Springer counted on to power Jays’ lineup
• Amid much fanfare and much expectation, the debut of George Springer didn’t exactly live up to the hype. He went 0-for-4 at the plate in Toronto’s 8-2 loss to Washington on Wednesday, but at least Springer didn’t strike out.
Springer joins a lineup where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is justifiably drawing all the attention, allowing Springer some breathing room as he eases his way into the mix. In time, he’ll be in centre field.
For now, the Blue Jays are taking the more cautious and prudent route of having Springer at DH.
The Jays are coming off a setback to the Nationals on a night when Toronto’s bats produced five hits.
Two of those hits were long balls struck by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who stroked his first homer of the season, and by Bo Bichette, who launched his fifth.
Bichette’s defence has been under the microscope, but he has been locked in with his glove and arm at shortstop in the past few games.
Whether it’s better overall team defence or a consistent offence, the Jays need to find a way to compensate for the short-term loss of staff ace Hyun Jin Ryu, who is on the 10-day injured list because of a glute strain.
As the leadoff hitter, Springer will asked to set the table. Bichette and Vlad Jr. will follow and with Teoscar Hernandez poised to return, the lineup has the potential to get stretched out.
“It’s exciting to hit in front of him,” said Springer of Vlad Jr., who was intentionally walked by the Nats to load the bases. “The way he’s been swinging the bat all year, the way his at-bats have been all year, I think he’s in a much better spot with his mind and his swing.
“He understands what he needs to do right now and it’s been fun to watch.”
Toronto had an off day Thursday.
The Atlanta Braves visit Dunedin’s TD Ballpark for a weekend series beginning Friday, a stretch that will see the Jays play 16 games in 17 days.
The Blue Jays are 11-12 and sit 11th in the AL in run production, a number that is certain to improve with Springer in the lineup.
His debut Wednesday was memorable because he finally was in the lineup, but it amounted to an unforgettable evening.
For a guy who signed a Us$150-million deal, the most lucrative in Blue Jays history, Springer finds himself in the shadow of Vlad Jr. given the remarkable exploits at the plate and his surprisingly good defence at first. Eventually, Springer has to produce.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez had a close-up view of Vlad Jr.’s three-homer, seven RBI night. Two of Vlad Jr.’s blasts came off future first ballot Hall of Famer Max Scherzer, who gave up homers to Junior’s dad twice.
Vladimir Guerrero wrapped up his Hall of Fame career by going deep 449 times, but he never produced a three-homer game.
“Looking at Vladdy, he has a good eye,” said Martinez. “He doesn’t chase much as Senior. That’s one big difference I’ve noticed already, he swings at strikes.”