| 2002 Toronto Blue Jays | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | American League | |||
| Division | East | |||
| Ballpark | SkyDome | |||
| City | Toronto | |||
| Record | 78–84 (.481) | |||
| Divisional place | 3rd | |||
| Owners | Rogers Communications, Interbrew | |||
| General managers | J. P. Ricciardi | |||
| Managers | Buck Martinez,Carlos Tosca | |||
| Television | CBC Television (Brian Williams,John Cerutti) The Sports Network (Rod Black,Pat Tabler) Rogers Sportsnet (Rob Faulds,John Cerutti) | |||
| Radio | CHUM (AM) (Jerry Howarth,Tom Cheek) | |||
| ||||
The2002Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 26th season ofMajor League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing third in theAmerican League East with a record of 78 wins and 84 losses.
Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 2002 season.[1]
| October 15 | Jason Dickson granted free agency (signed withTampa Bay Devil Rays to a contract on November 14, 2001). Aaron Holbert granted free agency (signed withSeattle Mariners to a contract on January 30, 2002). Izzy Molina granted free agency (signed withBaltimore Orioles to a contract on November 20, 2001). |
| October 19 | Kevin Beirne granted free agency (signed withLos Angeles Dodgers to a contract on December 3, 2001). Matt DeWitt granted free agency (signed withSan Diego Padres to a contract on December 18, 2001). Ryan Freel granted free agency (signed withTampa Bay Devil Rays to a contract on November 8, 2001). |
| November 5 | Tony Fernández granted free agency. Jeff Frye granted free agency (signed withCincinnati Reds to a contract on March 25, 2002). |
| November 20 | Brian Simmons selected off of waivers by theChicago White Sox. |
| December 7 | AcquiredEric Hinske andJustin Miller from theOakland Athletics forBilly Koch. |
| December 10 | AcquiredFélix Heredia and a player to be named later (Jim Deschaine on December 13, 2001) from theChicago Cubs forAlex Gonzalez. |
| December 12 | ReleasedAlberto Castillo. |
| December 13 | DraftedCorey Thurman from theKansas City Royals in the 2001 MLBRule 5 draft. AcquiredLuke Prokopec andChad Ricketts from theLos Angeles Dodgers forCésar Izturis andPaul Quantrill. |
| December 18 | Signed free agentBrian Lesher from theMilwaukee Brewers to a one-year, $245,000 contract. Signed free agentChad Mottola from theFlorida Marlins to a one-year contract. Signed free agentChris Peters from theNew York Yankees to a contract. |
| December 22 | Luis Lopez selected off of waivers by theOakland Athletics. |
| January 2 | AcquiredTom Wilson from theOakland Athletics forMike Kremblas. |
| January 17 | AcquiredBrian Cooper from theAnaheim Angels forBrad Fullmer. Re-signedKelvim Escobar to a one-year, $2.3 million contract. Re-signedShannon Stewart to a one-year, $4.25 million contract. |
| February 6 | Signed free agentDave Berg from theFlorida Marlins to a one-year, $450,000 contract. |
| February 10 | Signed free agentKen Huckaby from theArizona Diamondbacks to a contract. |
| February 14 | Signed free agentPedro Swann from theAtlanta Braves to a contract. |
| March 27 | Chris Latham selected off of waivers by theNew York Mets. |
| March 29 | ReleasedChris Peters. |
| March 30 | Signed free agentSimon Pond from theCleveland Indians to a contract. |
The Blue Jays started the 2002 season with slow progress in performance.Buck Martinez was fired about a third of the way through the season, with a 20–33 record. He was replaced by third base coachCarlos Tosca, an experienced minor league manager. They went 58–51 under Tosca to finish the season 78–84.Roy Halladay, a talented but inconsistent prospect who was no more than a fifth starter who alternated between Toronto and Triple-A during his first three seasons, was relied on as the team's ace and rose to the challenge being the team's top pitcher, finishing the season with a 19–7 record and a 2.93 ERA. The hitters were led once again byCarlos Delgado. Ricciardi was credited for dumpingRaúl Mondesí in mid-season to theNew York Yankees to free up his salary, which in turn was used for the off-season signing ofMike Bordick,Frank Catalanotto andTanyon Sturtze. Promising young players were assigned to key roles, including startingthird basemanEric Hinske (who later won theRookie of the Year Award for this year) and 23-year-oldcentre fielderVernon Wells, who had his first 100 RBI season replacing Mondesi. Another bright young player wasJosh Phelps, a former catcher turned designated hitter, who hit 15 home runs.
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | 103 | 58 | .640 | — | 52–28 | 51–30 |
| Boston Red Sox | 93 | 69 | .574 | 10½ | 42–39 | 51–30 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 78 | 84 | .481 | 25½ | 42–39 | 36–45 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 67 | 95 | .414 | 36½ | 34–47 | 33–48 |
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 55 | 106 | .342 | 48 | 30–51 | 25–55 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | 103 | 58 | .640 |
| Minnesota Twins | 94 | 67 | .584 |
| Oakland Athletics | 103 | 59 | .636 |
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Angels | 99 | 63 | .611 | — |
| Boston Red Sox | 93 | 69 | .574 | 6 |
| Seattle Mariners | 93 | 69 | .574 | 6 |
| Chicago White Sox | 81 | 81 | .500 | 18 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 78 | 84 | .481 | 21 |
| Cleveland Indians | 74 | 88 | .457 | 25 |
| Texas Rangers | 72 | 90 | .444 | 27 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 67 | 95 | .414 | 32 |
| Kansas City Royals | 62 | 100 | .383 | 37 |
| Detroit Tigers | 55 | 106 | .342 | 43½ |
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | 55 | 106 | .342 | 43½ |
| Team | ANA | BAL | BOS | CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIN | NYY | OAK | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR | NL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | — | 7–2 | 3–4 | 6–3 | 6–3 | 8–1 | 6–3 | 4–5 | 3–4 | 9–11 | 9–10 | 8–1 | 12–7 | 7–2 | 11–7 | ||
| Baltimore | 2–7 | — | 6–13 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 7–0 | 5–1 | 6–13 | 4–5 | 5–4 | 10–9 | 3–6 | 4–15 | 9–9 | ||
| Boston | 4–3 | 13–6 | — | 2–4 | 5–4 | 5–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 9–10 | 6–3 | 4–5 | 16–3 | 4–3 | 13–6 | 5–13 | ||
| Chicago | 3–6 | 4–3 | 4–2 | — | 9–10 | 12–7 | 11–8 | 8–11 | 2–4 | 2–7 | 5–4 | 4–3 | 5–4 | 4–2 | 8–10 | ||
| Cleveland | 3–6 | 5–1 | 4–5 | 10–9 | — | 10–9 | 9–10 | 8–11 | 3–6 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 4–5 | 3–3 | 6–12 | ||
| Detroit | 1–8 | 4–2 | 4–5 | 7–12 | 9–10 | — | 9–10 | 4–14 | 1–8 | 1–6 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 5–4 | 0–6 | 6–12 | ||
| Kansas City | 3–6 | 0–7 | 2–4 | 8–11 | 10–9 | 10–9 | — | 5–14 | 1–5 | 1–8 | 3–6 | 4–2 | 7–2 | 3–4 | 5–13 | ||
| Minnesota | 5–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 11–8 | 11–8 | 14–4 | 14–5 | — | 0–6 | 3–6 | 5–4 | 5–2 | 6–3 | 6–1 | 10–8 | ||
| New York | 4–3 | 13–6 | 10–9 | 4–2 | 6–3 | 8–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 5–4 | 4–5 | 13–5 | 4–3 | 10–9 | 11–7 | ||
| Oakland | 11–9 | 5–4 | 3–6 | 7–2 | 5–2 | 6–1 | 8–1 | 6–3 | 4–5 | — | 8–11 | 8–1 | 13–6 | 3–6 | 16–2 | ||
| Seattle | 10–9 | 4–5 | 5–4 | 4–5 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 6–3 | 4–5 | 5–4 | 11–8 | — | 5–4 | 13–7 | 6–3 | 11–7 | ||
| Tampa Bay | 1–8 | 9–10 | 3–16 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 5–13 | 1–8 | 4–5 | — | 4–5 | 8–11 | 7–11 | ||
| Texas | 7–12 | 6–3 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 5–4 | 4–5 | 2–7 | 3–6 | 3–4 | 6–13 | 7–13 | 5–4 | — | 8–1 | 9–9 | ||
| Toronto | 2–7 | 15–4 | 6–13 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 4–3 | 1–6 | 9–10 | 6–3 | 3–6 | 11–8 | 1–8 | — | 9–9 | ||
Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2002 regular season.[2]
| April 24 | Player rights ofAlfredo Aceves sold toLeones de Yucatán of theMexican League. |
| May 3 | SelectedPete Walker off of waivers from theNew York Mets. |
| May 10 | ReleasedHomer Bush. |
| May 15 | SentPedro Borbón Jr. to theHouston Astros as part of a conditional deal. |
| May 26 | AcquiredCliff Politte from thePhiladelphia Phillies forDan Plesac. |
| June 21 | Signed free agentScott Winchester from theMontreal Expos to a one-year contract. |
| July 1 | AcquiredScott Wiggins from theNew York Yankees forRaúl Mondesí. |
| August 8 | Scott Eyre selected off of waivers by theSan Francisco Giants. |
| August 30 | SelectedJason Kershner off of waivers from theSan Diego Padres. |
| September 30 | ReleasedBrian Cooper. |
Source[3]
The2002 MLB draft was held on June 4–5.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College/School | Nationality | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Russ Adams | SS | North Carolina | 2002–06–07 | |
| 2 | 55 | Dave Bush | RHP | Wake Forest | 2002–06–04 | |
| 3 | 86 | Justin Maureau | LHP | Wichita State | – | |
| 4 | 110 | Adam Peterson | RHP | Wichita State | 2002–06–11 | |
| 5 | 146 | Chad Pleiness | RHP | Central Michigan | – | |
| 6 | 176 | Jason Perry | OF | Georgia Tech | 2002–06–22 | |
| 7 | 206 | Brian Grant | RHP | C.B. Aycock High School (NC) | – | |
| 8 | 236 | Chris Leonard | LHP | Miami (FL) | – | |
| 9 | 266 | Russ Savickas | RHP | Johnston High School | – | |
| 10 | 296 | Eric Arnold | 2B | Rice | – |
| 2002 Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
| Catchers Infielders | Outfielders | Manager Coaches
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April: 8–16 (Home: 3–8; Away: 5–8)
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May: 10–17 (Home: 5–12; Away: 5–5)
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June: 15–12 (Home: 9–4; Away: 6–8)
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July: 13–14 (Home: 8–3; Away: 5–11)
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August: 13–17 (Home: 7–9; Away: 6–8)
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September: 19–8 (Home: 10–3; Away: 9–5)
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| = Indicates team leader |
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Ken Huckaby | 88 | 273 | 67 | .245 | 3 | 22 |
| 1B | Carlos Delgado | 143 | 505 | 140 | .277 | 33 | 108 |
| 2B | Orlando Hudson | 54 | 192 | 53 | .276 | 4 | 23 |
| SS | Chris Woodward | 90 | 312 | 86 | .276 | 13 | 45 |
| 3B | Eric Hinske | 151 | 566 | 158 | .279 | 24 | 84 |
| LF | Shannon Stewart | 141 | 577 | 175 | .303 | 10 | 45 |
| CF | Vernon Wells | 159 | 608 | 167 | .275 | 23 | 100 |
| RF | Raúl Mondesí | 75 | 299 | 67 | .224 | 15 | 45 |
| DH | Josh Phelps | 74 | 265 | 82 | .309 | 15 | 58 |
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| José Cruz Jr. | 124 | 466 | 114 | .245 | 18 | 70 |
| Dave Berg | 109 | 374 | 101 | .270 | 4 | 39 |
| Felipe López | 85 | 282 | 64 | .227 | 8 | 34 |
| Tom Wilson | 96 | 265 | 68 | .257 | 8 | 37 |
| Joe Lawrence | 55 | 150 | 27 | .180 | 2 | 15 |
| Darrin Fletcher | 45 | 127 | 28 | .220 | 3 | 22 |
| DeWayne Wise | 42 | 112 | 20 | .179 | 3 | 13 |
| Homer Bush | 23 | 78 | 18 | .231 | 1 | 2 |
| Jayson Werth | 15 | 46 | 12 | .261 | 0 | 6 |
| Brian Lesher | 24 | 38 | 5 | .132 | 0 | 2 |
| Kevin Cash | 7 | 14 | 2 | .143 | 0 | 0 |
| Pedro Swann | 13 | 12 | 1 | .083 | 0 | 1 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Halladay | 34 | 239.1 | 19 | 7 | 2.93 | 168 |
| Esteban Loaiza | 25 | 151.1 | 9 | 10 | 5.71 | 87 |
| Steve Parris | 14 | 75.1 | 5 | 5 | 5.97 | 48 |
| Chris Carpenter | 13 | 73.1 | 4 | 5 | 5.28 | 45 |
| Brian Cooper | 2 | 8.1 | 0 | 1 | 14.04 | 3 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Walker | 37 | 139.1 | 10 | 5 | 4.33 | 80 |
| Justin Miller | 25 | 102.1 | 9 | 5 | 5.54 | 68 |
| Luke Prokopec | 22 | 71.2 | 2 | 9 | 6.78 | 41 |
| Brandon Lyon | 15 | 62.0 | 1 | 4 | 6.53 | 30 |
| Mark Hendrickson | 16 | 36.2 | 3 | 0 | 2.45 | 21 |
| Mike Smith | 14 | 35.1 | 0 | 3 | 6.62 | 16 |
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelvim Escobar | 76 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 4.27 | 85 |
| Scott Cassidy | 58 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5.73 | 48 |
| Cliff Politte | 55 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3.61 | 57 |
| Félix Heredia | 53 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.61 | 31 |
| Scott Eyre | 49 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4.97 | 51 |
| Corey Thurman | 43 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4.37 | 56 |
| Dan Plesac | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.38 | 14 |
| Brian Bowles | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4.05 | 19 |
| Pedro Borbón Jr. | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.97 | 11 |
| Jason Kershner | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.69 | 7 |
| Bob File | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18.90 | 2 |
| Scott Wiggins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.38 | 3 |
| Pasqual Coco | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18.00 | 0 |