Jays End Final Homestand Of The Season By Looking Back
Posted September 25, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As an organization, the Toronto Blue Jays appeared to do everything right leading up to the 2006 season. They made huge free-agent signings of big name players and they upped their budget by millions of dollars. Management’s monetary dedication had many touting the Jays as the frontrunners in the A.L. East. So what went wrong?
G.M. J.P. Ricciardi tried to answer that question, but ultimately downplayed his team’s inability to make the playoffs.
“I think the glass is half full here,” an undaunted Ricciardi said. “Taking into consideration that two of our starters were out nine weeks, you know, I think we’re having a better year than maybe some people think we should have had.”
President Paul Godfrey was equally passive.
“The team has performed reasonably well,” he said. “We’re going to definitely play over .500 and a few more wins will add to the excitement. A second-place finish will certainly help box office sales.”
About 2.3 million came to see the Jays this season, marking an attendance jump, but missing the post-season is an obvious underachievement.
Unlike the managerial higher-ups, Vernon Wells didn’t try to disguise the obvious.
“It’s a disappointing year this year,” he admits. “But it’s baseball, and we’re going to get better. I think the front office is going to do everything to make our team better and obviously we’re going to do our part on the field.”
