Final cut from the list of candidates, just FYI: John Olerud.

I almost voted Other (Olerud), but I decided I was biased b/c he was my fave player growing up. Then I saw your comment. (D'Oh).

If anybody here has a case that it is not Delgado, I'd like to hear it. Browsing the Jays' page at baseball-reference, I see that Carlos is the all-time Jays' leader in slugging percentage, ops, runs, total bases, doubles, home runs, runs batted in, walks, runs created, extra-base hits, times on base, hit by pitch, intentional walks, and at bats per home run.

Over on the single season side of the ledger, six of the top ten OPS' belong to Delgado (Olerud, Green, Bell and McGriff have one each).

Though Carlos had many great seasons with the Jays, none could top his age 28 season (2000): .334/.470/.664, 57 2B, 41 HR, 115 R, 137 RBI, 123 BB, 196 H.

Carlos Delgado.

A player most consistently in the top three of all offensive categories if not the best in most categories.

A player who adopted Blue Jays tradition as his own, a model citizen in the community who still refers to Toronto as his second home even if he doesn't live here.

A clubhouse leader in his entire tenure with the Blue Jays. Keeping the clubhouse light but at the same time keeping the goal of winning in sight--even with the lack of winning while he was here.

It's extremely unfortunate that the ten years he did spend here was the worst ten there have been in Blue Jays history. He's a legend in Toronto sports, had we maintained our success after 1993 he would be a Toronto God.

If anybody here has a case that it is not Delgado, I'd like to hear it. Browsing the Jays' page at baseball-reference, I see that Carlos is the all-time Jays' leader in slugging percentage, ops, runs, total bases, doubles, home runs, runs batted in, walks, runs created, extra-base hits, times on base, hit by pitch, intentional walks, and at bats per home run.

I can't really argue against Delgado, but I can argue for Tony Fernandez: 3rd all-time BA, 7th OBP, 1st in games and at-bats, 3rd in runs, first in hits, 3rd in total bases, 2nd in doubles, 1st in triples, 5th in RBI, 4th in BB and SB. None of which really compares to Delgado's numbers, but Tony also throws in four Gold Gloves and five All-Star appearances, as well as a .322 post-season average with the Jays.

Delgado's one of my all-time favourites, and definitely the best hitter the Jays ever had, but Tony was a heck of a player, too.

Nine candidates --- three pitchers, three OF, and a 1B, 2B and SS ... the hot corner and the tools of ignorance not big winners in Jays history, huh?

Tony Fernandez. He was very good at pretty much every aspect of the game and he could make the spectacular play look almost easy. :) Carlos and Robbie were close but I had to go with Tony.

I'd have to say Delgado for the same reasons mentioned by Leigh. An exceptional player and a great person, I had a chance to meet him twice and he was very nice both times.

I really hope that he is eventually added to the Level of Excellence. Perhaps the Doc too.

I think the Level of Excellence is a no-brainer. But I think Doc's gonna have to have a couple more 2003ish type seasons before he gets consideration.

Hmmm.. no brief Jays eligible? I still like some of the brief performances best. Rocket Roger probably had the best back-to-back seasons ever for a Jay. But of course his legacy is kind of, how do you say?, tarnished.

Molitor in '93 & '94 was pretty sweet too.

But even Molitor can't stand up to Alomar's hitting and defence contributions of any two seasons. Molitor was a better hitter, and one of the smartest base-runners, but not the MVP candidate Alomar was. Glad to see that Alomar still gets the love here even though his legacy is kind of, how do you say?, tarnished.

But I think Halladay has shown enough to suggest that he could be the greatest Jay ever. He wins one, maybe two more Cy Youngs and wouldn't you argue that tops Carlos's dominant seasons at the dish? Of course, he still needs to go out and do it and it's easy to value greatness of the present over the past. In my mind the Cy Young was his last year. He is unbelievably good. That he has less than %4 of the vote now is mind boggling. Not enough years I suppose.

I went Delgado, Fernandez, Alomar.

I always think of Fernandez as a marginal HOF candidate, and 3 of his comparables are in the HOF. And after his terrific age-37 season (876 OPS) I thought he had some chance, but sadly no.

I voted for Stieb, who is clearly the best pitcher in Jays history.

He lead the team in ERA 7 times, including 5 straight just as the team was starting to win.

Stieb also leads in wins (175), career ERA (tied with Key at 3.42), starts, innings, strikeouts, complete games, shutouts, ...

His ERA+,123, is best among starters, except for Halladay at 127 (in 2.5 times the innings)

Stieb dominates pitching stats like Delgado does the hitting stats, except moreso. I'd have Delgado second, then maybe Alomar. Oh, and I'd put Henke on the list over Wells.

Im suprised at the number of Alomar picks. Maybe its because its before my time, but Alomar was a Jay for 5 years. I hope that both Delgado and Alomar will be hall of famers some day, and theyre both fantastic players. But only one of them is the quintessential Jay, and it's Delgado.

Delgado will not be caught for any of the Jays significant counting stats in the next ten years, at least.

John Olerud.

Robbie. For those of you that didn't see him in his prime: picture Hudson's defense with at least Jeter's bat.

Why? Because his homer off Eck PROVED we could win. After that hit we BELIEVED!

Alomar in a walk. Alomar was a difference maker both offensively and defensively. The best all-around player on two World Series teams. Not one playoff appearance in Delagado's time with the Jays and a below average defensive player at the least challenging position. Baseball is more than stats.

How does Roger Clemens not make the list? He's one of the top 5 pitchers ever. I know he wasn't a Jay for long, but the question even says "briefly." He gets my vote for "other."

I don't think you can make an argument for Clemens; I'm a NYY fan and love Roger, but even I think of him in Red Sox colours.

Incidentally, the question says "Not ... briefly ..." so I think you are misinterpreting it.

I was surprised that Alomar wasn't way out in front. He's the only player on the list that is going to get any attention from the Hall of Fame (he'll make it), and he played all of his prime seasons in Toronto. Yes, he did go on to have other great seasons, but Toronto is where he made his mark.

Delgado is my favorite player, but I can't vote for him here. Factor in defense, and factor in position scarcity (Alomar's offensive contribution as compared to other second basemen) and I don't think it is particularly close.

I find this question ambiguous. Is it based on lifetime contributions? Only by that premise does Fernandez get such high merit. He was great, did a LOT, but greatest ever?

More valuable than Halladay even? Really, where's the love for Roy? Is there a rule against annointing current Jays with franchise sainthood while they are still on the team? Is there really another Jay whose service you would want more for your franchise ahead of what Halladay has brought?

Or how about this for a future poll Q:

You pick first in an entry draft. Eligible players include every player ever drafted by the Jays. Which Blue Jay draftee would you draft first?

Stieb? Delgado? O-dog? Doc? Key? Romero? Fernandez? Ainge? McGowan? Vernon? Carpenter?

Some of these guys haven't started or finished their career record yet, so it's unfair to compare total stats. I'd say to try to base it on what would be expected of the guy as a prospect, heading into a draft -- but that's too much to ask so scratch the picks without 5 years playing time -- O-dog, Romero, Ainge, McGowan, etc. and base it on the first five.

Perhaps some would like a way to get Alomar in there?

Oh, and technically Octavio Antonio Fernando Castro (aka Tony Fernandez) wasn't a draftee but an amateur free agent -- same difference for these purposes.