?
"We've got some flexibility. We've got [Jason] Frasor and [Vinnie] Chulk that can [handle the setup role], and [Scott] Schoeneweis is the specialist down there," Gibbons said. "We really haven't locked [Speier] into that setup role. We can be flexible with all three of them.
"Speier was kind of signed for that role, but with Chulk and Frasor coming along, they kind of took that a little bit, too."

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Former Angels bring playoff experience

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:49:00 +0000

03/01/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Toronto's new look has created a familiar scene for a handful of Blue Jays.
When Ben Weber took the mound during Toronto's intrasquad game on Tuesday, he looked towards home plate and saw Bengie Molina. When Weber turned to his right, there stood Troy Glaus. The 37-year-old pitcher couldn't help but reminisce about his days with the Angels.
"Bengie was my catcher and Troy was at third," Weber said. "I was like, 'Oh, wow, this is bringing back some good memories.' When Glaus threw me back the ball, when they threw it around the horn, I said, 'Yeah, that's familiar there.' "
The trio from the Halos' past are now part of the Blue Jays' present.
Weber, Molina, Glaus and pitcher Scott Schoeneweis, who is entering his second season with Toronto, were all a part of the 2002 Angels team that won the World Series in seven games against San Francisco. Having that corps of players that battled together for baseball glory could be of great benefit to a Blue Jays squad that has few others who have experienced a Fall Classic.
All four players played an integral part during that '02 campaign. Glaus had 30 homers and 111 RBIs before batting .385 and slugging three homers against the Giants to pick up World Series MVP honors. Molina threw out 40 percent of baserunners and took home his first of two straight Gold Gloves. Schoeneweis appeared in 54 games and then gave up just one run in six playoff appearances. Weber went 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA that year.
"You're bringing in a World Series MVP. You're bringing in a Gold Glover. You're bringing in some pretty good players. So the clubhouse just grows a little in stature," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "We've brought good people in here and they've brought credibility to this clubhouse even more so."
The only other Blue Jays who have won a World Series are catcher Gregg Zaun and pitcher A.J. Burnett. Zaun only had two at-bats in the Marlins seven-game series victory over the Indians in 1997. In 2003, Burnett was recovering from Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch when his Marlins beat the Yankees for the title.
If Toronto winds up in contention this year, Molina said that the background that he and his former Angels teammates possess can only help the club.
"I hope I bring a little help that this team needed last year," Molina said. "They were a very good team, and bringing us here, I think we bring a little more experience in the playoffs. ... We can help them, of course. We have experience, but what's going to [matter] is what's on the field."
What needs to be on the field this season, according to Glaus, is a different mentality than in the past. Toronto hasn't played in a postseason game since winning the World Series in 1993, but the team enters this season with high aspirations and more expectations.
"We've been through it. We've done it," Glaus said. "It's just about bringing an attitude around here -- that there's a way to play the game and a way to play the game the right way. And everybody has to buy into that.
"We're going to try and bring this team back to the level it's been before and the level it deserves to be again."
Toronto hovered in the American League Wild Card discussion last year -- even after pitchers Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly missed time in the second half with injuries. When Halladay had his left leg broken by a line drive in early July, the Blue Jays were tied with the Yankees in wins. Down the stretch, though, the depleted rotation -- coupled with a young roster -- caused the Jays to slip in the win column.
"Last year we didn't have a lot of guys [with playoff experience]. It's one of those intangibles," Schoeneweis said. "Hopefully we're in a situation where we get to the playoffs. That's just a whole different ballgame -- especially with a lot of guys that have never been through it."
Molina has only been around his new team for about two weeks, but he said that he can already see some similarities to the Angels team he won the Series with.
"I can say from what I've seen in practice that, yes, we look similar," Molina said. "These guys can run. They can pitch. We have a good bullpen -- like we did [when we won the World Series]. We have a good closer. What I see here is everybody's together."
The familiarities don't just end there. Schoeneweis experienced a flashback similar to Weber's when he arrived in Florida for Spring Training.
"The first day here, I stepped up on the mound and the catcher that was across from me was Bengie," Schoeneweis said. "It was surreal, almost."
It could become more surreal if the Blue Jays follow in the Angels' footsteps.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Blue Jays quick hits

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:48:00 +0000

03/02/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Toronto's busy winter has made for some high expectations for 2006.
The Blue Jays signed free agents A.J. Burnett, B.J. Ryan and Bengie Molina, while trading for slugger Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay. Those new additions complement a talented, young cast that won 80 games a year ago.
If the upgrades pay off, the American League East standings could get a slight shake up. The Jays could wind up in the thick of the division race, which might amount to their first trip back to the postseason since winning the World Series in 1993.
Team strength: Pitching. Toronto's starting rotation and its bullpen were tops in the division in ERA last year, and that was before strengthening the front end with Burnett and adding an All-Star closer in Ryan. Last year, staff ace Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly missed significant time due to injuries, but Josh Towers and Gustavo Chacin put together strong performances to fill the void. With Halladay and Lilly back at full strength, the Blue Jays' rotation could be one of the best from top-to-bottom in baseball.
Achilles heel: Left and right field. Toronto hasn't identified an every day starter for either of those spots, yet. As of right now, Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson would platoon in left and Alex Rios and Eric Hinske would split time in right. Johnson and Rios are the better defenders, but the Blue Jays want Catalanotto and Hinske in the lineup for their offense. Toronto also still thinks Rios could develop into an every day player, which will be tough if he isn't getting consistent playint time.
Top newcomer: Glaus. Toronto traded second baseman Orlando Hudson, who won the AL Gold Glove award last year, and pitcher Miguel Batista to Arizona in exchange for Glaus and Minor Leaguer Sergio Santos. Glaus is the first player with legitimate 30-40 home run power to put on a Jays' jersey since Carlos Delgado left the club. Having Glaus in the middle of the order adds some missing pop, and it should also allow Vernon Wells to see better pitches to hit in the No. 3 spot in the order.
Ready to make the leap: Aaron Hill. The 23-year-old infielder was called up to help fill in for an injured Corey Koskie last season. All he did was hit .354 in his first 39 games and earned a spot on the roster when Koskie returned. Hill, who played shortstop in the Minors, split time between third base, short and second last season. This year, he is starting Opening Day as the new second baseman -- a transition that Toronto is very confident that he can make smoothly.
On the hot seat: Hinske and Rios. Hinske is making a move to the outfield for the first time in the Majors. If that transition doesn't go well or he falters at the plate, it could mean more playing time for Rios -- a player who has yet to consistently tap into the high potential that Toronto still believes he has. If Rios struggles with his bat again this year, that will mean more time in right field for Hinske. If one or both of them struggle, it could make for some interesting trade rumors at the deadline.
You can bank on: Wells. Through Toronto's ups and downs, Wells has been there in the heart of the order and in center field. He led the Blue Jays last year with 28 home runs and 97 RBIs, not to mention his second-straight Gold Glove Award. With Glaus hitting behind him, his numbers could head north. Wells has typically had slow starts in his career, but he hopes that playing in the World Baseball Classic's competitive atmosphere could give his early-season offense a boost.
Litmus test: If Toronto avoids the injury bug this year, there's no reason that this group of players can't wind up in the middle of the playoff race. If Halladay avoids freak line drives and the bullpen can build on the success it had last year, Toronto's pitching staff can be the best in the division again. Come September, if the Jays are in range of New York and Boston, they could make the push to end their 12-year playoff drought.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Jays learn much in meeting with Fehr

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:47:00 +0000

03/02/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The usual clubhouse guests waited patiently outside the entrance to the Blue Jays' clubhouse at Knology Park, uninvited to the closed-door Players Asscociation meeting being held inside.
Donald Fehr, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, is making his way around the various Spring Training sites, and he stopped in Dunedin to sit down with the Blue Jays on Thursday morning. The meeting served as a question-and-answer session to allow the players to address some of the issues facing the game today.
"We talk about what's coming up and answer questions -- provoked some discussion," Fehr said. "You can assume we talked about anything of topical interest."
While Fehr wouldn't go into detail about the specifics of the meeting, the assumption is that the players -- led by alternate player representative Reed Johnson -- discussed everything from the new drug policy to the collective bargaining agreement, which expires in December.
Johnson confirmed that it was less of the latter and more of the drug issues swirling around baseball.
"We talked about the economic issues and the drug-prevention issues," said Johnson, who was filling in for Toronto player rep Vernon Wells. "As far as drug prevention goes, that was one of the main issues that we talked about. It was more of an informal meeting as far as letting us know what [the drug policy] contains, because a lot of guys out there don't know.
"For a lot of guys, it was new news," he added. "A lot of guys didn't really understand what was going on if they didn't go to the meetings or they didn't read their memos. A lot of guys just get those things and throw them away. It's just one of those things."
On Nov. 17, the owners approved a new drug policy that called for tougher penalties for the use of steroids and amphetamines. The punishment for steroids use will be 50 games for a first positive test, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third, with reinstatement possible after two years. Those penalties are up from last season, when it was 10 days for a first offense, 30 days for a second, 60 days for a third and a one-year suspension for a fourth.
A player who tests postive for amphetamines is subject to a mandatory follow-up test. If another positive test occurs, that player would face a suspension of 25 games for a first offense, 80 for a second and a lifetime ban after the third.
Johnson said that a lot of players have been afraid of using any kind of supplement since the new policy went into effect. So bringing up the issues with Fehr was a way to ease some of their fears.
"Guys are scared that if they go to GNC and take something that they think they're supposed to be able to take, they're afraid they'll test positive," Johnson said. "Last year, you saw a lot of guys taking creatine or whatever, and a lot of guys stopped that right away when they found out about the new drug policy. They were afraid that they were going to get a false positive [test result].
"They reassured us that those situations aren't going to come up -- that if you go to GNC, if you get products through EAS, which is one of those companies that is going to be able to supply us with supplements, that those companies are safe, and that we need to trust in those companies," Johnson added. "The problems like that aren't really go to arise."
Johnson said that there are laboratories that players can send supplements to in order to have them checked before they start using them. He also said that players are told to keep samples of the supplements they do use in case a false positive test result does occur.
The players also asked Fehr about the new, stricter guidelines regarding amphetamines.
"Guys still have issues about amphetamines, like, 'What can you take?' and 'What can't you take?' " Johnson said. "If you take a rip fuel that says 'ephedra-free,' is it guaranteed that there's not going to be any ephedra so I don't test positive? Obviously, there's no guarantee in anything."
Johnson also said that it's his responsibility, along with Wells, who is in Arizona with Team USA, to help educate the team about what is or isn't allowed. Johnson noted that Major League Baseball is also reaching out to Latin American countries to try to educate players coming from from that region as well.
Fehr wouldn't comment on discussing the drug policy with Toronto's players, but he did acknowledge that economic issues were brought up -- perhaps revenue sharing and the collective bargaining agreement.
"You have to look at it, in particular, with respect to all the teams and then make some judgements about how it's operating overall -- whether it's fair, whether it's appropriate, whether it has the right kinds of incentives in it," Fehr said about revenue sharing. "I'm sure that's something we'll talk about at bargaining.
"We never talk about our internal discussions with players," he added. "They have a right to have those [talks] confidential."

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Notes: Jays flee for Classic

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:45:00 +0000

03/02/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- While the Blue Jays were finishing up their first Spring Training game on Thursday, Alex Rios and Frank Catalanotto were in street clothes, heading out the back door of the clubhouse.
Both were leaving to join their respective teams for the World Baseball Classic. Rios was on his way to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to meet up with his Puerto Rico teammates, while Catalanotto left to join Team Italy in Lakeland, Fla.
Vernon Wells, playing for Team USA, is already in Arizona. On Friday, Venezuela's Gustavo Chacin will go to Clearwater, Fla., and Minor Leaguer Vince Perkins will remain in Dunedin to meet up with Team Canada. Australian Minor League pitcher Adrian Burnside will head to Orlando on Monday.
"I'm excited. I don't know what to expect, but it should be fun," Catalanotto said. "I'm looking forward to playing with the different guys -- guys I've never played with before and some of these Italian guys."
Catalanotto, whose great-grandfather is from Palermo, Sicily, will join Mike Piazza, Frank Menechino, Lenny DiNardo and Jason Grilli as the Major Leaguers on the Italian roster. Toronto's left fielder joked about the process that it took to become eligible to play for Team Italy.
"They came after me and told me I was eligible, and then a couple months later, they made me present different birth certificates and documents," Catalanotto said. "Even today, I don't know how you qualify or how you're eligible, because I sent my stuff, and they said, 'OK, it looks good to us.' "
The only player that Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has concerns about heading into the Classic is Chacin. The left-handed Chacin said that Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg will be in contact with Venezuelan pitching coach Luis Leal, who pitched for Toronto from 1980-85, to monitor the southpaw's workload.
Chacin will be a part of a very impressive Venezuelan starting rotation that includes Johan Santana, Freddy Garcia, Carlos Zambrano, Victor Zambrano and Kelvim Escobar.
"This is like a dream to be with those guys on the team," Chacin said recently. "Santana is a Cy Young winner and Freddy is a great pitcher. It's great for me. I know all those guys. We played winter ball together in Venezuela a couple years ago. They're all great guys."
All about timing: One of the main concerns that teams have expressed about the Classic revolves around the timing of the tournament. Donald Fehr, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, was at Knology Park for a meeting with the players on Thursday, and he addressed the scheduling of the event.
"The timing issue was the single most difficult one to deal with," Fehr said. "There was something in the paper this morning -- somebody said that maybe we should do this in November. We talked about having it in November. ... That's a point of time in which they're at the end of a long season, so the series of physical discomforts that pile up are at their peak.
"You have to take those things into account. I don't think there's any doubt among those of us who were involved, at least first crack out of the blocks, that this was the most reasonable time to attempt it."
First looks: Roy Halladay gave up four runs on four hits and walked one in one inning against the Devil Rays on Thursday. The right-hander was just happy to be back on the mound without any lingering injuries.
"Physically, I felt good. So that's always a good thing early on -- having the health there," Halladay said. "The cutter was kind of hit or miss today, so there's still a couple things to work on. Obviously, you would like to start better, but I got my work in."
Eric Hinske got his first taste of playing right field during the game against Tampa Bay, and he was immediately put to the test. In the first inning, Travis Lee hit a single to right with two runners on, and Hinske fired the ball towards home, but the throw was too late to catch Aubrey Huff.
"The guy didn't hit it too hard at me, so it was good to just get the nerves out of the way at that point," Hinske said. "Hopefully, I can throw some guys out this year, but I'm just trying to hit the cutoff man, pretty much."
In the third inning, Hinske misread a fly ball hit by Lee, but the former corner infielder corrected his route and caught the ball at his ankles.
"Everybody says if you can catch a fly ball in Florida, you can catch one anywhere," Hinske said with a laugh. "This is pretty much the toughest place to do it."
Honored: Shirley Cheek, wife of the longtime Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek -- who passed away last October after a 16-month battle with brain cancer -- was given the first John Cerutti Award, presented by Claudia Cerutti, in a ceremony before Thursday's game.
The Cerutti Award replaces the Good Guy Award, which has been handed out every year since Toronto's innaugural season in 1977. The award is voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America Toronto Chapter, and it's given annually to an individual affiliated with the Blue Jays who best exemplifies John Cerutti's character, good will and sportmanship. Cerutti, who pitched for Toronto from 1985-90 and later served as a broadcaster for the Jays, passed away of a heart arrhythmia on the last day of the 2004 season.
Quotable: "Any time you do something new, you've always got some underlying uncertainty about how well it's going to go and what problems -- that no one thought about -- are going to creep up at the most inopportune moments. All things considered, we sold a bunch of tickets, and there seems to be a lot of interest." -- Fehr, on the World Baseball Classic

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Halladay shows rust in Jays' defeat

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:45:00 +0000

03/02/2006
Devil Rays at the plate: During a four-run first inning, Rocco Baldelli and Josh Paul each had an RBI, and Travis Lee added a two-run single to right field. Tampa Bay added a run in the second and three more in the seventh.
Blue Jays at the plate: Shortstop Sergio Santos hit a three-run double to cap off a five-run seventh inning for the Blue Jays.
Devil Rays on the mound: Starter Casey Fossum pitched two scoreless innings and gave up just one hit, a single by Lyle Overbay.
Blue Jays on the mound: Starter Roy Halladay surrendered four runs on four hits and walked one in the first inning. Gustavo Chacin pitched the next two innings and allowed one run on two hits.
Grapefruit League records: Devil Rays 1-0; Blue Jays 0-1.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Notes: Burnett dazzles in debut

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:43:00 +0000

03/03/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- It's only Spring Training. It was only an exhibition game. And A.J. Burnett only pitched two innings. But his Toronto teammates were more than happy to be sitting in the dugout watching, rather than having to stand in the batter's box to face him.
"When I got traded to Toronto, I was like, 'Good deal, I don't have to face A.J. anymore,'" said Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay. "It's scary what kind of stuff he's got."
Burnett, who was making his first appearance in a game since signing a five-year, $55 million contract with Toronto in December, threw 42 pitches, including 27 for strikes. The right-hander struck out four and didn't allow a run in Friday's game against Team Canada.
In the second inning, Burnett got his first small test of the young season. He gave up a double, a single and a walk to load the bases, but he mixed in two strikeouts with runners in scoring position and forced a fly out to left field to end the threat.
"It's big to do that early, as well as in the season," Burnett said about getting out of the jam. "I'm a big believer in and big worker in that when guys get to second and third, in scoring position, you've got to make a pitch. You've got to bear down."
His teammates were impressed with the early results.
"A lot of guys, with a runner on third with less than two outs, we're going to concede that run. He can get that strikeout," Overbay said. "Those guys don't come along too often, and when you've got one of them on your side, it's nice."
Catcher Gregg Zaun said Burnett had a very effective curveball, mixed in with fastballs and changeups. Burnett showed something else that Overbay said he hadn't seen yet this spring: intensity.
"He's starting to get that fire out there and get that competitive attitude a little bit," Overbay said. "It looks like he's getting a little fire under him, and that's going to help him more than anything."
"I try to get out there and get the strut and get the glare," Burnett said. "It's my first Spring Training game with a new squad; I wanted to step off on the right foot."
Trading colors: When Ernie Whitt walked onto the field at Knology Park sporting his red and white Canadian uniform, he knew he was going to hear some jokes coming from the home dugout.
Whitt, who is Toronto's bench coach and is managing Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, was sitting on the visitors' side for a change.
"Well, it's good, except all the guys are calling me different names over there -- like I'm a traitor. I don't like that," joked Whitt, who was a catcher for Toronto from 1977-88. "I've been a Blue Jay since Day 1. Now I'm a traitor. But that's all part of the game, and it's ridiculous, but we'll have fun with it today."
Whitt said he was looking forward to squaring off against another former Jays catcher in the World Baseball Classic. On March 8, Team Canada will take on Team USA, which is managed by Buck Martinez. Martinez played for the Blue Jays from 1981-86 and later managed Toronto in 2001-02.
"Buck and I have had a good relationship. We spent a lot of years as a tandem behind the plate," Whitt said. "I always think catchers make really good managers. It'll be fun, no question about it. There will be some ribbing going between him and I."
Also suiting up for Canada is Toronto Minor Leaguer pitcher Vince Perkins, who is from Saanichton, British Columbia. Since he wasn't scheduled to pitch on Friday, Perkins said he was just taking in the whole experience.
"It's fun. I'm not in the game today," Perkins said. "So I'll just get to sit back and watch it. It'll be cool."
Take two: One of the main reasons the Blue Jays acquired Overbay from the Brewers was his reputation for hitting doubles. On Saturday, he gave fans in Florida a look at what the Jays have been talking about.
In the first inning, Overbay pulled a double down the right-field line, knocking in Toronto's first two runs. Two innings later, the left-handed hitter had another two-run double, this time sending the ball bouncing off the center-field wall.
"He hit the double today, and we were like, 'That's odd, another double for Lyle,'" Burnett said with a laugh. "He's got a great swing, and it's going to be great for him to play in [the Rogers Centre]."
Overbay had 34 doubles last season, and he led the Majors with 53 doubles in 2004. Only 27 Major Leaguers in history have managed at least 53 in a season.
First dinger: Outfielder Wayne Lydon, who played for Double-A Binghamton in the Mets organization last year, hit the first home run of Spring Training for the Blue Jays. The non-roster invitee played center field and finished 1-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. Last season, Lydon swiped 42 bases for Binghamton.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Burnett strong in debut as Jays win

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:43:00 +0000

03/03/2006
Blue Jays at the plate: First baseman Lyle Overbay led Toronto by going 2-for-2 with four RBIs. He pulled a two-run double down the right-field line in the first inning and added a two-run double off the center-field wall in the third. Shea Hillenbrand went 2-for-2 with two singles and two runs. Russ Adams added a RBI single in the fourth, and he later scored on a triple by Aaron Hill.
Team Canada at the plate: Adam Stern, Pierre-Luc Laforest and Pete Orr each chipped in an RBI during Canada's three-run sixth inning against Toronto reliever Ben Weber. Kevin Nicholson added an RBI groundout in the eighth.
Blue Jays on the mound: Starter A.J. Burnett pitched two scoreless innings for Toronto in his first appearance of the spring. The right-hander struck out four, walked one and allowed three hits. Weber gave up three runs on four hits and walked two in two-thirds of an inning.
Team Canada on the mound: Starter Mike Meyers allowed two runs on two hits in two innings. Right-hander Aaron Myette yielded five runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Blue Jays fall to Devil Rays

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:40:00 +0000

03/03/2006
Devil Rays at the plate: Non-roster invitee Luis Ordaz went 2-for-2 with a double that scored second baseman Nick Green and started a four-run rally in the fifth inning. Left fielder Damon Hollins had a two-run double in the same inning.
Blue Jays at the plate: Non-roster invitee Jason Phillips was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Kevin Barker and Curtis Thigpen each doubled.
Devil Rays on the mound: Starter Scott Kazmir scattered three hits in three innings and allowed one unearned run. Non-roster invitee Mark Malaska threw two wild pitches in the seventh inning, one of which allowed a run to score.
Blue Jays on the mound: Kevin Blank surrendered four runs on three hits in the fifth inning. Starter Scott Downs held the Rays to one hit and had one strikeout in two innings.
Grapefruit League records: Rays 2-0; Blue Jays 0-2

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Halladay eyes big return

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:38:00 +0000

03/03/2006
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Roy Halladay sat at his locker in Toronto's clubhouse and began to strap a small plastic shin guard on his left leg.
"It's just precautionary," he said, while making sure it was secured tightly halfway between his foot and his knee.
Maybe it is just a precaution. But it also serves as a daily reminder of the season that could have been for Toronto's ace pitcher. Halladay was putting together one of the best seasons of his career last year, when he had his quest for a second Cy Young Award halted abruptly by a line drive that broke his left leg.
The good news then was that the injury had nothing to do with Halladay's talented arm. The good news now is that his leg has healed properly and he'll be back as Toronto's Opening Day starter. Any success the Jays have this year might depend on having him injury-free until the last day, too.
"The biggest thing is his health. We want to make sure he's healthy," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "Obviously, he's a big key to our success. It's always good to see him out there.
"The one thing about 'Doc' is he's always going to be the hardest working guy out there," he added. "He's going to do everything he can to make himself ready. So from our standpoint, we don't worry about him, you just worry about if something happens like what happened last year. You can't control that."
On July 8, Texas' Kevin Mench lined a pitch off Halladay's leg that sent the pitcher to the ground, wincing in pain. Halladay said that he realized the leg was broken when he tried to get up. Something just didn't feel right.
"It wasn't so much when I got hit, but when I went to stand up is when I felt it," Halladay said. "Even walking off the field I knew it was a different kind of pain then just getting hit on the leg."
At the time, Halladay was 12-4 with a 2.41 ERA. He had thrown five complete games, two shutouts and had 108 strikeouts versus 18 walks. Halladay appeared to be a lock to start for the American League in the All-Star game.
Compare that first half to his pre-All-Star break totals in 2003, when he won the Cy Young. Midway through that season, he was 13-2 with a 3.41 ERA. He had one complete game and 115 strikeouts to 21 walks.
Needless to say, Halladay was not happy about being sidelined -- especially when his team was contending at the time. When he got hurt, Toronto had as many wins (44) as the Yankees, who went on to claim the division crown.
"With something like that it's just frustrating because you did everything [right] and there was nothing that you could do about it," Halladay said. "It was tough. I tried as hard as I could to get back out, but it was frustrating because I really felt we had a good half and we even stayed in it for a long time after that.
"I was really hoping I could get back and we'd have a chance to do something," he added. "It's always tough, especially when your teammates play like they did last year."
It was the second year in a row that Halladay had his season cut short. The year before, the right-hander had two stints on the disabled list with shoulder issues. Since winning the Cy Young, he as made 40 starts across two years. From 2002-03, Halladay made 70 starts.
"The tough thing about an arm injury or something is you're always wondering if you could've prevented it by doing something in the offseason," Halladay said. "I feel good knowing [last season's injury wasn't] an arm thing. I don't have any questions that I can jump back in. As far as my arm being there and the stuff being there, I don't have any questions about that."
Halladay has jumped into bullpen sessions and workouts without any lingering problems so far. In his first appearance in Toronto's intrasquad game on Monday, he needed just seven pitches to retire the only three batters he faced.
Toronto's top starter is known for his rigorous workout routine. He is usually one of the first players to arrive and one of the last to leave and he spends countless hours training. The only difference this offseason was that Halladay had to limit how much he ran.
"I feel good, I just wasn't able to do a lot of [running] early," Halladay said. "Even now, I can run, but not for an extended time. That's more precautionary on the trainer's part. I can run as long as I wanted to, but they just don't want something to show up."
The precautions are there because the organization knows how valuable Halladay is to Toronto. For the most part, the Blue Jays will go where Halladay leads them.
"To me, he stands for the Toronto Blue Jays," Ricciardi said. "When you look at him, I think guys who come in here, they recognize Doc. He has to stand for something and he stands for what we're trying to do."
What they're trying to do is win. And Halladay is a big part of that.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

Blue Jays look ready to fly

b2blog@gmail.com (David) — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 16:37:00 +0000

03/03/2006
PHOENIX -- The last time the words "World Series champs" and "Blue Jays" were placed in the same sentence, Joe Carter and Rickey Henderson were in the outfield, Dave Stewart was pitching for them and Mitch Williams was pitching for the other guys.
It was 1993, and baseball was going strong in the Canadian north. The beer wars were still brewing. The currency was strong. And the Maple Leafs hadn't won the Stanley Cup since 1967, the last year of the old six-team National Hockey League. Hadn't even been back to the finals. Still haven't. Makes the Blue Jays' run of futility seem like a Sunday picnic at the fairgrounds.
Then a little thing like the strike that wiped out the end of the 1994 season, that postseason, and postponed the start of the 1995 season, happened. And baseball hasn't been the same in Canada since then. Until now.
"I think we'll be a good club," Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi said as Spring Training opened. "I don't think we're going to be a club that has a payroll of $75 million and can't get to .500."
That's good news for fans, who once flooded 4 million a season strong into what used to be called SkyDome.
The strike had more of an impact on Major League Baseball in Canada than anywhere in the U.S.
The Expos were in first place that season when the players pulled the plug. After it was over, they divested themselves of their stars and never were the same. The economy in Quebec slumped and the beer wars between Labatts and Molson ended. A new stadium was never in the offing, and last year the team relocated to Washington, D.C.
In Ontario, the golden era of the early 1990s, with the back-to-back 1992 and 1993 championships, suddenly ended. Carter, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor and the nucleus of those teams were dispatched.
The memory of Dave Winfield's extra-inning double that defeated the Braves in 1992 and Carter's Game 6 homer off Williams that dispatched the Phillies a year later quickly faded.
The Jays finished atop the American League East five times from 1985 to 1993. They haven't finished higher than third place since nor have they come close to replicating their franchise record 99-62, 1985 season.
In the years since Carter's walk-off homer, the Yankees have ruled the AL East, winning the title eight seasons in a row and nine times out of 11, if you include the strike season. The other two seasons they finished second and won the AL's Wild Card berth.
World Series flags flew over Yankee Stadium in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Six times the Yanks have been to the World Series.
The Red Sox haven't been nearly as majestic, but they broke that 86-year curse by winning the World Series in 2004. During the eight consecutive seasons the Yanks have finished first, Boston has finished second.
That hasn't left much room for the Blue Jays, but after an offseason of incredible activity, they may be on the move.
With the additions A.J. Burnett, B.J. Ryan, Troy Glaus, Bengie Molina and Lyle Overbay to an already stocked and entertaining lineup, they seem to have a real shot.
Roy Halladay needs to recover fully from last season's leg fracture, but don't the Yankees and Red Sox also have things like that to deal with (see Carl Pavano and Matt Clement)?
And with apologies to the carpetbagging Johnny Damon, Vernon Wells is the best outfielder in the division. Hands down. Eric Hinske isn't Swiss cheese, either. And one wonders if the real Shea Hillenbrand played last year in Toronto or two years ago in Arizona. Come to think of it, the real Randy Johnson pitched two years ago for Arizona and looked much the same last year in New York. And the Big Unit is 14 years older than the Blue Jays franchise, which was born in 1977.
It also should be noted that the $100 million in combined revenue sharing and competitive balance tax that the Yankees paid into Major League Baseball last season is $28 million more than Toronto's current payroll.
And that's in U.S. dollars, not Canadian.
"I laugh when people say: 'You spent a lot of money,'" Ricciardi said. "Well, compared to what?"
Compared to what the Blue Jays had been spending.
They can't match the Yankees and Red Sox buck for buck. But neither could the 2002 Angels, who defeated the Yankees in an AL Division Series and went on to beat the Giants in the World Series. Neither could the Marlins, whose $52 million payroll was enough to defeat the Yankees in the 2003 World Series.
The question is whether Toronto's $72 million is good enough to win now. The Jays no longer have Joe Carter. The Yanks don't have Mitch Williams. But if this is the moment for a changing of the guard, it will come from the Canadian north.

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/