STROMAN HOPES TO STRONG-ARM JAYS BACK TO PLAYOFFS
Getting more stomp with landing leg from off-season training program
A fired-up Marcus Stroman touched down in Toronto this week and predicts a whole season of happy landings for himself and the Blue Jays.
For one, a rigorous off-season with team trainer Nikki Huffman has given him extra stomp with his left landing leg that the diminutive right-hander can use to enhance his delivery.
“It’s allowed me to do a lot of different things with velocity and being more accurate,” said Stroman, who was at the Rogers Centre on Friday to hype the 2017 season with new teammate Steve Pearce and returning infielder Ryan Goins. “I feel like I’m in unbelievable condition with my body. I know I say that every year, but my body really does make gains, and this is the strongest it’s been now. My knee (a torn ACL in 2015) is 100 per cent.”
Huffman was associated with Stroman at Duke University before joining the Jays’ staff. Their familiarity at winter workouts in Florida has fuelled Stroman’s optimism about lasting through the regular season and a hoped-for return to the playoffs.
“I want the same things, to be the guy who can go out there seven, eight or nine innings and keep my team in it. I realize how potent our offence is, so I’m going to do everything in my power to limit the offence of other teams and go deep (into starts).”
Toronto’s pop with the bats received a boost earlier in the week when Stroman’s pal Jose Bautista signed a new deal, US$18 million for at least this season.
“I was in on that (negotiation) and couldn’t be more excited that he’ll be out there in right field for me,” Stroman said. “He has been instrumental in my career, a huge role model. One of my first starts in the big leagues, I remember him coming over to me to talk about tempo and pitch selection. I’m always picking his brain about what to throw. He’s the first guy I go to because I believe he has the best strike zone judgment out of anyone in the big leagues and he’s done it a number of years.” One thing Stroman wasn’t big on talking about was a social media storm involving himself and Aaron Sanchez.
Talk of an alleged falling out between the two frequent companions gained traction by the reduction in their online exchanges and disconnects from each other’s feeds.
“We’re still friends,” Stroman assured. “We’re not as close, but we’re still friends.
“Everyone is speculating here and there, but we’re still good. We go our separate ways, we’re around different people, but we’re still close. Just because we’re not together every single second of the day, people, like, lose their minds. It’s crazy to see, that’s a social media craze-phase that would never have happened 10 years ago. You’d never have seen this debate. So just keep that perspective.” In December, there were reports the Baltimore Orioles looked the other way when Bautista was a free agent because they didn’t think their fan base would ever warm to him. So where will that put ex-Oriole Pearce as he arrives in the same clubhouse as Bautista next month at camp?
“You don’t like the guy who hurts you, consistently day in and day out,” Pearce said, simplifying the first reason the Orioles players would not have included Bautista on the Christmas card list. “But he’s a great ballplayer and when I heard we signed him here, I was very happy. It’s great news for me, great news for the ball club.”
Pearce didn’t relish playing in Toronto as a visitor, calling the fans some of the toughest on a player in the majors.
But he always did take note of the manager in the other dugout. He thinks low-key manager John Gibbons, who often saves his ire for the umpires, is going to be a good fit for him.
“I like the way he goes about things. He fights for his players and as a player, you want someone like that. He’s going to give you everything he has and I’m going to give him everything I’ve got, because he has my back.” Pearce and a few of the Jays will be attending Saturday’s TorontoOttawa game at the ACC.
The sport is still a bit of a mystery to Pearce, who saw his first NHL match last year in Tampa Bay.
“I grew up in Lakeland, Fla., where hockey was not a big sport. You have no ponds or anything like that growing up, no high school hockey, just rec league stuff, so no one grows into it. But it was great being a fan and having a night out (at the Lightning game). That’s a tough sport.”
RED DAY FOR JAYS
Stroman, Pearce and Goins were modelling the new “official” alternate red jersey the Jays will wear, not only on Sundays but for all Canada Day events, of which there will be many in the nation’s 150th birthday year. That’s red-themed hats, belts, socks and shoes, good enough to run up the flagpole.
“I like it,” declared Goins, a native of Round Rock, Texas. “It’s something that you’re not used to wearing, such as the blue, white or grey. We’re used to wearing these on Canada Day or Youth Baseball In Canada Day and it was good to change it up.” LHornby@postmedia.com