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Latest Games

Date	Opponent	Result
4/1	Texas Rangers (Puerto Rico)	W 8-1	W: Loaiza, L: Helling
4/3	@Tampa Bay Devil Rays	L 8-1	W: Lopez, L: Parris
4/4	@Tampa Bay Devil Rays	W 11-8	W: Quantrill, L: Hill, S: Koch
4/5	@Tampa Bay Devil Rays	W 11-0	W: Carpenter, L: Rekar
4/6	@New York Yankees	W 13-4	W: Loaiza, L: Parker
4/7	@New York Yankees	W 3-2	W: Michalak, L: Hernandez, S: Koch
4/8	@New York Yankees	L 16-5	W: Clemens, L: Parris
4/9	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	W 8-1	W: Hamilton, L: Wilson

Well, this is a good beginning. The Jays started off the year with the Texas Rangers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and helped Carlos Delgado top Ivan Rodriguez on their home turf, winning the inaugural game of the 2001 Major League Baseball season by a score of 8-1. Congrats go out to new manager Buck Martinez on his first win; hopefully there will be many more this season. With a record of 6-2 entering Tuesday night's game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Toronto is in first place in the American League East, a half-game ahead of New York Yankees. Of course, one can't forget that last year, the Jays started out at an impressive mark of 12-4. This year, things look to be different, but some of the good stuff has remained. I'll explain.

The pitching staff actually looks pretty good this year. Esteban Loaiza has been incredible, compiling a 2-0 record with strong victories over the explosive Rangers and the Yankees. Chris Carpenter looked great against the Devil Rays, shutting them out for eight innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out 11. Even Chris Michalak showed his stuff, as he mowed down the Yanks, shutting them out over 5-1/3 innings pitched. Joey Hamilton was impressive in the Jays' home opener (more on that later), going six strong innings while giving up a single run. The only starter who has been having difficulties is Steve Parris, who has an ERA of 16.88 in two losses. Hopefully he'll be able to turn it around.

Change is good for the pitching, but the offense is as potent as it was last year. Compiling a league-high 60 runs over the first eight games, the Jays are well on their way to surpassing last year's totals. Leading the charge has been Shannon Stewart, who has picked up his game another notch, batting .471 with AL-bests 16 hits and 12 runs. Carlos Delgado was named co-AL Player of the Week (with Hideo Nomo, who hurled a no-hitter), and deservingly so. Delgado had a three-homer game against the D-Rays on April 4, and then came back to hit two more against the Yanks on April 6. So far on the year, he has five homers and 12 RBI. Another name to mention is Ryan Freel, who has stepped in for the injured Homer Bush (15-day DL, ligament damage in his left thumb) at second base. He leads the team with two stolen bases on the young season. Brad Fullmer has yet to go yard, but he does have eight RBI already.

Now, for the Jays' home opener, in which 48,115 fans packed the SkyDome for the team's 8-1 win over Tampa Bay. The crowd was Toronto's largest since July 18, 1998, and their biggest for a home opener since 1995. On the game itself, Stewart batted 3-5 with two RBI, Raul Mondesi connected on his second homer of the season, and Jose Cruz Jr was 2-3 with two runs scored. Paul Quantrill, Dan Plesac, and Kelvim Escobar shut out the Rays for the final three innings to preserve the win. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. The fans will keep on coming, as long as the Jays keep on winning. Will they?

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