Jays lineup takes a Texas two-step to create spark
Pillar out, Bautista in as Toronto’s leadoff hitter as Morales, Smoak switch spots
ARLINGTON, TEXAS When it’s 36C just prior to game time, the last thing ballplayers want to do is move around too much.
Nevertheless, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons decided to give his lineup a good shake up, moving Kevin Pillar out of the leadoff spot and replacing him with Jose Bautista — a change that will remain for the foreseeable future. Gibbons said he’ll also bat catcher Russell Martin in the No. 2 spot (though Martin was given Wednesday off and rookie outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. hit in the two slot).
Pillar has been the leadoff hitter for most of the season, but has struggled lately, not getting a hit in his last 12 at-bats and going five for his last 41 at-bats. After his first 45 games of 2017, he was batting .303 with 20 extra base hits and a .845 OPS. In the 23 games since that point, Pillar has hit just .137 with six extra base hits and a .417 OPS.
“Looking back the last few weeks, we decided to move him out of there and let him catch his breath a little bit,” Gibbons said of Pillar. “It’s been a battle for him you know. And Kev’s one of those guys, he’s just charge, charge, charge, charge. And sometimes maybe (moving him out of the leadoff spot) helps ease his mind a little bit. That’s always been a point of focus with him anyway, where we going to hit him? He always wanted to be the leadoff guy. We gave him a couple of opportunities, it didn’t work. And then this year it was working and then he scuffled a little bit and so I thought, his mind has got to be racing I would think.”
There’s a school of thought that Pillar’s slump is partly the result of the controversy he caused last month when, in a fit of frustration, he directed a homophobic slur toward Atlanta pitcher Jason Motte. Pillar has denied that has affected his play, but the timing suggests that it’s still weighing on his mind.
“I don’t know. He’d have tell you that,” said Gibbons. “But I know it hit him pretty hard. I know he felt terrible. He was due for a little correction, though. I mean he was rolling, rolling, rolling.”
Bautista volunteered to bat lead off last season and is comfortable at that spot.
“We’ll see how it works,” said Gibbons. “It kind of sparked us a little bit (last year).”
MORE LINEUP TALK
With the intense heat in North Texas, Gibbons decided to rest a couple of veterans on Wednesday. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Martin both took a seat and were replaced by Ryan Goins at short and Luke Maile behind the plate. Both Martin and Tulowitzki likely play in Thursday’s finale at Globe Life Park, an afternoon game. The manager also flipped Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak. Smoak, who leads the team with 20 homes, was moved up to the No. 4 spot in the batting order and Morales dropped down one spot to five.
THE HEAT IS ON
The Blue Jays’ training staff is taking extra precautions playing in the searing heat, particularly with the risk of dehydration.
“One of the big things that we’ll really emphasize is re-hydrating, making sure they’re getting enough water, but also electrolytes, salt, potassium,” said Stephanie Wilson, the team’s head of nutrition. “I’m having a little bit more salty food so I’m always putting out different baked chips, literally making sure they incorporate a little more (salt) into their routine because they’re sweating so much. The sting that you feel in your sweat is the salt. So athletes actually lose a lot more salt so we need to replace that, especially when it’s hot and they’re sweating down here.
“A big thing is, right now we make sure they have all the waters out, so that after the game just making sure everyone’s grabbing enough,” Wilson added. “(And) if I see a player not taking any because he had a bad game or something, I might just suddenly hand them a bottle and some sports drinks.”
AROUND THE DIAMOND
The Jays recalled RHP Cesar Valdez from triple-A Buffalo after placing RHP Leonel Campos on the DL with a right groin strain suffered in Tuesday’s game in Texas. Campos’ move to the disabled list marks the 22nd DL stint by Toronto players this season, the most in the AL (Tampa Bay has 20) ... The Jays have until June 30 to make a decision on Rule 5 pitcher Glenn Sparkman, who was out for most of the season with a right thumb injury. Sparkman is starting in the minors but if the Jays don’t bring him up to the big team by June 30, Kansas City gets him back.
Looking back the last few weeks, we decided to move him out of there and let him catch his breath a little bit.