February 23, 2009

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

February 22, 2009

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

February 21, 2009

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

February 21, 2009

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

February 21, 2009

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

February 20, 2009

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

February 20, 2009

Wells likely out of Classic

Due to some paperwork issues, Vernon Wells probably won’t be suiting up for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic. Wells has been waiting two weeks for an update, but is starting to think it’s not going to happen.

“Right now, I’m under the impression that I’m not playing,” he said on Friday.

Wells said he exceeded the number of days allowed to be on the disabled list in the previous season for participating players. He noted that each player also requires insurance and there have been issues with that due to the size of his contract with Toronto.

~JB

February 20, 2009

Morning @ the Mattick: Report Day

Today position players are required to report, but that doesn’t really mean much for your Blue Jays. Most of the position players are already here and the one absentee — Scott Rolen — lives in Florida, sooo…consider him reported.

Looks like I’ve been in Florida too long already. When I strolled into Starbucks this morning, the girl behind the counter goes, “Hey, it’s Jordan like the river!” I guess her geography skills aren’t that great, though, because she spelled my name “Jordon” on the cup. Ah, well.

It’s a tad chilly here today, but my rule in Florida is to never complain about the weather down here, especially when most of you are reading from the frigid north. It’s about 55 and sunny, so it’s not really that bad. Some other media types have already been whining about having to wear their jackets.

The security guard at the entrance to the Mattick this morning was also complaining about the cold, but I said, “Comparatively, it’s really not that bad. It’s gorgeous out.” He said he used to live in New York, so he understood. After I told him how cold it was in Toronto, he blurted out, “Ugh! Fuhgeddaboutit!”

OK, time to work

~JB

February 19, 2009

Maroth update

Not really great news on Mike Maroth, but not necessarily bad news, either. Despite “something” showing up in the MRI exam, as GM J.P. Ricciardi worded so eloquently, the lefty has decided to try to pitch through the discomfort.

“There’s something in there,” Ricciardi said. “He might have some damage in there that requires surgery, but he thinks he can fight through it. That’s really his call.

The Jays signed Maroth to a Minor League deal over the winter with the hope that he could compete for a spot in the rotation, or at least add deptch behind the big league staff. Maroth is making his way back from left shoulder surgery as well.

That’s it for now. I’m all hopped up on Red Bull and hoping the clouds don’t start sending the rain. It’s a bit dreary here today weather wise. I’m planning on sitting down with Aaron Hill a tad later to talk about his comeback from that nasty concussion.

Stay tuned…

JOINING THE CLUB: We can all welcome the Globe’s Robby MacLeod to Twitter. You can find him on there at www.twitter.com/Sportshack. He’s still building his page, but he joined the new super cool trend this morning. As a reminder, I’m on there at /MLBastian.

NEW ARRIVAL: Jose Bautista showed up to camp today, leaving 3B Scott Rolen as the only no show so far. Rolen lives in Bradenton, so he’s probably using these last days to spend more time with the fam. Why commute before you’re required to? Manager Cito Gaston said he’s not worried about Rolen at all.

UPDATE: Looks like Maroth’s injury might be a bit more serious. One Jays insider described the situation as “bleak” and it’s believed that the injury is a torn meniscus in his left knee, which would require at least 4-6 weeks of recovery if he had surgery. Gaston stated the obvious, saying this puts Maroth way behind in the race for a rotation job. Maroth was a long shot to begin with. No one seems to know what caused the injury.

~JB