Blue Jays Mr. Potato Head Giveaway Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Mets (12:07 pm, Rogers Preview)

Transcription

1 TORONTO BLUE JAYS MEDIA NEWSLETTER Volume 2006, Issue 10 Released June 23, 2006 IN THIS ISSUE The Homestand Ahead: A New York Minute Causing a Stink Phacing the Phillies The Road Trip That Follows: Hot, Hot, Hot! Diamonds Are a Jays Best Friend: Northern Diamonds Gala Set For Monday Are You a Chacin Man?: Cologne Giveaway on the 27 th Let s Spend the Night Together: Jays Host Fourth Family Sleepover Veteran Catcher Pitches in for Parkinson Research The Italian Job: Jays Host Italian Heritage Day to Close Homestand Rogers Home Phone Dials Up Fireworks & Flags for Hello Canada Day T.G.I.F.! Bell & Olerud Both In For Flashback Friday Visits By the Numbers: Delgado Returns in a New York State of Mind A Picture Tells a Thousand Words: Chacin Starts At Rogers Video, While Ryan Finishes Up At GM Dealership The Minor League Report: Patterson s Star Shines Brightest At FSL All-Star Game Notable & Quotable THE HOMESTAND AHEAD JAYS SPEND A NEW YORK MINUTE WITH DELGADO, MAKE A STINK WITH THE DEBUT OF CHACIN AND GET PHIRED UP TO PHACE THE PHILLIES Friday, June 23 Flashback Fridays Presented by The FAN 590 George Bell Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Mets (7:07 pm, Rogers Sportsnet) Saturday, June 24 Jr. Jays Saturdays Presented by The Toronto Star Fourth Annual Family Sleepover Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Mets (4:07 pm, Rogers Sportsnet) Sunday, June 25 Monday, June 26 Blue Jays Mr. Potato Head Giveaway Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Mets (12:07 pm, Rogers Preview) Jays Care Foundation Northern Diamonds Gala (6:00 pm, The Carlu) Tuesday, June 27 Chacin Cologne Night Presented by The FAN 590 Toronto Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals (7:07 pm, TSN) Wednesday, June 28Pitch in for Parkinson s Night Toronto Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals (7:07 pm, TSN) Thursday, June 29 Toronto Blue Jays vs. Washington Nationals (7:07 pm, Rogers Sportsnet)

2 Friday, June 30 Saturday, July 1 Sunday, July 2 Flashback Fridays Presented by The FAN 590 John Olerud Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (7:07 pm, Rogers Sportsnet) Hello Canada Day Presented by Rogers Home Phone Jr. Jays Saturdays Presented by The Toronto Star Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (4:07 pm, Rogers Sportsnet) Mr. SUB Blue Jays Sports Bag Giveaway Italian Heritage Day Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies (1:07 pm, Rogers Sportsnet) >>>Blue Jays 2006 June Schedule >>>Blue Jays 2006 July Schedule >>>Blue Jays 2006 Giveaways Schedule >>>Printable Schedule >>>Sortable Schedule >>>Day by Day Results THE ROAD TRIP THAT FOLLOWS HOT, HOT, HOT! It s fair to say the Blue Jays are bound to get hot just before the All-Star break this year. Unfortunately for Jays fans, that last statement has little or nothing to do with the team s on-field performance and everything to do with the respective climates of the two cities Toronto visits for seven games in seven days just before the break. The average daily high in Arlington, Texas in the month of July is 96 degrees Fahrenheit that s 36 degrees Celsius! The record temperature in the home of the Texas Rangers was established in July 1980 when it hit 113 degrees. By comparison, Kansas City s average high for July of 89 F or 32 C might seem positively refreshing if it weren t for the smothering humidity for which the area is known. The Numbers: The Blue Jays will play seven games in seven days, three in Arlington with the Rangers and four in K.C. with the Royals to finish the first half of the season. The team will make three flights covering 3,779 kilometers or 2,489 miles >>>Blue Jays 2006 June Schedule >>>Blue Jays 2006 July Schedule IN THE NEWS DIAMONDS ARE A JAYS BEST FRIEND: NORTHERN DIAMONDS GALA SET FOR MONDAY The Jays Care Foundation hosts one of its signature fundraising events on Monday when 600 guests join the Blue Jays for the sold-out Northern Diamonds Gala. This year s gala dinner and auction at The Carlu (7 th floor, 444 Yonge Street) is presented by Siemens, with the kind support of TSN, Rogers, Mark Lash Fine Jewelry, Pravda Vodka Bar and Jackson Triggs. As in years past, the event promises attendees the chance to mingle with the Blue Jays players and coaches, enjoy gourmet dining and live entertainment and bid on great prize packages in both silent and live auctions. Last year s event generated a quarter-million dollars for the Jays Care Foundation. The proceeds benefit the Jays Care

3 Foundation in its continued support of Rookie League Baseball, the Field of Dreams diamond restoration program and in its grant process. In late May, in the first of two rounds of grants this year, the Jays Care Foundation issued $116,500 to 13 different charities and programs supporting children and youth initiatives in the community. Members of the media are welcome to visit the Northern Diamonds Gala for interviews and photographs with Blue Jays players and staff and the party-goers at this dazzling affair. >>>More on the Jays Care Foundation >>>Jays Care Foundation 2006 Schedule of Events ARE YOU A CHACIN MAN?: COLOGNE GIVEAWAY ON THE 27 TH Clearly, Gustavo Chacin would prefer to be known more for pitching like Colon than pitching a cologne. But on Tuesday night, he will join with the fragrance s co-creators, Landry & Stellick of The FAN 590, in celebrating Chacin Cologne Night at Rogers Centre. The first ten thousand fans to arrive at the ballpark will receive a coveted sample vial of the fragrance, which, according to its inventors, smells like a 20- win season. The cologne, which first began as an on-air gag on the Jays flagship radio station, is hardly a joke now. This giveaway has drawn significant media interest across North America rating mentions on national broadcasts in both Canada and the U.S. and splashing down in the pages of Sports Illustrated (see Notable & Quotable), ESPN The Magazine and newspapers across North America. The Blue Jays promotional team has two other giveaways planned for this homestand. On Sunday, the first five thousand kids (14 and under) will be presented with a Blue Jays Mr. Potato Head Doll. The following Sunday (July 2), a great tradition will continue with ten thousand fans receiving Blue Jays sports bags compliments of Mr. SUB. >>>Blue Jays 2006 Giveaways Schedule >>>Multimedia menu for Chacin Cologne including television and radio ads & photo galleries >>>Gustavo Chacin s Player Page >>>Visit the official website of The FAN 590 LET S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER: JAYS HOST FOURTH FAMILY SLEEPOVER The Blue Jays Family Sleepover has become a truly popular fixture on the Club s promotional schedule. So much so that this year s event was a sell-out almost before the Club even really began promoting it. Just over 400 Jays fans will be spending Saturday night at Rogers Centre, sleeping over on the field after taking in that day s game with the Mets and being treated to a whole series of activities. Those activities include an autograph session with a group of Jays players, a tour of the team s clubhouse and a late night movie on the JaysVision big screen. This event is about fun for families with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Jays Care Foundation. Members of the media are welcome to visit Rogers Centre on Saturday night for interviews and photographs with the sleepover participants. >>>Blue Jays Community Outreach

4 VETERAN CATCHER PITCHES IN FOR PARKINSON RESEARCH A number of Jays have charities of choice they attach themselves to beyond the Jays Care Foundation. But few give as much time and effort to their preferred charity as Gregg Zaun does with fundraising for research into Parkinson Disease. He has good reason to do so. In 2003, his mother Cherie was diagnosed with the neuro-degenerative disease. Zaun hosted the first of many fundraisers that year while playing with the Houston Astros. Since his arrival in Toronto, he has worked diligently on the annual Pitch in for Parkinson s promotion, run by the Parkinson Society Canada. Season ticket subscribers have been asked to donate tickets to Wednesday night s game to be packaged and re-sold by the Society. As an added incentive, the ticket packages include a special reception hosted by the Zaun family at Sightlines Restaurant. For the second consecutive season, Zaun will line up and catch the ceremonial first pitch from his mother. Last year, Cherie was delighted to watch as her son doubled on Pitch in for Parkinson s Night to record his 500 th career hit in the big leagues. This represents the 17 th consecutive year the Blue Jays have teamed with Parkinson Society Canada on such an event. >>>Gregg Zaun s Player Page >>>Community Outreach Activities At Rogers Centre >>>Learn more about the Parkinson Society Canada at ROGERS HOME PHONE DIALS UP FIREWORKS & FLAGS FOR HELLO CANADA DAY The Blue Jays will celebrate our nation s birthday with fireworks on Hello Canada Day presented by Rogers Home Phone. The first twenty thousand fans to arrive at Rogers Centre on July 1 to watch the Jays face the Phillies will be presented with a foam Canadian flag courtesy of Rogers Home Phone. An equal number of fans will be given Rogers Home Phone note pads on their way out of the stadium -- but not before a fireworks show. One lucky fan and up to five guests will get to watch the post-game fireworks from the Blue Jays dugout and will also receive a special prize package. Rogers Home Phone bills itself as giving Canadians a new, real alternative when selecting a reliable home telephone service. THE ITALIAN JOB: JAYS HOST ITALIAN HERITAGE DAY TO CLOSE HOMESTAND The final game of this homestand might take on the look and feel of an international soccer match featuring the famed Azzurri. As part of Italian Heritage Day, one thousand fans in a special seating section in Rogers Centre will don a red, white or green t-shirt to form a makeshift Italian flag in the stands. Only in this instance, they ll be cheering from the Viva Italia Active Green + Ross Party Zone for Canada s baseball team, instead of Italy s soccer team. Ralph Chiodo, the owner of Active Green + Ross, has purchased the seats in this Club 200 section and is re-selling them with the proceeds graciously passed along to Toronto s Hospital for Sick Children and the Cristina Ciccolini Bone Marrow Fund. As part of the day s festivities, noted Italian-Canadian recording artist Carlo Coppola will perform the national anthems. Italian Heritage Day is part of the Blue Jays Heritage Series presented by OMNI Television. Over the coming months, the Blue Jays will host special events in celebration with Toronto s Greek, Irish and Japanese communities. >>>Blue Jays Special Events

5 T.G.I.F.! BELL & OLERUD IN FOR FLASHBACK FRIDAY VISITS With the current homestand stretching over 10 days, fans will be treated to two separate editions of Flashback Fridays presented by The FAN 590. In for the first Friday will be the first and only Blue Jay to win the AL MVP award George Bell. He ll be followed a week later by the only batting champion to ever pull on a Jays uniform John Olerud. Arguably the best Rule Five draft pick this side of Roberto Clemente, Bell was a three-time Silver Slugger and two-time American League All-Star with Toronto and the key figure in the team s first three division crowns. In his MVP season in 1987, Bell led the American League with 134 RBI and finished a close second to Oakland s Mark McGwire with a Club record 47 home runs. That year he became the first Blue Jay ever voted into the All-Star Game s starting lineup by the fans. Bell s name pops up repeatedly in the Blue Jays all-time record book as only Carlos Delgado has combined to hit more homers and collect more RBIs with Toronto than Bell. Olerud not only possessed one of the sweetest left-handed swings the game has ever known, but also an innate ability to get on base for those powerhouse Jays teams of the early nineties. He holds both the highest single season (.473, 1993) and career on base percentage (.395) in franchise history. The.363 batting average he posted in winning the AL batting crown in 1993 also stands as a Club record. Both Bell and Olerud will take part in autograph sessions on the 100 Level concourse on their respective Flashback Fridays. They will also be saluted in on-field ceremonies during the game. THE FLASHBACK FRIDAY FILE GEORGE BELL (Blue Jays statistics only) Games 1,181 Hits 1,294 Extra Base Hits Home Runs 202 RBI 740 Total Bases 2,201 THE FLASHBACK FRIDAY FILE JOHN OLERUD (Blue Jays statistics only) Games 920 Hits 910 Doubles Extra Base Hits 328 RBI 471 BB OBP >>>More on Flashback Fridays Presented by The FAN 590

6 BY THE NUMBERS DELGADO RETURNS IN A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND One of the most popular sports figures Toronto has ever known will make his return to Rogers Centre this weekend when Carlos Delgado and the New York Mets visit as part of Interleague play. A quick study of the Blue Jays All-Time Top Ten lists points to Delgado as perhaps the best hitter the franchise has ever known and certainly its most prolific. 336 The number of home runs hit by Carlos Delgado during his time with the Blue Jays, the most in franchise history. 133 The difference between Delgado s home run total with the Club and the next closest player - Joe Carter hit 203 home runs with the Jays. To put that number in perspective, only five players have hit more than 133 bombs with the Blue Jays and that only accounts for the difference between Delgado and Carter The season in which the Club s active home run leader Vernon Wells (127) might begin to approach Delgado s record, if he remains at his current pace and plays every day. 1,058 The number of runs batted in by Delgado during his time with the Blue Jays, again a Club record. 1,045 The combined RBI totals of Jesse Barfield and Ernie Whitt, the fifth and sixth ranked players on that same top ten list. 1,423 The number of games played with Toronto by Delgado, second only in franchise history to Tony Fernandez (1,450). During that time, Delgado scored more runs (889), hit more doubles (343), drew more walks (827) and collected more total bases (2,786) than any other player in franchise history. >>>Carlos Delgado s Player Page A PICTURE TELLS A THOUSAND WORDS CHACIN STARTS AT ROGERS VIDEO, WHILE RYAN FINISHES UP AT GM DEALERSHIP During the most recent homestand, a pair of Blue Jays hurlers were handed the ball for special appearances. Gustavo Chacin joined the co-creators of his namesake cologne, Landry & Stellick of The FAN 590, in signing autographs at the Rogers Video location at the company s corporate headquarters on Bloor Street. Fans in attendance were given a special sneak preview of Chacin Cologne. Meanwhile, B.J. Ryan got the call to the bullpen and made the latest in a summer-long series of appearances by Blue Jays at local G.M. dealerships. The Jays closer greeted fans, signed autographs and posed for photos at Don Howson Chevrolet. Tomorrow, Lyle Overbay will do the same at Popham Pontiac Buick GMC (1650 The Queensway, Etobicoke). >>>View the Chacin autograph signing >>>View the Ryan dealership visit >>>Meet the Blue Jays schedule >>>Gustavo Chacin s Player Page >>>B.J. Ryan s Player Page >>>Lyle Overbay s Player Page

7 THE MINOR LEAGUE REPORT PATTERSON S STAR SHINES BRIGHTEST AT FSL ALL-STAR GAME In an All-Star weekend that featured some of the top prospects in the minor leagues, no one wielded a bigger bat than Dunedin s Ryan Patterson. Patterson won the Florida State League s Home Run Derby one night, before driving in a game-high three runs the next, leading the West Division to a 7-4 win in the 45 th edition of the FSL All-Star Game. It s only fitting Patterson would stand out in the league s showcase affair, after standing as its top player through the first half of the season. The fourth round draft pick from Louisiana State University ranks among the league s top five in a number of different categories, most notably home runs and RBI. He has been the key figure in the most productive offence in the league, as the D-Jays are tops in the loop in batting average, homers and runs scored. Most importantly though, Dunedin has already clinched a playoff spot wrapping up the first half division title with a win this past Monday night. The only question with regards to that playoff spot for Patterson is whether he ll be around to participate in the FSL postseason or have already earned a promotion to the next level. Syracuse (Class AAA) Record: Place in the Standings: 5 th, 14.0 GB Player Spotlight: The longest hit streak by a member of the Blue Jays 40-man roster this season belongs to the SkyChiefs Sergio Santos. The shortstop prospect, who came to Toronto alongside Troy Glaus from Arizona in the deal for Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista, hit safely in 20 consecutive games between May 25 and June 13. During the streak, Santos batted.356 with ten doubles and 13 RBI. He fell two games shy of matching the longest hit streak in SkyChiefs history, a 22-game string by Robert Perez in He also fell one game shy of another club record after doubling in four straight games to start the streak. New Hampshire (Class AA) Record: Place in the Standings: 4 th, 12.0 GB Player Spotlight: A.J. Burnett s rehab stint in Manchester helped the Fisher Cats establish a new attendance record. Burnett pitched in the first game of a double-header sweep of the Portland Sea Dogs that drew 7,575 fans to MerchantAutos.com Stadium. The previous record was set last summer (on July 23) when 7,309 fans also watched Cats and Dogs do battle. Dunedin (Class A Advanced) Record: Place in the standings: Win First Half Division Title & Clinch Playoff Spot Player Spotlight: Ryan Patterson wasn t the only D-Jay who enjoyed his trip to Lakeland for the Florida State League All-Star Game (as detailed above). Ryan Klosterman drew a pair of walks in the game and came around to score both times in a pair of three-run innings for the West Division in its 7-4 win. Milton Tavarez came on to pitch in the seventh inning, retiring the side in order and catching the last batter looking in his only inning of work. He earned a hold. Catcher Robinzon Diaz and outfielder Dustin Majewski both started the game but went hitless.

8 Lansing (Class A) Record: Place in the Standings: Clinch First Half Wild Card & Playoff Spot Player Spotlight: Dunedin will be joined in the postseason by the Lugnuts, who clinched a first half playoff spot with a record. Cory Patton and Brian Pettway combined to hit 21 of Lansing s league-leading 51 home runs in the first half. Meanwhile, Aaron Tressler and Billy Carnline have helped the Lugnuts overcome a series of injuries, pitching both in relief and in the starting rotation. Tressler boasts a league-best 1.72 ERA, while Carnline has collected 66 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched. Patton and Carnline were both selected to participate in the Midwest League All-Star Game, along with pitcher Russ Savickas and infielder David Hicks. Auburn (Class A) Record: 1-2 Place in the Standings: 5 th, 1.0 GB Player Spotlight: 11 th round pick Matt Lane made a memorable pro debut in the Doubledays season opener. In his very first at bat as a professional, the 6-2 catcher from the University of Washington smacked a two-run home run, leading Auburn to a 4-3 win over Batavia. Pulaski (Rookie Advanced) Record: 2-0 Place in the Standings: 1 st, 1.0 GA Player Spotlight: Travis Snider is expected to make his professional debut this weekend with the P- Jays. He s already got some big plans for his big league signing bonus. Snider told the Seattle Post- Intelligencer he plans to buy a 2006 Cadillac Escalade with 26-inch rims and a two-bedroom townhouse in Mill Creek so his mom will have a place to live without paying rent while she awaits a liver transplant at the University of Washington. NOTABLE & QUOTABLE "It's warm and fresh with some sweet notes. It's an easy grab-and-go fragrance. You can keep it in your gym bag and wear it to the coffee shop or away for the weekend." Diego Gallego, a fragrance expert with Men s Chanel, on Chacin Cologne as told to Lisa Altobelli in this week s issue of Sports Illustrated