2009 Pacific Division Champion Blue Jays Season Highlights
Regular Season Summary
The Blue Jays season ended last year on our own home field at Aptos, swept by the Cardinals and bounced from the playoffs. This season we returned the favor and won the Pacific Division. A 17-2 regular season record and a four-game sweep of playoff opponents White Sox and Cards will elevate the Jays into National Division competition next year.
Looking back, up until a couple weeks prior to this season, the Jays had not retooled. Then a couple new players, Guy Guiffre and Brett Gravlin, joined us. They were friends of existing teammates.
Our big acquisition came just days before the season opener when Travis Talbott arrived with our leadoff hitter Mike Park. TT went to Santa Cruz High, Cal Berkeley, and was drafted by the Marlins. He was released from "A" ball a couple seasons ago, but still had the fire. The southpaw pitcher solidified our rotation along with all-around stud Dan Ferreira and veteran Mike Pramuk.
Though all three hurlers missed many weeks during the season, we now had some options on the hill. 68-year-old Hal Levin didn't get the innings he'd hoped for, but hung with the squad as a supporting teammate. He'll need to find a new squad next year as we move up to the top 25+ division. His wisdom will be missed, but he'll always be a Blue Jay.
Offensively, we had some consistent contributors. Josh Sheehan came up with many big hits and his hustle was inspiring, although he missed the Championship games. Gino Panelli was hurt for the entire season, but toughed it out behind the dish. He didn't have his usual power numbers year, but came alive in the playoffs, as did cleanup hitter Mike Barnes who had more playoff homers than he did for the regular season. #2 hitter Donn Sabajo had nagging injuries the entire season, but was always there for us.
Our outfield defense was improved with the addition of youngster Phil Ackley and the infield did a solid job.
I got lots of innings at 2nd and 3rd, but at bats were limited to twenty-six during the regular season since we had nineteen guys on the roster and most of them showed up every game, unlike previous years when we've struggled to field a squad. It was hard to get playing time for everyone, but nobody really gave me any hassles so it was a successful year in that respect as well.
Our team stats are available on our Blue Jay facebook group page. Sheehan and Talbott hit over .500, Vidanage, Barnes, Sabajo, Ferreira, Hoffman, and Pramuk over .400. Travis averaged about 14 strikeouts per game, but was far from unhittable. The Cards had a dozen hits against him in Sunday's Championship Game One.
We are looking forward to moving up. Had we known Talbott would be available and approved by the our league to play when the divisions were set up, we would have competed in the National this season. Now we get to see how we'll stack up against the best next season.
Many thanks to all involved in keeping the SJMSBL together. It is not an easy chore, so congratulations to President Mike Zamba for a job well done.
Playoff Summary
The White Sox and Cardinals each played the Jays four times during the regular season and most of the games were close and very competitive. Both squads have quality players, solid personalities, and display good sportsmanship.
Long balls from Barnes, Panelli, Talbott, and Guiffre powered the Blue Jays throughout the playoffs, but since Aptos is a small yard, the home run totals may be a bit inflated. Still, our staff only surrendered one home run at the end of the final game rout. The highlights would include Mike Barnes stepping up offensively in the post season with multiple dingers, Travis Talbott's back-to-back fifteen-strikeout performances, Ferreira excelling in all aspects of the game.
Having between sixteen and nineteen players for every game and keeping everyone happy (I hope) was a highlight for me.
As is usually the case, pitching was the determining factor in all our battles, but the Jays had the edge with Talbott, Ferreira, and Pramuk on the mound at crunch time.
Round One, Game One
The first round of the playoffs pitted the Blue Jays against the White Sox.
Dan Ferreira tomahawked a three-run dinger in the first frame to support his complete game pitching performance.
Round One, Game Two
Once again a Blue Jay pitcher homered, but the big blow was Josh Sheehan's Grand Slam in the third. Travis Talbott struck out fifteen, but Frank Walsh went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles for the White Sox.
Championship Series, Game One
The Championship series pitted the Blue Jays against the Cardinals.
Back-to-back-to-back jacks in the fifth powered the Blue Jays to victory in Game One. Barnes blasted a two-run shot followed by Ferreira and Talbott to blow open a close game.
Talbott surrendered twelve hits to the Cardinals, but he also struck out fifteen. Cards were solid in a well played game.
Championship Series, Game Two
The Blue Jays scored early and often in ending the game after seven innings. Barnes and Guiffre each hit 3-run bombs and Ferreira kept the scrappy Cards at bay allowing seven hits.
Every starter had at least one hit for the Jays who will now move up to the National Division. Cards are a class act and a quality group to compete against.