February 2009
A Break in the Action
I’m off to Toronto for a few days to attend to some family matters. I’ll be back at the ballpark on Sunday and will be blogging and tweeting again at that time. Until then, you’re just going to have to survive without me. One of my fellow dotcomers, Anthony DiComo, will be pinch hitting in my absence. Hopefully the frozen tundra doesn’t serve as a shock to my system after getting accustomed to this lovely Florida weather. Back in a few…
~JB
Let the games begin
So the circus (pictured above) is in Dunedin this afternoon. Overall, I’ve got to say that the fans here at Dunedin Stadium went pretty easy on A-Rod. Then again, it was mostly Yankees fans in attendance for BP and they were showing the love. We’ll see if the elderly crowd here is a little less forgiving during his first trip to the plate.
There was one well-educated heckler who yelled out, “Where’s Yuri?” Well played, sir.
Some pregame housekeeping:
Today’s lineups:
New York at Toronto, 1:05 p.m. ET
at Dunedin Stadium
YANKEES
Brett Gardner, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Nick Swisher, RF
Shelley Duncan, DH
Juan Miranda, 1B
Todd Linden, LF
Kevin Cash, C
PITCHING: RHP Brett Tomko
BLUE JAYS
Joe Inglett, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Alex Rios, RF
Kevin Millar, 1B
Adam Lind, DH
Rod Barajas, C
Travis Snider, LF
Buck Coats, CF
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: LHP Brett Cecil
Players making the trip to Clearwater for tomorrow’s game against the Phillies include: Adam Loewen, Travis Snider, J.P. Arencibia, Michael Barrett, Brian Jeroloman, Jose Bautista, David Cooper, Scott Campbell, Joe Inglett, Marco Scutaro, among others. Pitching: Scott Richmond, Ken Takahashi.
Follow me on twitter for live updates throughout the game.
~JB
Spring photos: Volume 4
With or without Vernon Wells, the show must go on. It’s moving day tomorrow for the Jays, who will pack up camp after their morning workout and move shop to Dunedin Stadium. As for today, I spent some time snapping some more photos. Enjoy.
~JB
Third baseman Scott Rolen during Monday’s workout
Infielder Kevin Millar during Monday’s workout
Catcher Rod Barajas during Monday’s workout
Third baseman Scott Rolen moving to another practice field
Ace Roy Halladay winding up during a live BP session
Second baseman Aaron Hill during batting practice
Center fielder Vernon Wells (10) talks with Aaron Hill during BP
Ace Roy Halladay delivering a pitch during batting practice
Third baseman Scott Rolen gloves a ground ball during fielding drills
Third baseman Scott Rolen fielding a grounder
Right-hander Jesse Litsch during his live batting practice session
Catcher Michael Barrett during batting practice
Catcher Michael Barrett talking with reporters by the batting cage
Manager Cito Gaston behind the batting cage
Shortstop Marco Scutaro during batting practice
Outfielder Adam Lind during batting practice
Outfielder Adam Lind during batting practice
Third baseman Scott Rolen during batting practice
Wells out one month with hamstring strain
Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells is expected to be sidelined a month after straining his left hamstring on Monday at the Bobby Mattick Training Center. Wells was left Toronto’s complex to undergo an MRI exam to further evaluate the damage.
“Right now, preliminary, I’d say he’s going to miss four weeks,” Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said.
Wells had two stints on the disabled list last season, including one for the same hamstring last July. The 30-year-old center fielder finished the season batting .300 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs, but he spent 52 games on the DL. He also fractured his left wrist in May of last season.
~JB
Morning notes
I upgraded my White Mocha from Starbucks to Venti size this morning to help rebound from what was a very entertaining evening out with some of the writers last night. Feeling tip top this a.m. and ready to get to work.
Walked into the work room this morning and was greeted with a nice little new “Spring Notes” handout courtesy of the PR staff — nice touch, guys. Besides noting that tomorrow’s workout doesn’t begin until noon, helping us scribes avoid the early-morning mistake we made yesterday, there are some other minor items of interest.
Among them, lefty prospect Brett Cecil is slated to start in Toronto’s first spring game against the Yankees on Wednesday. Ricky Romero, B.J. Ryan, Brian Burees and Rick Bauer are also skedded to appear. On Thursday in Clearwater, Scott Richmond will start against the Phightin’ Phils. Also penciled in: Ken Takahashi, Bryan Bullington, Luis Perez, Bill Murphy and Fabio Castro.
The Jays will also play 3 “B” games this spring, which will help get innings for the pile of pitchers in the running for a starting job. All 3 will be against the Phils, with games on March 2 at 10 a.m. and March 6 at 2 p.m. at the Philly’s park, and another on March 18 at 10 a.m. at the ol’ Mattick here.
Tomorrow is the Jays’ photo day as well. More later.
~JB
Overbay to miss some spring games
A hat tip to Jeff Blair of the Globe today for unearthing a newsy bit of information at the Mattick. Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay is expected to miss the first week of Grapefruit League games due to a pair of hernia surgeries he had over the winter.
Overbay has been in camp all week taking part in fielding drills and batting practice, so he’s not completely hindered here. Sounds like holding him out is more precautionary than anything, especially since Spring Training is longer than usual this year. Might as well be careful.
Anyways, that’s it for now. Later.
~JB
Decisions, decisions
Continued to break down the looming roster decisions with manager Cito Gaston today and he provided a little more insight into what he’s thinking at this point. Of course, with five weeks left, anything and everything is subject to change. That injury bug doesn’t care about the plans.
As for the bullpen, which I find a more interesting race this spring than the rotation, Gaston said that his four lefties — B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs, Brian Tallet and Jesse Carlson — are all considered “locks” at this point. He added that some pitchers will have to beat out Jeremy Accardo for a job, so he’s the front-runner among the righties. Everyone else? Time to show something.
Last week, GM J.P. Ricciardi said he could see a scenario in which Travis Snider started the season at Triple-A. Today, Cito said Snider would have to play “real bad” not to be on the Jays’ Opening Day roster. As for the bench, which probably won’t have room for all of Kevin Millar, Jose Bautista, John McDonald and Joe Inglett, Cito said he has a tough decision ahead.
Someone made a comment on one of my stories recently about the fact that I always say there are only two openings in the rotation, when it’s been reported elsewhere that there are three jobs up for grabs. My reason for continuing to say that there are only a pair of vacancies?
“I would think there’s two spots. That’s what I think. Two spots open. I think Purcey pitched well enough to be one of the three guys that we have right now — unless he absolutely pitches himself off the club.”
Thanks, Cito.
So that’s Doc Halladay, Jesse Litsch, Purcey, and a pair of front-runners in Casey Janssen and Scott Richmond. Behind them, Toronto will take a good, hard look at prospects Brett Cecil, Brad Mills and Ricky Romero. Other candidates include Matt Clement, Brian Burress, Ken Takahashi, Mike Maroth and … I think I got ‘em all.
One team insider told me the prospects might be ahead of Clement and the others on the depth chart at the moment. It’s also more likely that Janssen and Richmond make the club, barring injury or poor showings, and the Jays ease the youngsters into the rotation as the season moves along. Moving Janssen to the ‘pen during the year to clear a spot for another starter is also a possibility.
Got some stories to write. Later…
~JB
The early bird
Pulled into the Mattick this morning and as I was walking up to the entrance one of the security guard goes, “I don know why yer here so erly. Practice don start til noon er somethin this morn.”
What? Oh, right. First full-squad workout. Physicals. Meetings. Seems like something I should’ve remembered. Ah, well.
Watched “In Bruges” at home last night and loved the movie all over again. Definitely one of the underated films of the past year, and I’ll be pulling for it to win an Oscar for its screenplay (even though it doesn’t have a prayer of winning). Cooked up a HUGE batch of cajun chicken penne alfredo with broccoli and I have leftovers to last days. Faaantastic.
But, I’ll quit blogging about me. Scott Rolen should be here today, so we’ll all probably scrum him later to check in on how he’s doing, how his winter went and all the obligatory spring training content.
More later.
~JB
Spring photos: Volume 3
More photos from around camp today. Enjoy.
~JB
First baseman Lyle Overbay fielding a ground ball during practice
Bench coach Brian Butterfield hitting a grounder during fielding drills
Infielder Kevin Millar during fielding drills
Pitching prospect Ricky Romero prepares to throw during a bullpen session
Second baseman Aaron Hill in the batting cage
Infielder Joe Inglett prepares to swing during batting practice
Jordan Bastian
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