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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Oct 17, 2008 13:33:31 GMT -5
After winning back to back Championships in the early nineties, the Blue Jays entered into a period of mediocrity. On the heels of their 1993 95-67 (.586) record and crown, the Jays, under the watchful eye of their manager Cito Gasson, fell under .500 for the first time since the early eighties. And, as if the baseball gods were watching over the stumbling blue birds, a Major League strike would end the Jays dreary season. With high expectations heading into 1995, the Jays were ready to shore up the holes and defend their place as World Series champs. The Canadian team would not have the opportunity to defend the crown due to a disappointing 56-88 finish. The Atlanta Braves would snatch the title that year and would go on to defend it against the New York Yankees in 1996. Where were the Jays? Totally forgotten, how quickly the baseball world had swept away thoughts of a powerful Toronto club. 96 – 74-88 97 – 76-86 98 – 88-74 99 – 84-78 Not good enough to earn the chance to play baseball in October. A change in Toronto management prompted drastic changes in the club’s philosophy. The fan base was hungry for a winning product to take the field. The club still sports a few All-Star caliber players, including the slugger from Aguadilla, Carlos Delgado. Carlos Delgado will be looked upon to be a leader for the Blue Jay rookiesThere will be a fresh crop of faces playing in Toronto blue this season. With four rookies in the lineup, the Jays aren’t expecting the turn around to come too quickly. “Our fans must understand that developing talent takes time,” stated the General Manager Gord Ash, “there is a Championship within these kids somewhere – we will stick it out, allow them to grow, and measure our ring fingers for our next title.” Gord finished his last comment with a wink and a smile at the crowd of ravenous reporters.
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Post by Free Agent GM on Oct 17, 2008 22:20:45 GMT -5
great story
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Nov 15, 2008 16:14:27 GMT -5
Hungry for a winning team, the Toronto fans were given a feast in 2000. With a decisive eleven to three win over the Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays officially became the champions of the American League East. Delgado teed off in the clinching match, driving in three with a pair of well timed hits. He is hitting nearly .400 with 4 home runs this week, helping to garner votes for the upcoming MVP selection. Carlos Delgado celebrates the club's playoff berth"That isn't something I am thinking about," Delgado told AP reporters with respect to the MVP award, "I am very happy to go to the playoffs for the first time in my career. We will be ready for whoever meets us there." Delgado is batting .320 with 43 HR, 122 RBI, and a 1.093 OPS, hitting third for the Blue Jays. Toronto is 95-50 with 3 weeks left to play. The club has a chance to top the franchise best record with a few more weeks of just .500 baseball.
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Nov 26, 2008 9:40:47 GMT -5
After a disappointing first round exit in the playoffs, the Blue Jays quickly began to retool for the 2001 season. Most glaringly needing repair was the lack of depth in the starting rotation. When Roy Halladay and Kelvim Escobar were both sent to the disabled list in back to back starts in the last week of September, Toronto received a rude awakening. Toronto was forced to call upon the rookie Gustavo Chacin who struggled mightily adjusting the Major League hitters in 2000 and the veteran journeyman Frank Castillo, who had spent most of the season pitching for Syracuse at the AAA level. Toronto also felt the loss of their designated hitter Josh Phelps. Phelps had become something of a sensation in Toronto due to his clutch walk-off knocks and his surprisingly fast acclimation to the Majors. Phelps’ production was replaced by a combination of at bats from Brad Fullmer, Jose Cruz Jr., and Marty Cordova. In the hot corner, the Blue Jays had a great deal of trouble finding anyone who could perform up to par. Alex Gonzalez was given the nod to begin the season but was replaced midway through the year after his average began to slip well below the Mendoza line. The speedster Ryan Freel replaced him but did not perform much better. Finding a legitimate bat, expanding depth in the rotation, and acquiring a serviceable third baseman would be the keys for the Blue Jays offseason. The lefty Al Leiter will further strengthen a dominant Blue Jays pitching staffTo shore up the rotation, the Jays made their biggest splash, signing the star studded veteran Al Leiter to a four year deal worth $16.00 million, $4.00 million per year. For the New York Mets in 2000, Leiter struggled to get going but showed flashes of his former glory. Toronto considers Leiter a “vintage” talent, the kind of hurler who can give the Blue Jays an edge in a playoff scenario. Fielding a playoff rotation containing the likes of Al Leiter, Roy Halladay, Kelvim Escobar, Chris Carpenter, and then one of David Wells, Joey Hamilton, or Gustavo Chacin should be enough to bring a Championship to the city of Toronto. Leiter is familiar with the Blue Jays organization, having pitched for them from 1989 until 1995. After a 5 year hiatus splitting time between the Florida Marlins and the New York Mets, Leiter returns to Toronto as a member of the old guard who helped contribute to the back to back Championships of the early nineties. Leiter isn't the only veteran that the Jays are going to be calling upon to help their youngsters in 2001. With an opening at the designated hitter position and a former Blue Jay All Star in the free agency market, Toronto swept in and signed the powerful Fred McGriff to a 2 year deal. McGriff looked like an All Star with the division rival Tampa Bay Devil Rays last season, hitting in the heart of their order with good power numbers to show for it. McGriff will earn $6.00 million per season for 2 years, an affordable rate for a rare talent and a fan favorite. McGriff is expected to his cleanup for the Blue Jays, protecting the American League MVP Carlos Delgado. McGriff began his career with the Blue Jays, breaking into the Majors in 1986 and playing his first full season in 1988. McGriff played for San Diego, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay during his tenure outside of the Toronto organization. Fred McGriff brings a stable and potent bat to the heart of Toronto’s lineupLastly, the Jays were looking for a legitimate third baseman to, at the very least; help stimulate competition for the role. Toronto snatched up the tremendous fielding Scott Brosius to help stoke the flames. Brosius isn’t a master with the bat but is a wizard with his glove. He does possess occasional pop and is known to be a clutch hitter. He was signed to a 1 year deal. Projected 2001 Lineup: #1 Shannon Stewart, LF #2 Vernon Wells, CF #3 Carlos Delgado, 1B #4 Fred McGriff, DH #5 Raul Mondesi, RF #6 Tony Batista, SS #7 Darrin Fletcher, C #8 Orlando Hudson, 2B #9 Scott Brosius, 3B Projected 2001 Rotation: #1 Roy Halladay, Righty #2 Kelvim Escobar, Righty #3 Al Leiter, Lefty #4 Chris Carpenter, Righty #5 David Wells, Lefty
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Post by Hou-GM on Nov 26, 2008 9:57:24 GMT -5
thats a great Rotation.
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Dec 1, 2008 14:55:38 GMT -5
The rule 5 draft results are in and the Jays finished up 2 down 1 up. Most notably, the career Blue Jay Alex Gonzalez was claimed by the division rival Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Gonzalez had been used as a utility infielder after several sub par seasons as the club's shortstop. Filling in at third, second, and short in 2000, he couldn't manage to hit to his ability and would find himself demoted to Triple A Syracuse for a short stint of time. With the signing of Scott Brosius, the emergence of Ryan Freel, and the drafting of Joshua Fields, the Jays could afford to protect a few of their better prospects and allow Gonzalez to go unprotected in the draft. Gonzalez is expected to start for the Devil Rays and could, perhaps, reassert himself as a legitimate Major League shortstop. Also claimed was the shortstop prospect Felipe Lopez. Lopez was buried in the depth chart, behind the likes of Tony Batista and Cesar Izturis. Having not played in a Major League game, Lopez will likely continue his Minor League career as a Milwaukee Brewer. The explosively quick Corey Patterson will compete with Jose Cruz for the fourth outfielder role on Toronto's bench in 2001On the upside, the Jays managed to nab the speedy twenty one year old center fielder Corey Patterson from the Colorado Rockies. Patterson, a former first round pick (third overall) of the Chicago Cubs, sports several alluring tools, including the ability to hit for a high average, play sound defense, and steal bases. While he is unlikely to see much time with Vernon Wells and Jose Cruz Jr. on the team, he is a great late inning pinch running option or a defensive replacement. As he cannot refine his skills in Syracuse without being sent back to Colorado, the Jays will stick it out with him on the big league roster for a season, using his skills whenever possible.
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Dec 2, 2008 15:30:29 GMT -5
Following a 103 win season with high expectations, the 2001 Toronto Blue Jays began the first two weeks of the fresh campaign hot, putting together an 11-3 record, best in the American League. The Jays would win their home opener in what was expected to be a pitcher’s duel between Baltimore’s ace Mike Mussina and Toronto’s ace Roy Halladay. Both Mussina and Halladay struggled, each allowing four earned runs before five innings. The newly acquired third baseman Scott Brosius banged out the key home run, as if to say, “I’m here to stay,” to the title hungry Toronto fans. Eleven year veteran Scott Brosius brings much needed stability to the hot cornerIn other recent addition news, the prized hurler Al Leiter’s return to Toronto has been successful so far. To begin the season, Leiter threw a textbook quality start, earning a win by going 6 innings deep while allowing 3 earned runs and collecting 7 strikeouts. On the year, Leiter is 1-1 with a 4.76 ERA with 17 punch outs over 17 innings of work. The slugging Fred McGriff has also come out of the box well with a .298 average, 3 bombs, and 13 RBI in just 14 games. Fred McGriff began his Major League career as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays and returns to the club to put a capstone on his career. "It's pretty nice to be back in Toronto, you know, where I got started. Patty [Gillick] has put this team right where it needs to be and I am lucky to be here," commented McGriff after their home opener victory over Baltimore. When asked about being a veteran mentor for the young Blue Jays, he would only say, "I'm not here to mentor, I'm here to win. If I can rub anything I've learned off onto these kids, it's that you've always got to have that winning mindset, or nothing is gonna' happen." Baseball analysts widely believe that the signings of the 35 year old Al Leiter, 35 year old Scott Brosius, and 37 year old Fred McGriff, were moves made to not only better the club's productivity, but to bring in veterans who had been to the playoffs and succeeded.
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Dec 18, 2008 15:49:18 GMT -5
After stumbling into second place in the East due to a Red Sox sweep, the Blue Jays, all the more determined to play their hardest, forced their way back atop the standings. With the best record in the American League (55-35), the Blue Jays are heading onward with confidence. Tony Batista’s extended stay on the disabled list has finally come to an end and his potent bat will again return to the heart of the Toronto lineup. With his added presence, plus expected rebounds in the second half of the season from the starting pitching staff, the Blue Jay fans have got to be happy about their chances heading forward. Fred McGriff’s bat has lifted the Toronto Blue Jays so far in 2001So far, the free agent signings have been generally successful. Fred McGriff has had a tremendous impact in the lineup, smacking 21 bombs with 68 RBI in just 80 games. His batting average sits pretty at .297 and his OBP is also where it should be at .392. Both of these marks are above his career averages. If he maintains this pace, the thirty seven year old Crime Dog could be on the verge of a very late career year. Al Leiter, the veteran lefty, hasn’t pitched his best, posting a mediocre .500 record at 5-5 with a sub par 5.42 ERA over 14 starts. Regardless, he has still been a good innings eater, pitching nearly 100 at the break with decent K/BB splits. Experts suggest that Leiter, like the rest of the Toronto rotation (with the exception being the venerable David Wells who has been phenomenal), will make adjustments and net a few more wins. Scott Brosius has done a fine job in the hot corner, hitting .284 with 11 HR and 49 RBI. He has combined outstanding defense with a bat that has been above league average. For a one year rental, Brosius has certainly increased his value for next year’s free agent market.
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Chicago Cubs GM
all star
[music:http://personal.georgiasouthern.edu/~jjudy1/olr-bethesame.mp3]
Posts: 127
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Post by Chicago Cubs GM on Dec 18, 2008 15:54:56 GMT -5
make it better chief make it better
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Jan 6, 2009 13:14:04 GMT -5
Wonder no more. AL ROY Aubrey Huff will be a Toronto Blue Jay, pending a physicalThe Toronto Blue Jays made a move to put a lid on the discussion for next year's third baseman. After having released Scott Brosius, it appeared that Eric Hinske, Cesar Izturis, and Ryan Freel would duke it out for the hot corner big league job in 2002. The front office closed the discussion by trading for the 2001 Rookie of the Year Aubrey Huff. Huff, the rival Tampa Bay Devil Rays former cleanup hitter, hit .314 with 25 home runs and 119 RBI. It is unlikely that he will continue to hit for a high average but the power and on base percentage will undoubtedly remain. Expect a line like: .280, 20 HR, 85 RBI, .380 OBP out of Huff in 2002. 2002 Projected Opening Day Lineup: #1 Shannon Stewart, LF #2 Orlando Hudson, 2B #3 Carlos Delgado, 1B #4 Tony Batista, SS #5 Raul Mondesi, RF #6 Aubrey Huff, 3B #7 Fred McGriff, DH #8 Darrin Fletcher, C #9 Vernon Wells, CF To acquire him, they dealt the standout center fielder Ryan Freel and the movement specialist reliever Pasqual Coco. The Toronto Blue Jays also acquired the 20 year old speedy outfield prospect Joey Gathright. Gathright boasts exceptional speed and defense and will likely start in AA New Hampshire.
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Post by Toronto Blue Jays GM on Feb 25, 2009 23:58:45 GMT -5
Welcome to Toronto, Andy. Backup for the Blue Jays arrived in a late spring swap between Toronto and St. Louis. The reigning Cy Young award winner Andy Pettitte posted a staggering 21-2 record for the 133 win Cardinals last year. Pettitte will join a loaded Toronto rotation including Roy Halladay, Kelvim Escobar, and Gustavo Chacin. At thirty, Pettitte is still in his prime and looks to help turn around the struggling Blue Jays who slipped into fourth place in the American League East in 2002. “When I got the call, I was very surprised. It’s a bit disappointin’, leaving the group of guys behind in St. Louis who I think are the best bunch of ball players ever put together,” commented Pettitte shortly after the trade was finalized. “But ya’ know I am a competitor. I look at this as a challenge. Toronto has got talent and is in a tough division. I know the AL East pretty well by now, so I’m looking forward to getting started.” For Pettitte’s services, the Blue Jays sent out the standout right fielder John-Ford Griffin who had been blocked by Alex Rios, along with the young pitchers Brian Bowles, Gavin Floyd, and Jose Barbachano. Toronto fans must now cross their fingers that this left hander's arrival will bring a few more wins than that of the failed signing of the veteran Al Leiter.
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