Print   Recommend

Carlos Delgado hits homeruns. He drives in men. And he does plenty of other things that fill-up a stat sheet. But he also does something that doesn't show up in the morning box score: he leads.

"Carlos has been a great leader, and he does it all," new Blue Jays shortstop Mike Bordick said. "He works on the field, plus he talks and keeps guys up. I've always admired that about him."

That leadership is all a bonus to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays pay Delgado more than $17 million dollars a season for his bat, not his leadership. Since his arrival with the team in 1993, Delgado has earned every cent.

He may only be 30, but Delgado has already hit 262 homeruns and driven-in 814 more. Last year, he hit 33 round-trippers and drove-in 108 men. All those numbers are important, but this year, his leadership may be just as vital.

"He's not only a force in our lineup, but a true professional," second-year manager Carlos Tosca said. "He's done things that I've asked him to do regarding him sharing his experiences with some of the younger players."

And experience is something of which Delgado has an overwhelming amount. In his 10-year career, Delgado has touched the tip of Everest and also visited the pits of hell.

After a 2000 season in which Delgado was named to the all-star team and finished in the top-four in MVP voting, he was at the top of the baseball world. That summer, the Blue Jays signed him to a contract worth more than $17 million dollars a season.

With raised expectations the following year, Delgado wilted under the pressure and felt the heat from a performance-driven fan base and front office. Fortunately, he was able to regroup with a solid season of 33 homeruns and 108 men driven-in last season.

Delgado believes that experiencing tough situations like this has better prepared him as a leader. "You want to lead by example. I'm not a rah-rah type of personality. I just try and go out there and use my experience and ability to lead the way on the field."

His experience and ability are something that the Blue Jays hope will quickly rub off on their younger players. If it doesn't, the team could experience a difficult season. While the Jays roster may be littered with talent, it is also littered with a plethora of young players. In the infield alone, the Jays have three players -- Eric Hinske, Orlando Hudson, and Josh Phelps -- who have less than two years of experience.

Being surrounded by so many young players may bother most superstars in the prime of their careers, but Delgado claims to be unphased. "You pretty much take the same approach. Yeah, you have to work according to the ball club that you have, but as far as approach goes, I try and stay the same thing."

Many outside the Jays organization may view the team as young and inexperienced. But many within the organization tend to look for the positives. "We have some real great young players," Bordick said. "Hinske, (Chris) Woodward, Hudson. I've really been impressed this spring with the way they have handled themselves. They go out there, and they work hard. They're doing things the right way."

They are doing things the right way partly because of the leadership of Delgado. "(Delgado helps) just telling me what the guys got out on the mound. Telling me how to go about my business on and off the field," last year's Rookie of the Year, Eric Hinske, said. "He's been real good to me."

He has been real good to the whole team. "They watch his work ethic," Carlos Tosca said. "The way he goes about his business, he is a true professional. He brings a lot to the table that may go unnoticed."

It may go unnoticed by fans and opponents, but management has sure taken notice. If he continues to have a positive influence of the younger players in Toronto, the rest of baseball will have to notice Delgado as much for as his leadership as they already do for his numbers.

Have something to say? Visit the message boards and discuss this article. Comments? Agree? Disagree? Send in your feedback about this article.