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Mediocre Jays
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Record: 80-82
Home: 40-42 Road: 40-40
Runs: 767 Runs allowed: 753
Grass: 30-31 Turf: 50-51
vs. RHP: 64-62 vs. LHP: 16-20
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A season that began so positively in Toronto ended so typically -- 80-82 record, 16 games behind New York. In the last six full seasons since winning back-to-back titles in '92-93, the Jays have averaged marks of: 81-81, 17 GB. While it's tough to predict anything about next year's team right now, Jays fans can be assured that it will have a different look to it. That's because Toronto already parted ways with GM Gord Ash, hitting coach Cito Gaston and third-base coach Terry Bevington. Manager Buck Martinez is looking to put his stamp on the ballclub that had too few quality starts and too many strikeouts.
Best Pitcher: While it's pathetic to have your lone All-Star be a middle reliever, there was nothing pathetic about the 2001 season of Paul Quantrill. Eleven wins, a 3.04 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 4.8 were quite an improvement from his 2000 totals of two, 4.52 and 1.9 respectively. Quantrill did struggle at SkyDome (5.06 ERA) and seemed to tire as the season wore on, but he did stay strong enough to make 80 appearances and get signed to a three-year extension.
Best Position Player: Despite being the ad nauseum subject of trade rumors all season, Shannon Stewart was able to focus enough to lead the team with a .316 average. He also hit a team-high 44 doubles, stole 27 bases, and posted a solid .371 on-base percentage. Carlos Delgado finished with 39 homers, 102 RBI and a .408 OBP; but struggled early (.251 BA through July) and late (one homer in last 28 games).
Grading The Manager: C. Buck Martinez wasn't horrible as a first-year skipper, but he still guided a talented team to a sub-.500 record. Toronto struck out way too much (four hitters had 125-plus Ks) and didn't move runners, but Martinez was not hesitant to put his team in motion. Toronto finished with 156 steals, good for third-most in the AL. Stealing bases also helped the Jays to ground into only 111 double plays, the second-best total in the league (Anaheim had 109). Toronto's 28-21 record in one-run games was also excellent, despite the erratic arm of closer Billy Koch.
Most Improved: It's a toss-up between Kelvim Escobar and Homer Bush. Escobar voiced his displeasure about remaining in the 'pen, so Buck Martinez placed him in the rotation. Escobar finished 4-4 with a 3.18 ERA in his 11 starts, a huge jump from his 7-13, 5.42 ERA as a starter in 2000. Bush also showed a huge improvement, raising his average from .215 in '00 to .306 this year. His eight -- count 'em eight -- walks in 271 at-bats were ugly, but Bush only made four errors at second base. But as usually is the case with Bush, he missed significant time to injuries, sitting for 68 games with thumb and hamstring problems.
Biggest Weakness: Starting pitching. With Mike Sirotka sitting all year after shoulder surgery, there was no clear ace of this staff. Esteban Loaiza and Chris Carpenter, the two mainstays in the 2001 rotation, both had their problems. Loiaza posted a 5.60 ERA after May 1 and Carpenter finished 3-8 with a 4.83 ERA at home. The two surprising bright spots were the much-maligned duo of Escobar and Roy Halladay, who went 5-3 with a 2.71 ERA in 16 starts. But even with all five of these guys healthy and pitching to their capabilities (fat chance), the Jays still have a mediocre rotation.
Gaining Momentum: Newcomer Vernon Wells got called up at the end of this season and did quite well, hitting .312 with five steals in 30 games. With speculation that either -- or both -- Shannon Stewart and Jose Cruz Jr. will not return, Wells should finally get his chance to play in 2002. If Raul Mondesi continues to underachieve, he hit .207 after the All-Star break, another spot could open up for young Vernon.
Kicked Off The Island: Since Gord Ash, Joey Hamilton and Deion Sanders were already booted, the next to go should be Darrin Fletcher. The 35-year-old poor defensive backstop hurt the Jays in all areas this season. He hit a paltry .226, threw out a mere 24 percent of basestealers and "earned" $3.5 million to do so.
Brian Gramling is an assistant editor at ESPN.com.
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