The 2030 Blue Jays

The 2030 season was a promising one for the Toronto Blue Jays coming into the year.  The problem was that they would once again, most likely, have to go through the Los Angeles Angels to claim their fourth title in FCM history.  They knew their core of players was in their prime with a good balance of talent throughout the roster. 

In the off-season the team made very few major additions beyond RP Adolfo Ouintana, but the team had reason to believe it could compete.  The season started with 17 wins in April and followed it with 19 wins in May.  A tough June left the team struggling to stay ahead of the hard-charging Boston Red Sox, but the team felt it had the move it needed to stem the tides.

On June 16th, the team was able to craft a three team deal with Minnesota and Baltimore that landed the team young slugger Jose Vargas and veteran infielder Marco Chave.  After that deal the team recovered slowly but in July they went 21-5, followed by 21-8 in August, and 18-9 in September.  Chave wasn't able to keep up his hot first half in Toronto, but he provided excellent defense and an upgrade after Jerry Olona went down with an injury.  Jose Vargas had 17 homeruns and 50 RBI in his half season with Toronto - numbers that project to a 30-100 season. 

The team coasted to it's 11th division title in 12 years and 5th consecutive.  In the first round they squared off with AL Central champs the Detroit Tigers.  Three uneventful games ended the season for the Tigers, going down 3-0 to the Jays.  Then came perhaps FCM's greatest comeback.

Up 8-2 in Game 1 of the series, the Blue Jays bullpen had a total collapse.  Previously mentioned Ouintana came in and quickly gave up a single, a walk, and a three run bomb to Tim VanDyke to make it 8-5.  For reasons baffling to all, he stayed in for the 9th and gave up a single, a walk, a single, a walk, and another single before Tim Van Dyke came to the plate again and hit a grand slam.  That's right, Van Dyke drove in seven runs in the last two innings of this game to go up 1-0. 

Game 2 saw Fernando Ontario and Albert Barrundia get shelled in a blow-out.  Game 3 saw Brian Fairthorne take a similar beating with 7 runs in the first two innings in route to a 3-0 series lead for the Angels.  At home with the series and the season on the line the Jays turned to Nathanial Wolfson.  Wolfy delivered a 3 hit, 8 strikeout complete game to deliver a huge win for the team and force a Game 5.

In Game 5 the Jays turned to ace Fernando Ontario for another win and again they got a great start - 7 innings, 3 hits, and just one earned run.  Two homeruns from Jose Vargas were all the team needed but 7 runs of support meant that the Jays had forced the series back to LA.

Game 6 saw young stud Jay Mantle vs. longtime Jay Alejandro Castilla.  Castilla delivered a quality start of 6 innings, 5 hits, 8 strikeouts, and only 2 runs allowed.  Hoving and Ouintana closed it out after Jose Vargas again hit two homeruns and drove in four runs. 

Game 7 was a difficult choice for the Jays - with both of their best starters already having pitched, Bosworth on the DL, and Fairthorne's awful Game 3 the Jays decided to bring back a pitcher who had an outstanding season: Brian "Duffman" Duff.  Fresh off the DL Duffman went the first 5 innings of the game without giving up a single run.  In the fifth inning of a scoreless game the Jays broke out - a two run homer from catcher Mike Artis and a grand slam from center-fielder Philip MacGruer gave the team a 6-0 lead and all they needed to finish off the series and the greatest comeback in FCM history.  The Angels, a juggernaut coming off of the first back-to-back championships in league history, had the team on the edge of the cliff but they rallied back, won, and headed to the World Series.

The Jays ended up winning it all over the Florida Marlins.  The Jays won 4 games decided by one run to win it, but were outscored 23-13 overall in the series.  In the end though, it didn't matter as the team collected their 4 world title.

Going forward the team has the following key cornerstones:

Infielder Sean Vogel continues to be a consistent MVP player and perhaps the best overall player in the league.  He's due to be a free agent following this season but the Jays will make every effort to resign him.  Vogel's consistent 35-140 seasons 1.000 OPS performances are a cornerstone of the franchise.

DH Chris Munroe, the 27 year old slugger selected in the same draft as Vogel, has also proved his value as one of the best sluggers in the game.  He's also due for free agency after this season but the team, again, has every intention of retaining him for many years to come.

CF Philip MacGruer is 25 and coming off an excellent all around season.  He drove in 90 runs, hit 12 home runs, scored 137 times, and stole 85 bases.  His outstanding speed and defense are a major asset to the team and he still has three seasons of team control left.

RF Chris Jackson - the young outfield had a breakout season hitting 21 homeruns and 93 RBI.  The switch hitter expects to be protecting Munroe and Vogel for many years.

C Mike Artis hit 20 homeruns and continues to be an outstanding game-caller behind the dish.  He's under team control for several more seasons.

IF/OF Jose Vargas is young and isn't expected to be carrying the team in Toronto.  His ALCS performance and tremendous power makes him a dangerous hitter for the team for many years.

1B Mike Vanner - the grizzled veteran has been with the team since he was drafted in 2014.  300 homeruns, 1000 RBI, and 5 gold gloves later the team was thrilled to sign him back for three more seasons. 

SP Fernando Ontario - Ontario has been with the team for four seasons now but is still just 25 years old.  He's the team's co-ace with Castilla and will also be a free agent following the next season.  His future with the team is almost certainly in a long-term deal. 

SP Alejandro Castilla - the Jays have had Castilla since 2021 and has been with the club for 9 seasons and has 146 wins already.  At that pace another 9 seasons (when he will be 37) he may be a 300 win player.  He'll be with the team for four more years.

The core looks great for this team for many years to come!

(Coming soon....20 greatest lists)