Roy Halladay had another all-star calibre season in 2006, notching a team-leading 16 wins. (Francis Specker/Associated Press)

Following another season in Toronto, Sports Online issues its final report card on Canada's major-league ball club.

A season that began with the biggest of dreams ended with the smallest of victories.

The Toronto Blue Jays were supposed to end their 13-year playoff drought and play meaningful baseball in October. Instead, the Jays were essentially out of the pennant race by mid-July.

Backed by the deep pockets of team owner Ted Rogers, the Blue Jays spent big in the off-season to bring veterans Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay, ace reliever B.J. Ryan, and right-handed hurler A. J. Burnett to Toronto. But even with a substantially bigger payroll, the Jays still couldn't earn a playoff berth.

The campaign did, however, end on a bit of a bright note and offer a sliver of hope for next year.

Toronto posted back-to-back victories over the Yankees in New York on the last two days of the season to secure second place in the American League East, the first time the Jays finished higher than third in the division since winning the World Series in 1993.

Toronto's 87 wins were also the most victories in a season since 1998, when they won 88.

Hitting: B+

No one should accuse the Jays of failing to mash. Thanks to a batting order stocked with contact-making doubles machines such as Lyle Overbay, Frank Catalanotto, Reed Johnson and Alex Rios, Toronto tied Cleveland for the most extra-base hits in the American League while finishing second in slugging percentage and third in batting average. And long-ball hitters Troy Glaus (38 home runs) and Vernon Wells (32) helped the Jays to the fourth-best tater total in the AL.

Yet Toronto finished seventh in the league in runs scored. Why?

The Jays could have been a bit better in baseball's most important offensive category, on-base percentage, where they finished fourth in the American League. And, sure, there was some room for improvement in homers. But the biggest reason for Toronto's failure to score runs was just plain bad luck.

The Blue Jays finished second-last in the AL in bringing runners home from scoring position. If clutch hitting can be considered a dubious concept, the best explanation for the Jays' failure to cash in is simply that too many of their hits came at inopportune times.

Outfielder Vernon Wells led the Jays in RBIs, hits and slugging percentage. (John Froschauer/Associated Press)

To improve his team's batting in the off-season, Ricciardi may look to fill Toronto's offensive black hole at shortstop, where sure-handed but light-hitting veteran John MacDonald replaced Russ Adams early in the season after the youngster failed to show a major-league calibre glove or bat. Ricciardi might also be advised to add some pop to his corner outfield spots. Right-fielder Alex Rios wound up with 17 homers after a mid-season staph infection derailed his breakout year, while left-fielder Reed Johnson hit only 12 round-trippers.

Pitching: C+

The off-season signings of fireballing starter Burnett and lights-out closer Ryan addressed two of the Blue Jays' most significant shortcoming from last season. Ryan turned out to be everything his five-year, $47 million US contract suggested, leading the staff in ERA (1.37), strikeouts per nine innings (10.70), opponents' batting average (.169) and walks-plus-hits per inning pitched (0.86), while finishing with a robust 38 saves.

Burnett, unfortunately, also lived up to his billing as a sublimely talented flame-thrower who can't seem to stay healthy. After his surgically repaired right elbow flared up in spring training, he made only two starts before landing on the disabled list for two months. Burnett, 29, pitched well following his return, finishing the season 10-8 with a 3.98 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 135.2 innings, but the Jays need him to stay healthy for a full season to justify the five-year, $55-million deal they handed him.

The injury woes of the starting rotation didn't end with Burnett. After logging a tremendous amount of work last year in his rookie season, Gustavo Chacin broke down in 2006, missing two and a half months with an injured pitching elbow.

Combined with the loss of Burnett, Chacin's absence placed a heavy burden on the broad shoulders of ace Roy Halladay, who racked up 220 innings, his most since tossing a whopping 266 in his 2003 Cy Young season. The workhorse righty carried his team at times, posting a sterling 16-5 record and 3.19 ERA before a strained throwing arm shut him down in the final weeks of the season.

With both Halladay and Burnett locked up to rich long-term deals, Ricciardi might not be able to again open the vault to bolster a staff that finished the season in the top half of the league in most major pitching categories. Instead, the Jays GM could spend most of the winter crossing his fingers for healthier arms in 2007.

Defence: B

The Jays began the season with problems in the middle of their infield after trading second baseman Orlando Hudson to Arizona in the off-season.

Toronto struggled preventing runs early, but a change to McDonald from the erratic Adams at shortstop helped improve this unit as the season progressed. In the end, the team allowed the fifth fewest runs in the American League, while placing a respectable eighth in fielding percentage.

With McDonald solidifying the shortstop position, the Blue Jays were able to maximize the abilities of Aaron Hill, who was clearly more comfortable playing second base. Hill committed 12 errors in 63 games at shortstop, but made only seven in 112 games manning second.

The Jays remained solid in the outfield with Wells, a Gold Glover, patrolling centre. Wells rarely found himself out of position and used his terrific speed to track down balls most centre fielders would simply find out of their reach.

Ricciardi also strengthened the team's defence when he traded for Overbay from the Milwaukee Brewers. Overbay didn't disappoint his new employer, quickly living up to his reputation as a solid hitter with a proven glove.

The 29-year-old veteran not only had his best offensive season of his career, but also ranked fourth in AL fielding among first baseman. With Overbay protecting the bag, infielders had the confidence to make difficult throws knowing the crafty first baseman would scoop up most balls landing in the dirt.

Coaching: C+

John Gibbons endured an up-and-down stretch during his second full season as the Blue Jays' manager. Gibbons gets full marks for the way he handled his outfield in 2006: He managed to find plenty of playing time in left field for Reed Johnson and Frank Catalanotto, receiving solid seasons from both players.

With Wells entrenched in centre field, Gibbons decided to give Alex Rios the full-time position in right, declining a platoon situation with the disappointing Eric Hinske. The move paid huge dividends early as Rios enjoyed a breakout season before an infection on his left shin forced him to miss 26 games.

Despite sacrificing some offence, Gibbons also made a smart choice inserting shortstop McDonald in May. While McDonald was no threat wielding a bat, he shored up the middle of the infield, making athletic plays look routine.

However, Gibbons wasn't immune to public clashes with his players. During the second half of the season, Gibbons had confrontations with disgruntled infielder Shea Hillenbrand and pitcher Ted Lilly in a span of a month, leaving the perception that he had lost control of his team. The rest of the players seemed unfazed by the two blowups and Lilly later apologized for his actions.

Hitting coach Mickey Brantley gets mixed reviews for his work with Rios. Brantley made some minor changes to Rios's swing that produced 15 home runs through the first three months, but only two since the 25-year-old right-fielder returned from his leg injury.

Pitching coach Brad Arnsber did a fine job in holding a starting rotation together that was ravaged by injuries throughout the season.

Management: B-

Ricciardi was roundly criticized late in the season for complaining that Toronto, with its $72-million opening-day payroll, had no chance of competing with deep-pocketed division rivals New York and Boston. But the frustrated Blue Jays GM hit the mark when he said everything has to break right for his relatively frugal club to qualify for the post-season.

Closer B.J. Ryan proved to be J.P. Ricciardi's best off-season buy. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Too many things went wrong for the Jays in 2006. Injuries to the starting rotation and struggles by the offence to get hits with runners in scoring position overshadowed career years by Overbay and Ryan, strong seasons from Wells, Glaus and Halladay, and the breakout campaigns of Johnson and Rios.

Nonetheless, Ricciardi must spend the cash he has more wisely. The off-season trades that netted Glaus and Overbay turned out well, and free-agent acquisition Ryan proved to be one of the game's most effective closers. But dropping $9 million a year on someone who threw 72.1 innings is a bit wasteful, as is committing five years and $55 million to a fragile starter who always seems one pitch away from returning to the disabled list.

Blue Jays ownership has said it will give Ricciardi more money to play with this off-season. Exactly how much remains to be seen. Ditto for how effectively Ricciardi can use it.