How did Marcus Stroman’s outing rank against other Blue Jays returns?

A week ago, Blue Jays fans got to finally see the return of former first-round pick and pitching ace Marcus Stroman.  The “Stro Show” treated fans to an impressive outing, which led me to wonder how did he rank against other top Blue Jays pitchers’ return appearances at Skydome/Roger’s Center.

12. Juan Guzmán – 1998

After the 1987 minor league season, 20-year-old Juan Guzmánwas coming off a Single-A season in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization that saw him post a 4.75 ERA and a 1.727 WHIP over 110 innings.  That is when the Blue Jays came in and traded 25-year-old Mike Sharperson for the future All-Star.

Guzmán would develop through the system and made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 1991 which led to 23 starts and had him finish second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.  Over a three-year stretch during the Blue Jays’ playoff runs from 1991-1993, Guzmán posted a 40-11 record with a 3.28 ERA that included an All-Star Game appearance.  Guzmán was even better in the postseason, as he is the current All-Time Franchise leader in postseason wins (5).  During his sixth season in the big leagues, he led the entire league with a 2.93 ERA.

After eight years on the big-league club and with the Blue Jays out of the playoff race, Guzmán was traded to the Baltimore Orioles at the 1998 trade deadline for prospect Nerio Rodriguez.  Guzmán wouldn’t have to wait as long as Marcus Stroman to make his return as he would be back on his familiar mound less than two months after being traded.

The Dominican native did not have the best start as he gave up a walk to lead-off hitter Shannon Stewart and a couple of batters later he would give up a home run to Carlos Delgado.  Guzmán would give up another two-run home run an inning later to Stewart and when all was said and done, the right-hander would pick up the loss after surrendering six earned runs.

Pitching Line: 4.2IP | 7H | 6R | 6ER | 3BB | 7K | 2HR

11. Pat Hentgen –  2002

The former fifth-round pick in 1986 by the Toronto Blue Jays, Pat Hentgen is most well known for his 1996 season that saw him post a 20-10 record that led to him being the first pitcher in franchise history to win the Cy Young Award.  Hentgen was instrumental in the 1993 World Series when he pitched six innings of one-run ball in Game 3 that helped the club take a 2-1 series lead over the Phillies.  Hentgen would pitch ten seasons with the big-league club that included seven seasons of double-digit win totals and three All-Star appearances.

At the end of the 1999 season in a very confusing and baffling move, GM Gord Ash traded both Hentgen and Paul Spoljaric to the St. Louis Cardinals for spare parts.

Due to injuries, Blue Jays fans would have to wait for 2002 to see Hentgen back in Toronto when he was starting for the Baltimore Orioles.  It was late September and the right-hander was making just his fourth start of the season as he was dealing with injuries again.

Hentgen was able to get through six innings, however, he quickly learned the dangers of Carlos Delgado’s bat, as he got on base all three times against his former teammate and went 2 for 2 with a walk, double, and a home run. Hentgen would collect his fourth consecutive loss to finish out his season.

Pitching Line: 6IP | 8H |5R | 5ER |1BB |1K |1HR

10. Roger Clemens – 2001

There isn’t a long story of Roger Clemens coming up through the system, it was simply the Boston Red Sox felt that he was on the downward part of his career and decided to not match his contract demands.  The Blue Jays stepped in and signed him to a four-year deal worth $40 Million and he put up arguably the two greatest single seasons in franchise history.

Clemens put up back-to-back Cy Young Award seasons, posting a combined 41-13 record with a 2.33 ERA while averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings.  Unfortunately, after the second season, Clemens demanded a trade out of Toronto that had him moved to the New York Yankees during Spring Training in 1999.

It would take more than two years for fans to see Clemens return to Toronto when he took the mound in April 2001.  Clemens was his usual dominant self as he struck out the side to start the game and then battled out of a jam in the second inning after Delgado and Jose Cruz led off with singles.  The third inning had the Blue Jays explode for five runs that included a three-run triple by Cruz followed by back-to-back doubles by Brad Fullmer and Tony Batista.  Clemens was able to only get through six innings leaving the game tied at five.  It would take 17 innings, but the Yankees would win the game with Clemens taking the no decision.

Pitching Line: 6IP | 8H |5R |5ER |3BB | 5K

9. A.J. Burnett – 2009

During the offseason prior to the 2006 season, the Blue Jays landed one of the top free agents in A.J. Burnett and signed him to a five-year, $55 Million contract.  Burnett was supposed to join Roy Halladay as a powerful one-two punch at the top end of the rotation, however, Burnett struggled with injuries over the first two seasons of his contract and missed about 11 starts in year one and seven more in year two.  In the third year of his contract, Burnett was not only healthy but looked pretty darn good as he posted an 18-10 record while leading the league in strikeouts.

The unfortunate part of the contract was that there was a player opt-out clause after the third season and since the right-hander was coming off a career season, he exercised the option.  Burnett had two years left with around $26.4 Million remaining on his contract and instead got a new five-year deal worth $82.5 Million contract with the New York Yankees.  Several fans felt betrayed by Burnett opting out and signing with the Bronx Bombers.

Fans didn’t have to wait long for the return of Burnett as he was back in Toronto the following May and fans were not kind, showering him with boos.  It was a match-up fans wanted, Burnett vs Halladay with the Jays hero winning the pitching match-up.

Burnett was able to carry a no-hitter into the fourth inning, at which point the Jays’ bats came alive for three runs, which included a two-run double by Scott Rolen.  Burnett was able to get control of the Blue Jays over the next few innings, retiring eight straight batters at one point.  Joe Girardi may have left his new pitcher in too long as he got hit around in the eighth inning which led to two more runs, including an Aaron Hill home run.  The Blue Jays would hand Burnett his first loss of the season which fans loved and the bow on top was Halladay needed just 103 pitches for his first complete game of the season and his seventh win of the year.

Pitching Line: 7.2 IP | 7H | 5ER | 5R | 4BB | 3K | 1HR

8. David Wells – Year 1993

David Wells had an interesting career with the Blue Jays organization.

He was drafted out of high school in 1982 and originally came up through the organization as a starter.  Once he climbed higher through the ranks he started bouncing back and forth between the bullpen and the starting rotation.  Wells would make his debut in 1987 and be a playoff beast, making nine appearances out of the bullpen from 1989-1992, including four shutout outings over 4.1 innings during the 1992 World Series.

The Blue Jays released Wells during Spring Training in 1993 and he moved around the league over the next few years, but continually kept improving, leading to him being selected to the All-Star Game twice.  When Roger Clemens demanded a trade out of Toronto, the Blue Jays re-acquired Wells for the 1999 season.  Wells did not originally endear himself to fans as he made everyone well aware that he did not want to leave New York and has since stated it was the worst day of his career.  During his second stint with the Blue Jays, he returned for two years and led the league in complete games in both seasons as well as wins in 2000.  Although Wells left the club twice and had two returns, for this list we are just looking at his first return.

There was speculation that when Wells was released after the 1992 season it was due to a rift between him and management, so when he returned in 1993, he had something to prove.   Wells would cruise through the first two-thirds of the game, including a dominating first inning that included striking out a pair and he carried a shutout through six innings. In the seventh inning the Blue Jays bats came alive as a Randy Knorr triple drove in Willie Canate with Roberto Alomar and Paul Molitor both doubling and tacking on two more runs in the inning.   Wells would be removed with two outs in the seventh and the Tigers would not be able to regain the lead and Wells would drop his record to 10-7 on the year.

Pitching Line: 6.2IP | 7K | 3R | 3ER | 2BB | 7K

7. David Price – 2016

The Blue Jays did not have David Price in the organization very long but he made a big impact in his short time after he was acquired at the 2015 trade deadline.

The Blue Jays moved three top pitching prospects for the 29-year-old veteran and he gave the extra kick the club needed to get into the playoffs.  Over his 11 regular season starts, Price posted a 9-1 record with a 2.30 ERA.  The hot streak lasted only in the regular season, as Price was not good in the playoffs and posted a 6.17 ERA over four appearances, however, without his work down the stretch, the Blue Jays likely don’t make the playoffs in the first place.  Price was a pure rental as he left in free agency that offseason and signed a seven-year $217 Million contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Blue Jays fans got to welcome him back to Toronto in late May the following season and he was just as dominant as he had always been against the franchise.  One of the bright spots of acquiring Price the season prior was that he always handled the Blue Jays well and continued to do so in an earlier start that season in Boston.

This time it looked as though the club would have something going against Price as they were able to get a pair of runners in scoring position in the first inning, however, they left them stranded and Price settled in after that.  Price was able to pitch five shutout innings and it took a sixth-inning two-run home run by Jose Bautista to score the only runs they could muster off the wily veteran.  Price would pitch into the seventh inning and leave the game with the lead but the Blue Jays forced extra innings before the Red Sox would eventually win, giving Price a no-decision.

Pitching Line: 6.1 IP | 5H | 2R | 2ER | 3BB | 3K | 1HR

6. David Cone – 1993

Like David Price, the Blue Jays acquired David Cone for the stretch drive at a trade deadline, this time in 1992.  Cone would make seven starts for Toronto, giving them quality starts in his final five outings and then two shutout innings in relief during the final game of the season.  The 29-year-old pitcher would start four games that postseason, posting a 3.22 ERA and helping the franchise win their first World Series.  Cone would leave in free agency and signed with the Kansas City Royals.

Cone returned to Toronto the following July and he was just as dominant as he was in a Blue Jays uniform, cruising through the first five innings facing just one batter over the minimum.  It wasn’t until the seventh inning that the Blue Jays could get anything going and it was the smooth hitting of Paul Molitor and John Olerud that put runs on the board, with each batter collecting solo home runs to tie the game.

The Blue Jays would add a pair of singles and force a walk to load the bases, but in Cone fashion, he was able to strike out Devon White to get out of the inning.  Cone would leave the game tied and earned a no-decision, with the Blue Jays going on to win the game with five runs in the eighth after their former ace left the game.

Pitching Line: 7IP | 6H | 2R | 2ER | 3BB | 2K | 2HR

5. Jimmy Key – 1993

I have always felt that Jimmy Key is the most underrated and underappreciated player in team history.  The franchise selected him in the third round of the 1982 Amateur Draft and less than two years later he made his Major League debut.  Key would become an All-Star in his second season, be the runner-up for the Cy Young in 1987 in a season he led the league in ERA and WHIP; and go eight consecutive seasons of double-digit wins.

Key was not overwhelmed by the playoffs and he sits tied for third-most wins in franchise history with three, which included two in the 1992 World Series, one being the clinching game.  During that 1992 postseason run, Key pitched in three games total, posting a 0.75 ERA.  After the World Series celebrations, Key would leave in free agency and sign on with the New York Yankees.

The left-hander led the Yankees into Toronto in late June of 1993 with his team trailing the Blue Jays by two games in the standings and he was determined to close the gap in the AL East.  Key had a tough start, surrendering a pair of runs in the second and then another on a Joe Carter solo home run in the third that put the Yankees down 3-0.

However, Key would surrender just one more hit after the Carter blast over the next 3+ innings while the Yankees chipped away to take the lead.  Key would strike out six batters, including four out of the five famous members of W.A.M.C.O. line-up and collect his ninth win of the season.

Pitching Line: 6IP | 5H | 3R | 3ER | 3BB | 6K | 1HR

3. J.A. Happ – 2019

The Blue Jays had J.A. Happ in the rotation on two different occasions and fans saw two different versions of the veteran southpaw.

The first time they acquired him through a trade in 2012, he was more of a back of the rotation arm.  He was traded away to the Seattle Mariners prior to the 2015 season, but the club signed him back for the 2016 season on a three-year deal worth $36 million which turned out to be a steal for the club.

In the two and half years from when he returned to the club, Happ put up a 40-21 record which included him becoming just the sixth different pitcher in team history to win 20-games in one season.  In the final year of his contract and the team nine games under .500, Ross Atkins traded him days before the trade deadline to the New York Yankees.  I was shocked at the time of the trade and still baffled today that all they got in return was two bench players (Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney). Happ would post a 7-0 record to help the Yankees advance into the playoffs.

Happ would sign a two-year deal worth $34 million to stay with the Yankees and would return to Toronto to face the Blue Jays the following June.

The Illinois product went on to post one of his best pitching performances of the season that and it was the only game he would throw more than 100-pitches that year.  Happ would never face more than four batters in a single inning or see more than one player reach base.  It took a lead-off home run by Eric Sogard in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Blue Jays to break the shutout.  Happ would respond by getting the next six of seven batters out to finish his outing and the only batter to reach was on an error by Yankees shortstop Thairo Estrada.  Happ would finish the day with seven innings, allowing just one run to record his sixth win of the season.

Pitching Line: 7IP | 4H | 1R |1ER | 0BB | 4K | 1HR

2. Tom Henke – 1993

Tom Henke hasn’t pitched for the Blue Jays in almost 30 years but he is still the franchise leader in saves (217), which is almost double compared to the next top relief pitcher.  The Blue Jays acquired Henke as compensation prior to the 1985 MLB Season and after dominating Triple-A to the tune of a 0.88 ERA and 0.604 WHIP through 39 appearances, he was called up to the big leagues in late July.

Henke had a remarkable start to his Blue Jays career, as his first six appearances saw him collect three wins and three saves while going 11 appearances before he allowed his first run which spanned almost 18 innings.  Henke would earn the nickname “The Terminator” and would become one of the league’s best closers over his eight seasons in Toronto.  During the Blue Jays three playoff runs between 1989 and 1992, Henke would make 12 appearances and allowed just one run over 13.1 innings pitched and collected five saves during the 1992 postseason.

After the 1992 World Series victory, Henke would sign with the Texas Rangers.  Blue Jays fans were able to welcome him to Toronto when the Rangers visited in early June of 1993.  This series should have been a breeze for the Blue Jays as they were one of the favourites to win the World Series again, while the Texas Rangers came into the series a couple of games under .500, however, Toronto would get swept in the four-game series.  In game two, with Tony Fernandez on first base and Ed Sprague coming to the plate representing the tying run in the eighth inning with two out, manager Kevin Kennedy brought in Henke to attempt a four-out save.

Henke would strike out Sprague on four pitches and then record a clean ninth inning, which included striking out Turner Ward for his 16th save of the season.  One night later, Henke would come into the game in the ninth inning with the save on the line.  The Missouri native would require just 14 pitches to post another clean inning as he struck out Paul Molitor to end the game for his 17th save on the year.  Over two games, Henke retired all seven batters he faced, collecting three strikeouts on his way to a pair of saves.

Pitching Line: 2.1 IP | 0H | 0R | 0ER | 3K | 0BB

1.  Roy Halladay – 2011

If you wanted to make a list of who the greatest Blue Jays player of all time, pitcher or position player, my argument would be either Roy Halladay or Dave Stieb.

Halladay, a former first-round pick back in 1995, climbed through the organization and made his Blue Jays debut in 1998.  In his second career start, he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning where it was broken up with just one out to go.  After struggling in 2000, Halladay was sent all the way back down to Single-A baseball where he had to reinvent himself, which helped him become one of the most dominating pitchers in the Major Leagues for the next decade.

Halladay would become the third Blue Jay pitcher to win the Cy Young Award when he took home the hardware in 2003 and was a five-time All-Star.

The Blue Jays have had several pitcher stars make memorable returns to Toronto, Roy Halladay was the only one to record a complete game.

After the 2009 season, Halladay had one-year remaining before he would become a free agent and he let management know that he was likely going to sign with a contending team. As such, the team traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies instead of losing him for nothing.

In 2010, Halladay faced the Blue Jays in Philadelphia where he collected the win after tossing seven scoreless innings.  The following year, the Blue Jays and Phillies played in Toronto in early July and Halladay received a standing ovation from the crowd when he took to the mound.

In typical Halladay fashion, the game was well under three hours and he gave his bullpen the day off.  Halladay had to put in a bit of work in the first inning as he surrendered both a walk and a single, requiring 21 pitches to get out of the inning, but dialled things in after that and needed just 16 pitches to get through the next two innings.

Toronto was able to score one run in the fourth (on a Jose Bautista home run) and scratched a couple more in the fifth, however, it was the Halladay show for the remainder of the game.  From the sixth inning on, Halladay retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced with just a two-out John McDonald seventh inning single being the only blemish.  Halladay required only 110 pitches to pitch a complete game and improved his record to 11-3 on the season which help lead him towards his second career Cy Young Award.

Pitching Line: 9IP | 8H | 3R | 3ER | 1B |8K | 1HR