JAYS TUESDAY NOTES FROM TAMPA

 

WEDNESDAY at Rays, 6:40 p.m. RH Brandon Morrow (0-1, 3.97) vs. RH Jeff Niemann (1-3, 5.60)

TV: SNET-1 RADIO: FAN 590

 

THURSDAY at Rays, 1:10 p.m. LH Ricky Romero (2-3, 3.00) vs. RH Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.31)

TV: SNET RADIO: FAN 590

 

FRIDAY vs. Tigers, 7:07 p.m. LH Phil Coke (1-4, 4.50) vs. RH Kyle Drabek (2-1, 4.45)

TV: SNET RADIO: FAN 590

 

 

JAYS RECEIVE VISITS FROM THEIR WALKING WOUNDED

With Tropicana Field just 25 minutes south of the Jays' training centre, it's a chance for the team's rehabbing players to pay a visit. Tuesday was no different with Aaron Hill (right hamstring), Jayson Nix (left shin), Dustin McGowan (right shoulder) and Jesse Carlson (left shoulder) all stopping by the Jays' clubhouse to exchange pleasantries.

Hill's rehab is coming along nicely. He has not been in a game yet since flying down last week, but is set to face McGowan in batting practice at 11:00 a.m. On Wednesday, after which he will leadoff every inning in a seven-inning sxtended spring game. Then on Thursday in Dunedin and Friday and Saturday against the Phillies in Clearwater he will play three league games before flying to Toronto to join the Jays on Sunday with the targeted date for his return being Monday.

“(Trainer) George Poulis was giving me a hard time,” Hill said of his wanting to fly back with the team on Thursday. “I know it's probably better. I could have played, I feel great right now. But another two or three days and especially the at-bats are going to be big.

“I've hit live pitching the last couple of days. McGowan pitched a couple of days ago, so it felt good. It didn't swell up or anything. I know at times when you come back you worry about timing and feel like the ball's coming a lot quicker. But it felt great. I know it's not going to take that long.”

Nix is still feeling soreness in the side of his left knee and lower leg from the hard takeout slide of Sean Rodriguez in Toronto. He projects himself to be about a week away from getting in a game although that time schedule must correspond to the pain going away.

“There's still some soreness in there, but it's getting better,” Nix said. “I jogged today and took groundballs and it felt better. I think we're shooting for around a week. Playing in a game to see whether it's a little way away. I'm guessing that it's going to keep progressing but I think that it will and I think that well be good by then. I took groundballs (Monday) for the first time.”

 

BAUTISTA UNDERGOES MRI ON SPASMING NECK

The Jays' best player, Jose Bautista came out of Sunday's game in New York because his stiff neck prevented him from running the bases. He felt that the day off on Monday would allow his neck to settle down and for him to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Such was not the case as he woke up with neck spasms that required treatment in the morning and a scheduled MRI in the afternoon. Manager John Farrell suggested that his earliest return would be on the weekend.