Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 15

The Blue Jays'spring juggernaut on Friday continued to have its way with Grapefruit League opposition. Playing at the stadium formerly known as Grant Field, the Jays shut out the division-rival Rays 5-0, running their spring record to 12-2-1. The Jays are undefeated in 11 straight games and have won 10 straight decisions. They play a split squad on Saturday, with Brandon Morrow facing the Phillies in Clearwater and rookie Drew Hutchison taking on the Braves at Disney World.

Ricky Romero on Friday tossed four no-hit innings. He walked leadoff man Desmond Jennings twice, throwing just 29 strikes in 51 pitches on the day. Despite not being happy with his command, Romero was happy with the result of his third start of the spring.

"There's nothing you can do about it sometimes but just keep pitching, not let it get to you," Romero said. "I made some good pitches when I had to. Obviously I'm not happy about walks and throwing a lot of ball, but it happens. You can't be perfect every time."

Romero has now tossed nine innings of two-hit ball, with two walks and eight strikeouts. He was not even happy with the way he warmed up, but having more than two quality major-league pitches in your repertoire always helps on those days.

"It's just great to have different weapons and that's why you continue to work on different weapons every year," Romero said. "The cutter's been a pitch for me that from last year to this year has been big for me, especially behind in the count. You try to do different stuff with it and it's worked out for me."

* * * * *

Jays' third baseman Brett Lawrie had an eventful trip around the bases in the second inning on Friday. He exploded out of the box facing Rays' righthander Jeff Niemann and legged out an infield hit that was fielded behind the bag at second base by Ben Zobrist. Then Jose Molina tried to pick him off as he slid hard back into first base. Lawrie stole second and then ran hard around third to score on a single to left by J.P. Arencibia.

A half inning later after playing the field, Lawrie pulled himself from the game with tightness in his left groin. He is listed as day-to-day.

"It just happened when I was coming around third, about halfway home, something just triggered that I went, hey, just heads up on it," Lawrie recalled afterwards. "It's the right thing to do. We're almost to the season and we're not in the World Series right now. It's just time to work in getting it better."

The hit raised Lawrie's batting average to .609 with 14 hits in 23 at-bats. He has six doubles, a triple and five steals. 

* * * * * *

The Jays made two roster moves prior to the game and one more afterwards, reducing the number of players still in major-league camp to 46. In the morning they sent lefthander Evan Crawford and righthander Joel Carreno to the Mattick complex. After the game, it was righthander Chad Jenkins, who worked three shutout innings vs. the Rays.

Manager John Farrell was asked if Carreno was going back to the minors to stretch out his innings and return to someone's starting rotation when the affiliate seasons start.

“He's been getting two innings here, but as our projected guys that are competing for our rotation are starting to get into their fourth and fifth innings of work, those innings for him are starting to dry up and we do want to lengthen him out as a starter," Farrell said.

Crawford has impressed Farrell with his three appearances adding up to four shutout innings. he had aggressive approach, able to retire both righthanders and lefthanders.

Meanwhile, Jenkins, the club's first round draft pick in 2009 has accomplished what he came to camp for. He needed to impress the staff in order to gain a spot in the future plans for the season and beyond if starters are required due to disablement or poor performance. He allowed just one run in his eight innings, with no walks and eight Ks. His advantage is that at the end of the season, as a three-year professional out of college, the Jays must protect him on the 40-man roster.

* * * * * *

There has been some concern that maybe Sergio Santos was nursing an injury because he had not pitched since March 7. Actually the opposite is true. According to manager John Farrell, Santos came to camp so ready to pitch, they have tried to slow him down.

"Santos we've worked in some bullpens on the side, particularly with his changeup, getting him some added work with that," Farrell explained. "He came into camp in such good shape and was throwing the ball almost in mid-season intensity and physically was in great shape. We felt there was the opportunity to slow him down a little bit and spend some quality time working on his changeup."

That's an unusual explanation for recent major-league inactivity you don't hear every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Griffin: Jays' Farrell learned important lessons from Terry Francona

 DUNEDIN, FLA.-At the Jays' road game on Friday in which they faced the Astros at a location somewhere in the middle of this state, the Jays' usual pre-game media session with the manager was delayed because John Farrell and his Houston counterpart, Brad Mills were standing together in short right field gabbing about old times they shared as coaches with the Red Sox under since-departed manager Terry Francona. It was nice.

It's not just Farrell and Mills that have benefitted from their years with the fired Francona in Boston. Another confrere, third-base coach Dale Sveum went on to coach with the Brewers and has now landed the manager's job with the Cubs under former Sox GM Theo Epstein. In fact most of Francona's coaching staff over the past three winters have each interviewed for managerial positions throughout baseball. It's a factory.

“I'm sure each guy that you mentioned probably picked up something a little bit different in combination with their own personal experiences and career path,” Farrell said when asked if there was a common lesson learned from Francona.

“I'm going to pick up things differently from Tito than Millsie would., I mean they go back to University of Arizona days together. That was probably the right hand knowing exactly what the left hand was doing and thinking. But we share a lot of the same values in how the game is played, what we like in players. We were fortunate to be in a very successful and winning environment.”

Mills and Francona were teammates with the Arizona Wildcats where Francona was the Golden Spikes winner as the best amateur player in America in 1979. They became teammates again in Montreal and when Francona got his first major-league job as manager of a bad Phillies team, he brought Mills onto his coaching staff. The former third baseman then followed his friend to Boston. Farrell's four-year experience on Francona's staff as pitching coach from 2007-11, thus would be far shorter and far different.

“You take some of those experiences, including the traits of Tito, the way he dealt with people, the way he handled issues that arise, his approach to dealing with people and defusing a situaton before it became a bigger issue in the clubhouse,” Farrell said. “Those are some things we learned from him along the way and yet we're going to deal with things the way our instincts and our personalities lead us to that point. The common thread is our overall approach to the game.”

In major-league baseball, it's not just Francona that has spun off major-league managers with regularity. With the Angels, Mike Scioscia, who himself was spun off from Tommy Lasorda, the Anaheim manager has sent Ron Roenicke to the Brewers, Joe Maddon to the Rays and Bud Black to the Padres. John Farrell is not so insecure as to avoid surrounding himself with quality coaches that themselves have a chance to manage in the majors someday, guys like Torey Lovullo, Brian Butterfield, Don Wakamatsu and Luis Rivera.

“I think it's a prudent approach to surround yourself with the best qualified people,” Farrell shrugged. “Certainly the players are first and foremost, but as far as the ability to teach and communicate from a staff standpoint, you don't go get your friends, you get the best people available.

“Hopefully in the situation that you're currently working in that creates opportiunities for others to go elsewhere and start their own managerial career. That's what I've been fortunate enough to experience. Hopefully that happens with guys on our staff as well. You want to champion their cause in some way and yet celebrate when they get their opportunity to lead their own team.”

Meanwhile, after the Red Sox collpase late in the 2011 season, Francona was bounced for alleged disciplinary reasons wthin the clubhouse. Farrell was delighted to see his former boss on an earlier spring visit by the all-sports network, ESPN, Francona's current employer. They spent most of that day together, on and off camera.

“It was great to see him,” Farrell said. “I know he's still got a burning desire to get back in the dugout and I'm sure that will happen at some point, but it's always a fun conversation, I know that.”

 

 

 

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 14

KISSIMMEE, FLA.-The Jays continued their impressive run this spring with a 6-3 victory over the Astros at Osceola County Stadium on Thursday. The Jays have won nine in a row and are undefeated in their last 10. Their overall record stands at 11-2-1 with Friday's game scheduled for Dunedin against the Rays. Ricky Romero will be on the mound.

The Jays scored a pair of runs in each of the first two innings to take an early stranglehold on the game. Eric Thames and David Cooper singled to drive in runs in the first inning, while Travis Snider ripped a double down the right field line against lefthander Zach Duke in the second. Left fielder Jake Marisnick hit the game's only home run in the ninth, while right fielder Rajai Davis stole a pair of bases in the first. Dustin McGowan and Kyle Drabek each allowed an unearned run in his three innings of work. 

NOTE: Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke sat in the stands with Jays' GM Alex Anthopoulos, as his hockey team prepared to play the Lightning in Tampa later in the day. The Jays had no one from the GTA in the lineup either. But Crouse is a Port Moody, B.C. native.

 * * * * * *

For Dustin McGowan, the mere fact last September of pitching in a regular-season major-league game after three calendar years on the Blue Jays' disabled list was a huge step, but it did not mean in his own mind that he was all the way back to doing normal things that other Jays' pitchers do. That McGowan return to normalcy is a gradual process.

After working three innings against the Astros on Thursday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three, the 29-year-old took one of those "next steps" towards earning a spot in the Jays' five-man rotation.

On Monday, he actually threw a side session in the bullpen between starts. It was the first time he has been physically able to do that normally mundane between-start maintenance routine since July 5, 2008, three days prior to the start in which he was injured.

“It feels good, it's peace of mind," McGowan said. "That to me was as big a step as anything just because last year I was trying to get the arm to recover in between and now it's showing it's recovering, so it gives me a chance to throw sides and sharpen up on stuff. I'm sure there will be times where I skip one or two days here and there, but that will come later once I add more innings. Maybe I need a day where I don't throw a side, maybe I don't. Hopefully I don't, but we'll see.”

Both McGowan and his manager John Farrell agreed that their conversations no longer are prefaced with a "How are you?" greeting. That's the way the pitcher likes it.

“He says hi to me and goes about his business," McGowan said. "That's the way I want it. I don't need him asking me how I am every day. I'm just one of the guys that pitch every five days like the other guys. It's the same."

Farrell has been quietly confident all along in his rehabbing pitcher since seeing him throw on the side for the first time at the Mattick complex early in the spring. But he still sees daily progress each time out towards earning a rotation berth.

“He comes into camp unrestricted as far as any kinds of ailments that we're looking at or monitoring more than anyone else," Farrell said. "It's a matter of building up his pitches, building up the innings start by start. As we stated at the outset, he's right in line and mainstreamed with every other starter in camp.

“The conversation centres around what took place in the game, because he's not on the report every morning as far as the health update. It's just about getting him prepared mentally and physically for the start of the year. It's even more comforting when he's throwing 92-95 with the sink that he's thrown. He's passing every physical plateau. From his first bullpen in camp it's been very good, very consistent. There hasn't been a dropoff in stuff and I think that speaks to what he's done in the off-season and how he's physically responsible in the work sessions. It's been all positive.”

* * * * * *

Righthander Kyle Drabek has been linked to Dustin McGowan, working most times on the same day and many times in the same game as they compete for the same rotation spot. Drabek worked three solid innings on Thursday, allowing an unearned run, with a hit and a strikeout. His previous start was rained out after one inning five days ago vs. the Braves. This time he got his work in and was happy with his effort.

"My arm felt good," Drabek said. "We'll see how sore it is tomorrow but during the three innings it felt good. For me it's good to get three innings in and get on to the next start, hopefully get four."

Manager John Farrell and GM Alex Anthopoulos spoke to Drabek pre-camp as they did everyone else back in February. Farrell warns against assuming that Drabek will be at AAA-Las Vegas. He is happy with Drabek's improvement in demeanour and mechanics. 

 

“I wouldn't say he's totally on the outside looking in, either," Farrell said. "The most encouraging thing is he's been able to take some of the work done pre-spring training and in the early phases of camp and taken them out to the mound. While we come into camp with somewhat of a pencilled in plan for everybody, that's somewhat subject to change. It depends what they do in between the lines and he's affecting it in a positive way."

Again, for Drabek, who has tended in the past to lose some composure when a call goes against him and also needs to maintain his straight line to the plate at the point of landing and delivering, spring training is all about showing the Jays he can move forward.

“Yes, and I'd say both are a work in progress," Farrell said. "I don't think it's by any means a finished product but the most important thing is that he is clear and understanding what the needs are. He's got a very clear plan on how to address both, now it's just a matter of going out there and doing it consistently."

* * * * * *

The Jays brought with them to face the Astros an impressive list of five young outfielders, all 25-years-of-age or less. Apart from Eric Thames and Travis Snider, the two men battling it out for the left field position, were Anthony Gose, Jake Marisnick and Canadian Michael Crouse. Manager John Farrell has included the two A-Lansing outfielders Marisnick and Crouse on many travel squads. impressed with their advanced skills and maturity.

"We haven't even tapped into the young arms, which is by design," Farrell said of some pitchers that played with the kid outfielders at Class-A in '11. "We don't want to rush young guys that were either teammates with those guys in Lansing or a level below them, but in addition to those guys, the overall group is not only growing in number but they're growing in maturity, both physically and the way they're performing on the field.

“One wave is very close and there's probably another wave another year and a half behind them. The next wave ir probably dominated more in position players. That's not to short-change Drew Hutchison, Deck McGuire, Chad Beck, Chad Jenkins, but there's a lot of good position players in the system."

Marisnick homered in the ninth inning, while Thames and Snider each doubled and drove in runs. Gose was 2-for-4 with a bunt single towards first-baseman Carlos Lee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 13

DUNEDIN, FLA.-The Blue Jays on Wednesday at the stadium formerly known as Grant Field defeated the Yankees 7-5 to run their impressive Grapefruit League record to 10-2-1. The Jays travel to Kissimmee on Thursday to play the Astros with Dustin McGowan the starter. 

The Jays' 21-year-old Venezuelan righthander Henderson Alvarez pitched three innings, allowing one run on four hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Countryman Freddy Garcia started for the Yankees, but was knocked out of the game on a hot comebacker off his right hand by left fielder Edwin Encarnacion in the fourth.

He works quick, he throws strikes, he changes speeds," manager John Farrell described his young starter. "He's got very good stuff. That's a pretty good combination for a consistent major-league pitcher. He's picked up where he left off a year ago.

“He's got three very good pitches. He's got the ability to get very good major league hitters out inside the strike zone. He doesn't require a big league hitter to chase out of the zone. He's got the ability to get two outs with one pitch, with a heavy sinking fastball. More than anything it's the continued execution of those three pitches. He's got late action in the strike zone and the ability to get the best hitters in baseball out.”

Encarnacion was 3-for-3 with two homers and three RBIs to lead the way offensively. Third baseman Brett Lawrie stroked a double and a triple, stealing a base while raising his batting average to .591 and his slugging average to .955. Designated-hitter J.P. Arencibia also homered for the second time this spring, both against the Yankees.

* * * * * *

The starting left fielder against the Yankees for the first time in a Blue Jays' uniform was Edwin Encarnacion. The Jays' regular DH has never played the outfield in the regular season, but was making his third appearance in left this this spring.

In the second inning Encarnacion loped towards left-centre chasing a high pop by Alex Rodriguez and had to make a last-second late stab reaching out to his left to make the grab. In the bottom of the inning, the 29-year-old turned on a Freddy Garcia fastball and crushed it over the trees behind the left-centre field fence. Leading off the fourth, he knocked Garcia from the game, woth a scorched one-hopper off his right hand. Garcia was driven back to Tampa for precautionary x-rays before the game had ended. He finished off a great performance with a secnd home run, this one off the scoreboard in left-centre field in the fifth. He has a 4.000 OPS as a left fielder.

“It's the first opportunity to see him in a starting role," manager John Farrell explained. "Which in spring training, whether it's coming off the bench or whether it's getting innings right out of the chute, they're looked upon equally. The fact that Travis Snider and Eric Thames both got four at-bats yeterday this is a day down for them. When we've gotten to a point at this stage of spring training where a guy's got four at-bats, he's got the next day off. So I wouldn't read anything into both of them not being in the lineup and Edwin being in left. Both Thames and Snider will be back in the lineup at Kissimmee."

* * * * * *

The battle between Eric Thames and Travis Snider for left field remains intriguing. Snider is batting .304 in eight games, with three homers and 10 RBIs, while Thames is at .286 with a homer and four RBIs. Thames is the incumbent.

“Ongoing," manager John Farrell said when asked to update the left field tussle. "There's been no conclusion. Certainly we're at the midway point of games here in camp. The one thing that we have stated previously and continue to state is that Eric Thames finished last year as our left fielder. And yet there is a competition going on at spring training, so while we look at what takes place in camp, we also include what took place a year ago.That's not to draw a separation, that's to continue to state everything that will be factored into this."

* * * * * *

Another area that requires close scrutiny in the second half of the Grapefruit League scheduled is the seventh and final relief spot, left slightly murkier with the injury to Jesse Litsch. Realistic candidates include Joel Carreno, Aaron Laffey and Luis Perez. 

“Luis Perez has been outstanding," manager John Farrell said, asked for his most pleasant surprise. "He's pitched with a lot of determination, he's pitched with a lot of conviction and his stuff has shown that. I think his slider in this camp has been better than any time last year and he's also understanding his approach, how to attack righthanders with more regularity. It's something he had a little bit of a diffiuculty with last year."

As for Carreno, the righthander came up last year and made an immediate impression in Farrell in the month of September. Little has been discussed of him this spring. Carreno worked two innings against the Yankees but was let down by the defence allowing three runs following a Chris Woodward error on a double-play grounder. 

“A multi-inning reliever at a minimum," was Farrell's comment when asked to explain where the 25-year-old Dominican fit in. "He's in competition for one of the slots as a multi-inning reliever that we've got a couple of guys targeted for.

"If he doesn't break camp with us it's likely that he goes back to the minor leagues and starts, to give us an option in a starting role if the need arises. But the one thing about Joel is he pitched very well for us last year. He's had an outstanding minor league career. He's performed and excelled at every level he's pitched at, so while the public talk hasn't been equal to maybe some others, internally Joel is very much in the conversation."

* * * * * *

Prior to the morning workout, the Jays announced that shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, righthander Trystan Magnuson and outfielder Moises Sierra, a trio of 40-man roster players were optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. Manager John Farrell discussed his impressions of Hechavarria in his second major-league camp. 

“Rght now he's on his development path over at the minor-league complex," Farrell said of the 22-year-old Cuban. "I think the next time we see him might be during the regular season, whether that's this year or next year remains to be seen.

“He has made not only a very good impression but a sizeable improvement over a year ago. Increased bat speed, increased strength, but the one thing that stands out probably the most is his overall approach at the plate. We've seen a number of at-bats in spring training here where he's got down in the count 0-2. He's not chased pitches out of the zone. He's stayed with his plan. Just a very exciting young player."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 12

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.-The Blue Jays, in what amounted to a split-squad of games at Lee County and at Al Lang, swept a pair of decisions, defeating the Twins 8-2 and downing the Canadian junior nationals 10-2. Only the Twins win counted in the Grapefruit League standings as the Jays ran their record to 9-2-1. They host the Yankees on Wednesday with Henderson Alvarez on the mound.

Down in Fort Myers, lefthander Brett Cecil tossed three shutout innings while Travis Snider continued to swing a hot bat with a double and two RBIs. Catcher Travis D'Arnaud also stroked a two-run double. First baseman David Cooper and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria added RBI doubles. The Jays have won seven straight games.

At St. Pete, it was a Canadian homecoming of sorts for five members of the Blue Jays' starting lineup, Brett Lawrie, Michael Crouse, Dalton Pompey, Marcus Knecht and starting pitcher Scott Richmond. Righthander Trystan Magnuson, a Vancouver native who grew up in Kentucky, pitched later in the game. The Canadian Jays took time at the end of the Juniors batting practice to pose for a group photo on centre field with Team Canada. 

All the Team Canada scoring came in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Jacob Robson doubled over Knecht's head in left field, followed by a solid one-hop double to left by Kyle Hann. The 15-year-old outfielder Gareth Morgan stroked the first of his two hits, moving Hann to third base. One out later, Brett Siddall delivered with a sacrifice fly. Siddall, a Windsor native, is the son of former Expos' catcher Joe Siddall.  

* * * * * *

In attendance at the Team Canada game at historic Al Lang Field was former major-league catcher Andy Stewart, now an instructor at the IMG Baseball Academy in Bradenton, FL. Stewart, who caught briefly for the Royals in '97, was an integral part of the dramatic '99 Pan Am bronze medal winning team in Winnipeg that many believe propelled Canadian international baseball into the public eye for the first time. 

The Canadians went into the tournament as an afterthought, managed for the first time by former Jays' catcher Ernie Whitt. That was the tournamen of Stubby Clapp's windblown popup against Cuba and Stewart's four home runs and 15 RBIs in six games, including a key blast against Team USA.

After going 4-0 in dramatic fashion in the preliminaries, with wins over their two main rivals, Canada dropped a 3-2 semi-final game against Cuba and won the Bronze with a victory over Mexico. It was Canada's first podium finish at any major international competition and ignited a belief that Canadian senior teams could compete.

 

“We had no idea it was going to be that special," Stewart said. "We had no idea it was going to be as exciting and thrilling as it turned out to be. I know that Stubby and that whole team still feel like we were the catalysts of getting this whole excitement for Canada baseball going and we really do feel like we had a piece in that.

"Obviously the kids right now and the players that they're producing in Canada are getting better and better, we can't take all the credit, but we like to think that. We like to think that we were that team that got it going for baseball in the country."

And what did that experience mean personally for Stewart, who had already played in the majors but would never make it back as a player. He was hired in 2001 as the Jays' bullpen catcher, but to this day people still remember him for the Pan-Am Games.

“I really didn't realize that only two years later I'd be catching in the Jays' bullpen," Stewart said. "You really wouldn't think like that. It's just the way things worked out. That Pan-Am Games was the pinnacle of my career. I compare that with my first major-league hit because just the experience I had with the players.

"I think that's what any Team Canada experience is all about. The coaches and the organization focus on kind of a team atmosphere where team comes first. If we all play together, that's how it was taught, the game would come together and make it a little bit easier. That's what that team was. We weren't selfish. We were just playing for our country and that's the way it's supposed to be."

* * * * * *

North Vancouver native Scott Richmond started the game for the Jays, even though he was sent to minor league camp this past Saturday. Richmond has always had to struggle for any baseball job he has had and was never a member of the Junior Team Canada program as a kid. He expects to start the season in AAA-Las Vegas, but is ready for the challenge.

"The key is I'm healthy now," Richmond said. "I can't control where they send me but I can control the effort and being prepared. I'm feeling good and ready for the challenge." 

 

 

 

 

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 11

DUNEDIN, FLA.-The Jays on Monday ran their spring record to 8-2-1 in Grapefruit League play with a 4-1 victory over the Orioles at the park formerly known as Grant Field. 

Brandon Morrow threw 23 pitches over three innings, pounding the zone with 17 strikes. He allowed a leadoff single to right and struck out two. It was his second spring start.

“That's probably my lowest pitch count for three innings, all-time," Morrow said. "That comes with change of speed, getting guys out in front, poor contact, all that. I plan to continue to use that and judging by today get some quicker innings, quicker outs and overall better results, get deeper into games.

“I left a couple of strikeouts out there probably. Could have used my slider in a couple of situations, but I haven't started to use that yet. Once I do, there'll be a few more strikeouts. It's something that needed to be done. Obviously I was getting it done striking guys out but four-and-a-half innings per start the last two years isn't what you want out of your No., 2 starter, obviously. I don't care about anything other than that."

Obviously Morrow was exagerrating downward the length of his average start, but manager John Farrell is exactly on board with all the same positive Morrow has seen.

“Impressed with both his curveball and his changeup," Farrell began. "The curveball has been a point of emphasis for him to get more familiar with the use and command of it. He's done it now in the last two outings that he's pitched.

"Equal to all that is is his unloading time with men on base. Last year, at times, he'd try to get too quick. His delivery would come apart at times and he wouldn't be able to command a baseball as consistently. This is two consecutive outings where he's been very much under control, like I said, the emphassis being on his curveball. His ability to throttle hitters back and forth, he's not going to get them on a fastball yet, but if he can get a feel for those secondary pitches, it's going to make his fastball thast much more effective."

Morrow was followed by Francisco Cordero, Casey Janssen, Drew Hutchison and Deck McGuire, with Hutchison allowing the only run.

“We threw strikes all game long," Farrell said. "It's the fundamentals of pitching. The more you can continue to maintain that, that's what we're talking about in getting more quality innings from your rotation. That's the first place to start."

One interrogator kidded Farrell about the tough decisions upcoming since 15 of his Jays' pitchers still maintain a 0.00 ERA in Grapefruit League action after the first 11 games.

“Well, spring training is one part of the evaluation, as you know," Farrell said. "More than anything, what we've seen in more games than not is guys are attacking the strike zone, they're working ahead and you look at the guys that we project in that grouping of seven starters that are in competition, they're doing just that. They're pitching to contact and they're attacking the strike zone. It's something that we said at the outset that we're trying to create more of a mindset of and so far they're demonstrating that."

The Jays only managed four hits, with the key blow being Omar Vizquel's bases-loaded single to build the lead to 3-0 after Travis Snider had singled off the right field fence, held to one base because of Colby Rasmus' indecision and shoddy baserunning ahead of him. 

* * * * *

The 22-year-old Hutchison is highly regarded, but made a couple of mistakes in his one inning of work on Monday vs. the O's that cost him a run. The non-roster righthander is surely in that top dozen starters in the organization needed to be pinpointed heading into the season. The Jays have averaged 12 starters per year each of the past three seasons. They have a plan for the Lakeland, Florida native.

“Our goal for him is to keep him late enough in camp so when hitters really start to hone in getting prepared for the regular season, he's going to face some hitters during that time and gain valuable experience," Farrell said, suggesting there is no chance that he breaks camp as the fifth starter for the Jays.

* * * * * *

McGuire, 22, a product of Georgia Tech, is another of those talented young Jays' starters that would have to be ranked in the Top 12 pecking order heading into the regular season. He was the club's No. 1 pick in the June 2010 draft and is happier with his second training camp as an invited player than he was in his first.

“It's just a chance to keep getting better, learn from some of the best players in the world and just keep trying to get better every day and grow to my full potential as quickly as possible," McGuire said. “Obviously your goal is to get to the big leagues as quickly as you can, but I'm just going to keep trying to get better every fifth day and work my tail off in between and try and help the big club whenever they need me.

“That learning curve last year was pretty steep. I was kind of a deer in the headlights all of spring training. This year, I've played with some of the guys. I've met some of the older guys. It's just given me a chance to really settle in, relax a little bit and really focus on getting better. I'm really able to talk to some of those older guys, where last year I was a little bit too nervous."

* * * * * *

There was news on a couple of other Jays' starting candidates. First of all, Kyle Drabek, whose start was rained out after one inning on Sunday in Orlando, was not happy to see that his name was listed for another long bus ride, this to Kissimmee on Wednesday. But that was not a change, since he did face the Braves an inning, then threw 25 more pitches in the bullpen to complete his workday.

 

“What we've had Kyle on is an every fourth day schedule," Farrell said. "That will be the case again. We'll look to get him three innings his next time out. But even though it was only one inning of work he was able to take some of the things he was working on into the game. And more than anything, I know it was one inning, but it was an efficient inning and the use of his sinker is becoming a true weapon for him."

There has been a slight change of plan for Dustin McGowan as his exhilirating ride back to the major leagues continues this spring. Originally the recovering righthander was to pitch three innings at minor-league camp on Wednesday, but instead he will take the long bus ride to Kissimmee and start against the Astros. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 10

DUNEDIN, FLA.-The Jays were scheduled for a split squad, home and away against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. They beat the Braves 9-5 at home, with the game at Disney rained out in the bottom of the second. The Jays record is now 7-2-1.

Ricky Romero and Chad Jenkins allowed one run over the first six innings before Jason Frasor sprung a leak in the eighth, giving up three runs in his one inning of work. Kyle Drabek was the starter for the rained out game in Orlando. 

* * * * *

Ricky Romero made his second start and has now worked five shutout innings for the spring, a far different start than he had a year ago when frustration was evident.

“I feel comfortable, I feel great right now," Romero said. "I'm recovering really good. It's due to the work you put in in the off-season, the work you put in in spring training. Obviously it shows when you're out there, the hard work you've put in. I still have a lot of work to do. I wasn't happy with the way I controlled the inner-half of the plate. I felt like I left a lot of balls over the middle at times. It's just about work in progress."

Romero's new leadership is shining through even on days he does not pitch. On Saturday, it had been Dustin McGowan's turn against the Astros. All four of the other starters stayed in the dugout for his two innings of work. When he walked down the right field line to the clubhouse, after his two shutout frames, McGowan was flanked by Romero, Brandon Morrow, Brett Cecil and Henderson Alvarez, a sort of Rat Pack in Blue. It was a nice touch.

“The progress he's been making has been tremendous, just watching him throw and watching his 'pens before games and stuff like that," Romero said. "His stuff is electric. When he gets out there like he was yesterday, just watching his stuff, it's pretty unbelievable. I couldn't be happier for him. He deserves it."

Romero was asked about the positive influence McGowan's comeback after three calendar years away from the major-league game has had on the others.

“It puts a lot of things in perspective," he explained. "We talk among ourselves about the stuff he's going through. It's crazy. For some guys that's the end of a career, going through all those surgeries, but he never gave up. It shows the heart he has. It's definitely going to be special when he takes the mound whenever he does in the season and we'll be right behind him."

* * * * *

Manager John Farrell waxed eloquent about his third baseman after Brett Lawrie went 3-for-3 with a double and displayed some solid defence vs. the Braves. 

"Jairo Asencio's got good stuff and the slider he hit off the right field wall, those are the things you don't see every day," Farrell said, shaking his head in wonder. "Again, in the second at-bat, he fights off a couple of tough pitches. He's down in the count and gets a pitch up in the zone for a basehit. And you see the speed. On a two-strike pitch, he just makes contact and can beat out an infield hit. It's pretty dynamic."

When Farrell was asked if the kid had a chance, he shot back tongue in cheek:

"A chance for what? Prime Minister?" Then continued...

“He's always had a lot of confidence. The fact that he's got just about a full year under his belt defensively at third base. I think the 150 at-bats last year went a long way in his belief that he can handle any kind of pitching he's going to see. Even in the second at-bat – that's the one that stands out the most. He's in an 0-2 count, guy makes a good pitch down and away and he's got the presence of mind to foul off a tough pitch and continue to battle. When he gets a mistake up in the plate, he hits a linedrive to left. As much as we were high on him a year ago, you see the maturity coming out at the plate and in the field."

* * * * * *

It was interesting Sunday that when it came time to replace Kelly Johnson at second base and Brett Lawrie at third, John Farrell called on the veteran Omar Vizquel at third and rookie Jonathan Diaz at second. An inning later, when Colby Rasmus left, it was Mike McCoy that went to centre field. Diaz has been earning more infield playing time.

“What maybe some of the games don't show is there's tremendous awareness, his in-game decisions are good, he can handle a bat," Farrell said. "I think at times, even at spring training last year maybe some opposing pirtchers take him for granted. I'm not saying it's a little guy with a big swing, but he can square a baseball up, he can do a lot of things on a baseball field and in many ways he's a defender – and I don't want to put him in John McDonald's category yet – but he's a very good defender and he's a good baseball player.”

* * * * * * 

Finally, after a lot of talk that began last September, Edwin Encarnacion saw action in left field for the Jays against the Braves. It was his first outfield assignment in a Jays' uniform. Manager John Farrell suggested that Encarnacion will see a handful more games in the outfield so that they won't lose his bat in interleague games. Encarnacion has already showed he can play first base if Adam Lind gets a day off, but now he could possibly see action in the outfield in place of either lefthanded bat, Eric Thames or Travis Snider.

When the Jays travel to Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg on Tuesday to play the Canadian Junior Team on Canada Day at the ballpark, right fielder Jose Bautista, catcher J.P. Arencibia and Langley, B.C. native Brett Lawrie will lead the charge. Also expected to make the trip are Canadian outfielders Michael Crouse, Marcus Knecht and Dalton Pompey. Pitchers for the Jays on Tuesday will include Canadian righthanders Scott Richmond and Trystan Magnuson.

The JNT has been training in St. Pete for a week, playing daily games against top opposition. This is the second year the Jays have scheduled the juniors.  

 

 

 

Blue Jays mailbag and the free-agent leftovers team

There can be no doubt that spring training is to baseball fans what Pavlov was to dogs, where sight and sound causes each group to salivate with slobbery anticipation.

The start of another championship baseball season is less than a month away and the 30 rosters are pretty much settled, other than the few invited non-roster veteran free agents that will crack every 25-man roster. But, the fact is there are players still out there looking for work.

If you wanted to start an expansion team, just with the leftover free agents that remain unsigned, here's what that team might look like.

Sure, some of these guys are effectively, if forcibly, retired and, sure, some are battling injury, and, sure, the average age of the team would be the highest in baseball, but this is what the leftover 25-man free agent team would look like:

C-Pudge Rodriguez, Ramon Castro.

1B-Derrek Lee, Ross Gload.

2B-Felipe Lopez, Aaron Miles.

3B-Wes Helms.

SS-Miguel Tejada.

OF-Johnny Damon, Marcus Thames, Xavier Nady, J.D. Drew, Magglio Ordonez.

DH-Vladimir Guerrero, Hideki Matsui.

SP-Roy Oswalt, Javy Vazquez, Brandon Webb, John Garland, Chris Young, Scott Kazmir.

RP-Mike Gonzalez, Damaso Marte, Sergio Mitre, Doug Davis, Michael Wuertz, Arthur Rhodes.

Note: We could have considered Jose Canseco for an outfield spot, but he was just thrown out of the AAA-Mexican League on suspicion of excess levels of testosterone. That's tough to do. It's like being thrown out of Clown College because your feet are too big.

I will admit, the timing of the baseball mailbag has become inconsistent, but I am going to try and have it online on either Thursday or Friday of every week as the season moves forward. So keep those questions, comments and critiques coming in. On to the mailbag.

Q-Mr. Griffin,

I am getting quite angry at the fans who are mad that the Jays didn't spend like the Yankees or the Red Sox this offseason. Why should Alex Anthopoulos let the way the Yanks and BoSox do business affect the way he does his? Let them give out the 8- to 10-year contracts, I don't care. AA has done a magnificent job getting high-ceiling players and building a strong young core for the future. It worked for Tampa Bay. Let New York and Boston knock each other out. They won't see us coming.

Darryl Mulder, Vineland

A-Oh, don't suggest that last part. Everyone now sees the Jays coming. Toronto is never going to sneak up on anyone. However, when you say the Jays “didn't spend like the Yankees or the Red Sox this offseason” that's a preconception steeped in history but with little to do re the reality of this past winter.

The Yankees had made little impact, except for a one-year deal to starter Hiroki Kuroda, until the Michael Pineda trade, a four-player swap with the M's, sending monster catching prospect Jesus Montero the other way. That was a refreshing, old-time baseball trade, with four controllable contracts involved. Following that, the Yankees had to deal A.J. Burnett to the Pirates in order to clear the $13 million they required to add free agents Raul Ibanez as DH and Eric Chavez as a backup corner guy. That's certainly not the way the old-time Yankees did business, but the truth is they're trying to get below the $189 million luxury tax threshold by 2014.

As for the Red Sox, they were heralded as the greatest Red Sox team ever before the start of last year. Not much has changed with that roster. They had four great months and two crappy months to knock them out of the playoffs, but they won 90 games. Did they need to make a lot of off-season moves? They lost Jonathan Papelbon early on but made up for it with nice, old-time baseball trades of their own with the A's to get Andrew Bailey and with the Astros for Mark Melancon. The lost Jason Varitek and added Kelly Shoppach. There was not a lot of overspending going on in Beantown.

As for the Jays, the bleating from the bleachers regarding AA not spending on free agency this winter mostly surrounded two men, Prince Fielder and Yu Darvish. In the case of Fielder, two elements came into play, the fact that he wanted a long-term deal like Albert Pujols and the fact that president Paul Beeston believes you need to win first to attract that type of free agent to your city, otherwise your bid is just being used to up the ante for other clubs. In the case of Darvish, the posting fee was not the issue, it was the fact that they found out he wanted six years to carry him into his free agent year and the Jays policy is five, max. The dollars on the contract were not an issue, either – at one time.

Q-It's hard to believe that Anthopoulos has only been at the helm for two years, isn't it? It feels like so much longer. Perhaps we've been rushing him just a bit? It took Gillick how long to make the playoffs? it took Dombrowski how long to make the playoffs with the Tigers? (and they didn't have to compete in the AL East), surely we can cut Alex a little bit of slack?

Rob Buckler, Oshawa

A-It does feel like Alex has been there a very long time. Through the mists of time, it seems the only J.P. that I have any clear recollection of now is Arencibia. Are we rushing Anthopoulos? No.

It's not as if he took over a team of donkeys and had to shape them into Kentucky Derby favourites. The Jays have never really dropped below mediocre since the late '90s, but unfortunately there were years during that time they were propped up just to remain mediocre instead of letting the forces of nature sink them lower, followed by the forces of any strong prospects from down on the farm taking them over the top. For years prior to Anthopoulos, it seemed the financial resources of ownership were spent on the immediate needs of the major-league club rather than drafting and on international free agency. That turn in emphasis has turned the organization around to the point where even if they had reached out this winter for one prime talent like Mat Latos and traded a package of prospects to help the major league team win right now, there would still be enough farm depth remaining wherein winning can remain sustainable for years to come. That is AA's mantra.

As for Gillick, he took an expansion Jays team in '77 and reached the playoffs in his ninth year. But that's an expansion team where they were starting off with no farm system and other team's dregs. Sure, the Marlins and Diamondbacks both did it quicker, but baseball gave them three years before they played a game to build a farm system and changed the draft rules so they had access to better players. As far as Dombrowski in Detroit, he took over as president in '03, then bottomed out with one of the worst records in MLB history, returning the Tigers to the World Series in his fourth year there. Yes, this is just Alex's third season in Toronto, but his starting point was a lot better than the '03 Tigers.

Q-Hi Richard,

My problem with your some of your comments about the Jays' offseason moves are in the implication that AA losing out on trade bids for Latos/Gonzalez/Pineda and the posting for Darvish mean that he didn't understand or underestimated the market.

 In the case of the trades, first you need to have the players that that team desires (which Alex can't control).

 And in all the cases, it seems to me the issue is that Alex made the determination "this is what that player is worth TO US" more so than their market value. If someone else is willing to pay more, that's fine. But you've implied Alex should adjust his approach, and to me, if he's determined a player is not worth the asking price, he shouldn't adjust just because other GMs have lost their minds.

Mark Acheson, London

A-Alex really does need to slightly adjust the philosophy that he came to the job with and I believe he is going to. The changes may be something that the media and the public don't really see, but he did miss out on properly gauging the market this winter and adjustments are already being made, internally.

In the case of missed trade opportunities this offseason, the Jays definitely had the richness of assets to deal with anyone. They had the young prospects to entice any team that was looking to unload an arbitration-eligible pitcher as he entered his prime earning years -- guys like Mat Latos and Gio Gonzalez. However, part of Anthopoulos' trade strategy ever since he arrived is to pinpoint a player like Latos, to then call the other GM and say “What would it take to get Mat Latos from you?” AA believes that he is placing the onus on a trade partner to name names and potentially make a mistake, giving the Jays what they will consider a great deal. If the GM asks for too much, he merely says no and maybe substitutes a lesser talent to see if that flies.

That's a great strategy if you are the only team that other GM is speaking to, but obviously in the case of Latos and Gonzalez, there were others. Now we can assume Reds' GM Walt Jocketty had gone to the Padres and gave them a solid list of four players that included Yonder Alonso and Edison Volquez. Padres GM Josh Byrnes could then skip the whole guessing game with AA and go straight for the attractive Reds package – which, by the way, likely surprised Anthopoulos at the amount of talent heading to the west coast. I believe if Alex had been more aggressive for Latos, maybe starting at the November GM meetings, naming names to Byrnes and with the stockpile of real talent he has available, that they could have beat the Reds to Latos and set the standard for the rest of the winter.

The Latos deal set the bar high for future trades involving arb-eligible top-drawer starters like Gonzalez. At that point, AA may have believed it was too much to give, especially after his violent internal reaction of near-nausea after he dealt one of his prized prospects Nestor Molina to the ChiSox for Sergio Santos. He said it was one of the hardest things he's done and seemingly affected the rest of his winter.

As for Pineda, the M's reportedly asked for Brett Lawrie. I wouldn't do that either, so there's no issue there. With Darvish, the dilemma was the sixth year guaranteed on the contract that the agents had quietly let it be known would be required. Dice-K got five years from Boston, but six for Darvish takes him into free-agency and another lucrative contract. Six years also put him on the Jays' no-can-do list. 

Q-"As for the outfield configuration of the ballpark, maybe the Jays could change the current cookie-cutter feel by adding something to make the stadium more immediately identifiable as downtown Toronto. Maybe they could build a high-rise condo in centre field."

Easily your funniest comment in 2012! (VERY funny)

Bill L, Toronto

A-Thank you. I know I keep me amused.

Q-Why is it you think AA should have pursued high-priced free agents this winter when it likely would not have been enough to push the Jays into the playoffs? Can we call J. P. Ricciardi and ask him how that worked for him?

Kyle Todt, Waterloo

A-I can guarantee that I did not often write this winter that AA should have pursued high-priced free agents. I liked left-hander Mark Buehrle early on because he was a good fit for what they needed at the top end of the rotation. I did also approve of what looked like an aggressive bid for Darvish that never panned out because of his desire for a six-year deal. Darvish comes at a relatively modest $56 million for six years if you consider the posting fee to Nippon Ham as an investment not related to payroll.

As for Prince Fielder, C.J. Wilson and other high-priced free agents that were out there this winter, I agreed wholeheartedly with Alex in not pursuing those players and was at times criticized for that stance. The problem with former GM Ricciardi's approach from '02 to '09 is that he was signing outside free agents, that at the time were relatively expensive, when the rest of the Jays' team was not yet ready-for-prime-time and the farm system remained shallow. He was plugging two holes in the dam when there were five that needed his attention. It's not J.P.'s fault, but where he is right now, the question of “How's it working for him?” can sadly be summarized in three words – New York Mets. 

Q-Hey Richard,

With the first three rotation slots filled by Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow, and Brett Cecil. Who do you see taking the final two slots? I know it's still early to make such a prediction, but with the tremendous upside Kyle Drabek has and the material Dustin McGowan has along with Farrell's support. I know Henderson Alvarez and Drew Hutchison are also strong contenders for the slots too.

Anthony Simms, Toronto

A-The problem for all these guys you mention – Drabek, McGowan, Alvarez and Hutchison – is that they're like guys lying on their surfboards waiting for their chance at a nice ride on a big wave. But way out on the horizon is forming one of those big tidal wave, tsunami type things and as they turn to look out in the distance they can see other guys riding towards them on that bigger wave, guys like Noah Syndergaard, Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris, Justin Nicolino and Adonys Cardona. The advice to Drabek, McGowan, Alvarez and Hutchison? You better find your wave soon, because these other guys are coming fast to swamp you. With that “Griff's Fable” out of the way, here's a right-now evaluation.

After the Top 3 starters, in my mind, the current pecking order would be: 4-Alvarez, 5-McGowan, 6-Aaron Laffey, 7-Hutchison; 8-Drabek, 9-Chad Jenkins, 10-Deck McGuire. The rest of the youngsters are struggling for position on the Big Wave out on the horizon. When it arrives, look out.

Q-Hey Richard,

Is this the last season for a AAA franchise in Las Vegas, Nev.? This was a poor option, but really the only option as the BJs wore out their welcome in Syracuse. Has not having a better AAA option hampered the development of the kids coming up?

Dean Germano, Redding, CA

A-My guess at this time is that the organization's deep down desire would be that this is the final season of the Jays farm team in Las Vegas. It's a pinball game out there. The Jays can't send their best young pitchers there without risking deep cuts to their psyche from the inflated ERAs of a Triple-A league built around hitting. Sure, it's great for AA-New Hampshire to always have great pitching but it's not the standard way that players rise to the major leagues without a significant stop at Triple-A.

The Jays never really wanted to leave Syracuse, but the Chiefs ownership had been suffering from benign neglect by the previous regime and tossed them out. The Jays wanted Buffalo, but Buffalo wanted the Mets. The contract with Vegas ends this year, but they need to find another city that is closer to Toronto and plays real baseball, treating pitchers fairly. Of course, just as they did with Vancouver in short-season A-ball, Anthopoulos and Beeston would favour a Canadian city. Ottawa is hot for a AA-Eastern League franchise but the Jays are very happy in the woods of New Hampshire. 

Q-I'm really digging it. Definitely a Modern spin on the Retro logo. Trying to give it an edgier look without Going TOO hard like the futuristic angry bird we've had for the last few years. I’m also really digging the Strength of the Blue. It's Rich like the pride of Toronto. Furthermore, even greater emphasis on the leaf. Not being afraid to let you know that we're from Canada and we're proud.

Mary Jo, St. Stephens

A-The difference in the new logo, the new look, the Blue look, shows up nicely at spring training. Used to be you would look up from typing in the press box and the team with the black jerseys was hitting and the team with the black jerseys was in the field. Now there are no such issues as the Jays are back to where they belong. Try purchasing the new Wind Jacket as a spring wardrobe basic. Really nice.

Q-Listening to the Expos in 1982 one of Dave van Horne's most common phrases seemed to be '...just out of Speier's reach and into centre field'. A good shortstop unfortunately past his best. Do you think there's a danger that the Jays will play Vizquel and suffer similar consequences?

Tony Bullen, Crail, Scotland

A-I do remember those Chris Speier days, but the difference is that Speier never had great range or quickness. He depended on reading hitters, knowing what his pitchers were about to throw and cheating to that spot. There comes a time when even positioning can't make up for limited range. For a Gold Glove Hall-of-Famer like Vizquel, he may now have to do more cheating than he did in the past, but he still will have more quickness and range than Chris Speier ever had. Besides, Vizquel, should he make the team, will never have to start more than three days in a row. If there is any significant injury to Yunel Escobar or Kelly Johnson, the Vegas pipeline is ready to feed recent U.S. citizen Adeiny Hechavarria to Toronto for the duration of any disablement at either middle-infield position.  

Q-Hi Richard,

Great to see Tony Fernandez back in the game, but why is it with the Rangers and what's he going to do for them as a "special assistant"?

 As one of just five players in the Jays hall of fame (oops..."level of excellence"), seems to me he ought to have had a standing invitation to work with the team if/when he wanted to get back in the game.

 Did the Jays drop the ball here or does Tony have a special relationship with someone over at the Rangers?

Jab Along, Hong Kong

A-There is no rift between Tony Fernandez and the Jays. He seems always available and in town when there is a special event held surrounding nostalgia and a Jays home game at the stadium. The Jays already have senior advisors in Roberto Alomar and Cito Gaston. My understanding is Tony has been busy taking care of his family and in studying to become a religious minister. He has accomplished that. The Rangers connection is not clear to me, however in their press release they did emphasize the religious degrees and that he is an ordained minister. It's only an uneducated guess on my part, but perhaps having someone around like Tony as an assistant to Daniels with both a successful baseball career and a spiritual side might help the Rangers with the ever-broadening issues of Josh Hamilton.  

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 4

DUNEDIN, FLA.-On Tuesday the Jays lost a second consecutive game in Grapefruit League play, dropping a 7-0 decision to Cliff Lee and the Phillies at Dunedin Stadium. 

"Ricky Romero, Chad Jenkins and Luis Perez, I thought threw the ball exceptionally well," Jays' manager John Farrell said. "They challenged the plate with strikes, they pitched ahead in the count and I thought Jenkins, one of the guys you see a year later after his spring training debut, you see the physical maturity, you see the mental maturity and he attacked the strike zone in the two innings he worked."

The big Dutch righthander Rick Vandenhurk allowed four runs in the third inning to take the loss. Romero, Jenkins and Perez each workede two shutout frames. Offensively, the Jays banged out seven hits, with second baseman Kelly Johnson going 2-for-3 with a triple, while third baseman Brett Lawrie was 2-for-3 with a double.

The Jays play a split-squad game on Wednesday with the Red Sox visiting Dunedin and another team of Jays traveling to Bradenton to meet the Pirates. Brandon Morrow will pitch the home game against Boston, making his first spring appearance, while Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison face the Bucs at McKechnie Field. 

* * * * * *

Lefthander Ricky Romero pitched the first two innings against the Phillies on Tuesday, working his way out of a runner-on-third, one-out jam in the second. He escaped by inducing weak groundballs from Laynce Nix and Hector Luna.

"That's when you slow the game down," Romero said. "You don't try to do too much, let your defence work, make some good pitches and keep the ball in the infield. You do that kind of stuff and slow it down, everything works out."

Romero was happy to get to the stage of the spring where he's no longer facing his teammates in live batting practice and intra-squad friendlies.

"It's exciting any time you see that visiting team with a different colour uniform it feels good," Romero said. "Obviously you've got that adrenaline going and I couldn't wait to get out there and see that team in the opposite dugout. It felt great."

Romero is trying to work on some things, especially his effectiveness against lefthanded hitters. As a lefthanded thrower, he should dominate lefthanded hitting, but the numbers disprove that theory. His OPS against lefty swingers was .834, while against righties it was .589.

"It's something that I want to get better at," Romero admitted. "Every year I feel like we've got to get better at something and that's one of the parts of my game that I want to get better at, getting lefties out."

* * * * * *

Jays' rotation candidate Dustin McGowan threw a 25-pitch simulated game against active hitters at the minor-league complex on Tuesday afternoon.

"He threw the ball very well, again," manager John Farrell said. "He was probably in the low '90s. I didn't see it personally, but I know Bruce Walton talked very highly about the action down in the zone, the shape, the sharpness to his slider was there."

McGowan will pitch in his first Grapefruit League game on Saturday, March 10 against the Astros.

* * * * * *

Jays' batting coach Dwayne Murphy was scheduled to be on the field with the Jays Monday after returning home almost two weeks ago with permission from the club for a family issue. That return has been revised to his landing in Tampa now being on Wednesday evening and re-joining the team on Thursday. 

 

 

 

Griffin: Blue Jays notes Game 3

The Jays dropped their first decision of the spring on Monday, losing 4-2 to Justin Verlander and the Tigers. The Jays had taken a 2-1 lead in the seventh on a single to left by second baseman Ryan Goins. But non-roster pitcher Jerry Gil allowed two runs in the seventh and the Tigers added one more in the eighth against Nelson Figueroa.

The Jays were led offensively by centre fielder Colby Rasmus who was 2-for-2 with a double and a walk. First baseman Edwin Encarnacion doubled home the tying run in the sixth after being earlier robbed of a home run to left by Delmon Young.

"He's dealt with some wrist issues last year and the previous year," manager John Farrell said. "But he's come in, he's felt great, his swing even seems more compact. In the games he's played so far, he's put some good swings on some balls." 

The Jays outhit the Tigers 10-7 as their record dropped to 2-1 in Grapefruit League play. The Jays host the Phillies in Dunedin on Tuesday, with Ricky Romero making his first start.

* * * * * *

Rookie centre fielder Anthony Gose had a mixed bag kind of day vs. the Tigers on Monday. Manager John Farrell thought he was playing too shallow in the seventh when the Tigers took the lead on a triple to left centre by non-roster outfielder Quintin Berry, but he also made a tremendous throw to the plate in the eighth inning when it looked like he had no chance that had catcher Rob Brantley beat, but it eluded catcher Yan Gomes.  

"Very good arm strength," Farrell said. "He'll load it up. He knows he's got a good throwing arm. The ball gets hung on at home plate that's an out. I think he learned a little bit too about the strength of some opposing hitters. The ball over his head, he's playing average depth, but the ball right at him, a little bit of a tough read, he broke in and ended up being the difference in today's game."

* * * * * *

The depth of the pitching in Jays' camp showed again on Monday vs. the Tigers. Thus far in three games, manager John Farrell has used 22 different pitchers to work a total of 26 innings. Among that group, 15 of them have pitched scoreless ball.  

"Evan Crawford again today, very crisp stuff even against Miguel Cabrera, even the other day against Jose Bautista," Farrell said. "Name recognition isn't fazing him one bit. It's good to see. It's been two appearances, but still, he's making the most of his opportunities."

The 25-year-old lefthander struck out Cabrera and Delmon Young, surrounding a groundball to second base by Don Kelly.  In the intrasquad game Friday, Crawford had struck out Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. He pitched last season at AA-New Hampshire.

* * * * * *

Jays' righthander Carlos Villanueva is making positive strides in coming back from the mysterious circulatory problem in his right forearm and hand that left him cold and with a momentary and alarming inability to detect a pulse or blood pressure. 

Villanueva threw a full bullpen on Sunday, will pitch in a simulated game on Wednesday, likely at the Mattick training centre, and then will be used in a game on the weekend.

* * * * * *

The unfortunate Jesse Litsch has been shut down for six weeks without picking up a baseball, the Jays had announced the move on Sunday. The veteran righthander, who had been in line for a bullpen role, suffered a shoulder infection from an injection given to him to relieve shoulder inflammation and underwent surgery.

"Unfortunately for Jesse, the six-weeks no throw is going to push him to a 12-week return," manager John Farrell said. "We're going to have to take him all the way back through spring training once you get his arm going and put a ball back in his hand."