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In this thread, something we all need: a place to air our frustrations. So I'm asking you everyone, what for you was the lowest lowlight of this season so far? If possible, give us the date and opponent, or as much detail as you can remember -- this thread can be a standing monument to individual awful moments in a season gone wrong.

Here's the one that stands out most for me:

April 28th, at Minnesota: Terry Adams throws three wild pitches over Kevin Cash's head while trying to intentionally walk a batter. Three runs score.
The Season From Hell: Ventilate Here | 63 comments | Create New Account
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_Moffatt - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 10:44 AM EDT (#19863) #
I'm not sure what date it was, but Vernon Wells injuring his leg against the Giants has to be up there.
_#2JBrumfield - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 10:52 AM EDT (#19864) #
The game that told all Blue Jays fans to wait until next year was LeCroy's grand slam in the 9th off Adams to help Toronto get a come from ahead 6-5 loss against Minnesota in May. That was the game the baseball gods said "F*** you Toronto!!".
_Jordan - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 10:52 AM EDT (#19865) #
Baltimore 11, Toronto 7, Sunday afternoon. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

I'm the eternal optimist, but right now, I just want to press the Fast-Forward button on this season. I feel like Hellboy: "Skip to the end, willya? How do I kill it?"
_Rob - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 10:53 AM EDT (#19866) #
I have many bad memories of this season, but the absolute worst is looking at the AL East Standings and seeing the following for three months (or so) straight:
NYY
BOS
TB
BAL
TOR

Show me the way to 2005, I'm tired and I want to go to bed.
_R Billie - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 10:57 AM EDT (#19867) #
Well at least now they're losing on merit and not on dumb mistakes.

Honestly, once it became clear that the Jays were going to finish well below .500 I've kind of become numb to all the losses eventhough I still watch most games with great interest and hope for a win. There's really not much else to do as a hardcore fan. All of the casual fans probably tuned out a long time ago if they ever tuned in to begin with.

I mean at this point everyone has accepted that this version of the Jays is a terrible team and all of the negative reprecussions that could have on the fanbase for next season. So if they're going to be seen as a terrible team they might as well get a shot at an impact talent in the Top 5 picks.

The question is, do you want to see the Jays take a risk on a potential star there or should they pick a player that will move quickly? I think either way is fine. I wouldn't use that pick on a pitcher unless he could jump to the majors within a year. Looking at Brian Bullington and Tim Stauffer and the like I'm not convinced that picking the college pitcher who happens to have a big season is the way to go. A Michael Aubrey would be very nice though. Maybe there's an outside shot at Melvin Upton depending on his signing demands.
Named For Hank - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:00 AM EDT (#19868) #
http://aaronreynolds.ca
RBillie, this thread has no space for optimism, only fond remembrances of bad moments from this dreadful season. ;)
_Smirnoff - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#19869) #
The day that McGowan got hurt. I remember thinking that things couldn't be any more bleak. I had long since given up on the year for the big club. The injury put scary long-term thoughts in my head about the state of the organization that hadn't otherwise been there.
_Loveshack - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#19870) #
If I were JP and the Jays ended up with a top-5 pick in the draft, I would be sorely tempted to pick a high school player just to shut everybody up.
_Matt - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:04 AM EDT (#19871) #
My girlfriend treated me to opening day and she got really nice seats too... Only for us to witness utter futility at the hands of the friggin' tigers... :(
_DaveInNYC - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:06 AM EDT (#19872) #
The game that summed up the season for me was the LeCroy grand slam. That one hurt the most.

But since someone already picked it, I'll go with something different.

Interleague play, Jays at Expos in Puerto Rico. The Jays are only down by a run or so and have the bases loaded with 0 out. The 'Spos bring in Claudio Vargas and his plus 5 ERA and he proceeds to strike out the side. ( I think, either way he got out of it)

From that point on, I knew it was...

THE SEASON FROM HELL!!
_Loveshack - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:07 AM EDT (#19873) #
As for bad memories from this season, the loss to Baltimore last weekend is up there. Or howbout any game when I looked out on the field and saw Gomez, Menechino, and Clark making up 3/4 of the infield, with Bergie in Left?

Greg Myers blowing out his ankle was very early on, but I think it deserves some recognition as one of the very first signs of the season to come.
_Smirnoff - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:09 AM EDT (#19874) #
Don't forget Estalella at DH. Yikes.
Named For Hank - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:09 AM EDT (#19875) #
Yeah, what game was it where someone figured out that the players on the field added up to like $4.7 million in total salary? That's a good one.
Mike D - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:14 AM EDT (#19876) #
I was at Thursday's game at the Jake. Poor Ted Lilly pitched his heart out despite not having his best stuff.

Up 2-1 in the seventh, Lilly gives up a two-out, broken-bat single. Then in came Ligtenberg and Chulk...d'oh.
_R Billie - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:21 AM EDT (#19877) #
Sorry NFH. I have no problem coming up with bitterness in the heat of a game but I try to remain positive otherwise.

I would have to say any games where I saw Dave Berg and Chris Gomez playing in left field and/or first base would have to qualify as very bad memories for this season.
_Darryl - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:34 AM EDT (#19879) #
Same as JKCL. It was down point to watch this team get swept to start the season by a team that previously had challenged for the title of worst team in history. So much optimism over the winter and early spring was dealt an early blow
_6-4-3 - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:49 AM EDT (#19880) #
There are a couple that come to mind. LeCroy's grand slam comes to mind, but it's been mentioned a lot.

The one that really sticks out for me is the collapse of Pat Hentgen. In an ideal season, Hentgen would've gone around 10 - 10 with an ERA around 4.70. I didn't expect anything like that, but I thought that maybe Pat had a few good innings left. At the very least, I was looking forward to seeing him pitch one last time. Then the Jays stumbled early on. Hentgen was there again, with the "Hentgen for Closer" movement here. I didn't expect Hentgen to actually perform well as a closer, but there was a sense of optimism, that if the Jays could just get that bullpen sorted out, they'd turn the season around. Then Hentgen kept on getting shelled and shelled, he got moved to the bullpen and actually finished up a game, and eventually just retired. His frustrating year has probably been the most depressing part of the season.

Four more moments:

Last Sunday, vs the Orioles. I'm watching the game on TV, and the Jays go up 7 - 1 in the 5th. I turn it off, thinking that even the Blue Jays couldn't possibly lose that game. I flip the game back on a while later. The score is 11 - 7 Orioles. I actually used the Ron Burgundy-ism "Knights of Columbus!" Then I felt worse when I learned that it wasn't Speier or Ligtenburg that led to the collapse, it was Chulk.

Halladay's injury. This was the moment that said "Maybe it's not just this year that will be bad"

Ted Lilly, All Star.

And, most recently, Frasor and Chulk's fall back to earth. This isn't the worst, and it came long after the season was conceded, but for a while, it was nice to see some pitchers performing well in the bullpen, especially because Frasor and Chulk were the two pitchers that nobody thought would be counted on in late innings.
_Scott Levy - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:53 AM EDT (#19881) #
Lucifer wrapped his warm arms around this team on April 5, 2004. It was in the stars. The press calling us the darkhorse Angels/Marlins for 2004. The most adamant JP haters slowly warming up to him after acquiring Lilly and Batista for bargain rates, and signing the trio of vet relievers. The Toronto media making some positive press. It was just a bad sign.

From now on, negativity is the way to go. "The Season from Hell" should prove to us that no press is better than good press.

The devil has got to me.

The worst part of the year: How can you narrow it down to one? Take away the Mariners series at Skydome and Chris Gomez's grand slam off Schilling, and take your pick at the worst point in the season. There are more than enough choices.
_#2JBrumfield - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#19882) #
Another moment to sum up the season. The Jays first game against Arizona at the Dome on a Friday night. Pat Hentgen escaped a bases loaded jam in the 1st inning and then got it together for 7 solid innings, bringing back memories of the Hentgen we used to see. Speier then pitched a shut-out 8th and with the Jays up 2-0, things were looking up. Frasor came on in the 9th but the D-Backs rallied for 3 runs to win the game 3-2. That was probably Hentgen's last good start in a Jays uniform.
_Mike in CT - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:12 PM EDT (#19883) #
I travelled all the way to Toronto from Connecticut for Opening Day of what I though would be the start of a promising season for the Jays. But I saw them lose, 7-0 and not look very into what they were doing. I extended my trip and gave them another chance to win the next night and they looked almost as bad. All this to the Tigers, fresh off their 120-something loss season. Unfortunately, what a watched was the way the Jays would look the rest of the miserable 2004 season. I can't wait for it to end. 2005 has to be better.
_6-4-3 - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:16 PM EDT (#19884) #
I just realized what the lowest of low moments was: I was at Hentgen's last home start, on June 27th, vs Los Expos.

2.2 innings, 3 hits, 6 earned runs, a homer, 5 walks, 40 pitches, and he's done. The crowd didn't really want to boo, but he just couldn't hit the strike zone at all. It was obvious that he was totally done at that point. He stuck around for a month, pitched two good innings out of the bullpen, had one more terrible start, and retired.
_Nigel - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:23 PM EDT (#19885) #
We're on a bit of a Hentgen roll here so I'll add my lowest moment. It was Hentgen's last start ever and it was in Yankee stadium. The season was already lost so I am reduced to enjoying players (old or new) and enjoying games. Watching Pat try his a** off (as he always did) for a couple of innings and realizing (along with him) that he had no way to get a quality major league hitter out any more was just painful. All the more so, given Pat is one of my favourite all time Jays. That game just hurt.
_GregH - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#19886) #
The worst part of the season is the present. In Toronto, the team has progressed from high hopes, to various excuses, to being a media joke.

I agree JKCL.

People I don't even know actually comment and laugh when I wear my Jays cap anywhere besides the Dome. My boys (aged 8 & 9) get teased by other kids when they wear Jays caps or shirts too.

The most disheartening aspect has been the recent wholesale rejection of the theory behind the way JP has been trying to build the team, especially the offence - have players that draw walks and otherwise get on base coupled with power hitters. Announcers on the Fan 590 (admittedly outside of Mike Wilner, not great baseball experts) don't seem to realize that this method works - the successful teams like the Yankees have high walks and high home run totals. Obviously the Jays offence this year has failed miserably to execute, but the theory remains valid.

A recent low point had to be Chuck Swersky speaking to Peter Worthington about the Jays (I have no idea why), whose comment came down to "They've got to run more and steal bases". He asked "when was the last time anyone stole home - I think it was Mondesi" (ignoring that Hinske had done so this year) as though that could be done every game and as though playing in that manner with the Jays relatively slow line-up would have somehow reversed the win-loss record this year.

It has come to the point that when there are open phones about the Jays on the Fan 590 with anyone besides Wilner, I turn it off - I can't stand the idiocy of some of the comments from fans, and the willingness of some announcers, who should know better, to agree with them. There was a guy the other day recommending that Halladay be traded to get some guys that can hit! Swersky took it all in and didn't really disagree with the caller.

The media ignores the fact that even though the Jays are a badly losing team, there are still things worth watching - as a Jays fan since '77, I spent a lot of years watching little bits of good stuff on horrible teams.

I truly no longer know if a team constituted even close to how the Jays are now can become a contender anytime soon. I guess that is the real low point. My older boy, who plays rep ball and is the more serious baseball fan, asks me "Do you think I'll ever get to see a World Series Champion Jays team?" I don't know how to answer him anymore.

My sons and I will continue going to games for as long as my boys want to go out in public with their dad - we were there last Sunday -but I am thinking more and more that we will go because we love baseball and feel privileged to be able to see Major League baseball near home and not because we think the Jays will be contenders.
_Mylegacy - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:30 PM EDT (#19887) #
http://www.immune26.tv
The lowest moment of the season is easy!

Last night at two AM, in my dream we were leading 6 to 5 in the ninth against the Yanks in the 7th game of the playoffs. The blonde next to me was listening to me like I knew what I was talking about, the beer was cold, and the Hot Dog tasted like prime rib. Then their number nine hitter hit a grand slam only no one was on base, the blonde slapped me, the beer turned sour and I saw a maggot on the Hot Dog.

For the first time in my life I can't even win in my dreams! Oh the misery of it all!
Thomas - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:42 PM EDT (#19888) #
Looking at Brian Bullington and Tim Stauffer and the like

The same Tim Stauffer who has gone from Single-A to Triple-A this season? This Tim Stauffer who had a 1.78 ERA in hitter-friendly Lake Elsinore. He had a 2.63 ERA in 8 starts at Mobile and has a 3.69 record at Portland currently in 9 starts. He's struggled with his control at Portland so far, but he's striking out about 5.5/9 at the upper levels of the minors and looks to be back on track.
_BCMike - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 12:52 PM EDT (#19889) #
There are just too many to choose from but I think I would almost have to go with last night. Not that it was a bad loss, it was the apathetic feeling I had towards the loss. It was like, "no big deal", as if I expected them to lose even though they could easily have won.

When you are no longer affected by losses, you know your team is having a bad season.
_Lefty - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#19890) #
For me the biggest low points other than the Hentgen issues, which really ripped my guts open was the shelling Halladay took at the hands of Texas on July 16th. He subsequently landed on the DL July 21 for his extended stay. I'm really worried about how this will eventually unfold. It seems to me we still don't have a conclusive answer to what ails him.

Another low point was the Phelps trade on August 7th. No one really knows how that will eventually work out as well. But to give up on your best pure power hitter is quite a statement. I also couple this to the Tosca firing a day or so later. I'm still scrtatching my head on the thinking behind those back to back moves.

Finally I am not so disappointed in the team as many I suppose. Its a matter of expectations. Going into the season I figuered the Jays for forth followed by the Rays. The Devel Rays have exceeded my expectations slightly. It was easy to predict they would have a decent year with the stick, pitching was their question mark. They managed to get some, same is true for Baltimore.

Next year is a big one. If they can't outplay Baltimore and Tampa theres going to be trouble in the big smoke. Finally a hundred losses has been mentioned more than a few times the past couple of days. Thats a pretty symbolic number. They had better not loose a hundred or the road back will not be pretty.
Thomas - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 02:44 PM EDT (#19891) #
San Diego lost 98 last year, and they are one game back of the wildcard, albeit in a weaker division (therefore easier opponents).
_Cristian - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 03:08 PM EDT (#19892) #
All this talk has got me thinking that Halladay should just shut it down for the rest of the season. I commend him wanting to make a few September starts but why risk anything during this season from hell? With a hockey lockout, it's unlikely the ghosts of suckitude will make their annual September migration to Leafs camp. Should these ghosts remain at Skydome, I fear for Halladay trying a comeback this year.
_alsiem - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 03:08 PM EDT (#19893) #
I have been trying to withstand the onslaught of negativity. With each loss, I laughed it off: "Nay, merely a flesh wound Sire!". However, all these minute cuts have bleed me dry. It's not bad luck, injuries etc. It's the fact that Gomez and Menechino are two of the best Jays. This is a bad team, lets hope that the Jays get some bats for next year. We've had our preview of the Jays without Delgado and it isn't pretty.
_Nigel - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#19894) #
Thomas - one key difference between Toronto and San Diego is payroll. Because of the new stadium (?), San Diego was able to go out at the end of last season and add a premium player (Giles) with a large long term contract ($9 million for this and the next two seasons) and keep Klesko and Nevin (making about $17 million between the two of them). The Jays are going to lose their best (albeit most expensive) player between this season and next. San Diego now has a payroll of around $62-63 million while the Jays' payroll is apparently to remain around the $48-50 million range for next year. I'd like to see what JP could do with this nucleus and an extra $13 million in the budget - I think the Jays could contend for the wild card next year if that was the case, without it, I think it will be very difficult.
_Jobu - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 03:22 PM EDT (#19895) #
I know it has been covered several times already, but I really feel I must re-post my day of post of the reaction to the LeCroy grand slam. One of the worst feeling moments of my life in general. Aside from the punchline the team has become in the city, the abandonment of all the bandwagon fans like my co-workers and the once mighty snake, that one homerun just summed up the season in feeling:

#1803290 Posted 05/19/2004 06:04 PM by Jobu:

Today felt so bad... I cant even put it into words. The way it happened just fills you with so much disapointment, anger, frustration... basicaly all the bad emotions.

Snake and I heading down to the ballpark together, HAMMER in hand, roof open, sun shining down. Get to our seats, the dome is packed with loud piecing school groups, sounds good, looks good. Jays take a comeback lead we sneak into some pretty sweet seats on the 200's next to Windows. Then Adams walks out of the bullpen and you just KNOW whats going to happen but you're powerless to stop it. Its the worst sports feeling in the world. Even the power of THE HAMMER is useless against bad Jay pitching.

One by one Adam's put runners on base as Snake and I sit and curse, saying it'll be painful, but it will be over soon... it cant be THAT bad. Some bumpkin Mini fans (probably the only four in the whole stadium) of course take up residence right behind us making the inveitable Adam's expolosion that much more hideous. I take out the HAMMER and wave it wildly in futility, I try starting a Lets-go-pond chant, just ANYTHING! Then the pitch goes down the pipe and back up the field over the fence. The Bumpkins are going nuts laughing and hollering, I'm trying to hold Snake down before he gets arrested for assult, the stadium full of children grow disillusioned and rejected.

Snake and I honestly just sat in our seats for 20 minutes after the game just breaking the silence with occaisonal anti-Adams/tosca remark.

That was not a fun game, and if you'll excuse me, Im going to go beat the Twinkies 27-0 in MVP Baseball 2004.
Dave Till - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#19896) #
Trying to pick out a low point of the season implies that there were high points. The entire season has been one giant trough. I'd say Wells's injury was the lowest point, as he was just starting to get it together when he got hurt.

I can't help but think that the low point hasn't been reached yet. The Jays have a lot of games remaining against the Yankees and the Sox, and there's always the distinct possibility that they might not win a single one of them. A 100-loss season may be looming.
_Jobu - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#19897) #
AGHHHHHHH!!! I just heard the Garlic Poem guy on the fan. Could this season get ANY worse?
Craig B - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 04:02 PM EDT (#19898) #
I just heard the Garlic Poem guy on the fan. Could this season get ANY worse?

CAN YOU SAY TARGET PRACTICE?

LOL,

SARAH
_Mike Forbes - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#19899) #
My low point of the season happens everytime I see "SS, Chris Woodward"...
_Jobu - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 04:09 PM EDT (#19900) #
I just heard the Garlic Poem guy on the fan. Could this season get ANY worse?

CAN YOU SAY TARGET PRACTICE?

LOL,

SARAH


If anyone here knows how to start new threads, I sugest "The Season From Hell 2: Commercial Break". We already have two mind numbing entries for people to submit, lets not forget the Epson Printer man and Creepy Alarm Force Voice Guy. Come one come all and rant, no need to stick to only radio commercials. Im talking to you unoffical Wendy's Man.
Craig B - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 04:16 PM EDT (#19901) #
Oh, what the heck, we'll talk about it here, it's all one big miasma anyway. I thought it was funny you mentioned the Garlic Poem Jackass... yesterday I was trying to talk to Sonya while the game was on. Of course Garlic Poem Jackass comes on the radio yammering away. I lost my train of thought and concentration so badly I actually started swearing at the radio and stalked over to it, nearly shouting, to shut it off.
_Jobu - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 04:22 PM EDT (#19902) #
HA HA HA...oh man Craig, I could use a good laugh before I head off for work in 20 minutes, thanks for that.

Garlic poem man has some weird ability to just draw attraction to himself. Just when I made the previous post, the radio was on in a differnent room, I've been ignoring it all morning then I hear him come on and my brain picks him up like a lazer beam. Then came a few minutes of god's honest panic trying to decide if I should get up to turn it off or try to block out the noise. I look around my desk and find too large books luckily and start banging them together and screaming till the commercial is done.

On an unrelated note, I think I prefer the Epson cowboy as opposed to the Espon lounge singers and the Epson natural disaster test.
Named For Hank - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 04:57 PM EDT (#19903) #
http://aaronreynolds.ca
The Epson Cowboy was just starting to grow on me -- in fact, I almost changed my Batter's Box handle to The Epson Cowboy, because of what I do for a living.

Even the sun of a Texas daeeeyyyyyyy
Caint make yer beaudy fade awaeeeyyyyy
_P Smith - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 05:45 PM EDT (#19904) #
Most of the worst moments have already been mentioned. For games I've witnessed in person, I would say (1) Opening Day, (2) getting shut out by Bronson Arroyo, and (3) Bengie Molina hits a slam off of Ligtenberg.

And the Harvey's guy on the radio is pushing me closer and closer to embracing vegetarianism.
_Neal Smith - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 06:34 PM EDT (#19905) #
My worst point of the season? Being in the UK and (1) listening to these Jays on the way to work at 7am (not a good way to start the day guys)and on the way home again to finish the game and (2) spending almost 3000 pounds flying my family over to Toronto for vacation in June and seeing us get shelllacked by the Rays. I took my kid to his first game.

He's divorcing me now.

Still he hates the Yankees. Dunno where he got that from o;-)

As for adverts? the new Epson one with the way too many cigarettes lady. Except is it just me or is the "good" singer as out of tune as the other, just at the other end of the scale. Maybe we drunk too many Durabright inks??

Finally, with the team playing this way, maybe her and that the Rogers bluejays contest winners in the ads deserve each other!! How about the "yes yes" guy coaching first and "I have so many plates but i don't have a home plate" coaching 3rd?

Neal
_BCMike - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#19906) #
I sugest "The Season From Hell 2: Commercial Break".

Argggg is anyone else being driven completely insane by that stupid "ring in and win" commercial for dodge? "TUESDAY IS YOUR LUCKY DAY..."

Watching this Jays team is bad enough, having to put up with that friggen commercial EVERY single break is like torture.
_Magpie - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 07:35 PM EDT (#19907) #
A SEASON IN HELL

"Jadis, si je me souviens bien, ma vie était un festin où s'ouvraient tous les coeurs, où tous les vins coulaient. Un soir, j'ai assis la Beauté sur mes genoux. - Et je l'ai trouvée amère. - Et je l'ai injuriée." (Arthur Rimbaud, Un Saison un Enfer)

5 April - Detroit beats Doc 7-0 on Opening Day
7 April - Bonderman over Hentgen. Tigers sweep Jays at SkyDome to start the season.
11 April - Meet this year's bullpen. Batista takes a 4-2 lead over Boston into the 8th. Adams and Ligtenberg cough it up and Lopez takes the loss in 12. Ligtenberg blows the team's first save opportunity.
17 April - Justin Speier, new closer du jour, gives up a 2 run HR by Tejada in the 9th, Orioles win 5-3.
21 April - Jays lose 8th straight game at home; are 3-11 to start the season.
26 April - Greg Myers tears up his ankle coming into 3b at Minnesota.
27 April - Jacque Jones hits a 3 run HR off Speier in the 9th; Jays blow a 4-2 9th inning lead.
28 April - Jays rally from 4 runs down in the 8th to tie Twins at 5-5. Frasor and Adams (wild pitch on an IBB) immediately surrender 4 in the bottom of the inning.
29 April - Pat Hentgen takes a 4-1 into the 6th against the ChiSox, then hits the wall. Sox score 5, Nakamura takes the L. Jays lose to Loaiza.

1 May - Delagdo HRs to tie game in 8th; Crede Sac Fly beats Speier in the 10th.
1 May Chris Woodward (batting .323) injures hamstring.
3 May - Jays score 2 in bottom of 9th to tie Royals; Guiel HR beats Adams in the 10th.
11 May - Justin Speier goes on the DL. Woodward returns to lineup and reinjures hamstring.
12 May - Chris Woodward goes on the DL.
12 May - Terry Adams, closer du jour. Blows 3-2 lead in 9th on Sweeney's 2 run 2b.
13 May - Dustin McGowan needs Tommy John surgery.
14 May - Kerry Ligtenberg Meltdown # 1. Enters a 3-3 game in the 8th, allows 4 hits, 1 BH, and 5 ER.
17 May - Jays 3 run rally ties Twins in 7th; Nakamura gives up 2 run HR to Jones to lose in 9th.
19 May - Terry Adams and Matt LeCroy. Miller, Lopez, Kershner pitch Jays to a 5-2 lead going into the 9th.
21 May - Mike Nakamura gives up a HBP and a Ramirez HR in the 8th of a tie game. Ligtenberg then chips in with Meltdown # 2, Sox win 11-5.
22 May - Lilly tossing a shutout at Fenway until Bellhorn lines one off his leg and Manny follows up with a tying HR. Ligtenberg, Kershner, Adams take care of the rest, 5-2 Boston.
23 May - Orlando Hudson comes out of game after aggravating hamstring.
27 May - Frank Catalanotto (batting .346) and Kevin Cash go on the DL.
29 May - Orlando Hudson goes on the DL.
30 May - Carlos Delgado misses his first game of the year with a rib cage strain. Jays 5 game win streak snapped by Texas.

1 June - Roy Halladay scratched from start against Seattle.
3 June - Roy Halladay goes on the DL. Batista and Zito battle for 8 IP, A's beat Adams in the 11th. Bobby Estalella hits a HR that the umpire says was foul.
8 June - Carlos Delgado goes on the DL.
11 June - Pat Hentgen turns the clock with 7 shutout IP against Arizona. Jason Frasor picks this night for his first blown save, allowing 3 in the 9th.
12 June - Kerry Ligtenberg goes on the DL.
15 June - Vernon Wells injures his calf running in CF.
16 June - Reed Johnson, cleanup hitter.
17 June - Vernon Wells goes on the DL. Speier coughs up 3 runs in the 8th, Giants win 8-5.
19 June - Towers comes out after 7 IP but just 78 pitches with a 2-1 lead. Speier gives up 2 runs in the 8th, Padres win 3-2.
24 June - Tampa Bay scores 19 runs against Lilly, File, Nakamura, Peterson, Speier, and Adams.
27 June - Frank Catalanotto goes back on the DL. Pat Hentgen's last SkyDome start: 1.2 IPT, 3 H, 6 ER, 5 BB.

2 July - David Bush works into the 6th in his ML debut, leaves with the score 0-0. Speier lets his runner score to tag him with the loss.
4 July - Trailing Expos 2-1 in the 6th, Jays load bases with none out. They do not score. Expos get 4 more in their half.
9 July - The day after Delgado's 9th inning walkoff HR against Guardado finished a sweep of Seattle, Doc allows 12 hits in 5 and the Jays will be swept by Anaheim.
18 July - On a hot night in Texas, Batista hits the wall with a 5-1 lead. Teixeira hits a GS off Vinnie Chulk. Six losses in a row.
20 July - Rich Harden and David Bush in a classic. Speier finally loses it, 1-0, in 14.
21 July - Pat Hentgen's last game, in Yankee Stadium. 2.2 IPT, 7 H, 8 ER.
22 July - Lilly and El Duque duel; Chulk allows a Ruben Sierra walkoff in the 9th.
21 July - Roy Halladay goes back on the DL.
25 July - Pat Hentgen retires
26 July - Jays rally with 2 9th inning runs against Rivera to send the game to extra innings. Tony Clark beats Frasor in the 10th.
27 July - Lilly leads the Yankees 2-1; Ligtenberg and Speier give up 4 runs in the 8th.

5 August - A Ligtenberg Meltdown; 3 runs in the 10th IP, Cleveland wins 6-3.
8 August - Bernie Williams hits 1st GS, as Yankees win 3rd straight. Carlos Tosca is fired.
10 August - For the 3rd time in his brief career, The Jays score no runs for David Bush. Chad Durbin beats them 2-0
12 August - Lilly has a 2-1 lead and 2 out in the 7th. After a Belliard single, Ligtenberg walks 3 in a row, and Chulk serves up a Broussard GS.
15 August - Jays take a 7-1 lead behind David Bush. Chulk and Frasor cough up 8 runs in the 8th inning.
_DaveInNYC - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 07:40 PM EDT (#19908) #
Another horrible memory, or horrible memories in this case.

Having to watch Kevin Cash bat over 150 times this year. His defense isn't enough to keep him on the team, they need to find a replacement.
_Nigel - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 07:44 PM EDT (#19909) #
I honestly couldn't finish your list Magpie (I'm not kidding, I got to July 21 and had to stop) it was too difficult.
_Magpie - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 07:47 PM EDT (#19910) #
And we're not done yet!!
Thomas - Wednesday, August 18 2004 @ 11:51 PM EDT (#19911) #
Nigel, I wasn't implying that Toronto would contend for the wild card next year, but that there's a chance they could and that there is reason, in any case, to be optimistic for next year. San Diego had a piss poor season last year, but fans there knew it was going to get better soon. And that is more what I was referring to. I doubt anyone here thinks we're going to stay in any sort of sustained spell of below-average seasons, just as San Diego fans knew that if things broke right (Peavy improving, Nevin not getting hurt, Loretta continuing to be very good) they'd have a good chance at a playoff position.
robertdudek - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 12:57 AM EDT (#19912) #
11 April - Meet this year's bullpen. Batista takes a 4-2 lead over Boston into the 8th. Adams and Ligtenberg cough it up and Lopez takes the loss in 12. Ligtenberg blows the team's first save opportunity.

Meet this year's inability to score runs late in close games.
_P Smith - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 01:18 AM EDT (#19913) #
And not just the Jays. Someone posted yesterday that the Sox bullpen, despite the addition of Foulke, hasn't performed any better than last year. The obvious problem - the Sox are scoring 15% fewer runs in the late innings this year.

This may be the Season From Hell for Jays fans, but we have company with the Mariners. Their record is still worse than the Jays, and tonight, Ichiro Suzuki (batting .516 in August) got drilled in the head and suffered a concussion. I think that beats any of the Jays' low points this year - knock on wood.
_6-4-3 - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 01:25 AM EDT (#19914) #
I hope he's okay, and that this doesn't kill his momentum. The article I read called the concussion "mild" and only mentioned that he'd probably miss a single game, nothing more. Ichiro! is my favourite player, and I'll hopefully see him again when Seattle comes to town in two weeks.
_jgadfly - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 01:34 AM EDT (#19915) #
the lowpt for me...reading that one of the top five pitching prospects in all the minors who is known as a hard thrower and a power pitcher and who is from alabama was pitching in a double aa monday morning makeup game in a snowstorm ...makes your head shake
_Daryn - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 08:19 AM EDT (#19916) #
Reed Johnson as the cleanup hitter is pretty close...

but I think the low-point of the season occured in pre-season when Paul Godfrey predicted 90-something wins.... that was a mistake...

I think low 70's are a sure thing, this year AND next... then depending on the rising stars of Gross Rios and Adams, we'll see...

Don't forget, Hinske had Rookie of the Year numbers once... so, there is no guarrantee that the pitcher won't find a hole in Rios' swing too.
Named For Hank - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 09:46 AM EDT (#19917) #
http://aaronreynolds.ca
And to answer a question from wayyyyyy early in the thread: Jerry said on the radio that Gibbons said that O-Dog wasn't starting because he didn't want to get him out of his wicked hitting groove by making him face a crazy knuckleballer.

Notice that as soon as the knuckleballer was out of the game, in came the O-Dog and there was another hit. Know what? If O-Dog's plate struggles have been mental and Gibbons is keeping him hitting by doing stuff like this, I have to say that he's brilliant.

And I apologize for the awful construction of my first sentence.
Named For Hank - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 09:59 AM EDT (#19918) #
http://aaronreynolds.ca
What the heck? I was posting this in the game thread...
_Nicolas from Qu - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 11:07 AM EDT (#19919) #
Lowest of the lows: When my Expos passed the Jays in the standings.
_Jackal from Iqa - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 11:09 AM EDT (#19920) #
...Seeing Hinske at third base on opening day.
_NYJaysFan36 - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 11:30 AM EDT (#19921) #
It was pretty disheartening after they swept the Angels who were the best team at the time and then have what seemed like a boatload of injuries happen all at once, leading them back into the crapper. It really seemed like they might get back to .500 at that point. I believe they also beat Texas twice. (5 game winning streak seems unreal at this point).

My worst memory of the year was April 17. I went to my first Jays game in 14 years and had the pleasure of watching Justin Speier give up a game winning homerun in the top of the 9th to LARRY FREAKING BIGBIE!!!

That 3-2 loss to Arizona ranks up there. I was driving back from Cleveland to Rochester listening to the fan all the way. I lost reception in the 8th with the Jays up 2-0. You can imagine the feeling when I saw the ESPN bottom line....

At the risk of being scolded in my first post, I'd like to rememeber a bright spot. Chris Gomez scoring against Anaheim with nobody covering home in a rundown in the 10th. What a great feeling.
Was it really that long ago that Simon Pond had a game-winning RBI for us?!
Named For Hank - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 12:00 PM EDT (#19922) #
http://aaronreynolds.ca
NYJF, that was a great moment, and even better was DaVanon blaming the crowd noise. We were justifiably proud up in 518 that night.
_NYJaysFan36 - Thursday, August 19 2004 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#19923) #
Aaron,

Yeah it was. I was in the 2nd row of 526. I had my Bob File 2003 jersey on and I just remember feeling like the first person who noticed that nobody was at the plate when Gomez spun around. Then the place went nuts. I also very vividly remember the drum that day. Good stuff.
I have tix for the 27/28. Can't wait to see the Yankees lose again in person. (I saw Minnesota beat them back in 1999 in the Bronx with a bunch of last-place nobodies named Mientkewicz, Hunter, Jones, Koskie, Guardado etc.)

-Bob
_Matthew E - Saturday, August 21 2004 @ 11:17 PM EDT (#19924) #
Lowest point of the season for me had to be the announcement of Tom Cheek's brain tumour. I mean, blown leads and athletic injuries are one thing, but that was what really made me get a creepy feeling about how bad things can theoretically get when they start to get bad.
_VernonsBiggestF - Monday, August 23 2004 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#19925) #
Vinnie Chulk gives it up in Texas. I thought i was having a bad dream when i woke up to this news. Gettem next time Vinnie.
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