Now that Toronto’s hope for a Stanley Cup has been extinguished for another year, the city’s sports fans must look elsewhere for their entertainment during the summer months. Many will turn their attention down Front Street to where the new look Toronto Blue Jays will try to build on last year’s promising season. The Jays aim to gain ground on perennial powerhouses the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the ultra-competitive American League East division.
After a seemingly successful off-season that saw General Manager J.P. Ricciardi revamp almost the entire pitching staff, fans held high hopes for the Jays as the season began. The city’s love affair with the Leafs distracted many from noticing that the Jays stumbled in the month of April to a 7-15 record, the worst start in franchise history.
The Jays’ dismal performance in April has not only cost them a chance at building upon the successes of last season, but it has also hurt attendance and interest in the team. Since the baseball strike in 1994, Skydome attendance has declined from an average of more than 50,000 a game in 1993, to a dismal 14,000 fans at a recent Wednesday night game against the Royals.
While some critics may blame the declining attendance on the poor play in April, the problem with the team lies in the budget constraints placed upon them by their owners, the Rogers Corporation. The company, which bought the team from Interbrew in 2000, quickly became tired of years of over-spending during the disastrous reign of General Manager Gord Ash, who spent freely but failed to deliver results on the field.
In 1989—the second year the Jays made the playoffs—the team’s payroll was in the top ten in the major leagues. Over the next few years the Jays were able to form a nucleus of homegrown talent, and add to it players like Roberto Alomar, Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor to create a mini-dynasty.
The similarities between this year’s team and the 1989 club are striking. The ’89 team boasted established players like Dave Stieb, George Bell and Tony Fernandez, as well as an unparalleled farm system that would soon produce players like Juan Guzman, Pat Hentgen and John Olerud. This year’s team features several of today’s top stars such as Roy Halladay, Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells, as well as a farm system stocked with young talent.
The difference between these two teams is the payroll. While the ’89 team was able to compete with other major league teams money-wise, this year’s team is among the bottom ten in of payroll. This situation has hamstrung Ricciardi—forcing him to put together a patchwork bullpen and sacrifice depth on the bench—making it virtually impossible for the Jays to field a team on par with their rich division rivals.
While it is foolish to believe that the Jays can ever compete with these two teams in of overall salary, the Rogers Corporation does believe that the Jays can be successful in the American League East playing the financially responsible brand of baseball made popular by Billy Beane and the Oakland A’s. However, that team’s lack of success in the post season against both the Yankees and the Red Sox may indicate the same type of baseball will not translate into a winning formula in Toronto.
The key pieces are in place again for the Jays to be in position to play meaningful games in September and beyond. However, until the budget is increased to the point where it at least matches the league average, the Jays will have difficulty turning the corner in their hopes of reaching the post season for the first time in over ten years. Ten million dollars added to the payroll would lead to more wins and more fans. Unfortunately, the past seems to be holding the ownership back, and fans can expect another year of close finishes, near misses, and disappointment.
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