2002 Toronto Blue Jays season
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Blue Jays
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 3rd in the American League
East with a record of 78 wins and 84 losses.
, 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 by Carlos Delgado
. Ricciardi was credited for dumping Raúl Mondesí
in mid-season to the New York Yankees
to free up his salary, which in turn was used for the off-season signing of Mike Bordick
, Frank Catalanotto
and Tanyon Sturtze
. Promising young players were assigned to key roles, including starting third baseman
Eric Hinske
(who later won the Rookie of the Year Award for this year) and 23-year-old centre fielder
Vernon Wells, who had his first 100 RBI season replacing Mondesi. Another bright young player was Josh Phelps
, a former catcher turned designated hitter, who hit 15 home runs.
The 2002 MLB Draft
was held on June 4–5.
All-Star Game
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 3rd in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
East with a record of 78 wins and 84 losses.
Offseason
- J. P. Ricciardi became the Blue Jays fourth GM on Nov. 15, 2001
- December 7, 2001: Billy KochBilly KochWilliam Koch is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He entered the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays and most recently pitched for the Florida Marlins in 2004.- Baseball career :...
was traded by the Blue Jays to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Eric HinskeEric HinskeEric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
and Justin MillerJustin Miller (baseball)Justin Mark Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-Amateur career:...
. - December 18, 2001: Brian LesherBrian LesherBrian Herbert Lesher is a former backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams between and...
was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays. - December 22, 2001: Luis LopezLuis Lopez (third baseman)Luis Lopez is a Major League Baseball third baseman and first baseman. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues: 2001 for the Toronto Blue Jays and 2004 for the Montreal Expos. In 2005, he played in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles...
was purchased from the Blue Jays by the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. - February 10, 2002: Ken HuckabyKen HuckabyKenneth Paul Huckaby is a retired catcher in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Through , Huckaby is a .222 hitter with three home runs and 31 RBI in 161 games played....
was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays.
Summary
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 coach Carlos ToscaCarlos Tosca
Carlos Tosca is the bench coach for the Atlanta Braves. He was the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2002 to 2004.-Biography:Tosca managed the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League until 1996....
, an experienced minor league manager. They went 58–51 under Tosca to finish the season 78–84. Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
, 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 by Carlos Delgado
Carlos Delgado
Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players....
. Ricciardi was credited for dumping Raúl Mondesí
Raúl Mondesí
Raúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino is a former Major League Baseball player and the current mayor of San Cristóbal Province in the Dominican Republic. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1994 as a right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers...
in mid-season to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
to free up his salary, which in turn was used for the off-season signing of Mike Bordick
Mike Bordick
Michael Todd Bordick is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four different teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Early life:Bordick's father, Michael, was in the Air Force,...
, Frank Catalanotto
Frank Catalanotto
Frank John Catalanotto is a former Italian American baseball outfielder. Nicknamed "Little Cat", the Long Island native bats left-handed and throws right-handed...
and Tanyon Sturtze
Tanyon Sturtze
Tanyon James Sturtze is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.He attended Saint Peter-Marian High School then Quinsigamond Community College and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. In , he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the minor league portion of...
. Promising young players were assigned to key roles, including starting third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
(who later won the Rookie of the Year Award for this year) and 23-year-old centre fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Vernon Wells, who had his first 100 RBI season replacing Mondesi. Another bright young player was Josh Phelps
Josh Phelps
Joshua Lee Phelps is a Major League Baseball first baseman who plays for the Telemarket Rimini. He bats and throws right-handed...
, a former catcher turned designated hitter, who hit 15 home runs.
Opening Day starters
- Homer BushHomer BushHomer Giles Bush is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Florida Marlins. He was a part of the Yankees 1998 World Championship....
, 2B - José Cruz, Jr.José Cruz, Jr.José Luis Cruz, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Over his nine year playing career, Cruz played for eight different teams. Standing 6'0" tall and weighing 210 pounds, Cruz was a right-handed switch hitter...
, OF - Carlos DelgadoCarlos DelgadoCarlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players....
, 1B - Darrin FletcherDarrin FletcherDarrin Glen Fletcher is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from to .Fletcher made his major league debut in 1989 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and appeared in 5 games. He saw limited major league playing time the following season...
, C - Roy HalladayRoy HalladayHarry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
, P - Eric HinskeEric HinskeEric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
, 3B - Felipe López, SS
- Raúl MondesíRaúl MondesíRaúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino is a former Major League Baseball player and the current mayor of San Cristóbal Province in the Dominican Republic. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1994 as a right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers...
, DH - Shannon Stewart, OF
- Vernon Wells, OF
Notable transactions
- May 26, 2002: Dan PlesacDan PlesacDaniel Thomas Plesac is a former Major League Baseball pitcher with an 18-year career from to . He played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Philadelphia Phillies...
was traded by the Blue Jays to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Cliff PolitteCliff PolitteCliff Anthony Politte is a right-handed Major League Baseball retired relief pitcher.Selected in the 54th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Politte came up to the parent club in . He threw the first pitch at the new Roger Dean Stadium in spring training that...
. - July 1, 2002: Raúl MondesíRaúl MondesíRaúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino is a former Major League Baseball player and the current mayor of San Cristóbal Province in the Dominican Republic. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1994 as a right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers...
was traded by the Blue Jays to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Scott WigginsScott WigginsScott Joseph Wiggins is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in , Wiggins was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in in exchange for Raúl Mondesí. Wiggins appeared in three games as a reliever for the Blue Jays as a September call-up in 2002.-External...
.
2002 Draft picks
SourceThe 2002 MLB Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
was held on June 4–5.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College/School | Nationality | Signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | Russ Adams Russ Adams Russ Moore Adams is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets organizations. Adams bats left-handed and throws with his right hand.... |
SS | North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels baseball The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They participate in the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division.... |
 |
2002–06–07 |
| 2 | 55 | Dave Bush | RHP | Wake Forest Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball The Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team is the intercollegiate baseball team of Wake Forest University. The program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
|
2002–06–04 |
| 3 | 86 | Justin Maureau | LHP | Wichita State Wichita State Shockers The Shockers are the athletic teams at Wichita State University, who compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State is well known for its fan support and its baseball program, which has the highest winning percentange of any college baseball team over the past 31 years... |
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| 4 | 110 | Adam Peterson Adam Peterson (2000s pitcher) Adam L. Peterson is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peterson appeared in three games with the Toronto Blue Jays in .... |
RHP | Wichita State Wichita State Shockers The Shockers are the athletic teams at Wichita State University, who compete in the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State is well known for its fan support and its baseball program, which has the highest winning percentange of any college baseball team over the past 31 years... |
|
2002–06–11 |
| 5 | 146 | Chad Pleiness | RHP | Central Michigan Central Michigan Chippewas The Central Michigan Chippewas are the sixteen men's and women's athletics teams of Central Michigan University. CMU was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1950-1970. The school's athletics programs are affiliated with the NCAA and compete in the Mid-American... |
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| 6 | 176 | Jason Perry Jason Perry (baseball) Jason Kyle Perry is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Perry throws right-handed and bats left-handed.-Toronto Blue Jays:... |
OF | Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Georgia Tech athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
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2002–06–22 |
| 7 | 206 | Brian Grant | RHP | C.B. Aycock High School Charles B. Aycock High School Charles B. Aycock High School is a public high school in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States, that opened in 1961. The school’s physical address is Pikeville, North Carolina. This area of North Carolina is near the birthplace of Governor Charles Brantley Aycock. During Governor Aycock’s... (NC North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... ) |
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| 8 | 236 | Chris Leonard | LHP | Miami (FL) Miami Hurricanes baseball The Miami Hurricanes baseball team is the college baseball program that represents the University of Miami.Since 1973, the program has been one of college baseball's elite with 23 College World Series appearances, winning four national championships and advancing to the NCAA regionals a record 39... |
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| 9 | 266 | Russ Savickas | RHP | Johnston High School Johnston Senior High School (Rhode Island) Johnston Senior High School is a public high school located in Johnston, Rhode Island, USA. This school serves as part of the Johnston Public School System, and is home to approximately 900 students in grades 9 through 12. The school colors are Columbia Blue and White, and the School Mascot is a... |
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| 10 | 296 | Eric Arnold | 2B | Rice Rice Owls baseball The Rice Owls baseball team is the interscholastic baseball team representing Rice University in Houston, Texas. The Rice Owls have been a regular fixture in the NCAA Tournament, participating in every tournament since 1995 including a victory in the 2003 College World Series, the first national... |
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Roster
| 2002 Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches (hitting) (pitching) (first base) (bullpen) (bench) (third base) |
||||||
Game log
| 2002 Game Log | |
|---|---|
Starters by position
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF | Vernon Wells | 159 | 608 | 167 | .275 | 23 | 100 |
Other batters
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Lawrence Joe Lawrence Joseph Dudley Lawrence Joseph Dudley Lawrence Joseph Dudley Lawrence (born February 13, 1977 in Lake Charles, Louisiana is a former Major League Baseball player. He played in 55 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in , mostly as a second baseman.-Sources:... |
55 | 150 | 27 | .180 | 2 | 15 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|
Award winners
- Eric Hinske, Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award
- Eric Hinske, The Sporting News Rookie of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Rookie of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award was established in 1946 by The Sporting News .*In 1947-48, and again in 1950, a single award was given for all of Major League Baseball....
All-Star Game
2002 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2002 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 73rd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 9, 2002 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the home of...
- Roy HalladayRoy HalladayHarry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
, Pitcher