1989 Toronto Blue Jays (est. 1977)

[rpriske]

Long understood, the Blue Jays were officially eliminated from the playoffs today. That breaks a streak of six straight years in the post-season.

[rpriske]

September 16th, 1989

The Jays lost a close one, falling 3-2 to Cleveland.

Francisco Mendoza and Jose Flores homered for Toronto.

WP - Bryan Johnson (3-5)
Save - Norm Charlton (33)
LP - Orlando Contreras (1-5)

Record - 62-87

[rpriske]

September 17th, 1989

Robinson Lopez handed a lead over to the bullpen but they could not hold it and the Jays fell 5-3 to Cleveland.

WP - Jamie Moyer (7-5)
Save - Norm Charlton (34)
LP - Rick Nelson (0-2)

Record - 62-88

[rpriske]

September 18th, 1989

Toronto's anemic offence continues as they fell 4-2 to the Red Sox.

Francisco Mendoza homered for the Jays.

WP - John Smoltz (5-7)
Save - Jeffrey Pagan (7)
LP - Scott Holman (2-4)

Record - 62-89

[rpriske]

Players of the Week: Cecil Fielder, Indians & Nick Esasky, Pirates

The Jays fell to #24 on the Weekly Power Rankings, ahead of only the Yankees & Brewers.

[rpriske]

September 19th, 1989

The Blue Jays got back on the right side of the ledger, beating the Red Sox, 4-2.

Paul O'Neill hit his 6th home run with the Jays.

WP - Jim Kane (3-1)
Save - Lee Smith (25)
LP - Mike Moore (9-14)

Record - 63-89

[rpriske]

Claudio Luna, the Manager of the Woodstock Stingrays, has decided to retire.

Luna Managed the Saint-Hyacinthe Villains in 1987 and 1988, where he was moved to the Lethbridge Guerrillas until 1989 and was sent to Woodstock.

At 62 years old, he clearly did not like the direction his career was going.

[rpriske]

September 20th, 1989

The Jays lost a close one, falling 3-2 to the Red Sox.

David Roberts and Joseph Prost hit back to back home runs.

WP - Greg Swindell (3-2)
Save - Jeffrey Pagan (8)
LP - Orel Hershiser (4-16)

Record - 63-90

[rpriske]

The Dodgers clinched the NL West.

[rpriske]

September 22nd, 1989

The Jays tied it up in the 8th, only to give the lead right back and fell 4-3 to the Brewers.

Mike Marshall hit the game tying home run.

WP - Alfredo Martinez (2-8)
Save - Joe Boever (25)
LP - Ron Gravel (1-2)

Record - 63-91

[rpriske]

September 23rd, 1989

The Blue Jays lost a heart-breaker as the Brewers walked them off in the 13th inning, beating Toronto 5-4.

Joseph Prost homered for the Jays.

Greg Green left the game with a back issue but it doesn't seem serious.

WP - Alfredo Martinez (3-8)
LP - Yasushi Taguchi (0-1)

Record - 63-92

[rpriske]

The Rangers came looking to move Rance Mulliniks. He isn't amazing but the price was right and we have some infield weaknesses.

WAIVER TRADE

To RANGERS

Jose Rico
Felix Jose
Doug Snell

To BLUE JAYS

Rance Mulliniks (TEX retains 25 % of contract)
Joseph Craig
Roman Broucek
Henry Carey
Ken Carnes

[rpriske]

September 24th, 1989

Jim Kane overcame four error by his defence and led the Blue Jays to a 6-3 win over the Brewers.

Francisco Mendoza hit a big, three-run dinger for Toronto.

WP - Jim Kane (4-1)
Save - Lee Smith (26)
LP - Pete Smith (1-3)

Record - 64-92

[rpriske]

September 25th, 1989

A nice outing for Orel Hershiser turned into a 4-3 win for the Blue Jays over the Tigers.

WP - Orel Hershiser (5-16)
Save - Lee Smith (27)
LP - Francisco Ortiz (4-4)

Record - 65-92

[rpriske]

The Cardinals have clinched the NL East so they will be facing the Dodgers for the pennant.

Players of the Week: Jason Allen, Rangers & Dwight Smith, Braves

The Blue Jays held at #24 on the Weekly Power Rankings.

[rpriske]

Rance Mulliniks was claimed on waivers so the trade is off.

[rpriske]

September 26th, 1989

The Jays lost another tight one, falling 4-3 to the Tigers.

WP - Arthur Anderson (1-0)
Save - Jeff Parrett (37)
LP - Scott Holman (2-5)

Record - 65-93

[rpriske]

September 27th, 1989

Robinson Lopez was on fire today! He pitched a five hit shutout, as the Blue Jays edged the Tigers, 1-0!

Bob Allen left the game with a stiff back. He will probably take a couple of days off.

WP - Robinson Lopez (6-3)
LP - Bobby Witt (5-9)

Record - 66-93

[rpriske]

Cleveland clinched the AL East.

Ugh.

With four games left, the AL West is in a very exciting race.

Seattle - 96-62 --
California - 96-62 --
Texas - 96-62 --
Oakland - 93-65 3.0

[rpriske]

Terry Kennedy announced his retirement.

He was originally drafted by the Braves in 1977. He played with Atlanta from 1978 to 1981 when he was traded to the Yankees for Bucky Dent.
He stayed with New York until 1983 when he was traded again, this time to the Rangers.
He stayed with Texas until 1987 when he was traded to the Blue Jays, He stayed there for only five months before they traded him to the Expos.
During the 1988 season, he was released by the Expos and Toronto re-signed him to a minor league contract.
He was unable to work his way back to the majors and decided to hang them up.
His best season was 1982 with the Yankees. He was named to the All Star Team that year.