Yesterday Jays broadcaster Jamie Campbell put together his all time favourite Jays list. While not a bad list, I happen to disagree on a few selections. Obviously leaving Kelly Gruber off the list for 3B is at best a slap in the face and, let me be frank, at worst an atrocity. Let me now present to you my all time favourite Jays team.
ROTATION:
1. Roy Halladay
2. Dave Stieb
3. Roger Clemens – the most dominant pitching seasons ever turned in by a Jay
4. Pat Hentgen
5. Jimmy Key
Sentimental:
Jim Clancy-The first Jays starter to have a real sniff at success if I recall correctly
John Cerrutti
Doyle Alexander
Mike Flanagan – He was the epitome of the crafty lefthanded pitcher
Todd Stottlemyre -I loved his bloodied up chin from his headfirst slide in the World Series
MIDDLE RELIEVER:
Duane Ward
Sentimental:
Jim Acker – When his sinker was on, it was one of the best in baseball. But..wow, did he ever give up a lot of homeruns in retrospect.
Mark Eichhorn – I loved, absolutely loved his funky sidearm delivery as a kid growing up
CLOSER:
Tom Henke – The Terminator had a 10.295k/9IP rate. Amazing.
Sentimental:
Billy Koch – I liked the cut of his jib. And 100mph fastball.
BJ Ryan
FIRST BASE:
Carlos Delgado
Sentimental:
Fred McGriff
SECOND BASE:
Roberto Alomar: You were expecting Joe Lawrence?
Sentimental:
Orlando Hudson – The O-Dog can pick it!!!
THIRD BASE:
Kelly Gruber – you are kidding me if you think anyone else belongs here
Sentimental:
Rance “Tight Pants” Mullinks
SHORT-STOP:
Tony Fernandez
Sentimental:
Alfredo Griffin
CATCHER:
Ernie Whitt
Sentimental:
Pat Borders
Gregg Zaun
Rick Leach
Charlie O’Brien
Darrin Fletcher
Greg Myers
Ken Huckaby – for what he did to Jeter
(I like me some Jays catchers)
LEFT-FIELD:
Jorge Bell – best Rule V pick ever?
Sentimental:
Joe Carter
CENTRE-FIELD:
Devon White – As my Dad always says, he was as fast as greased lightning.
Sentimental:
Lloyd “Shaker” Moseby
RIGHT-FIELD:
Jesse Barfield – Huge cannon! (That’s what she said)
Sentimental:
Shawn Green
Junior Felix
DH:
Paul Molitor
Sentimental:
Candido Maldonado
Coaching Staff:
Bobby Mattick, Brian Butterfield, Al Widmar, Brad Arnsberg, Mel Queen, Cito Gaston (as hitting coach)
Can’t argue with too many. Maybe Speier as all-time releiver (eh, Early?).
Not too many current Jays. Is White better than Wells? (and if so, what would White’s contract be worth?)
No Dave Winfield and No Phil Niekro? I thought being in the hall of fame and killing shithawks were good things… Where is the Jack Morris love?
Good article. Flanagan was a starter. And leaving Grube off the team makes Campbell’s list barely worth dignifing with a response.
Can’t argue with too much here either. My sentimental favs were all those mid 80s Jays, even if they sucked I loved them. My three outfielders are Wells, Bell and Carter. My releiver is probably Quantrill but Eichorn had some solid years – missed qualifying for ROY by a hair of some sort in ’86. I might even put Ward ahead of Henke or Quant but he played both so he stays out. Look at the ’85 releivers, Tom Filer and Dennis Lamp (18-0 combined) had spectacular seasons from the pen and are often (meaning always) over looked in any mention of Jays history.
Devo played in Toronto for 5 years and racked up 5 GG because he is a defensive superstar and I love him for it. Offensively he isn’t the same player Wells is, but I still like him due to the warm and fuzzies I get when i think about him.
No Winfield respeck, no Niekro respeck. Jack Morris is good, doesn’t make my top 5 but he is still a stud. It is either Morris or Hentgen for me. Both had money handlebar moustaches so it makes for an even more difficult decision.
Winfield played one year, Clemens two and they were solid years, but for the short stints have to leave them off all-time team. Neikro, Viola (was Righetti a Jay) played in a handful of games and can’t be included by me.
Juan Guzman and Dave Stewart were a pair of killers as well
Now that I look at this and it is 3 years later, it might be a time to revisit the Devo/Vernon Wells question. Is he better than Wells? Is Wells’ contract, 3 years later, really indicative of his worth?
Might have to fit Jose Reyes in at SS in a couple of years as well.
Wow, John Olerud didn’t even merit a sentimental fave? I guess nice guys really do finish last.
Mike Flanagan as a sentimental pick? The guy who gave up the longest home run in Jays history to Jose Canseco? Senor Steroids parked that batting practice fastball in the fifth deck at Skydome. Flanagan should have killed himself then.
WADDUP PEOPLE!! Just trying to get more hits on my YouTube video I just uploaded!!! It’s called “JOSE REYES – WELCOME TO TORONTO” Hope you all enjoy it!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iRl6xN5cpo&feature=plcp
Leach was a former star Wolverines QB who played 1B/DH/OF, but who never played C.
SS Tony Fernandez
2B Roberto Alomar
RF Jose Bautista
1B Carlos Delgado
DH Paul Molitor
LF George Bell
CF Vernon Wells
3B Kelly Gruber
C Ernie Whitt
Bench: CF Devon White
OF/1B Joe Carter
IF Alfredo Griffin
C Pat Borders
Starting 5:
Roy Halladay
Roger Clemens
Dave Stieb
Pat Hentgen
Jimmy Key
Bullpen
Tom Henke (closer)
Duane Ward (setup)
BJ Ryan (closer)
Mark Eichhorn
Scott Downs (setup)
Todd Stottlemyre (long relief/spot starter)
Jim Clancy (long relief/spot starter)
Unless that team is playing against other all-time great teams that’s about a 120 win team!
Joe Carter played Right Field