Worst to First - The Sequel

[NYY #23]

He's going to be 38 years old next year, but the Blue Jays did what I did with my last two stops, and signed Ozzie Smith to a 1 year $350,000 contract. Ozzie will get a chance to win the fourth ring of his career with his fourth team.

We also brought aboard another of my former players, veteran catcher Tony Pena on a one year $375,000 deal.

We also agreed to terms with right fielder Jesse Barfield on a one year deal worth $335,000.

Finally we agreed to terms on a 1 year deal with Gary Lucas for $500,000.

None are the players that they once were, but I like the low risk high reward deals to fill out the roster.

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays finished the month 15-8 and are in first place with a 1/2 game lead over Boston. It's early though, and we'll take a closer look next month.

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays started the month red hot, and finished the month with a 15-13 record, leading both Boston and Baltimore by a 1/2 game. It looks like it's a three team race in the AL East.

Bonds and Bagwell have been red hot. They've combined for 18 HR, 63 RBI, 80 R, and 5.9 WAR.

Kevin Maas was 5-5 and hit for the cycle in a 14-5 win over the Red Sox.

[NYY #23]

The Jays finished the month 17-11, although we finished 1/2 game back behind Boston.

We lost Randy Velarde for the year during June. Phil Clark finished the month with a 21 game hitting streak.

Finally, Erik Hanson won the Pitcher of the Month after going 5-0 with a 1.73 ERA.

[NYY #23]

A hot month for the Jays as we went 17-9 for the month and opened up a 4 game lead over the Red Sox.

Tony Gwynn picked up the 2000th hit of his career this month. Another of my former players, Rickey Henderson, also picked up his 2000th career hit.

Phil Clark had his hitting streak ended at 27 games.

Erik Hanson won another Pitcher of the Month Award after going 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA. He also went to the All-Star Game with Scott Medvin, Jeff Bagwell, and Bernard Gilkey.

[NYY #23]

A 20-9 month allowed the Blue Jays to open up a 12 game lead in the AL East and cut our magic number to 18.

Erik Hanson's run of Pitcher of the Month Awards ended when teammate Mike Mussina won after going 6-0 with a 2.72 ERA.

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays finished September and October with a 14-14 record and coasted to an AL East title with a 98-64 record. That was the third best record in baseball, with the Angels having the best record at 103-59, and the A's with a 99-63 season sitting at home for the playoffs.

We remained relatively healthy, although we did lose Ozzie Smith to injury. With both Velarde and Smith out we'll be turning over shortstop to a combination of Scott Coolbaugh and Ken Jackson. Neither can really field, or hit, but it's the best we can do.

We'll have our work cut out against California, and playing without a good option at shortstop will be even tougher.

[NYY #23]

Welcome to the playoffs Erik Hanson. Hanson allowed 4 home runs tonight, and gave up 6 runs in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. The Angels high powered offense saw Juan Gonzalez hit 2 home runs, Benito Santiago hit 1, and Jose Canseco hit 2.

Phil Clark was 3-5 with 5 RBI tonight and hit a grand slam in a losing effort. Chris Hoiles also hit a 2 run home run.

[NYY #23]

20 game winner Mike Mussina got the start tonight, and his start was even worse than our ace's. Mussina allowed 6 runs in 2 2/3 innings.

With a 13-6 loss things aren't looking good for the Blue Jays.

[NYY #23]

We might as well just hold a home run derby to decide these games. The two teams combined for 7 home runs tonight, as the Blue Jays blasted by the Angels 11-7.

Kevin Maas hit a grand slam tonight, while Barry Bonds added a 3 run homer. Bernard Gilkey added a solo shot as the Blue Jays won our first game of the series.

[NYY #23]

Erik Hanson left the game with an injury after 1 2/3 innings, and our bullpen couldn't contain the Angels. Juan Gonzalez and Jose Canseco both hit their 4th home runs of the series today as the Angels won the game 8-3.

Our only runs of the game came in the bottom of the 9th when Barry Bonds hit a 3 run home run. The Blue Jays are now on the brink of elimination, needing to win 3 straight to advance to the World Series.

[NYY #23]

Mike Mussina didn't pitch great tonight, but picked up the win after going 7 innings and allowing 5 runs as the Blue Jays avoided elimination.

Jeff Bagwell picked up 4 hits tonight, while Phil Clark drove in 3 runs. The Blue Jays now trail 3-2 in the series as we head back to California for Game 6.

[NYY #23]

Today was just an ugly end to our season after a 13-3 blowout. Brian Anderson took the loss after allowing 5 runs in 2 innings.

The Angels hit 5 home runs tonight, with Eric Davis hitting 2, Jose Canseco hitting one, and Ken Griffey Jr hitting a home run.

We'll be back to wrap things up and prepare for next year.

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays were drafting 29th this year due to our success. With our first round pick we drafted shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Reliever John Hudek was our second round pick, with reliever Gary Buckels our final draft pick. It was a small, and weak draft class.

We didn't get him his fourth ring, but Ozzie Smith announced that he was retiring following the season.

We locked up Erik Hanson to a 7 year $28,000,000 extension to keep him in Toronto.

Toronto Blue Jays - 53-109 (.337) 39 GB
1991 - Toronto Blue Jays 66-96 (.407) 30 GB (Season Score - 1)
1992 - Toronto Blue Jays 87-75 (.537) 7 GB (Season Score - 45)
1993 - Toronto Blue Jays 98-64 (.605) - GB (Lost to California Angels 4-2 in LCS, Season Score - 74)

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays declined arbitration for DeWayne Buice, Brad Lesley, and Rolando Roomes. Prior to our arbitration hearings we locked up LF Bernard Gilkey to a 4 year $1,925,000 contract, and Mike Mussina to a 4 year $6,400,000 extension.

Tony Oliva was introduced as our new bench coach, while Mario Ventura signed on as our new trainer.

Erik Hanson won the American League Cy Young Award after his 19-6 season with a 2.45 ERA.

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays agreed to terms with shortstop Kent Anderson on a 1 year $308,000 contract. Anderson hit .271 last season with 2 home runs for the Reds.

I didn't mention this earlier, but the Pirates defeated the Angels in the World Series in seven games, while closer Scott Medvin declined arbitration and became a free agent. Tony Pena did accept arbitration and received a $399,000 contract.

[NYY #23]

While the offseason isn't complete, it is for the Blue Jays as we are done with our free agent shopping. The goal this year, like last year, was to add role players on one year contracts. We've gone ahead and added -

3B Gary Gaetti
MR Jeff Robinson
RF Tony Gwynn
LF Mel Hall
MR Scott Brown
SS Kent Anderson

We are currently in 3rd place in WAR added by team with 3.6.

[NYY #23]

The Wild Card era has begun, adding an extra round to the challenge. The Blue Jays got off to a good start in 1994 with a 17-7 month and now lead the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games.

Erik Hanson began the season where he ended it last year, winning the Pitcher of the Month after going 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA.

[NYY #23]

The Blue Jays kept winning in May going 16-11 for the month, although we have fallen 1/2 game behind the Red Sox. We do hold a commanding 5 1/2 game lead in the Wild Card though.

We lost Jeff Bagwell to injury and we'll be without him for two weeks.

[NYY #23]

The good news is the Blue Jays went 17-9 for the month, and although we are tied with the Red Sox, we are both up 9 1/2 games over the Angels for the Wild Card. I'd really like to win the division though.

Our chances of winning the division suffered though when Mike Mussina was lost for the season. Mussina was 10-3 with a 3.39 ERA when he went down.

That left us scrambling for a replacement, but we were able to agree to terms on a one year deal with free agent Jose Guzman. Guzman was 4-7 with a 4.42 ERA last year in 91 2/3 innings for the White Sox, and he'll make his Toronto debut shortly.

Bernard Gilkey hit safely in 21 straight games before he lost his hitting streak in an 0-4 night against the Indians.