Jays: Gibbons’ new batting order has only appeared on paper so far
KANSAS CITY—“There’s no crying in baseball.”
That’s John Gibbons quoting Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own.
But, geez, the skipper must feel like emitting a boohoo or two over the endless injuries that have befallen his club in 2017: 290 man-games lost as of Friday, for players on the 25-player roster, and the season hasn’t even reached its midpoint yet.
So, launching a weekend series with the Royals, Gibbons had yet to implement his new-fangled batting lineup, at least as envisioned, given the ever-changing holes. Steve Pearce was sidelined Friday — but not put on the 10-day disabled list — with the left knee contusion suffered a few nights ago in Texas when he slammed into the outfield fence trying to catch a ball lost in the twilight.
“They haven’t played together yet,’’ the manager moaned of the reconstituted lineup he unpacked for the media, on paper, two days earlier.
“I think it’ll be good. But until we get ’em all in there, we won’t know.”
As it stood last night: Jose Bautista, now in the leadoff spot, was given the designated hitter’s gig.
He’s the only Blue Jay who has played every single game this season — 73, including Friday at Kauffman Stadium.
“Bautista needs it,” the manager said of the no-field assignment. “He’s been running around there every day.”
Thirty-six days straight playing right field for the 36-year-old.
Gibbons was relieved, hugely, to learn that Josh Donaldson, who missed Thursday’s game with a sore knee, was good to go at third.
Justin Smoak, moved up to the three-hole, got the night off. Deployed at first base was Kendrys Morales, a nice happenstance development for the ex-Royal.
The lingering unavailability of Pearce opened the door to the major leagues for one Ian Parmley, a 27year-old over-the-moon at making his debut in The Show, his parents John and Joanne flying in from Seattle to witness the moment.
Parmley, a left-handed hitter, got the word Thursday from Triple-A Buffalo manager Bobby Meacham.
“Yesterday was kind of a blur, going from playing right field to coming out of the game to getting sent here,” Parmley said. “It was amazing.” Parmley, selected by Toronto in the seventh round of the 2012, had already set a new career high for doubles with 10 with the Bisons this year. He had 13 multi-hit games while splitting his time between right and centre, with a slash line of .289/ .332/.369.
As he does whenever a newbie makes the majors, Gibbons warmly congratulated Parmley. “Told him to have fun with it. It’s your first, there’ll only be one first.”