[USF]

I decided to take the plunge and do a Toronto Blue Jays historical replay.

The first step I did is to start in the 1976 season unemployed so I can participate in the 1977 Expansion draft as the Blue Jays GM. The 1976 season had the NYY defeat the NYM in the subway series. NYY defeated the Angels in the AL Champ and NYM defeated the Reds in the NL Champ.

Listed below is the Expansion draft results for my Blue Jays. Each team was able to protect 15 players and no more than 3 player per team could be lost. I realize this is a bit different than in real life where only AL teams were involved in the expansion draft and there were 3 pull backs by each team in R1/R2 - OOTP doesn't allow the pull back option. That is the nice thing about OOTP I can decide what I wish to do!

I went into this expansion draft thinking hmmm I am going to build a young team but, then I couldn't believe nor resist taking the ALLTIME hit king with the #1 pick in the draft. So within minutes my whole mind set changed from building a young team / future winner to lets see who else I can drum up to compete sooner than later :-)

Tuesday, November 16th, 1976
Drafted 3B Pete Rose Sr in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 1, Pick 1, 1st overall pick).
Drafted SP Rudy May in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 2, Pick 2, 4th overall pick).
Drafted SS Bucky Dent in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 3, Pick 1, 5th overall pick).
Drafted 2B Doug DeCinces in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 4, Pick 2, 8th overall pick).
Drafted SP Ken Brett in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 5, Pick 1, 9th overall pick).
Drafted SP Bruce Kison in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 6, Pick 2, 12th overall pick).
Drafted SP Doc Medich in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 7, Pick 1, 13th overall pick).
Drafted C John Wathan in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 8, Pick 2, 16th overall pick).
Drafted RF Ralph Garr in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 9, Pick 1, 17th overall pick).
Drafted RP Bob Stanley in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 10, Pick 2, 20th overall pick).
Drafted SS Bob Bailor in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 11, Pick 1, 21st overall pick).
Drafted RP Bob Lacey in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 12, Pick 2, 24th overall pick).
Drafted 2B Jorge Orta in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 13, Pick 1, 25th overall pick).
Drafted RP Rick Sutcliffe in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 14, Pick 2, 28th overall pick).
Drafted SP Mark Fidrych in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 15, Pick 1, 29th overall pick).
Drafted RP Rick Camp in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 16, Pick 2, 32nd overall pick).
Drafted 3B Wayne Garrett in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 17, Pick 1, 33rd overall pick).
Drafted RP Bill Atkinson in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 18, Pick 2, 36th overall pick).
Drafted 3B Doug Rader in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 19, Pick 1, 37th overall pick).
Drafted 3B Jim Gantner in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 20, Pick 2, 40th overall pick).
Drafted CF Rusty Torres in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 21, Pick 1, 41st overall pick).
Drafted RF Rick Miller in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 22, Pick 2, 44th overall pick).
Drafted LF Rick Bosetti in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 23, Pick 1, 45th overall pick).
Drafted RP Ed Whitson in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 24, Pick 2, 48th overall pick).
Drafted SS Mark Belanger in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 25, Pick 1, 49th overall pick).
Drafted RP Mike Willis in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 26, Pick 2, 52nd overall pick).
Drafted SS Alfredo Griffin in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 27, Pick 1, 53rd overall pick).
Drafted RP Pedro Torres in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 28, Pick 2, 56th overall pick).
Drafted 1B Doug Ault in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 29, Pick 1, 57th overall pick).
Drafted RF Bruce Boisclair in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 30, Pick 2, 60th overall pick).
Drafted 2B Rob Andrews in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 31, Pick 1, 61st overall pick).
Drafted SP Jackie Brown in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 32, Pick 2, 64th overall pick).
Drafted LF Joe Zdeb in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 33, Pick 1, 65th overall pick).
Drafted C Glenn Borgmann in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 34, Pick 2, 68th overall pick).
Drafted RP Santo Alcala in the 1976 expansion draft (Round 35, Pick 1, 69th overall pick).

I'm not to happy with my assigned coaches/scout/trainer but they will have to do for now as I am low in funds.

I really wanted to take a shot at SP J.R. Richard in free agency but, had no money left to do so. I tried to shift around some Scouting money and that didn't help and my owner is controlling my PD budget so no room there to squeeze out some funds either. How could I possibly resist $500K a year!! I'm so use to today's contracts that my eyes were bulging out of my head trying to be creative enough to land him. Oh well - next season hopefully I will be able to be active in FA.

We have reach spring training now so, the season is about to start!

Jason
ABL Commish