Blue Jays bullpen takes a triple hit
It was still mid-morning — hours before he was forced to scratch his second centre-fielder of the day off the lineup card because Dalton Pompey had suffered a possible concussion by bumping his head on bats stored in his locker — when Charlie Montoyo was greeted with the commonly asked “how ya doin’?” question.
“I’ve been better,” said the Blue Jays manager.
No kidding. About Pompey or the comment.
Exactly one week from their season opener, the Jays bullpen was hit hard before most Floridians had sipped their freshly squeezed morning orange juice.
And then again around lunch. And some more before dinner.
It started when Montoyo arrived at Dunedin Stadium to learn he’ll be without one, almost certainly two, and quite possibly even three veteran right-handed relievers when he makes his big league skipper debut on Thursday.
First, Ryan Tepera, a workhorse who has pitched in 141 games for the Jays over the last two seasons. He has inflammation in his right elbow and on Saturday Tepera will see orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Altchek to find out if he needs season-ending Tommy John surgery.
The news on 35-year-old John Axford is a little more definitive — if not exactly simple for people outside the medical community to understand — but it too could get worse. He has a stress reaction in the olecranon bone of his right elbow.
“We’re going to re-examine him in four weeks,” said Montoyo.
That’s not all.
Before a 13-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies that saw long relief man Sam Gaviglio start and surrender eight earned runs in 3.1 innings, Bud Norris was “playing catch” and didn’t “feel right.” He was immediately given the day off.
“When somebody tells you he doesn’t feel right, like he didn’t feel right warming up, then it’s OK, hold on,” Montoyo said in the visiting manager’s office at Spectrum Field after the game. “I’ll find out more when I get back to the ballpark. I’ll have an update for sure (Friday).”
The greater concern, if only because they have already seen the doctor, is for Tepera and Axford. Both have closer experience and, while neither figured to be in line for saves this season, they were slotted for high leverage situations.
“They’re very important (to the bullpen),” said Montoyo. “That’s baseball. We’ve got to make an adjustment now. Now somebody else gets a chance to make the club.”
The list of candidates would not exactly strike fear in the hearts of the Yankees or Red Sox. Or any other team for that matter.
Provided he’s healthy and did not choose to “opt-out” of his contract with the team before Thursday’s midnight deadline, Norris will assume Tepera’s role as set-up man for closer Ken Giles.
Joe Biagini was scheduled for the sixth and seventh innings, but “now he may have to go a little deeper,” said Montoyo.
While lefty Tim Mayza has already been told he has a job, others vying for chairs in the pen include David Paulino, teenager (and Rule 5 claim) Elvis Luciano, Trent Thornton and Thomas Pannone — although the team would rather develop the latter two as starters.
Also in the mix, but not on the 40-man roster, are Justin Shafer, Javy Guerra, Jason Adam and Danny Barnes, who gave up three earned runs in 0.2 innings on Thursday.
The Jays will look forward to the return of David Phelps, who sat out the 2018 season after having Tommy John surgery.
“Looks like middle of April, maybe May,” said Montoyo. “As of right now.”
Also on hold is the status of Clay Buchholz, who will squeeze into the rotation to create a ripple effect when he’s ready to start the season. Buchholz was to pitch a couple of innings at the team’s minor league complex on Thursday, so that’s a positive.
“That’s why you can never have enough (pitching),” Montoyo said.
The Jays don’t have enough. But back to Pompey, who was to be filling in for Kevin Pillar, who injured his neck when sliding into third on Wednesday.
Pompey, who has a history of concussions and will now go through the protocol, is out of options with the team. A decision still needs to be made, but will now likely get pushed back.
“It happens,” said Montoyo, who confessed to bumping his own head on the hanger bar in the stall. “I’ve seen that happen.”