Lefty gets top assignment
Blue Jays name veteran Happ opening day starter against Yankees
There was a time in J.A. Happ’s career when he wouldn’t have been considered to start an opening day game. And even if he was, he wouldn’t have remembered. “The 2011 and 2012 years are something that I try to suppress a little bit,” the Toronto left-hander said with a laugh when a reporter asked if he had started an opening day with the Houston Astros during those seasons.
“It would be great if those years never happened but you live and learn. I might not be here if it wasn’t for that.” Happ isn’t the same pitcher he was in 2011 and 2012. The Blue Jays’ decision Tuesday to name him their opening day starter is a testament to that. Happ will pitch against the New York Yankees, the team heavily favoured to win the AL East, Thursday, March 29 at Rogers Centre.
“It feels good, I haven’t always had that (confidence from organizations),” Happ said. “After being here the last few years and having great experiences for the most part, it’s nice to feel that confidence that they have in me and the trust level.” Right-hander Aaron Sanchez, whose 2017 season was hampered by a finger blister, will start the second game against the Yankees. Marco Estrada and Marcus Stroman will close out the four-game series and newcomer Jaime Garcia will open the next series against the Chicago White Sox on April 2. Stroman, who finished eighth in Cy Young voting after going 13-9 with a 3.09 earned-run average last season, was the favourite to start the opener when camp began last month. A right shoulder injury changed that, limiting Stroman to just one start – two innings against Canada’s junior national team last week – so far this spring. He’s scheduled to pitch today against the Phillies. Happ, a 20-game winner in 2016, was 10-11 with a 3.53 ERA last season.
The 35-year-old was 7-9 with a 4.83 ERA in 2012 before being traded from Houston to Toronto midway through that season. He finished 10-11 and continued to struggle on the mound during the next two years before switching up his approach.
Happ’s transition into one of the game’s top lefties began with the Jays –– and countless conversations with pitching coach Pete Walker in 2014.
“I felt really good about how that season ended, and at the time I was disappointed when I got traded, or at least I didn’t expect I would get traded . ... I got a little renewed energy being in a playoff hunt (with Pittsburgh) and started having a little bit of success and positivity and that was a good thing for me,” Happ said.