National Post (National Edition)
Blue Jays getting set to begin spring training in seclusion
Pitchers and catchers check in at Dunedin
Toronto Blue Jays pitchers and catchers checked in to the team's spring training headquarters in Dunedin, Fla., on Wednesday for roll call and medical testing and did so with the sunny optimism of being on a promising team on the rise.
The way things are going with the COVID-19 crisis, they may be there for a while.
It has been a busy and for the most part successful off-season for Jays general manager Ross Atkins, highlighted by the headline-grabbing (and club record-setting) signing of free agent outfielder George Springer.
Add infielder Marcus Semien and potential starters Robbie Ray and Steven Matz and there is plenty to unfold over the six weeks in Florida leading to an April 1 opening day in the Bronx against the division rival New York Yankees.
There's also a great deal of uncertainty, topped with the question of where the team will play its actual home opener on April 8. With Toronto's Rogers Centre all but out of the question, Dunedin's TD Ballpark remains the front-runner.
Much will unfold over the coming weeks as baseball attempts to prepare for a full 162-game season and remain safe in the process. Our look at some of what awaits the Jays:
MODIFIED GRAPEFRUIT
Amid a pandemic and operating under a stifling set of protocols issued by the league, the Jays are scheduled to play 28 games in a modified Grapefruit League schedule.
And yes, the games will come with some twists not seen in more normal times.
For starters, the schedule will be restricted to opponents with the closest proximity to the Jays' Dunedin home, a wise attempt by MLB to limit travel through the Sunshine State. That means a heavier than normal dose of the Phillies, Yankees, Pirates, Orioles and Tigers.
The exhibition opener is slated for Feb. 28 at Tampa's Steinbrenner Field against the Yankees, with the finale set for March 29 in Clearwater against the Phillies.
In the mix there will be some modifications, including seven-inning games and limited number of batters per inning, at the whim of the managers making some days feel like intrasquad games.
And Florida being Florida, the Jays, like most teams, will have limited fans at TD Ballpark. which will have 15 per cent capacity beginning with the March 1 opener against the Pirates.
SNEAK PREVIEW?
Want to get a feel for Springer's early work in the batting cage? Looking to get a sense for the life on Nate Pearson's fastball? And what about the efforts at third by a trim Vlad Guerrero Jr.?
Given the active off-season by the Jays, fans will want this and much more — but prepared to be disappointed.
The Jays are one of a handful of teams that are banning fans and media from all activity at the club's training complex six kilometres across town from TD Ballpark. While the restrictions are allowed under MLB spring training regulations, it will certainly leave a void in the usual flow of information and allow the Jays to control exactly what details become available to fans.
Once games begin, the exposure will increase with limited fans and media allowed in the stadiums, but even then fans will be left largely in the dark. Broadcast rights holder and fellow Rogers family member Sportsnet has no plans to produce any games while its radio network will carry a handful of contests at best.
We're told that when possible, Sportsnet will pick up games broadcast by the Yankees and Phillies, small consolation for Canadian fans.
ASSUME THE
POSITION
Behind those mostly closed doors, the Jays will go about the business of building a starting nine that heading into camp, anyway, has plenty of questions.
Foremost, given his profile, is what will happen with a slimmed-down Guerrero. The 21-year-old infielder has made it known he wants to reclaim the territory at third base, a position he was turfed from in 2020 because he was in such poor shape physically.
Atkins has been cautious in his comments regarding Guerrero — saying he will be allowed to compete for the job, but won't have it handed to him. The logical prediction, then, is that Guerrero will end up at first with newcomer Semien at second, Bo Bichette at shortstop and Cavan Biggio at third.
But we shall see. Sort of.
PITCHING IN
The obvious void on the improving Jays roster is the starting rotation. With no major off-season additions to that group, the development of the candidates during the next month will be critical.
Ace Hyun-Jin Ryu is back as the frontman, of course, but that's the only area of certainty. It is expected that Pearson will thrive in his second year but the hard-throwing phenom will work on an innings limit.
Beyond those two, the competition will be intriguing. Ray, who was signed to a one-year US$8-million deal in November, looks like a front-runner for one spot and you could argue that Matz, acquired in a deal with the Mets in late January, is another.
From there, it's a battle of the depth arms from Tanner Roark and Ross Stripling to Trent Thornton, Thomas Hatch, Julian Merryweather, T.J. Zeuch and Anthony Kay.