TORONTO BLUE JAYS MEDIA NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2008, ISSUE 6 Released June 24, 2008 IN THIS ISSUE.. A Quick Look Back: Blue Jays Stumble The Series Ahead: Looking for Home Field Advantage Road Trip That Follows: Channelling Hollywood Magic Change in flight plan: Gaston returns to manage team Jays Care Foundation hits one out of the ballpark Finding a soul mate can be as easy 1-2-3 Flashback Friday welcomes home acrobatic centre fielder Minor League Report A QUICK LOOK BACK Blue Jays fall to last place in American League East standings After posting a 20-10 record in May, recording the second best win total for the month in franchise history, the Blue Jays have struggled in June. With five wins this month, the Jays now find themselves in last place in the American League East looking to play catch-up. Through the first three weeks of the month, the Blue Jays had dropped seven straight road games, including a sweep at the hands of NL opponent Milwaukee. This was the first match-up between the teams since 2005 when the Brewers claimed the series 2-1 in Toronto. On its previous homestand, the team posted a 3-6 record to record their second losing homestand of 2008. The team had recorded only one losing homestand during the 2007 season. The team returns home to Rogers Centre having snapped a season high seven game losing streak by claiming the final game of the three game series versus Pittsburgh. June highlights: Joe Inglett recorded his first career grand slam home run in losing effort to Milwaukee on 06/19/2008. His last Major League HR came August 1, 2006 at Boston. Blue Jays pitching continues to pound the strike zone and currently have three starters in MLB s top 15 in strikeouts. A.J. Burnett is 10 th with 90 strikeouts in 91.1 IP. Roy Halladay and Shaun Marcum are tied for 13 th with 86 strikeouts apiece. Halladay has reached this number in 107.2 IP while Marcum has done so in 98.2 IP.
Despite an 0-1 record in June (with two ND), Marcum is once again at the top of the ERA standings with a respectable 2.56 ERA. He ranks fourth in all of Major League Baseball and second in the American League. It was recently announced that Marcum would miss his next start due to soreness in his right elbow. He was placed on the 15-day DL on 06/21/08. THE SERIES AHEAD Team looking to channel home field advantage Tuesday, June 24 Wednesday, June 25 Thursday, June 26 Friday, June 27 Saturday, June 28 Sunday, June 29 Blue Jays vs. Reds (7:07 pm, TSN) 25 Dates, 9 Innings Blue Jays vs. Reds (7:07 pm, TSN) Ladies Night Out Blue Jays vs. Reds (7:07 pm, SNet) Flashback Friday presented by Toronto Star and FAN 590: Devon White Blue Jays vs. Braves (7:07 pm, SNet) Shoppers Drug Mart & Tide to Go Jr. Jays Saturday presented by Toronto Star Blue Jays vs. Braves (1:07 pm, CBC) Giveaway: Tide to Go Pen (throughout game) Outdoor program featuring Extreme Trampoline Dog Day Blue Jays vs. Braves (1:07 pm, CBC) Giveaway: FedEX Replica Autograph Team Ball (first 10,000) >>>>Blue Jays 2008 June Schedule >>>>Blue Jays 2008 Giveaway Schedule THE ROAD TRIP THAT FOLLOWS Looking for Hollywood magic on west coast swing Interleague action is a distant memory as the Blue Jays fly to the west coast in search of some Hollywood magic. After facing five consecutive National League opponents in June, the team will once again face American League rivals. Toronto travels to Safeco Field to take on the Seattle Mariners. This is the second three-game series between the two clubs this year and the first in Seattle. The Mariners claimed the series 2-1 in early June at Rogers Centre. The two games claimed by the Mariners were both one-run affairs settled in the 10 th
inning and 9 th inning respectively. The Jays last series win on the road versus Seattle came in 1998. Seattle, currently in last place in the AL West division, made a move of their own and announced Jim Riggleman as the team s new skipper. The team s June 20 game versus Atlanta was his first Major League game since October 3, 1999 when he was with the Chicago Cubs. Toronto then travels to play the Angels of Anaheim for the final time in 2008. Toronto will be looking to re-write the season s story against the Angels in the final three games. The Blue Jays have claimed the season series in each of the past five seasons. The Club will be looking to keep that streak alive with a strong performance at Angel Stadium. The first place Angels (AL West) boast the third best record in MLB despite a 16-16 record versus teams under.500. They are an impressive 30-14 versus opponents who are.500 or better. This series could come down to the starting pitchers as both Clubs field strong rotations. The Angels starting pitchers lead the Majors with 39 victories and rank second in the AL with 484 IP. Angels starting pitchers have also held opponents to two earned runs or less in 20 of their last 23 wins. The Numbers: The Blue Jays will travel 8,380 km (or 5,207 miles) during this road trip before returning to Rogers Centre for the final homestand prior to the All-Star Break. On Call: Mal Romanin, Manager, Baseball Information, will be traveling with the team. He can be reached via cell phone and email at 416-230-2763 or mal.romanin@bluejays.com IN THE NEWS GASTON RECALLED FOR SECOND GO AROUND WITH BALL CLUB The Toronto Blue Jays announced the return of Manager Cito Gaston on Friday, June 20. Gaston, along with Dwayne Murphy (1B), Nick Leyva (3B) and Gene Tenace (hitting coach), stepped into their roles over the weekend and will return to Rogers Centre tomorrow (06/24). Murphy joins the Major League Club after serving as a Blue Jays Roving Minor League Hitting Instructor. Leyva and Tenace return to the Club they helped coach to World Series Titles. Leyva served as the third base coach from 1993 1997 while Tenace was a hitting coach and bench coach alongside Gaston from 1990 to 1997.
Gaston first managed the Blue Jays from 1989 to 1997 leading the team to four playoff appearances and two World Series Championships. A member of the Blue Jays Level of Excellence, Gaston will be adding to his career 681-635 record in a franchise high 1,316 games. JAYS CARE FOUNDATION HITS ONE OUT OF THE BALLPARK On Wednesday, June 11, Toronto Blue Jays players, coaches and staff joined the who s who of the City s corporate and social community as the Jays Care Foundation hosted the Field of Dreams Gala, presented by Accenture, in the stunning Crystal Court of the Royal Ontario Museum. The sold out crowd of over 600 guests enjoyed the culinary delights of Daniel & Daniel, a Blue Jays themed SKYY Vodka cocktail reception and spirited silent and live auction proceedings. As the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, the Jays Care Foundation is governed by an independent, volunteer Board of Directors with a vision to use the sport of baseball, the reach of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club, and the resources committed to the Foundation to serve children in need in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Money raised through this event directly supports charitable organizations, community programs and initiatives serving children and youth across the province of Ontario. In all, the Jays Care Foundation raised close to half-a-million dollars through event sponsorships, tickets, donations, raffle sales and both auctions. The money raised from the Gala will be used to support Rookie League, Granting efforts and the new Field of Dreams program: a capital projects pool that will invest in creating safe places for young people to play, learn and grow. With a growing need to create safe, functional spaces and sustainable programming for children and youth, the Jays Care Foundation is continually looking to provide benefits in the community. The Royal Ontario Museum provided an exquisite, crisp and elegant backdrop for the baseball themed evening that included a green carpet entrance in lieu of the traditional red one, green couches to lounge in while enjoying a blue or green cocktail by SKYY Vodka, as well as photo opportunities with current players and fan-favorite alumni Roberto Alomar (2B), Pat Hentgen (P) and Paul Beeston (executive). ET Canada s Rick Campanelli and Kim D Eon served as co-masters of Ceremonies while Gala sponsors Yahoo! Canada, Ericsson, Motorolla, RIM, MediaCom and Publicis helped make it all possible. DO YOU COME HERE OFTEN? Modern times have called for a change in the way individuals fill their social calendars. To help fill the void that a busy professional life can create, the
Toronto Blue Jays, in partnership with 25dates.com, are hosting the first of four speed dating events on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at Rogers Centre. The team launched the clever concept last season with great success. I wanted to share some great news, recently commented Karen. I went to your speed dating event at the Blue Jays game in June 2007. Not only did I have a great time, but I met Andrew there, who is the love of my life. We have been inseparable since and will be getting married in June of next year. Thanks to 25dates.com as well as the Blue Jays we re fans for life. Individuals no longer have to choose between a love of baseball and finding their true love. Now individuals can experience both. For $54.99, individuals will be treated to the unique Speed Dating event in the comfort of the 200 Level Bases Seats in section 215. While overlooking the game and cheering the team to victory, individuals will be meeting and mingling with like-minded spectators. Following the game, guests will be treated to an exclusive postgame party at the HSBC Club VIP. >>>>>More information (http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/ticketing/speed_dating_form.jsp) WORLD SERIES MAGIC RETURNS TO ROGERS CENTRE The Toronto Blue Jays welcome back outfielder Devon White on Friday, June 27 as part of Flashback Friday celebrations. White patrolled the outfield for the Blue Jays from 1991 1995. His speed and leaping abilities often mystified batters as he would climb the outfield wall snatching away a sure hit. The most memorable of these plays came in the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves as he robbed David Justice of a hit and almost helped convert a triple play opportunity. In his five seasons as a Blue Jay, White won two World Series titles (1002, 1993) and five Gold Glove awards (1991-1995). He also elevated his game at the plate during post-season action batting.336 as compared to.270 in the regular season. White made his Major League debut on September 2, 1985 as a member of the California Angels. In 1988, only his second full season in the Majors, he won the first of seven Gold Glove awards. His second came the following year (1989). Devon White continuing playing until 2001 having seen action with the Florida Marlins (1996-1997), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998), Los Angeles Dodgers (1999-2000) and Milwaukee Brewers (2001). While a member of the Marlins, White earned his third World Series Championship.
White remains active in the Major Leagues as an outfield coordinator for the Washington Nationals. He also represented the Club at the recent First Year Player Draft. White will be signing autographs at Gate 6A from 5:30 6:15 p.m. THE MINOR LEAGUE REPORT (through games of 06/22/08) Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA) Record: 43-32 Place in the Standings: 3 rd in North, 2.5 GB Notable Performances: John Parrish was named the International Pitcher of the Week for the week ending June 15. Parrish has won his last two starts and has improved to a leagueleading 10-0 on the season with a 2.83 ERA. Chiefs Manager Doug Davis has been named as a coach for the IL All-Star team for the upcoming 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game which will take place at Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday, July 16 at 7:05 p.m. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA) Record: 2 7-46 Place in the Standings: 6 th in Northern, 1 6.5 GB Notable Performances: Catcher J. P. Arencibia has been promoted to New Hampshire from the Dunedin Blue Jays. In five games so far with the Fisher Cats, Arencibia has recorded five hits including two doubles and a home run. Second baseman Scott Campbell continues to lead the Eastern League in batting with a.343 average in 62 games played. Campbell has recorded 79 hits with 14 doubles, 4 home runs and 25 RBI. He has also reached base on 39 walks which is good for sixth overall in the League. Dunedin Blue Jays (Class A Advanced) Record: 3 0 (2 nd half; 40-33 overall) Place in the Standings: 1 st in West, - GB Notable Performances: The Dunedin Blue Jays are undefeated in the second half of the Florida State League season and sit atop the standings. Overall, the team has won five straight games (June 17 22) with one postponement due to rain. LF Cory Patton currently sits fourth in the League with a.314 batting average. His is on an eight game hitting streak in which he has recorded five multi-hit games and overall has gone 14-for-35 for a.400 average with 3 HR and 8 RBI. Lansing Lugnuts (Class A) Record: 4 0 (2 nd half; 43 31 overall) Place in the Standings: 1 st in Eastern, 0.0 GB Notable Performances: The Lansing Lugnuts ended the first half of the season as Midwest League Champs and have continued their winning ways by posting a 4-0 record to start the second half of the season. Overall, the Lugnuts have won five in a row and are 7 3 in their last 10 games. C. J. Ebarb s walk-off single gave the Lugnuts a four-game sweep of Fort Wayne with a 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon.
Auburn Doubledays (Class A) Record: 6 1 Place in the Standings: 1 st in NYP Pinckney, - GB Notable Performances: Toronto s first round draft pick, David Cooper, is helping Auburn stay in the top position. Cooper is batting.321 in the first seven games of the season. He has driving in 6 RBI s on nine hits including one home run, three doubles and four multi-hit games. Teammate Bartolo Nicolas leads the League in batting with a.471 average in five games. GCL Blue Jays (Rookie League) Record: 0-4 Place in the Standings: 6 th in GCL North, 3.0 GB Notable Performances: Though winless through the first four games of the season, the GCL Blue Jays are swinging with every at bat. The team has recorded at least one run in the first two innings of three of their first four games. They also continue to battle late into the games recording runs in the eighth inning or later in two of the games. OF Welinton Ramirez shook off an 0-for-4 night in the opening game and is now on a three game hit streak with two triples, a double and two RBI s recorded.