Stroman’s goal is ‘to be the best’
Fun with ’Stro & Co.
Anyone following Marcus Stroman’s Twitter feed — and nearly half a million devotees do so — will have ridden piston on the pitcher’s offseason adventures, from global peregrinations to his booming apparel empire, to his fitness regimen, to that palatial Florida mansion, with a guided tour provided by its owner on The Players’ Tribune. Life is grand for the ace. He expects it to get grander. “To become one of the top two, three, four, five pitchers in the game,” he says of his immediate aspirations, coming off a career-high 13-win season, with a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts.
His first Gold Glove put a cherry on it.
“I want to be the best,” he asserts, never one for taking the cautious or immodest road. Why should he?
“My work ethic says so. I don’t believe anyone outworks me. I do everything in my power to take my game to the next level in everything I do. And I think that I will be one of the top, best pitchers within the next few years — 100 per cent.”
Ah yes, that’s the Stroman we have come to know, love him or love him not so much. He doesn’t lack in selfconfidence, which is certainly crucial for the psyche of an elite athlete. He wears his heart on his sleeve — and his shoulder, and his HDMH merchandise. Height Doesn’t Measure Heart, his signature motto. As he reminded the audience during a Q & A session at Jays’ Winter Fest on Saturday, that’s how his daddy raised him, to go through life with a chip you-know-where, although there hardly seems cause for it anymore.
Stroman is chomping at the bit to get her goin’ again when pitchers and catchers report to spring training in a few weeks. He claimed he was pleased with the modest additions management has made to the team — though he was unpleased, and tweeted so, with the subtraction of best mate Ryan Goins over the winter. Goins was one of Stroman’s wingmen during a winter galavant through some of Europe’s most charming destinations, from Monte Carlo to Milan, Paris to Lake Como. Then he took his mom and sister to Dubai for New Year’s.
“Amazing. Showing my family the life. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Now it’s back to work.”
Given Stroman’s maniacal dedication to fitness, it should be an easy segue to baseball mode. But hey, he can always improve on the mound, which he savours happening.
“A couple of things to do better. Striking out guys more than I needed. I feel really good where I’m at. I know that I still have room to grow. I know that my potential hasn’t been reached yet. I know I’m just starting to tap into that.
“It’s an everyday process. You’re consistently making adjustments, day to day, in and out.”
At 26, Stroman is also inching into veteran territory on a team that has lost a font of institutional memory and leadership with the departure, or expulsion, of Jose Bautista. How the 2018 roster shakes out will be determined in Dunedin but Stroman and former BFF Aaron Sanchez are the pitching bulwarks. As they go, so do the Jays. Sanchez was limited to eight starts last season because of that damnable fingernail, in considerable part attributing to a 76-86 team record and no post-season.
“My confidence has never changed, from the year past to now,” Stroman says. “I love our guys, always loved our guys. Think we have an unbelievable team, an unbelievable environment. I am extremely proud and confident in our guys.’’
And if he’s over-the-top vainglorious about himself, well, battery mate Russell Martin points out that Stroman is entirely capable of being colossally dominant. “I think he already is, to be honest. The ceiling for that guy is super-high. It’s just his mentality. He’s the type of guy that wants to be great. That’s the key. You have to want it. Not everybody has it.” Stroman’s got it in spades. Although there is that small matter of arbitration looming. Both Stroman and closer Roberto Osuna appear arbitration-bound. A year ago, Stroman prevailed, the arbitrator ruling in favour of his $3.4-million bid for one season over the $3.1 million proffered by the Jays.
“The process is the process,” he shrugs. “It’s a business. I’m starting to learn that.”
It’ll be resolved one way or the other and then Stroman can get down to the business of pitching.
“I’ve got a lot more tricks in store, a lot more,” he promises. “You guys are going to get upset with me.” Huh? Just ’Stro, chipping away.