Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Jan 5, 2009 0:12:29 GMT -5
So close they came. The Toronto Blue Jays assaulted the league this year on their way to the Fall Classic, matching up against the potent St. Louis Cardinals. They pushed the series to game 6 but would finally be set down after a quality start from the lefty Andy Pettitte. The Blue Jays would have to be satisfied with their pennant and the intent to head right back to the World Series in the same fashion that their opponents had the year before.
The road to the Classic wasn’t easy, as the Jays had to overcome a very sound Kansas City Royals team and the reigning champions, the Texas Rangers. The Jays finished off the Royals after a tremendous 8 inning effort from “Boomer” Wells, who allowed 2 earned runs and fanned 8. To open the series, Boomer pitched equally well, going 8 and allowing 2, laboring 117 pitches at the venerable age of 38. Wells would be saddled with a tough loss that day, as the Blue Jay offense could muster just 1 run against a nearly flawless Brandon Webb (who threw 136 pitches through 7 plus). Wells was in the discussion for the ALDS MVP but the honor would eventually be bestowed upon Carlos Delgado. Delgado put on a show of his own, mashing 5 home runs with a .524 average, .565 OBP, 13 RBI, and a 1.946 OPS. Perhaps most astonishingly, Delgado hit one home run in each of the 5 games of the ALDS, establishing a new All-Time record for consecutive postseason home runs.
Carlos Delgado’s bat sparked the Blue Jays offense and led them through Kansas City and Texas
Delgado’s lumber didn’t slumber as the team rolled into Texas to duke it out with the reigning champs. While Delgado didn’t hit a home run in each game, he did manage to craft an impressive .438/.500/.938 stat line to help route the Rangers with a four game sweep. A year removed from earning AL MVP honors, Delgado continues to tear the cover off of the ball as the face of the Toronto Blue Jays. In a reversal of the ALDS, it would be Boomer who would garner the award this time, despite an incredible stat line from the Puerto Rican first baseman. Wells pitched 8 innings while only allowing 1 earned run. Interestingly though, his stat line shows his ERA as being a perfect 0.00 for that game. The rotation around Wells also took to the challenge well. Escobar went 7 plus allowing 2, Carpenter went 8 plus allowing 2, and Halladay went 7 allowing 4.
And finally, the Fall Classic was here. The Jays packed their bags and headed to their jet for an excited flight to Missouri. During the regular season, the Cardinals managed two more wins and boasted an imposing lineup highlighted by Albert Pujols, Mark McGwire, Jimmy Edmonds, and Adrian Beltre. After having defeated the 107 win favorites the Altanta Braves and a strong Los Angeles Dodgers club, the Cardinals looked as hot as ever. Edmonds had crushed the ball in the ALCS, pounding 5 into the seats, while Pujols had hit the ball well in the ALDS with 3 home runs of his own. Carlos Delgado and the rest of the Blue Jays would need to continue their winning formula if they were to stand a chance. Unfortunately, the NL All-Stars had won the All-Star game, granting them home field advantage for the World Series. Fred “the Crimedog” McGriff would have to be seated for 4 of the possible 7 games, taking a huge bat out of the heart Toronto lineup. McGriff, 38, led the team in home runs with 36, matching his career high set when he was 25 during his first tour of duty with the Blue Jays. McGriff would also set a career high RBI total with 113.
Roy Halladay certainly did his part to help bring a Championship to Toronto. Halladay locked in an epic pitcher’s duel with the St. Louis ace, the “professor” Greg Maddux, to open the series in grand fashion. Maddux pitched marvelously, going 7 innings while allowing 2 and fanning 4, a 2.57 ERA. Halladay would do him one better, pitching 7 innings and allowing just 1 run, for a 1.29 ERA. That single run, a home run off the unlikely bat of Edgar Renteria, who had hit just 9 in 628 regular season at bats, would be the final run Halladay would surrender in the World Series. The Blue Jays would hold on to win it 2-1.
With high spirits, the Blue Jays sent out their ALCS MVP David Wells to match up with Andy Pettitte. Wells would pitch admirably, posting a 2.57 ERA, but would be out dueled in yet another pitcher’s match, losing 3-0 on Pettitte’s 8 shutout innings.
Game 3 would be a fire show with both starters getting ignited early. Escobar lasted just 5 and gave up 5, while the Cardinals Kiko Calero faired similarly, giving up 4 in 5 plus. The bullpens would allow the bloodshed to continue but the Cardinals would ultimately prevail 12-9.
Chris Carpenter was handed the ball in game 4 and continued on his postseason success, lasting 7 while giving up 3, for a 3.86 ERA. It would not be enough as a suddenly anemic Blue Jays lineup would muster only 2 runs, dropping the series to 3-1 in St. Louis favor with the 3-2 loss.
Doc Halladay was in utter control of the St. Louis hitters during the World Series
But, it was now Halladay time again. Maddux was looking for blood after being hit with a loss despite his outstanding performance. Halladay would prove untouchable. Maddux again went 8, allowing 2, a certain gem by most standards. 111 pitches and a 2.25 ERA and going nearly a complete game can normally achieve a win in this day and age. Maddux was saddled with a 0-2 record despite his 2.40 ERA in the World Series. That’s what happens when you lock horns with a fired up “Doc” Halladay. Halladay pitched a complete game shutout, sitting down 9 Cardinals on strikeouts while allowing just a pair of hits and a pair of walks. In the World Series, Halladay was 2-0, 0.59 ERA, 12 K, 15.1 IP, 1 ER.
The series was now 3-2 and headed back to Toronto. Boomer, the team’s most reliable starter during the regular season, would again face off with Pettitte. Unfortunately for a revved up Blue Jays team, Wells was hit hard and early. He was tagged for 4 runs in 4 innings, allowing a home run and 4 walks. Pettitte was, as he was earlier, masterful. Tony Batista, Fred McGriff, and Raul Mondesi went down in order to the Cardinals reliever Luther Hackman to end it. 4-2, the Cardinals were World Series Champions.
"It's tough. It's tough. This is a special team and it's hard to think that our season is over," commented David Wells in an interview with AP reporters following the game. "I had trouble locating my fastball and they made me pay for it."
When asked about his pending free agency and the possibility of retirement: "You know, that just isn't something that I am going to talk about right now. I'll tell you this, before I go, this club ain't going anywhere. To the Yanks, Sox, whoever else, Canada isn't a joke anymore."
Congratulations St. Louis.
The road to the Classic wasn’t easy, as the Jays had to overcome a very sound Kansas City Royals team and the reigning champions, the Texas Rangers. The Jays finished off the Royals after a tremendous 8 inning effort from “Boomer” Wells, who allowed 2 earned runs and fanned 8. To open the series, Boomer pitched equally well, going 8 and allowing 2, laboring 117 pitches at the venerable age of 38. Wells would be saddled with a tough loss that day, as the Blue Jay offense could muster just 1 run against a nearly flawless Brandon Webb (who threw 136 pitches through 7 plus). Wells was in the discussion for the ALDS MVP but the honor would eventually be bestowed upon Carlos Delgado. Delgado put on a show of his own, mashing 5 home runs with a .524 average, .565 OBP, 13 RBI, and a 1.946 OPS. Perhaps most astonishingly, Delgado hit one home run in each of the 5 games of the ALDS, establishing a new All-Time record for consecutive postseason home runs.
Carlos Delgado’s bat sparked the Blue Jays offense and led them through Kansas City and Texas
Delgado’s lumber didn’t slumber as the team rolled into Texas to duke it out with the reigning champs. While Delgado didn’t hit a home run in each game, he did manage to craft an impressive .438/.500/.938 stat line to help route the Rangers with a four game sweep. A year removed from earning AL MVP honors, Delgado continues to tear the cover off of the ball as the face of the Toronto Blue Jays. In a reversal of the ALDS, it would be Boomer who would garner the award this time, despite an incredible stat line from the Puerto Rican first baseman. Wells pitched 8 innings while only allowing 1 earned run. Interestingly though, his stat line shows his ERA as being a perfect 0.00 for that game. The rotation around Wells also took to the challenge well. Escobar went 7 plus allowing 2, Carpenter went 8 plus allowing 2, and Halladay went 7 allowing 4.
And finally, the Fall Classic was here. The Jays packed their bags and headed to their jet for an excited flight to Missouri. During the regular season, the Cardinals managed two more wins and boasted an imposing lineup highlighted by Albert Pujols, Mark McGwire, Jimmy Edmonds, and Adrian Beltre. After having defeated the 107 win favorites the Altanta Braves and a strong Los Angeles Dodgers club, the Cardinals looked as hot as ever. Edmonds had crushed the ball in the ALCS, pounding 5 into the seats, while Pujols had hit the ball well in the ALDS with 3 home runs of his own. Carlos Delgado and the rest of the Blue Jays would need to continue their winning formula if they were to stand a chance. Unfortunately, the NL All-Stars had won the All-Star game, granting them home field advantage for the World Series. Fred “the Crimedog” McGriff would have to be seated for 4 of the possible 7 games, taking a huge bat out of the heart Toronto lineup. McGriff, 38, led the team in home runs with 36, matching his career high set when he was 25 during his first tour of duty with the Blue Jays. McGriff would also set a career high RBI total with 113.
Roy Halladay certainly did his part to help bring a Championship to Toronto. Halladay locked in an epic pitcher’s duel with the St. Louis ace, the “professor” Greg Maddux, to open the series in grand fashion. Maddux pitched marvelously, going 7 innings while allowing 2 and fanning 4, a 2.57 ERA. Halladay would do him one better, pitching 7 innings and allowing just 1 run, for a 1.29 ERA. That single run, a home run off the unlikely bat of Edgar Renteria, who had hit just 9 in 628 regular season at bats, would be the final run Halladay would surrender in the World Series. The Blue Jays would hold on to win it 2-1.
With high spirits, the Blue Jays sent out their ALCS MVP David Wells to match up with Andy Pettitte. Wells would pitch admirably, posting a 2.57 ERA, but would be out dueled in yet another pitcher’s match, losing 3-0 on Pettitte’s 8 shutout innings.
Game 3 would be a fire show with both starters getting ignited early. Escobar lasted just 5 and gave up 5, while the Cardinals Kiko Calero faired similarly, giving up 4 in 5 plus. The bullpens would allow the bloodshed to continue but the Cardinals would ultimately prevail 12-9.
Chris Carpenter was handed the ball in game 4 and continued on his postseason success, lasting 7 while giving up 3, for a 3.86 ERA. It would not be enough as a suddenly anemic Blue Jays lineup would muster only 2 runs, dropping the series to 3-1 in St. Louis favor with the 3-2 loss.
Doc Halladay was in utter control of the St. Louis hitters during the World Series
But, it was now Halladay time again. Maddux was looking for blood after being hit with a loss despite his outstanding performance. Halladay would prove untouchable. Maddux again went 8, allowing 2, a certain gem by most standards. 111 pitches and a 2.25 ERA and going nearly a complete game can normally achieve a win in this day and age. Maddux was saddled with a 0-2 record despite his 2.40 ERA in the World Series. That’s what happens when you lock horns with a fired up “Doc” Halladay. Halladay pitched a complete game shutout, sitting down 9 Cardinals on strikeouts while allowing just a pair of hits and a pair of walks. In the World Series, Halladay was 2-0, 0.59 ERA, 12 K, 15.1 IP, 1 ER.
The series was now 3-2 and headed back to Toronto. Boomer, the team’s most reliable starter during the regular season, would again face off with Pettitte. Unfortunately for a revved up Blue Jays team, Wells was hit hard and early. He was tagged for 4 runs in 4 innings, allowing a home run and 4 walks. Pettitte was, as he was earlier, masterful. Tony Batista, Fred McGriff, and Raul Mondesi went down in order to the Cardinals reliever Luther Hackman to end it. 4-2, the Cardinals were World Series Champions.
"It's tough. It's tough. This is a special team and it's hard to think that our season is over," commented David Wells in an interview with AP reporters following the game. "I had trouble locating my fastball and they made me pay for it."
When asked about his pending free agency and the possibility of retirement: "You know, that just isn't something that I am going to talk about right now. I'll tell you this, before I go, this club ain't going anywhere. To the Yanks, Sox, whoever else, Canada isn't a joke anymore."
Congratulations St. Louis.