National Post (National Edition)
Can Gurriel handle Jays’ keystone?
CRITICS CONTEND CUBAN LACKS DEFENSIVE CHOPS
Around the horn, the Blue Jays should be mostly strong defensively.
There is, howe ver, a 6-foot-3 question mark at second.
Last week’s surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee means Devon Travis will be sidelined until May, at the earliest. Veteran Eric Sogard and 23-year old Richard Urena are still battling for a backup job, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is pencilled in as the opening day middle baseman.
How long can the latter remain on the bag with new skipper Charlie Montoyo stressing improved defence? Is there still time to take an eraser to the pencilling before next Thursday?
Last year, his first in major league baseball, Gurriel started 22 games at second base and 40 at shortstop. While he wasn’t a complete disaster on the dirt, he did commit nine errors.
With 12 homers and a .269 batting average in just over 300 at bats, he’s not in the bigs for his glove.
At second in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves, Gurriel and Freddy Galvis twice failed to turn double plays. There was no error made on either chance, but also not the smooth transition needed to get the routine outs, either.
Having Brandon Drury and Galvis on the left side of the infield “will help us a lot,” said manager Charlie Montoya. “Ground balls are outs.”
And first baseman Justin Smoak was a Gold Glove finalist in the American League last year.
But as of right now, Gurriel shouldn’t be trusted to play defence when the Jays are protecting a lead.
There is hope for the lanky 25-year old Cuban, however. Working with him in Florida is one of the best second basemen to ever play the game; the greatest Blue Jay of all time.
“I see a lot of potential,” Roberto Alomar told the Sun on Wednesday. “I see a lot of ability. I think he’s going to do good for the Jays.”
Along with being a special consultant for Jays president/ceo Mark Shapiro, the 51-year old Alomar is a roving coach for primarily the organization’s minor league players.
On Wednesday morning, however, he spent a lot of time with Galvis and Gurriel around the batting cage. And he wasn’t talking to them about their swings.
“He wants to continue to work, and the main thing for him is to stay healthy and go out there and play every day,” Alomar said of Gurriel. “He loves the game. He’s got some good work ethic. He’s got good talent. And he wants to learn more.
“When you have guys like that and you have the kind of talent he has, it’s always good to see.
“In my own opinion, I think he will do fine.” GOING DEEP: The Blue Jays are braced for a serious blow to their bullpen with the potential of losing Ryan Tepera and John Axford. “You haven’t seen (them) pitch lately because they have pain in their elbows right now,” Montoyo said. “I will have an update (Thursday), when I know more.” Montoyo conceded injuries to Axford and Tepera, both of whom have closer experience but are now in set up roles, could affect the complexion of his bullpen and impact his decision on whether to carry a seven or eight relievers … Slated to pitch the second game of the season, Matt Shoemaker had another strong outing in Wednesday’s 8-7 loss to the Braves. He went five innings, giving up three hits and striking out seven. He also allowed three runs, but had no help from the pen. “It’s definitely encouraging, when you go out there and execute pitches and execute them well, you tend to get swing and misses,” said Shoemaker, who has recorded 20 Ks in 18 innings this spring.
HE LOVES THE GAME. HE’S GOT SOME GOOD WORK ETHIC. HE’S GOT GOOD TALENT.