Stroman solid in first start of spring
Right-hander not happy but ‘cool’ about missing opening-day start
DUNEDIN, FLA.— Marcus Stroman was disappointed he won’t be handed the ball on opening day.
If healthy, the 26-year-old likely would have gotten the nod for the Blue Jays’ opener against the New York Yankees on March 29 but, after being sidelined much of the spring with shoulder inflammation, he was ruled out earlier this week. He is expected to take the mound three games later, in the series finale.
“It wasn’t necessarily something that I didn’t deserve, it was more of a being cautious, taking a few more days, not put- ting that date out there so I can rush there, just allowing me to do what I need to do,” Stroman said following his first start of spring training on Saturday, in an 11-2 split-squad win over Canada’s junior national team.
Jas manager John Gibbons let on earlier this week that Stroman was none too pleased about being pulled from the opener, and the right-hander had little problem copping to his disappointment.
“I wasn’t happy,” Stroman said. “I think (it’s) OK if I’m not happy about that. He told me I wasn’t pitching opening day, I didn’t go, ‘Yes!’ It just is what it is. At this point now, I’m not mad with the decision. I respect and honour Gibby, our coaches and our front office and they made a collective decision and I’m cool with that.”
Stroman was happy with Saturday’s debut performance. He threw 27 pitches — 18 strikes — over two innings, allowing a walk and nothing else. Pleased with his changeup and sinker and expecting his slider to come along, Stroman plans to increase his pitch count to about 50, and then 70, in his next couple of starts.
“My pitches are where they need to be, it’s more of just making sure my body and my arm’s ready to go,” he said. “They feel great. Looking forward to my next one, progressing over the next couple of weeks and getting to the real game against the Yankees.” ENTER ESPINOSA: The Blue Jays signed nine-year bigleague veteran Danny Espinosa, 30, to a minor-league deal.
Espinosa, who has spent most of his career with Washington, was in spring training with the Yankees, posting a .160 average and a .596 OPS in 12 games. He was released by New York on Monday. Espinosa’s 2017 season (.173, six homers) included spells with Tampa Bay, Seattle and the Los Angeles Angels. OWNING THE O’S: Many of Toronto’s big-leaguers headed to Sarasota on Saturday to meet the Baltimore Orioles, coming away with a 5-2 win. Justin Smoak, Steve Pearce and Kevin Pillar all started the game, as did Espinosa. The infielder helped spark the Blue Jays offence, going 4-for-4 with an RBI. Centre-fielder Roemon Fields scored three runs. Joe Biagini allowed four hits and one run — a home run to Adam Jones — in 3 2⁄3 innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. 40TH MAN: The Jays filled t hei r 40- man r ost e r by claiming reliever Sam Moll off waivers from Seattle. The 26-year-old lefty had a 10.80 ERA 11 games with Oakland last year.