1985 Toronto Blue Jays (est. 1977)

[rpriske]

Expansion Jays! 63-99 - WS - New York Mets over Minnesota Twins

1978 69-93 - WS - Cincinnati Reds over Detroit Tigers

1979 94-68 - WS - Texas Rangers over Cincinnati Reds

1980 97-66 (Lost a tiebreaker game to Detroit) - WS - Detroit Tigers over Cincinnati Reds

1981 89-73 - WS - Pittsburgh Pirates over Detroit Tigers

1982 98-64 - WS - Detroit Tigers over Pittsburgh Pirates

1983 104-58 (Lost ALCS to Oakland 3-1) - WS - Oakland Athletics over St.Louis Cardinals

1984 114-48 (Beat Kansas City in ALCS 4-0) - WS - Los Angeles Dodgers over Toronto Blue Jays (4 games to 1)

[rpriske]

There were very few offseason changes. The biggest was losing Dave Parker to free agency and picking up George Foster the same way.

[rpriske]

March 4th, 1985

Nolan Ryan had some control problems in the first Spring Training game, walking 6 in 5 innings.

The Jays fell 3-2 to the A's.

WP - Mike Scott (1-0)
Save - Rich Surhoff (1)
LP - Nolan Ryan (0-1)

Spring Record - 0-1

[rpriske]

March 5th, 1985

Another day, another close loss - this one to the Red Sox 5-4. Bert Blyleven pitched well but his defense and bullpen let him down.

WP - Mike Moore (1-0)
Save - Len Whitehouse (1)
LP - Bert Blyleven (0-1)

Spring Record - 0-2

[rpriske]

March 6th, 1985

What a day for Edgardo Espinosa! He hit both a Grand Slam AND a 3-run home run!

However, the Toronto pitching continues to struggle and they lost 10-9 to the Tigers.

WP - Gary Christenson (1-0)
LP - Bernard Ray (0-1)

Spring Record 0-3

[rpriske]

March 7th, 1985

The hitters continue to be way ahead of the pitchers but today they balance swung their way as Toronto beat Cleveland 9-7.

John Godwin hit a home run.

WP - Ron Darling (1-0)
LP - Don Welchel (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-3

[rpriske]

March 8th, 1985

The team says they aren't concerned about the poor pitching performances... yet, anyway.

Today the Jays lost to the Brewers 9-8 in 12 innings.

Al Carlson hit two home runs for 5 RBI. George Foster hit a solo shot.

WP - Chuck Cary (1-0)
Save - Tom Henke (1)
LP - Mark Huismann (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-4

[rpriske]

March 9th, 1985

Jut to change things up, the pitchers did okay and the hitters did nothing.

The Jays lost to the White Sox 4-0.

WP - Mark Rowland (1-0)
LP - Jim Beattie (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-5

[rpriske]

March 10th, 1985

The Jays dropped another one, falling 7-6 to the Twins.

One question: why are the coaches recommending Ricky Horton become a starter if he only has the stamina to go 4 innings?

WP - Jack Morris (1-1)
Save - Clay Christiansen (1)
LP - Ricky Horton (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-6

[rpriske]

March 11th, 1985

Add Pepe Romero to the growing list of pitchers in the Toronto camp that look like they aren't ready for the season.

The Jays fell 9-6 to the Yankees.

Gary Redus hit a home run.

WP - Bruce Hurst (2-0)
Save - Ricky Keeton (1)
LP - Pepe Romero (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-7

[rpriske]

March 12th, 1985

A one-game blip or the start of a turn-around? The Jays beat the Angels 8-2.

Jim Dwyer hit his 2nd home run.

WP - Dave Stewart (1-0)
LP - Luis Leal (0-1)

Spring Record - 2-7

[rpriske]

Victor Cruz has a torn rotator cuff and will miss the season.

Called up from the Minors camp: Stew Cliburn

Sent down: Pepe Romero, Sammy Stewart, Steve Jeltz, Miguel Pena, Domingo Bruno


Rumour has it that the Jays talked to Robin Yount about trade possibilities and he told them no way.

[rpriske]

March 13th, 1985

Nolan Ryan had a great start but a couple of tough innings by the bullpen turned this into a 7-4 Baltimore win.

John Godwin hit his 2nd spring home run.

WP - Chico Escarrega (1-0)
Save - Joe Price (1)
LP - Rade Grol (0-1)

Spring Record - 2-8

[rpriske]

March 14th, 1985

Not a good day to be on the mound. The Jays beat the Mariners 12-10.

Desiderio Holbeche hit a big, game turning 3-run homer.

WP - Bert Blyleven (1-1)
Save - Bernard Ray (1)
LP - Ralph Citarella (1-1)

Spring Record - 3-8

[rpriske]

March 15th, 1985

Dave Stieb bounced back in a big way, pitching 5 scoreless innings while only allowing 2 hits.

The Jays beat the Rangers 6-3 with big home runs by John Godwin, Doug DeCinces and Paul Molitor.

WP - Tom Niedenfuer (1-0)
Save - Rade Grol (1)
LP - Rocky Childress (0-1)

Spring Record - 4-8

[rpriske]

March 17th, 1985

The Jays dropped a close one to the Royals, falling 4-3.

WP - Jeff Keener (1-0)
Save - Randy Myers (1)
LP - Ron Darling (1-1)

Spring Record - 4-9

[rpriske]

March 18th, 1985

Gustavo Pena's home run led the bats as the Jays squeaked past the A's 7-6.

WP - Don Carman (1-0)
Save - Kuniaki Sakamoto (1)
LP - Steve Fireovid (0-1)

Spring Record - 5-9

[rpriske]

March 19th, 1985

Jim Beattie pitched 5 solid innings as the Jays handled the Red Sox, 5-2.

Paul Molitor hit his 2nd homer of the spring.

WP - Jim Beattie (1-1)
Save - Mark Huismann (1)
LP - Chuck Porter (0-1)

Spring Record - 6-9

[rpriske]

March 20th, 1985

The Ricky Horton as Starting Pitcher experiment continues to flounder. He didn't even get through 4 innings on the way to an 8-6 loss to the Tigers.

John Godwin, Doug DeCinces and Robin Yount all hit home runs.

WP - Jeff Terpko (1-1)
Save - John Bohnet (2)
LP - Ricky Horton (0-2)

Spring Record - 6-10

[rpriske]

March 21st, 1985

The Toronto hitters came to play! The Jays beat Cleveland 14-5!

Paul Molitor went 3 for 4 with 2 walks, a home run and 5 RBI!

WP - Dave Stewart (2-0)
LP - Mark Brown (1-1)

Spring Record - 7-10