Pitcher Norris, outfielder Pompey figure in Jays’ future
TORONTO— On Friday, the day after the Toronto Blue Jays fielded their weakest lineup of the season, the club’s executives will meet with the manager and coaches to review another season of mediocrity, evaluate their players and kick around ideas for making things better.
Thursday’s lineup served as a reminder of some of the issues on the agenda. Granted, this was not a typical day in the life of the 2014 Blue Jays. Manager John Gibbons rested Jose Bautista, Jose Reyes and Dioner Navarro, three cornerstones of the offence. Forced into a ‘bullpen day’ by Marcus Stroman’s suspension, Gibbons started left-handed prospect Daniel Norris, with respectable results. But in a 7-5 loss to Seattle, one familiar remnant remained for the Jays. Collectively, six of the nine men in the starting lineup were batting .230 with a total of seven homers and 53 RBIs. For much of this month, four of them have been part of infield and outfield platoons that have generated precious little offence.
Canadian out fielder Dalton Pompey has been playing every day, partly because the Jays long ago gave up on Colby Rasmus and partly because they like Pompey a lot and want to get a sense of how he might fit into their near-term future. (He singled, walked twice and stole third base against the Mariners on Thursday batting in Reyes’s leadoff spot).
With three games left — against division champion Baltimore, a team the Jays led in the standings in early June — Gibbons said the club’s brain trust will discuss the players they have and some of the rival players they might covet.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos will chair the meeting, with his chief lieutenants, the manager and the coaching staff in attendance.
“Areas where you think you need to improve the team, this and that,” Gibbons said in summary. “(Anthopoulos) will pick everybody’s brain a little bit. We’ll go over all the different players.”
The Jays have abundant questions as they enter the post-season. They will likely lose closer Casey Janssen to free agency. Melky Cabrera, one of their top hitters, also will probably test the free-agent market; his departure would leave a huge hole in left field. After a wretched season, Rasmus will head into free agency, leaving the Jays with a decision about centre field, where Anthony Gose, Kevin Pillar and Pompey have shared time this month. Second base has been a problem spot all season. Injuries again shelved Brett Lawrie for a big chunk of the season, leaving management to fill with fringe players. Friday’s session, an annual event during the Anthopoulos regime, will collect information, but no decisions will be finalized.
“I’ve got a feeling I’m coming back, but I haven’t been told anything officially yet,” said Gibbons.
Norris and Pompey are expected to open the 2015 season at Triple-A Buffalo. Each has made a favourable impression as a September call-up.
Norris, a top-flight starting prospect, had been working out of the bullpen but got his first start and worked 3 1/3 innings. He held Seattle hitless over three innings, then gave up a bunt single and a walk before Gibbons lifted him after 59 pitches. Todd Redmond allowed both of Norris’s runners to score.
At his best, Norris features a mid90s fastball, which helped him reach the majors after starting the season at Class-A Dunedin.
The switch-hitting Pompey has five hits in 28 at-bats, but has impressed Gibbons with his plate discipline, defence, speed and unusual maturity for a 21-year-old.