Blue Jays Tapped for Best Record

    The Toronto Blue Jays have had an up and down spring, but our local microchip prognosticator should give them a reason to smile. 

   In an effort to entertain myself, I ran the 2003 FJBL season this morning.  Of course, it doesn't count.  Even more importantly, it's not even fair.  I let the computer put together its own manager profiles (something it does woefully) and played the season with each team's current rosters.  The computer determined playing time and couldn't make a single trade - something many of you will be happy to hear. And, of course, if I played the season a few dozen times, the results would differ, but, in case you're interested in the general abilities of your team, here's what happened.

AL EAST

The Toronto Blue Jays took over the division lead about halfway through the season and coasted to 13-game finish ahead of second play Baltimore.  Toronto went an FJBL best 97-65.  Baltimore, for you non-mathemeticians, went 84-78, an improvement that might make Todd Bohlmann pretty happy.  Last year's division winner, Cleveland, held the division lead at the 50 game mark, but faltered badly, finishing 82-80.  The  Yankees, who spent plenty of off-season cash, will need to be masterful at running their team this season - they finished 67-95 and 30 games out.

AL WEST

Kansas City held a 8-game lead at one point during the season, but Oakland came on strong thanks to league home run leader Jim Thome.  KC still won the division, but only by a single game, as they went 94-68.  The third place White Sox were never a threat, finishing 19 games down and the retooling Angels were 62-100 and 32 in arrears of the Royals.

NL EAST

The biggest surprise of all to me as the Atlanta Braves - who have struggled mightily in spring - nipped the Phillies by four games in a division that was tight from the get go.  Atlanta finished 87-75, the only division winner not to win 90 games.  Third place and six games back were the much improved Cubs who went 81-81 proving they can compete this season.  The Reds were also close, trailing by just 9 games in a division that is bound to prove interesting.

NL WEST

Milwaukee's curse continued.  The Brewers led the division most of the year, but the Diamondback caught them at the end finishing 90-72.  Milwaukee wound up second at 84-78.  Houston was the third place squad at 77-85 and the best team in the FJBL last season, the St Louis Cardinals, were a woeful 62-100 - a full 28 games behind the winners.