Jason Frasor turns 47 today.
Jason is our franchise leader with 505 games pitched (no one is beating down his door to overtake him); Tim Mayzawith 300, is the current pitcher with the most games played), and yet we forget him. I don’t know if he was anyone’s favorite.
Jason was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 33rd round of the 1999 draft Southern Illinois UniversityThe Tigers sold him to the Dodgers in 2002 as a “player to be named later” in a trade for Hiram Bocachica. Then, before the 2004 season, JP Ricciardi traded Jayson Werth to the Dodgers to get Frasor, whom he wanted for the closer position with the Jays.
It wasn’t the best trade. But Werth hadn’t shown much with the Blue Jay and has not achieved much in two seasons with the Dodgers. He only became a full-time outfielder in 2007, when he signed as a free agent with the Phillies.
Frasor shared the role of closer with Justin Speier in 2004. Jason saved 17 games, losing two. He finished 4-6 with a 4.08 ERA in 63 games. In 68.1 innings, he allowed 64 hits, walked 36, and struck out 54.
In 2005, the Jays Miguel Batista the closer job (he made 31 saves) and Frasor was the setup man. He made 15 holds. He pitched better than in his rookie year, with an ERA of 3.25 in 67 games.
From 2006 to 2008, he remained in the roles of setup/middle relief, with the Jays BJ Ryan to close for them (Jeremy Accardo had 30 saves in 2007 when Ryan was sidelined after Tommy John surgery). His ERAs were 4.32, 4.58 and 4.18.
In 2009, Ryan failed and Cito Gaston shared the save opportunities between Frasor and Scott Downs. Frasor had 11 saves (3 blown), Downs had 9, but Downs had a couple of injuries. Frasor had a 2.50 ERA (the best of his career). In 61 games, he went 7-3, allowing 43 hits and 16 walks, and had 56 strikeouts in 57.2 innings.
Frasor came out of spring training in 2010 with the job of closer. But he lost it again after blowing two saves in his first five opportunities. Here’s a little tip for anyone who wants a closer job: Don’t have a bad start to the season (see Frank Francisco). At the end of April, Jason had an ERA of 8.38, with 3 saves, 2 blown saves (one of which cost him a loss), and 2 holds. But by the end of the season, he had lowered his ERA to 3.68, was 3-4, with 4 saves and 14 holds. In 69 games, he threw 63.2 innings, allowed 61 hits, 27 walks, and had 65 strikeouts.
After the 2010 season, Jason became a free agent, but his Type-A status hurt his chances of signing with another team. No one was willing to give up a first-round draft pick for a middle reliever in his 30s, so he signed with the Jays.
In 2011, Jason played his 453rd game with the Jays and overtook Duane Ward for most appearances by a pitcher. After that, he played in a few more games, and then he was Zack Stewart to White Sox for Edwin Jackson And Mark TeahenThen Edwin was St. Louiswith Scrabble, Octavio DotelAnd Corey Patterson for Colby Rasmus and a lot of people we would lay off within a month.
After the season, the Jays traded him back and sent Myles Jay And Daniel Webb to Chicago. Webb pitched in 94 games for the White Sox with an ERA of 4.50.
Frasor started 50 games with an ERA of 4.12. He then moved to the Rangers, RoyalAnd Brave2015 was his last season in the Major League.
His career numbers: 12 seasons, 35-35, 3.49 ERA, 679 games, 36 saves, 283 walks, 615 strikeouts.
Jason wasn’t great, but he was a good pitcher for the Jays for a long time. He wasn’t overpowering. The time he spent between pitches could be annoying at times. I’m pretty sure I wrote entire posts between his pitches at times. How would he have handled the pitch clock?
Jason is married to Canadian Laura Schmidt and they have two children.
