FEELING ALL THAT GLOVE
Russ Martin likes what he sees of the Jays rotation, at least from his unique perspective
DUNEDIN — Pete Walker is the Blue Jays pitching coach and does a fine job of managing the various personalities and arms at his disposal.
But next to him, there’s no one around the team who is a greater authority on the Jays staff than veteran Russell Martin. The Canadian is renowned as a master for working with hurlers young and old, framing pitches and calling a savvy game.
And so far this spring, Martin likes what he sees in a five-man rotation that is rounding into shape for the March 29 season opener. With five distinctive arms — from veterans J.A. Happ and Marco Estrada to young guns Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman and newcomer Jamie Garcia — Martin thinks the variety will keep opponents guessing.
“Nobody’s similar,” Martin said. “Everybody’s got their own style. Everybody’s different. Is that necessary, I don’t know. But it can’t hurt.”
On Sunday, Postmedia asked Martin to walk us through the state of each of the starting five. Here’s his early take:
AARON SANCHEZ RHP 0-0, 7.36 ERA, 36 innings pitched in 2017
“Looks really good this spring,” Martin said of the 26-year-old who missed most of the previous campaign with blister issues on his finger. “Even early on I could tell that the arm strength was there, the movement on the fastball was there. The change up is nice. He has the same arm speed on that pitch and he looks like he’s starting to trust it a lot more. He’s got a great curveball to go with that.”
From what he’s seen so far, Martin thinks that Sanchez (who will get his fourth start of the spring on Monday in Orlando) is setting up for another breakthrough season.
“Sanchy looks really, really good. Looks strong, healthy and hopefully the blister doesn’t become an issue this year (like it was through all of 2017).
“The goal is to keep progressing. He definitely looks just as good as he did in 2016.”
J.A. HAPP LHP 10-11, 3.53 ERA, 145.1 IPs
“Happer I feel like he’s having a good spring,” Martin said of the lanky lefty who won 20 games in 2016. “The fastball is good, both sides of the plate he’s been working on a couple variations of the fastball and how to use it. He still has that knack for throwing that fourseamer top of the zone and getting a swing thru. That’s a good punch-out pitch for him.
“I feel like his slider has gotten a little sharper, which is going to help him a little bit. He’s a four-pitch guy for the most part, but does most of his damage with his fastball and he seems like he’s pretty much the same guy as last year.”
The soft-spoken veteran is also one of the most meticulous pitchers on the staff, a fact not lost on Martin.
“He’s a pro,” the catcher said. “You know what you are going to get with him, just the way he works and the way he goes about his business.”
MARCO ESTRADA RHP 10-9, 4.98 ERA, 186 IPs
“Marco is just Marco, he’s like an artist out there. He just paints,” Martin said of the crafty veteran, who struggled with personal issues last summer but picked his game up in the fall.
“When he’s on, he’s very stingy with the middle of the plate. He’ll just pick corners. And the change up is in my opinion probably the best change up in the game.”
Martin believes that Estrada, who signed a one-year deal with the Jays at the conclusion of the 2017 season, is one of the
“He’s a command guy. His fastball plays up a lot because of the deception on his change up. He gets a lot of guys sitting on that change up and then his fastball, the way hitters are reacting to it it’s like it was 95 to 100 miles an hour.”
MARCUS STROMAN RHP 13-9, 3.09 ERA, 201 IPs
“Just caught him (on Saturday). A lot of movement on his sinker. He should get a ton of ground balls. He’s just got that natural competitive spirit that allows him to play well. He just loves to compete, loves to prove people wrong. He likes to be challenged and often rises to the occasion.
“Stro looks good. He’s a little bit behind schedule but the fastball was good. Small sample size and playing 16and 17-year-olds but it doesn’t matter, the action on the fastball was good.
“He threw some really good change ups as well which was good because I feel it used to be his fourth pitch and now it’s moving up the ladder a little bit.”
Martin feels Stroman has upside as his breaking balls continue to evolve.
“The key for him is sometimes both breaking balls look like the same pitch and you have to let him know. You do want the difference between the two — the shortness of the slider and you want the curveball to be more of a 12-to-6 action to it.”
JAIME GARCIA LHP 5-10, 4.41 ERA, 157 IPs
“Nothing Jaime throws is straight. The four-seamer has cut to it,” said Garcia, who the Jays signed to a one-year deal just prior to training camp.
“The two-seamer the sink, it moves, there good action on the slider, good curveball,” Martin said. “He’s a four-pitch mix guy but I really like the action he gets on his pitches, especially the fast ball.
“He can cut it and sink it on both sides of the plate so the hitter never really gets a free pitch. Nothing’s straight. He’s going to be a tough at bat.”
And for those who abhor games that take three hours plus to play? Martin says the speed that Garcia delivers is a plus.
“He has that good pace to him,” he said. “He wants to get the ball and get going. When you have that, defence plays better and give you a good rhythm.”