5:00 PM Eastern
The Blue Jays kept their run of strong spring pitching alive by coming to the Happiest Place on Earth and shutting out the Braves behind strong performances from Ricky Romero, Dana Eveland, Sean Henn and Ray Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, by the way, is the former Reidier Gonzalez – but no one can pronounce his name and everyone has always just called him Ray, so he decided to make the change official this spring.
Romero got it started with four innings of two-hitter, though he walked four and threw more balls (30) than strikes (29). He pitched out of trouble three times by getting ground ball double plays, in on two of which Mike McCoy was at shortstop making nice feeds to second from difficult angles.
Romero had trouble with the blusteriness of the day – he mentioned that he felt a couple of times as though he was being blown around on the mound, even though he probably wasn’t – and he couldn’t get his pitches to behave. He mentioned that had he been having a similar day last year, he would have just folded up and accepted a beating, but he has learned over the past year to slow things down and search for something that’s working, which he did today. In nine spring innings, Romero has given up one run. Jose Molina caught him in a game for the first time today, and raved about his change-up – the one several hitters compared to Johan Santana’s a year ago.
I didn’t get to see Eveland pitch outside his first inning of work, when he gave up a single on what should have been a fly out (the ball was misplayed by Eric Thames). He then gave up a couple of deep fly balls that went for outs – but it was really windy – and struck out Nate McLouth. Eveland has been terrific all spring, but he’s still highly unlikely to make the team. He is, however, a far, far better insurance policy at AAA than what the Jays had last year, when injuries forced them to use guys like Robert Ray, Brad Mills and Brett Cecil far before their times, as well as the lamentable Brian Burres for whom, one could argue, there really never ought to have been a time.
I was impressed by McCoy at shortstop today. I mentioned above the difficult feeds he made to second on double-play turns. Two were from the area between the mound and second base as he’d had to run in to snare the grounder. Both feeds were perfect, and he also made a nice throw on a good double play turn. The bad news is that he was thrown out by a mile trying to steal third with nobody out in the first inning. It’s the second time he’s been caught stealing this spring, and neither time was it especially close. He hasn’t been successful yet. The good news is that his 2-for-4 day actually lowered his spring average – all the way to .615.
I spoke to Eric Hinske before the game – it’s always good to catch up with him, he’s a really nice guy and has always had time for me no matter what uniform he’s been wearing. I wonder how much of a chance he’ll get to play in Atlanta – could he potentially steal playing time from Melky Cabrera, moving into a left-field platoon with Matt Diaz? The Braves could certainly do worse. Hinske has always been able to hit right-handed pitching. We didn’t discuss his new tattoo in great detail, because he said that’s been all anyone has wanted to talk to him about this spring and he’s tired of it already. One could say that he should probably not be surprised that it would be such a conversation piece, but I didn’t want to get into that.
I also spoke to Terry Pendleton, and if there’s time on the post-game tomorrow we’ll play that interview for you. It’s not his fault that he stole the 1991 NL MVP from Barry Bonds, so we didn’t get into that. One of the interesting things he did mention was that he felt that his Braves were always better than any of their playoff opposition over all those years – with the exception of the 1992 Blue Jays.
Tonight is the last night of my 30s, and I’ll be spending it tooling around Orlando trying to figure out what to do while I wait to pick my wife up from the airport out here.
Tomorrow, I’ll start my 40s by getting a hour’s less sleep (awesome) and then heading out to the Bobby Mattick to watch Dustin McGowan throw his second simulated game of the spring. Three “innings” and 45 pitches this time, and if he emerges unscathed yet again, the next stop should be a Grapefruit League game. After that, it’s off to Dunedin Stadium to see if Brandon Morrow can maintain this lovely ability to throw strikes he seems recently to have discovered. He has only issued one walk so far in four spring innings. If he keeps that up, he could be lethal.
March 14th could well wind up being a huge good news day for the Blue Jays.
Today, we had a very brief edition of The JaysTalk – here it is, for your listening pleasure:
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Tomorrow, we will have at least an hour to JaysTalk it up, and likely more, so make sure to get your dialing fingers ready!
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome.
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Hi Mike,
For Dana Eveland to be sent to AAA, would he first need to clear waivers? Also, would you prefer him over Tallet on the roster?
Tks,
Stan
MWL Yes, he would, and I prefer Tallet.
- Stan in MontrealI was under the impression that Eveland was out of options, so it’s make the team or likely get picked up by another team on waivers.
MW: This is probably true, but it’s often easier to sneak a guy through waivers at the end of Spring Training than at any other time.
- Clintcongrats on hitting the 1/3rd mark in your life Mike
MW: Wow, those are some lofty expectations.
- jpHey, happy birthday, Mike! Mine is today. Going out to see my friends do a tribute to Pink Floyd. They’re going to do all of Dark Side of the Moon, and my good friend will be singing ‘Great Gig in the Sky,’ which she is quite nervous about.
Anyway, have a great 40th.
MW: Thanks! Hope your celebrations went well. Must have been fun last year, when your birthday was on a Friday!
- Matt McLeanMike,
Do you think that Jason Frasor will be traded to either the Twins/or Cubs?
MW: Maybe, but I’m not as certain as some others seem to be.
- MarkHappy BD Mike!!
I understand Dana Eveland is primarily a ground ball pitcher. Hopefully the fly balls in the 5th inning were unusual for him – he may be a bullpen candidate – otherwise I believe he’s out of options.
MW: He is, and thank you.
- CharlesHappy 40th. Don’t take any guff from any fellow media today over any age jokes. Look at Chris Chelios. Or Randy Johnson. Production well into their forties.
The SS situation: Do you foresee Alex Gonzalez holding up over 150+ games or will there be 15,20,30 Johnny Mac appearances to give Gonzalez scheduled rest? I recall reading Gonzalez wasn’t too fond of artificial turf due to his knees.
MW: I think Gonzalez may have a harder time playing that many games because he might not be able to hit enough to keep Mike McCoy out of the line-up.
- Adrian, co-alumnusHey Mike,
I haven’t posted in forever, so I’ll start by telling you the big news! The one and only Paul Spoljaric stopped by the local gas station, while I was working, about a month ago. It was awesome! I probably seemed like such a nerd asking him if he was, in fact, the former Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher. Oh well. I kept his receipt, which happens to have his signature on it … shhhh, my boss doesn’t know.
Now, on to some current Blue Jays! I don’t think that the Jays are going to be as bad as most people seem to think they will be. I can see them ending up around the 80-win mark. But, I’m not even too concerned about their record because I don’t expect them to compete for a playoff spot. I’m looking forward to a nice rebuilding season!
What I hope for this season is that pitchers like Rickey Romero and Marc Rzepczynski and Brandon Morrow and Brett Cecil and Mills etc. get a good amount of major league experience and pitchers like Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan and Casey Janssen bounce back from their injuries. That way, in a year from now, they can still be a very young staff and be even more talented with that extra experience!
Offensively, the Jays are, in fact, very good. People forget that the Jays were actually a top offensive team last year. Here’s what I think about the offence:
Designated Hitter – Adam Lind. I hope he’s able to build off of his outstanding season! I’m thinking that 40 HR aren’t out of the question.
Catching – With John Buck and Jose Molina/Raul Chavez behind the plate, Toronto will get as much, if not more (in terms of handling the young pitching staff), as they got last year. And perhaps we’ll get to see J.P. Arencibia in August or September!
First Base – Lyle Overbay is, hopefully, finally over his wrist issues. I expect him to have at least the kind of season that he had last year (pound RHP and hit 15+ HR). And if he gets traded during the year, Brett Wallace is waiting in the wings.
Second Base – Aaron Hill is just tremendous! I’d be very surprised if he hit 36 HR again, but I expect him to have another very good season.
Shortstop – Alex Gonzalez/John McDonald are definitely not going to be as good offensively as Marco Scutaro was last year, but they will be as good defensively. And I can live with them batting ninth (hopefully).
Third Base – I’m a huge fan of Edwin Encarnacion! He’s going to be healthy this year and he was great the last few weeks of last season. I expect 20+ HR from him, and I don’t think that I’m going to be disappointed!
The Outfield – I expect a big bounce back year from Vernon Wells. I hope for him to have the same kind of season that he had two years ago when he had 20 HR in only 108 games and an .840 OPS. Then there is Jose Bautista, who is … just okay. Maybe he’ll surprise me, but I’m not expecting very much. And then there is Travis Snider! I hope all of his potential comes together this season. He could really give a boost to this offence (if he makes the team, of course).
The Bench – With Molina/Chavez and McDonald taking up two of the spots, I hope that Mike McCoy and Randy Ruiz fill out the other two. McCoy can play 2B, SS, and 3B so the versatility would be nice. Plus, he’s real fast, and I’d rather see him used as a pinch-runner than McDonald. I really want Ruiz to play a lot (but I don’t know if Cito will give him that chance). Ruiz at DH and Lind in LF with Snider in RF would be amazing, I think. And in a year that they don’t expect to contend, what’s wrong with giving Ruiz a chance to prove himself? He has done very well in his brief major-league career. It pains me to think that Bautista is going to play everyday while Ruiz wastes away on the bench or in Las Vegas. Also, I REALLY hope that Joey Gathright, who is cool because he jumps over cars, doesn’t make the team over Ruiz or Snider!
This season is for experience and rebuilding! But in a year or two, watch out! ‘Cause this team is going to be really good! Thanks and sorry for the extreme long-windedness … I just started typing and couldn’t stop! Keep up the great work!
MW: The longer we go without having seen Encarnacion in a game as he recovers from an off-season wrist clean-up, the likelier it is that the season starts with Edwin on the DL, Bautista at third, Lind in left and Ruiz DHing.
- Justin from ArdtreaSince eveland is out of options, why not tae him as the fifth starter. I mean why not see what he has and he is far more effective than tallet has been. hes also 26 so he could grab a spot in future or be an invaluable asset to trade.
MW: I have a hard time seeing the day on which Eveland becomes an invaluable asset in trade.
- nickHappy birthday, Mike Wilner!
I really enjoy your work both in print and on air, and can honestly say that you’re one of two people responsible for turning me on to baseball.
I still have a lot to learn, so my question is kind of simple: Can you recall a team that began a season with such low expectations as the Jays that went on to reach the playoffs?
MW: The Twins and Braves in 1991, for starters, but they weren’t in the AL East. And thank you!
- matt gHappy Birthday Mike. All the best. Looking forward to you insightful Jays coverage. I think this years version may just surprise a few people who believe we’ll probably finish 5th in the A.L. East. Take care.
- KRThomsonMike…From the quality way you run the blog and Jays Talk, its obvious courtesy and manners are a high priority for you and what you expect from your commenters and phone callers. It’s not your style to interview the guy after the game who let three balls go through his legs, but is it sometimes difficult not to take personally a guy who’s just a born misery or a guy who you might think I just caught him on a bad day? Do you ever come away thinking this guy just doesn’t like me? That part of the job would kill me, thinking every sling and arrow had my name on it..I’d need my personal ulcer doctor…Great job, Mike!
MW: If you’re going to be critical of others, you have to expect others to be critical of you. I’m not here to make friends, it doesn’t matter whether or not the players like me.
- chris m.Hey noticed Randy Ruiz is no longer on the roster and his bio page comes up with an Atlanta Braves background? Was there a trade I didn’t knoew about?
MW: Considering that he’s in the Jays’ line-up today as the DH, batting 6th, I don’t think so. I know that I traded him in the Fat Elvis league this morning, so that might have something to do with it.
- AdrianHi Mike,
It’s so great to have you back on a regular basis giving us updates! I recently read an article concerning David Murphy in Texas and how he will be on the bench again this year. Considering the Jays outfield depth is not that strong, any chance the Jays would explore a trade with Texas?
MW: The Jays think their outfield depth is deep, with Jose Bautista now considered an outfielder, and they’d like to have Travis Snider playing every day, so I don’t think they’d be in on that.
- JonHappy Birthday Mike!!!
MW: Thank you!
- TimFirst and foremost Happy Birthday Mike. Second my last sentence was Keep up the great work. Third it is very understandable for a broadcaster to not be critical of those who influence his paycheque. I learned that one the hard way in a much different industry,hence my move from big city to backwoods.And finally I aint got the twenty bucks to spare to lift the blackout. Although the way I read the contract I would still be blackedout from Jays games but could listen to any other team unlimited. But like I said my judgement is faulty at the best of times. I believe in the old school power on the corners and defence up the middle. Which is why I would move Lind to first and Aaron Hill to third with no reservations about installing Johnny Mac as the everyday ss let Mckoy Gonzalez Emaus and whoever else fight it out for second. I know everyone is thinking that its crazy to move an all star second baseman but third is safer than second and we cant afford to lose 30hr and 100rbi when someone breaks up a double play and Hill gets hurt in the process. The young pitching staff benefits the most from added defense. The Orioles and Tigers were always happy with Brinkman and Belanger with todays game moving more towards the old game since there are less bulked up monsters I believe shortstop and second base will return to the defensive priorities they once were. I will shut up now.
MW: You don’t have to shut up. But we obviously don’t believe in the same things. If you think that middle infielders shouldn’t hit for power, but you have one who does, isn’t that a bonus? Wouldn’t you rather have Hill’s terrific defense at second along with Encarnacion’s power bat at third? I don’t think we’ll ever get back to the days of the all-field no-hit shortstop, at least not in the AL East.
- mikeGHi Mike,
Why would the Jays want to trade Frasor? Why not re-sign him for a few more years?
MW: Well, it’s not really up to them as to whether they can re-sign him, he’ll be a free agent after this season. Also, he’ll be 33 in August.
- Jamie THappy Birthday Mike. Coincidentally I also spent my final day of my 30s in Orlando. My kids decided I needed to do something dramatic to mark the day so off to Blizzard Beach we went to take on the biggest water slide. You may have seen it before – it looks like a huge ski jump. I can tell you the first few seconds after your body slides off the drop are very freaky. You actually feel like you are in free fall and you can’t feel the slide.
“Dad, wanna do it again?” No thank you.
So there’s an idea for your consideration.
MW: Thanks, but Birthday Chang’s is more my speed.
- RezHechavarria!!
Was that the “good news” you had in mind?
Gotta love it, especially signing him away from the lusting Yankees!
In the face of that, I don’t really have a passion for discussing Eveland but I will say that I hope if the Jays throw their lot with Tallet (whom I would assume would just be holding the spot for McGowan anyway) that hopefully they get some little tidbit for him in a trade and not just waive him. if they found a way to keep crappy “talent” like Burres last year surely they don’t have to just let him walk away.
MW: I doubt they’ll let Eveland get away for nothing – they may even go so far as to put him on the big club!
- WillRain