Blue Jays 2015 Year End Awards: Biggest Surprise

Honorable Mention: Darwin Barney (The New Munenori Kawasaki?)

The injury to Troy Tulowitzki was thought to be a blow to the Blue Jays’ hopes of winning the division outright. That proved to be a false belief, but the blow struck by Kevin Pillar had a hidden benefit to the team and it’s fan base. For that injury brought Darwin Barney out of the mists of time and into a pennant race that he was able to impact in such a short stint with the team.

Barney was a former Gold Glover with the Chicago Cubs in 2012 and after that his bat fell off a table. Batting .208 in 2013 cost him his starting job with the Cubs and they traded him to Los Angeles in 2014. He started 2015 with the team but was waived and sent down after just two games. He rode buses around Oklahoma City and was at home in Portland until the Blue Jays suddenly needed a backup infielder. He grabbed his glove and headed up North.

Fans instantly embraced him. Barney enchanted with his dashing good looks:

Barney had a name that led to jokes about science and children’s TV:

Despite not being known for swinging the stick, Barney also joined in on the Blue Jays’ record setting offensive output. He had a slugging percentage of .609 with the team, with two home runs! Three, if the Little League home run in the division clinching win over the Orioles is counted!

With Cliff Pennington moving to the Angels and Devon Travis on the shelf again, the Blue Jays could use some infield depth. They are familiar with Barney, and the fans want him back:

Seeing Barney back in Toronto blue in 2016 would be a pleasant surprise for fans who have accepted that Kawasaki is not the answer at age 34.

Next: Honorable Mention: Surprises at closer and first base..

Honorable Mention: Roberto Osuna

The 20-year-old from the state of Sinaloa wasn’t expected to be a factor for the big league ball club in 2015, but he surprised everyone by making the squad out of spring training. The more talented of the two boys in the pen, as well as the more polished and poised, Osuna soon moved up the ranks in the bullpen hierarchy to take over the closing gig in June.

He was good enough to win the J.J. Rookie of the Year award, but finished a distant fourth in the actual voting. The surprising thing was that he was being considered for a rotation spot in 2016. Osuna was too valuable in a bullpen that needs every live arm can get. The acquisition of Jesse Chavez should put an end to that notion and allow the Little Cannon to pitch from a comfortable spot in 2016.

Runner Up: Chris Colabello

A second straight runner-up finish for Colabello, who was lost amidst the sea of waiver claims made in the off-season last year. The Blue Jays expected someone who could provide depth in the organization and be a spare bat if needed. What they got was a bat just a shade below the Big Three in terms of value.

Colabello’s stick was worth 19 runs above a replacement-level bat, good enough for fourth on the team. His batting average led the squad at .321 and his OPS+ was just behind Jose Bautista (142 vs. 149). His glove was not fit for the field of play but when combined with fellow waiver claimee Justin Smoak, their WAR equaled 2.0. What was expected to be a tough spot to fill following the departure of Adam Lind was handled deftly by the two first baseman, but Smoak was the primary candidate to be the starter. Colabello forced his way into the discussion with his bat.

Next: 2015 Biggest Surprise: For Long Time Blue Jays Fans, This Won't Be A Surprise

2015 Biggest Surprise: The Trade Deadline to End All Deadlines

Surprisingly, Alex Anthopoulos is unable to be in Toronto to accept this award. Tony LaCava will have to take it in his stead.

Too often during previous deadlines, fans would sit and watch competitors make moves to fortify their rosters while the Blue Jays brass sat back and watched the playoff chances slowly disappear. Given that the last attempt to make deadline trades to make the post-season push resulted in Esteban Loaiza coming to town, it can be understood why the Jays regimes wanted to wait and make sure they had the proper team in place before going for it.

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But the wait was long and painful. Instead of acquiring players, fans had to bid farewell to favored sons and disgruntled veterans. Names like Juan Guzman, Shannon Stewart, Eric Hinske, Scott Rolen and Aaron Hill all left for greener pastures around the waiver and non-waiver deadlines. Even when the Blue Jays were close, like in 2014, they refused to make a move splashier than Danny Valencia. Given Rogers Media’s reluctance to spend money on this team at the deadline, it was a wonder if they would ever use that war-chest of prospects to properly reinforce the team.

Then Troy Tulowitzki happened. I was in the first hour of my night shift when my phone buzzed and I went to see why my podcasts were interrupted. When I saw the report that Tulowitzki was on the way North, I nearly gagged on my Coke Zero. I couldn’t concentrate for a solid hour after that. I took all my allotted breaks early to try to get info on who was going where and how this move was possible. I was glued to my phone over Blue Jays news. It was inconceivable.

The fact that Tulowitzki had been acquired made it all the more shocking that David Price was acquired just two days later.  Similar feelings hit fellow writer Sam Bruce. He said in casting his vote, “I remember having to take a moment to sit down at work after I got the news. [It was] totally unexpected, and in that moment it felt like anything was possible.” The Blue Jays had hope. What a novel concept.

Next: Which J.J. YEA does this link lead to? It's a surprise!

The Blue Jays were expected to take the division after making those trades, as well as the moves for Mark Lowe and Ben Revere. What was surprising was how quickly the Yankees were reeled in after that. Was decimating the team’s pitching depth, especially among left-handers, worth it for a run that was cut short in the ALCS. The fact that question is even being asked is part of the biggest surprise of 2015.