Taking Flight | A Toronto Blue Jays Dynasty

[Bluejaysfan65]

By Andrew Newsted / MLB.com

Jays Up Close: R.A. Dickey

Robert Allen (R.A.) Dickey... Is a 1993 graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy (TN) High School... Named an All-American in baseball his senior year... Attended the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) where he holds the school record for career wins (38)... Went 38-10 with a 3.40 ERA in his career for the Volunteers... Majored in English... Member of the bronze medal winning U.S. Olympic team at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.... Helped form a non-profit organization called Honoring Thy Father Mission, aimed at reaching out to school, athletic and church youth groups as well as performing missionary work in Latin American countries... Active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes... Was the recipient of the "Ya Gotta Have Heart" Award at the BBWAA Dinner on January 25, 2011... Received the "Tennessee Male Athlete of the Year" Award on February 11, 2011 in Nashville, TN... Was inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame on January 18, 2012... Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in January, 2012 with Mets bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello and former teammate and current Cleveland Indians pitcher Kevin Slowey... Raised over $100,000 during the climb for Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization dedicated to rescuing young women from forced prostitution... Honored at the Thurman Munson Dinner on January 31, 2012 with a "Thurman Award."... His autobiography "Wherever I Wind Up, My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball" was released in March, 2012... Is featured in a documentary film titled "Knuckleball".

[Bluejaysfan65]

By Andrew Newsted / MLB.com

Jays Up Close: Brandon Morrow and Mark Buehrle

Brandon Morrow
Brandon John Morrow (MORE-owe)... Married... Graduated from Rancho Cotate High School in June, 2002... Earned firstteam all-league, first-team All-Redwood Empire, first-team All-North Coast Section and second-team All-State honours... Competed for the California All-Stars at the 2002 Sunbelt Classic in McAlester, Oklahoma... Attended the University of California at Berkeley... One of 10 semifinalists for the Roger Clemens Award as the nation's top collegiate pitcher... Named first-team All-Pac-10, going 7-4 with a 2.05 ERA (2nd in Pac-10)... Had 97 strikeouts (4th in Pac-10) in 96.7 innings (9th in Pac-10)... Was named National Pitcher of the Week after 6.1 innings, no hits, no runs, one walk and a career-high 12 strikeouts at UC Irvine Feb. 3... Also named a Cape Cod League All-Star in the summer 2005 for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox... Named a third-team preseason All-American and the fifth-best professional prospect out of the Cape Cod League by Baseball America.

Mark Buehrle
Mark Alan Buehrle (Burr-lee)... Married with two children... Has been very active in spreading awareness of pet adoption... Appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on July 27, 2009, reading 'The Top 10 Things That Went Through Mark Buehrle's Mind During His Perfect Game'... Made two appearances on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" following the White Sox' World Series Championship in 2005... Graduated from Jefferson Junior College (MO) and was selected as a NJCAA Third-Team All-America... Attended and graduated from Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Mo.

[Bluejaysfan65]

By Andrew Newsted / MLB.com

Jays Up Close: Josh Johnson and Jose Bautista

Josh Johnson
Joshua Michael Johnson... Is married with two children... Graduated from Jenks High School (OK) in 2002... Named to All-State team as a senior... Also played basketball. Returned from injury-shortened 2011 to make 31 starts and pitch 191.1 innings, both of which were second-highest totals in career (33 starts and 209.0 IP in 2009)...Did not record his first win of season until May 15 against PIT... In seven starts prior, had gone 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA (38.1 IP/25 ER), and opponents were batting .329... Over a nine-start span beginning with first win, went 5-2 with a 2.45 ERA (58.2/16), and held opponents to a .242 average...Won 50th career game on May 20 at CLE, and lowered career ERA to 3.10 in the process... Only active starting pitchers at time who had a lower ERA when winning 50th game were Clayton Kershaw (2.83), Tim Lincecum (2.91) and Barry Zito (3.04)...Had best month of season in June, despite settling for a 2-2 record... Owned a 1.87 ERA (33.2/7) in five starts, which was 5th-lowest mark in National League for month, behind R.A. Dickey (0.93), Zack Greinke (1.70), Johnny Cueto (1.72) and Kyle Lohse (1.80)... Opponents batting average (.205) was tied with Matt Cain for fifth-lowest in NL in June, behind Dickey (.131), Johan Santana (.180), Lohse (.185) and Greinke (.203)...Closed out season with 1-3 record in Sept., despite a 2.91 ERA (34.0IP/11ER) in five starts... Allowed three or fewer runs in each start and limited opponents to five-or-fewer hits...Miami scored just 2.92 runs per 9.0 innings of support, marking the lowest run support average in Majors (min. 30 starts)... Also marked lowest in franchise history for a pitcher who made at least 30 starts, breaking Anibal Sanchez's record of 3.16 in 2011...Allowed just 14 home runs, which tied Aaron Harang (31 GS), Felix Hernandez (33 GS) and Edinson Volquez (31 GS) for the third-fewest in the Majors among pitchers with at least 30 starts, behind Gio Gonzalez (nine in 32 GS) and Lucas Harrell (13 in 32 GS)...Finished first-half of season with a 5-5 record and a 4.06 ERA (102.0/46) in 17 starts, with 85 strikeouts to 34 walks (four intentional)... For his career, is 33-18, 2.71(518.2/156) in 87 first-half appearances (80 starts)... Went 3-9 with a 3.53 ERA (89.1/35) in 14 starts in second-half, notching 80 strikeouts to 31 walks (three intentional)... Overall, is 23-19, 3.73 (398.0/165) in 67 career appearances (64 starts) following All-Star break.

Jose Bautista
Jose Antonio Bautista... Single... Has two children... Attended Chipola (FL) Community College... Attended De La Salle High School in Santo Domingo... Favourite athlete growing up was NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan...Has been featured as the cover athlete for the Canadian edition of MLB 12: The Show and MLB 13: The Show...Participated in the Toronto/Winnipeg portion of the Blue Jays 2013 Winter Tour. Was sidelined on July 16 at NYY after damaging a tendon in his left wrist while completing a swing during his AB in the 8th inning...Returned to the lineup Aug. 24, but was removed on Aug. 25 with recurring soreness...Had season ending surgery on Sept. 4...At the time of his injury ranked 2nd in BB (58), T-2nd in HR (27) and T-3rd in RBI (65) in the AL...Earned Honda Player-of-the-Month honours for the club in May and June...Posted a .257 average with nine home runs and 22 RBI in May...Also recorded a team high 20 runs scored along with four doubles and 13 walks...In June batted .271 with 14 home runs and 30 RBI... The 14 home runs set a Blue Jays record for home runs in a single month, surpassing the 12 hit by Carlos Delgado (Aug. 1999), Jose Cruz (Aug., 2001) and Bautista twice (May and Aug., 2010)...Led all Major Leaguers in home runs, (14) RBI (30), walks (22) and slugging (.750) for the month of June...With his 27 home runs now has 140 as a Blue Jay, passing Ed Sprague (113), Kelly Gruber (114), Shawn Green (119), Jose Cruz Jr. (122), Fred McGriff (125) and Ernie Whitt (131) in 2012, and ranks 7th on the Blue Jays all-time list...Homered on Opening Day in the Blue Jays 7-4 16-inning win at CLE on April 5...Was the second consecutive season he has homered on Opening Day...Took part in the All-Star game for the 2nd straight season, 3rd overall (2010-2012)...Ranked 3rd in voting among OF at 4,971,155...Is the 3rd Blue Jay to be voted in as a starter in back to back seasons (Alomar, Carter being the others)... Started in RF, batted 4th (0-1, BB, K)...Represented the AL in the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby...Lost in the finals to Prince Fielder...Marked the 2nd straight year that he took part in the HR Derby...Had two multi-home run games and now has 17 in his career, with all but two coming as a Blue Jay...Despite missing time in 2012, still leads all Major Leaguers in home runs with 124 since 2010, 12 ahead of Miguel Cabrera.

[Bluejaysfan65]

By Andrew Newsted / MLB.com

DeRosa Wins Final Bench Spot, Bonifacio Wins Starting Job

Mark DeRosa, who came into camp without a job knew that he could very well also be leaving camp without a job in the big leagues. The veteran infielder can play many positions and along with his veteran stability and presence, he made the roster for the 2012 Toronto Blue Jays. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons stated the following: "We have a fairly young team here in Toronto and we feel that the sort of veteran presence that a player like Mark can bring to the clubhouse has a positive impact." When asked if he has a guarenteed spot on the big league roster for the rest of the season, Gibbons response was: "Well, he might have an impact in the clubhouse but the impact on the field is more important right now. If he shows that he can perform, they sure, but if he can't, that's another story."

In other news around the Blue Jays spring training, utility player Emilio Bonifacio, acquired in the same trade that brought pitcher Josh Johnson and shortstop Jose Reyes to Toronto, has won the starting second base spot for the big league club. Bonifacio, who missed a large amount of time last season with an injury, proved that he has tons of speed to burn on the base paths and is a relatively good fielder. He has played at almost every position, making appearances at center field, right field, left field, shortstop, third base and second base. He has yet to pitch, play backcatcher or first base in his career.

[KHarmo88]

Getting excited for the start! Really enjoy your write ups!

[Bluejaysfan65]

Quote: Originally Posted by KHarmo88

Getting excited for the start! Really enjoy your write ups!

Thanks a lot though all the write ups are either from BleacherReport or MLB.com. Thanks for following!

Spoiler

Really enjoying your Pirates one right now.

[KHarmo88]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bluejaysfan65

Thanks a lot though all the write ups are either from BleacherReport or MLB.com. Thanks for following! Spoiler Really enjoying your Pirates one right now.

The way I look at it though, I wouldn't read them if you didn't post them hah!

Thanks for following mine!!

[Bluejaysfan65]

Quote: Originally Posted by KHarmo88

The way I look at it though, I wouldn't read them if you didn't post them hah! Thanks for following mine!!

So true.... Mind if I use your layout for postgame reports and stuff with a few modifications?