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Hill trails Alomar in All-Time 9 vote

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By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

09/22/09 6:40 PM ET

NEW YORK -- There are still plenty of games remaining on the 2009 schedule, but many fans are already declaring Aaron Hill's performance this year as one of the greatest single-season showings in Blue Jays' history.

Hill has already claimed franchise records for a second baseman with 32 home runs and 98 RBIs, passing marks set by Blue Jays great Roberto Alomar. In an online vote aimed at determining the best performers in a single season at each position, Alomar currently boasts roughly an advantage of 1,800 votes over the up-and-coming Hill.

More than 4.1 million votes have been cast since the 9/9/09 debut of the "All-Time 9s," a platform for fans to debate the greatest single-season performances for all 30 Major League franchises. The voting marks the start of MLB.com's Lineup Card campaign, a gathering place for the posting and never-ending discussion of the greatest past and present lineups.

Along with the battle between Alomar and Hill, here is a look at how the Blue Jays' closest races are shaping up:

Catcher: Former Toronto catchers Darrin Fletcher and Ernie Whitt are in a heated race behind the plate for the top performance by a Blue Jays backstop. Fletcher, who currently leads Whitt by approximately 500 votes, hit .320 with 20 homers and 58 RBIs in 2000. Whitt, who spent 12 seasons with the Jays, beginning with the club's inaugural campaign in 1977, hit .269 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs in 1987.

First base: Carlos Delgado, who belted 336 homers and collected 1,058 RBIs between 1993-2004 with Toronto, currently leads Jays great John Olerud by roughly 1,600 votes for the best season by a first baseman. In 2000, Delgado hit .344 with 41 homers, 137 RBIs and 115 runs. In '93, Olerud batted .363 with 24 homers and 104 RBIs. Fred McGriff, who hit .300 with .35 homers and 88 RBIs in '90, is hanging in the race, as well.

Second base: Alomar -- a two-time World Series champion, five-time Gold Glove winner and six-time All-Star with the Jays -- holds an edge over Hill, but Toronto's current second baseman still has time to pad his statistics this season. In 1993, Alomar hit .326 with 17 homers, 93 RBIs, 109 runs and 55 stolen bases. Hill, who missed most of last season with a serious concussion, was named to his first All-Star team this year.

Outfield: George Bell (47 homers and 134 RBIs in '87), Joe Carter (34 homers and119 RBIs in '92) and Shawn Green (42 homers, 123 RBIs and 134 runs in '99) currently hold the top three spots in the race for the best single-season showings by a Toronto outfielder. Vernon Wells (33 homers and 117 RBIs in '03), Devon White (17 homers, 110 runs and 33 stolen bases in '91) and Jesse Barfield (40 homers and 108 RBIs in '86) aren't far behind, though.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.