Laid-back Smoak soaks up all-star experience
Blue Jays first baseman even gets a hit in his first at-bat, writes Rob Longley.
MIAMI Justin Smoak didn’t want to look.
There he was, the Toronto Blue Jays first baseman, finally on the all-star stage for the first time in his career and in the batting cage right before him Tuesday night was Aaron Judge.
Yes, that Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees rookie who won the home run derby the previous night in spectacular fashion. Even for a warm-up, how do you follow up an act like that?
“That’s not fun,” the laid-back Smoak said before taking his spot at first base at Marlins Park for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic. “You just try to look away.”
Smoak did just fine as the night went on, however, muscling out a base hit in the second inning, the first hit from a Blue Jay at an all-star game since Jose Bautista in 2011.
The rest of Smoak’s experiences at the all-star festivities have been eye-opening rather than the lookaway kind. With his wife Kristin and young daughter Sutton here, plus other family and friends, it’s been a whirlwind few days.
It was a similar story for 22-year-old relief pitcher Roberto Osuna, who was also making his first all-star appearance.
A year ago in San Diego, there were five Jays on the AL team, with three getting the nod the previous season. This year’s game snapped a three-year streak for Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, who appeared twice with the Jays and once with the Oakland A’s.
“It’s been busy but great,” Smoak said. “I’m just enjoying it and soaking it all up. I don’t have any expectations. A hit would be a bonus.”
The bonus came in that first at-bat and facing an 0-2 count from Pat Neshek of the Phillies. Smoak found a gap between first and second for a single. In his second plate appearance, Smoak reached base again on a fourpitch walk from the Cardinals’ Carlos Martinez.
“I’m so happy for him because he’s had some tough years,” Osuna said of Smoak. “Bouncing back like this and making this game is huge for us.
“I’m proud of him and hopefully, he can keep continuing in the second half like this.”
STRO SHOW
Marcus Stroman isn’t at the all-star game, a slight the Jays starter said is a blatant snub given his strong season. That didn’t prevent Stroman from being a topic of conversation here regarding other recent pointed comments he made regarding the composition of baseballs.
After leaving a July 3 game versus the Yankees with a minor blister issue, Stroman said the problem is with the baseballs. Fellow Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez has been dogged by blister issues all season.
“This is a relatively new thing that just emerged with the Toronto people,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told Baseball Writers of America members at their annual all-star game luncheon. “I’ve asked my folks to take a look at the seams. Rather than shoot from the hip, I’m aware of the issue. I just don’t know what the answer is. It literally has come up within the last week.”
NOTHING ON THE LINE
So much for this being the only one of the big four professional sports’ all-star games with some skin on the line. For the first time since 2003, the winning team did not secure home-field advantage in the World Series for the respective league winner. Instead — and as it should be — the pennant winner with the best regular-season record will get the advantage. For many, it’s a case of good riddance.
“I don’t care,” said Canadian Joey Votto, the NL’s all-star first baseman from the Cincinnati Reds. “I thought it was silly. World Series home-field advantage predicated on this game didn’t really follow logically, I didn’t think.”
JAYS TALK
Sanchez won’t have to wait long to shake off the effects of his ugly return from a lengthy stay on the disabled list. Sanchez, who was rocked for eight runs in 1⅔ innings Friday, will get the start when the Jays return from the all-star break Friday in Detroit. The rest of manager John Gibbons’ rotation for the three-game series will see Francisco Liriano go Saturday followed by Marco Estrada Sunday ... Given the heavy Latin influence in South Florida, it was a nice touch for MLB to honour Latin hall of famers in a pre-game ceremony. What didn’t smell so great was not showing highlights of Robbie Alomar in a Toronto jersey.
O, HERE WE GO AGAIN
Oh no, O Canada yet again at baseball’s all-star game. The latest example of why anthems are an unnecessary distraction at sporting events came with the bizarre “performance” Calgary singer Jocelyn Alice gave of O Canada. Of particular annoyance, Alice appeared to giggle after “God keep our Land,” prompting a startled response and apparent death stare from Smoak, who has heard the anthem plenty of times in his career.