Article: Dave Berg, A True Utility Guy

[Mac]

Dave Berg's best years didn't come in Toronto, but he did have plenty of highlights with the Blue Jays.

The best skill of many utility players is their utility. In the early-aughts, light-hitting players who were defensively feasible around the diamond could be found across the majors. With those attributes, a player would normally be hard-pressed to make a team, but the utility player of the day came with much more. Listen to how J.P. Ricciardi waxed on about Dave Berg after signing him to play for the Toronto Blue Jays in the upcoming 2002 season: "He's an intense guy, plays hard, plays the game the right way...can help the young guys understand the game a little better."

Forget the nearly -2.0 WAR achieved during his three seasons in Toronto. Bergie was a professional, and that made him, according to Ricciardi, a “true utility guy.” To Berg’s credit, he had enough moments throughout it all to perpetuate the shine of that role.

Berg played college baseball at the University of Miami and was the second Hurricane ever selected by the expansion Florida Marlins. Berg progressed through the Florida system as a shortstop, and when the Marlins tore down their 1997 World Series-winning team, he was a part of the ensuing season’s 54-108 mess as a backup infielder.

The ‘98 Marlins also unfurled The Manalyist upon the baseball world as an everyday player.

Berg proved his worth as a major leaguer in the sea of losses during his rookie year. He played 81 games at three positions in the infield and slashed .313/.393/.407. He parlayed his performance into a bigger role in 1999, which seen him play sparsely in the outfield. Heading a meekly-improved Marlins’ bench, Berg was equally productive with a .286/.348/.382 line and a to-be career-high 11 home runs in 336 plate appearances.

Remaining the primary backup infielder, Berg regressed the following two seasons in Miami. With playing time limited behind the starting trifecta of Luis Castillo, Alex Gonzalez, and Mike Lowell, Berg managed a weakened .247/.317/.353 slash across 2000 and 2001. After the departure of Mr. Cycle Jeff Frye, the Blue Jays were in the market for an infielder when the Marlins declined to bring Berg back. More importantly, Ricciardi needed someone to show those doggone young ‘uns how to play the game properly.

Berg had only signed a minor-league contract but his inclusion on the Blue Jays was quickly confirmed. He hit five doubles in his first 10 spring training at-bats, causing Ricciardi to barf out more platitudes: “He's a dirtbag, he gets dirty, he grinds out at-bats.” That’s the quote. Berg would hit well all spring and solidified his spot as a Blue Jay for the start of the season.

Eric Hinske never came close to replicating his rookie season and would later turn into an offensive void while playing several different positions. Is this what Ricciardi was after?

Berg was a streaky hitter throughout the season but saved his best for Father Time. After an 0-for-17 stretch, Berg hit in nine straight before leaving the Jays to be with his wife during the birth of their second child. In his first game as a father of two, Berg extended the streak to 10 games and also shifted into right field for the first time ever when Jose Cruz Jr. was injured. Berg would start the next four games there and led Richard Griffin  of the Toronto Star to quip, “Despite all his hustle, Berg played right field like a second baseman.”

He got his first career start at first base in August, and the career infielder handled that position much better. Late in the game, Berg snared an errant pickoff throw from Felix Heredia and threw the baserunner out at second, helping Toronto hold on to a 5-4 win over Baltimore. As the Jays limped to the finish line beset by injuries throughout their 78-84 season, Berg’s experience and versatility made him a de facto everyday player. He finished the season with a slash line of .270/.322/.382 in a career-high 414 plate appearances.

Ricciardi, who had trimmed millions of dollars in payroll since debuting as Toronto’s GM a year earlier, handed Berg a two-year deal during the offseason. Baseball Prospectus called the multi-year contract a “misstep” for Ricciardi, but if you can’t figure out why he would do this, the general manager would explain:

Quote

"Bergie allows us to hold the fort down. We really don't have a utility guy in the system right now that can do some of the things he did. Last year, he was a really good addition to our club, just by the way he goes about his business and his professionalism."

The Blue Jays signed Mike Bordick to help cover the infield, and when the team broke for Opening Day, Toronto carried only three regular outfielders. Berg, who now carried four different game gloves in his locker, was asked to pick up more outfield work. He was in right field to start the season, collecting two hits while batting second in a 10-1 Jays loss on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium.

Berg would remain hot to start the year, but a mysterious ailment would soon put the brakes on everything. He hit .357 in April, but the struggles began in June when Berg was scratched from a start after suffering dizzy spells. Nothing to worry about, he said after. A couple of weeks later, the spells reoccurred, causing Berg to miss another game. This time, the Blue Jays put him on the injured list. Berg would end up missing over a month of game action without offering a reason for the fatigue issues.

When he returned, Berg was not good at the plate. Further reducing his role was Bordick, who, along with newcomers Reed Johnson and Frank Catalanatto, had been playing well. For the first time in his Jays’ career, Berg found himself on the fringes of the roster. He finished with an OPS of .679 on the season, the worst for any Blue Jay mainstay not named Kevin Cash.

That likely would have been it for Berg if not for the contract. With one more year of professionalism to provide, the Jays kept Berg around for what was an awful overall 2004. BP called it "one of the blights on a lost season" for Toronto. Now primarily playing left field, Berg slashed a career-worst .253/.278/.338 in what would be his final major league season.

It wasn’t all bad. Berg played the best stretch of his season just prior to the All-Star break. In an 11-game span, Berg was 14-for-43, hitting two of his three home runs and driving in 12 of his 23 RBIs. On June 23, the Blue Jays snapped Tampa Bay’s 12-game winning streak on a broken bat walk-off single from Reed Johnson. Berg scored the winning run after he opened the inning with a hard-fought single to set up Reed’s sawed-off heroics.

Two days later against the Expos, Berg leapt and made a run-saving catch up against the left field wall at the SkyDome. In the final game of this stretch, Toronto trailed the Mariners, 8-6, heading into the bottom of the ninth. With one away, Berg battled Seattle closer Eddie Guardado, and on the 13th pitch of the at-bat, he brought the Jays to within one with a deep home run to left. It was made all the more sweet when Carlos Delgado hit a three-run home run off Guardado later in the inning for the Blue Jays walk-off victory.

Berg had one more year under team control, but Ricciardi took a pass, instead making a trade with Cleveland for the Prime Minister of Defence, John McDonald. Until we get to Mike McCoy, today we remember Dave Berg.

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[Jonn]

Dave Berg was easily my least favourite Blue Jay on those early 2000’s teams. He was so memorable for being so bad. Not a name I thought I would hear again lol.

[Mac]

Thanks for reading and commenting Jonn, sorry for the not-so-pleasant trip down memory lane. Any Berg memory in specific that stands out for you?

[Delete_My_Account_Thanks]

On 2/16/2025 at 6:56 AM, Mac said:

In the final game of this stretch, Toronto trailed the Mariners, 8-6, heading into the bottom of the ninth. With one away, Berg battled Seattle closer Eddie Guardado, and on the 13th pitch of the at-bat, he brought the Jays to within one with a deep home run to left. It was made all the more sweet when Carlos Delgado hit a three-run home run off Guardado later in the inning for the Blue Jays walk-off victory.

 

 

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I was at this game sitting about 10 rows behind home plate.

One of my top 10 Jays memories: Jays were down 8-6, Berg leading off the inning I believe, and I told my buddy who wasn't a huge baseball fan "Oh no, Dave Berg sucks" just as everyone around me told me I was on the Jumbotron.

I looked up and I was zoomed in on the Jumbotron and everyone could probably read my lips.

He then has this long at bat where he fouls off all those pitches off Guardado before hitting a 330ft screamer that just got over the bullpen wall down the LF line to make it 8-7.

Next up, Vernon hits a single, and then Delgado blasts a first pitch HR to dead CF off the windows restaurant.

What an ending.  Thanks Dave Berg!

 

[Mac]

That is amazing Vladdywagon, I tried finding video of this game but your story makes it way better; thanks for sharing!