Just a few F-bombs between mates
Montoyo says he isn’t worried about Giles’ blow-up with Paulino
DUNEDIN, FLA.— Ooh, F-bombs galore.
Blue Jays closer Ken Giles made like the Enola Gay of profanity bombardment before Thursday’s game at Dunedin Stadium, dropping a load on teammate David Paulino. Who had it coming, frankly.
The tightly wound Giles, who famously punched himself in the head last season as he left the mound after a poor performance, was apparently annoyed that Paulino was dogging it during infield drills. Paulino seemed to have zero interest in covering first base in the exercise, like the rest of his pitching brethren. To paraphrase: What the f---?! To paraphrase: Do you, David, not want to play for the Jays in 2019? But punchier. Manager Charlie Montoyo was standing not far distant when the episode unfolded. But said nothing. And Paulino, thereafter, seemed radioactive, given a wide berth by the rest of the squad as he came off the field.
If Montoyo was looking for evidence of a recast clubhouse coming together at spring training, this was actually it. Because the takeaway was not Paulino getting dressed down by a teammate but Giles making it clear that the work matters, that laggardness won’t be tolerated.
Funny thing, though. Giles had been scheduled to pitch at some point in this game against the visiting Yankees, yet he never appeared. Joe Biagini came out in the ninth instead. When reporters got to Giles’ locker later, it was obvious he had already changed back into civvies and left. There was no Paulino sighting, either.
Montoyo tried to downplay any potential fuss. “Believe me, I’ve been around the game for a long time. That happens. I kind of like it, to tell you the truth. There was a disagreement and now they’re fine. I talked to both of them and it’s all good.”
The skipper agreed that what he saw was Giles taking a lead- ership role arising from the incident, talking the walk so to speak. “That’s what it looks like to me.”
Montoyo said he had no wish to “get into it” with the two moundsmen. “Because it got resolved with the players. And that’s great. I believe in the clubhouse takes care of itself, and they did.”
Don’t go reading anything into Giles’ no-show on the pitching itinerary, Montoyo added.
“He’d asked for another day (off ),” the manager explained, adding the closer has been ailing with the flu. “He was sick. He didn’t feel right today. Kind of behind a little bit. So he felt like he needed another day to regroup.’’
Giles is now slotted to pitch on Friday in Clearwater against the Phillies.
In this game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Matt Shoemaker, making his fourth appearance, gave up one run on four hits and struck out three through 51⁄ 3 innings.
“Overall, pretty close,” said the bearded right-hander of his spring training progression. “Physically I felt great, just been working on some mechanical stuff, some timing. It’s coming together.”
Montoyo has indicated that he’s leaning toward Shoemaker as his No. 2 in the starting rotation, between Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez. Though he apparently hasn’t yet shared that plan with Shoemaker. “No, not at all,” said Shoemaker, who signed a one-year deal with the Jays in late December.
“We’ve just been ... go out there, get ready for the season, and let the rest take care of itself.” DRIBBLERS: Ex-Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was booed relentlessly every time he came to the plate ... Right-hander Bud Norris will make his first spring appearance on Friday … Righthander Clay Buchholz, being cautiously brought along after his 2018 campaign was cut short by a strained flexor mass in his pitching elbow, will throw his first bullpen on Friday … Vladimir Guerrero Jr., out with an oblique injury, has been sent to the minor-league camp to continue a three-week rehab stint.