The Toronto Blue Jays are 12+ years removed from a trip to the World Series (1993). Their heroes are long gone. The names of Joe Carter, Pat Hentgen, and Juan Guzman are long gone. Even Carlos Delgado left Toronto for the Florida Marlins after the 2003 season. That marriage would last just one year.
Blue Jay fans have had to endure a long streak of subpar, losing seasons. However, 2006 is looking brighter for the team north of the border. 2006 might just be the year that the Toronto Blue Jays fly their way back to respectability.Last year, the Blue Jays finished a respectable 80-82, just 2 games below .500. Quite an accomplishment for a team just one year removed from losing Delgado’s bat. Before breaking his leg in a freak accident in Texas (batted ball), Roy Halladay was on his way to contending for the AL Cy Young. Vernon Wells put together a 28 homerun, 97 RBI season, and rookie pitcher Gustavo Chacin was able to go 13-9 in his first year in the big leagues.
Blue Jay fans should start thanking General Manager J.P. Ricciardi for the effort he put in to help bring the organization back onto the baseball radar. The offseason moves have been tremendous, and the Blue Jays may actually be fighting for a wild card spot in 2006 As of right now, I compare them to the young Cleveland Indians of last year: a team just a few years (if not one year) away from competing fiercely for the playoffs.
Now, in no particular order, I’ll let you examine the moves GM Ricciardi has made and why the Blue Jays are close to contention:
First and foremost, the Jays got the big bat they needed since the departure of Delgado to Florida. That bat belongs to ex-Diamondback Troy Glaus. Glaus is exactly what the Blue Jays need in the middle of their lineup, providing protection for Vernon Wells. Glaus is coming off of a 2005 season in which he hit 37 home runs, despite playing with nagging injuries during the last few months. Glaus was acquired along with youngster Sergio Santos for Miguel Batista (the team leader in saves last year) and second baseman Orlando Hudson. Glaus may be shaky defensively at times, but his bat more than makes up for that. He was the AL homerun champ in 2000 for the Anaheim Angels and the MVP of the 2002 World Series while playing for Arizona. Keep in mind that he may be the team’s designated hitter, thereby decreasing his chance for injury.
Batista was able to be traded to the Diamondbacks because the Jays were able to grab ex-Baltimore Oriole closer B.J. Ryan, considered to be one of the top free-agent closers of this offseason. Did they overpay for him at 5 years, $47 million? Perhaps. However, a solid closer may be worth the paycheck. Despite a 1-4 record last year in Baltimore, Ryan compiled 36 saves and had a 2.43 ERA. Not bad for a closer. While Batista struggled at times in the closer role, Ryan gives the Blue Jays a 9th inning option that they won’t shy away from. I would expect the Jays to win a lot more games if they have a lead heading into the 9th inning.
Of course, winning starts with starting pitching. Ricciardi came through again when he signed A.J. Burnett away from the Florida Marlins. Burnett was 12-12 with a 3.44 ERA last year, but that was after he faltered down the stretch, losing his last 6 decisions over one month. The signing of Burnett now gives the Jays a solid 1-2-3 combo of Roy Halladay, Burnett, and Gustavo Chacin. Add in Josh Towers (13-12) and Ted Lilly (10-11) and the Jays rotation is solid.
The acquision of Glaus gave the Jays an excess of third basemen, so Ricciardi traded Corey Koskie to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league pitcher Brian Wolfe. That gives the Jays three potential third basemen: Glaus, Eric Hinske, and Shea Hillenbrand. Plan on one playing first base, one being the DH (Glaus), and one playing third base.
The Jays were also able to add another big bat when they made another trade with the Brewers, acquring Lyle Overbay for pitcher Dave Bush, outfielder Gabe Gross, and a minor leaguer. Overbay is a first baseman by trade, perhaps complicating the excess number of first and third basemen in Toronto. However, Overbay’s 19 homers and 72 RBI in 2005 are a welcome addition to a team who would love more offense.
When you add that many quality players (Glaus, Ryan, Burnett, Overbay) and you have Orlando Hudson and Corey Koskie as your biggest losses, you have come out ahead of the game.
Here’s another fact to consider: the Boston Red Sox have actually gone downhill since the end of the 2005 season, losing the likes of Johnny Damon and Edgar Renteria. They have gaps at the closer position, as well as in center field and at shortstop. They are also lacking a leadoff hitter since Damon left. Don’t be surprised if the Blue Jays (remember: just 2 games short of .500) are able to pass the Red Sox and finish in 2nd place next year. Who knows, if the Yankees suffer the injuries they did last year (especially to their pitching), the Blue Jays may challenge for the division.
Don’t look now, but J.P. Ricciardi has made the Blue Jays a dangerous team for 2006 and look for the fans to finally start “flocking” to the SkyDome.
3 replies on “Don’t Look Now- But Blue Jays Hope to Fly North In Standings”
As a Yankees fan I’m hoping these big money paid players turn into busts like all the Yankess because the Jays could have a very dangerous team otherwise.
As a Yankee hater… New York has no pitching. Everyone should read Buster Olney’s, “Last night of the Yankee Dynasty.” In the book, he examines why the Yanks have not won a title in five years. There are basically two reasons, and one is pitching. They can sign all the Johnny Damons they want, but as long as their staff is full of Kevin Browns, they won’t fare well in October.
While Boston has lost some key bats, they added Josh Beckett, and I think the Sox’ staff is superior to both the Jays and Yanks. Don’t know how the standings will turn out, but yes, I could see Toronto moving up significantly, maybe right into the thick of things. Good article, good thoughts.
Also, GOOD point in comparing Toronto to Cleveland of a year ago. The Indians have been quiet this offseason, and that is good. No reason to make changes with a good, young team that was baseball’s best from late July until the last week of the season.
haha I HATE THAT BOOK as much as I loved reading about how good the Yankees were back when they were an actual TEAM, it kills me to think about how it has blown up all too fast since 2000.
I just want to point out that although people say the Yankees buy Championships, has anyone ever considered the fact that the Yanks haven’t won a championship since before the spending spree started? Just goes to show you how many Yankee haters out there jump to conclusions all too quickly.