Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – April 3, 2012

Well that’s all she wrote folks, another spring training season has come and gone with the Blue Jays heading north to Cleveland with a quiet confidence.  The bats came alive today versus the Detroit Tigers as they slugged their way to a 13-8 victory.  Henderson Alvarez struggled as he gave up 8 hits in 4 innings but Kyle Drabek picked up a five inning save giving the Jays 5 quality innings in relief.

Read the full boxscore here.

The Tigers and Blue Jays wrapped up their Grapefruit League schedule with plenty of early offence, and Toronto came out on top, 13-8, on Tuesday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Blue Jays right-hander Henderson Alvarez struggled through a four-hit first inning, giving up two runs on a no-doubt homer by Miguel Cabrera to right-centre field. Alvarez went four innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and a walk.

Detroit starter Max Scherzer, who will start the Tigers’ third game of the season against Boston, allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits and three walks while striking out four in 4 1/3 innings.

Prince Fielder drew a standing ovation from the crowd in the third inning, but not for his hitting. He stole second base after beating out a double play at first, and about half of the fans in attendance stood and applauded.

Up next: Toronto broke camp and headed north after Tuesday’s game. The Blue Jays open the regular season on the road Thursday at 3:05 p.m. ET against the Indians at Progressive Field. Lefty Ricky Romero will begin his second season as the Blue Jays’ No. 1 starter. Right-hander Justin Masterson is scheduled to start for Cleveland.

I will be in attendance at Progressive Field and will be sitting near the Jays dugout!  Very excited for the new season and can’t wait to cheer for the team on the road (and hopefully tick off a few Indians fans).  I will try to upload some pics via Twitter, so follow @ALEastbound today!

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – April 2, 2012

Coming off a terrible 2011 regular season Brett Cecil was hopeful to turn around his career with a solid season in 2012.  After a brutal outing this afternoon there has been talk he might not even have a rotation spot locked down.  The Tigers struck early and often and ended winning 11-8, read the full boxscore here. 

Brett Cecil was hammered over 4 innings, giving up 11 hits and 7 earned runs.  His spring ERA jumped to 6.48 with the rough outing.  Cecil won’t be given much of a leash in the regular season so he had better hope he gets off to a decent start.

Prince Fielder and Delmon Young hit back-to-back home runs, the latter being Young’s sixth homer of the spring, as part of a seven-run second inning that allowed Detroit to cruise to an 11-8 victory over the Blue Jays on Monday afternoon in the Tigers’ home finale at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The matchup between the two best records in the Grapefruit League turned early in the Tigers’ favour once Omar Vizquel and Luis Valbuena ran into each other behind second base on Fielder’s popup, allowing Brennan Boesch to score on the errant drop. Young doubled in Fielder for a 2-0 lead.

The real damage came the next inning, when eight consecutive Tigers reached base safely after Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil retired leadoff hitter Jhonny Peralta. The first seven of those were base hits, including Austin Jackson’s RBI double and Boesch’s two-run single.

Up next: The Tigers and Blue Jays wrap up their Grapefruit League schedules with the back end of their home-and-home set, heading to Dunedin for a 12:05 p.m. ET matchup. Max Scherzer will make his final tuneup of the spring for Detroit opposite Henderson Alvarez, who’s ticketed for the fourth spot in Toronto’s rotation after what has been a stingy spring.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – April 1, 2012

Brandon Morrow tossed four shutout innings versus the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon in a losing effort as the Jays fell 3-1.  Read the boxscore.

Morrow was nearly perfect against Pittsburgh while mixing in an overpowering fastball with strong command of his offspeed pitches. His lone blemishes were a pair of singles off the bat of Pirates right fielder Jose Tabata.

The 27-year-old Morrow struck out four batters without issuing a walk and throwing 34 of his 50 pitches for strikes. He finished the Grapefruit League season having surrendered just one earned run in 17 1/3 official innings. Morrow is expected to start Game 2 of Toronto’s season on Saturday afternoon in Cleveland.

“I think I accomplished what I set out to do: polish up and gain a lot more feel and confidence with those third and fourth pitches,” Morrow said. “I threw a lot of changeups, a lot of curveballs and really kept guys off balance all spring.”

Up next: Left-hander Brett Cecil will make his final start of the spring when the Blue Jays travel to Lakeland, Fla., to take on the Tigers. Cecil is expected to throw five innings and will be followed by left-handed reliever Luis Perez. The remaining pitchers are still to be determined and will be taken from the Minor League camp. Monday represents Toronto’s final road game of the spring in advance of Tuesday’s home finale.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 31, 2012

Former Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay finished up a rocky 2012 spring training against the Blue Jays and the results were once again mixed.  He allowed three hits, two runs and struck out three in two innings in a 8-5 loss to the Blue Jays.  Halladay threw 45 pitches, but had his afternoon shortened because of a 37-minute rain delay.  Here is the boxscore.

Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo home run to left-centre field in the second inning to make it 1-0. Eric Thames followed with a double off the top of the wall in left-center field. He scored on a single from Brett Lawrie to make it 2-0. Jose Bautista would add to the lead with a solo home run in the fifth.

Up next: Brandon Morrow will make his final start of the spring when the Blue Jays host the Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Morrow is slated for five innings and will be followed on the mound by Sergio Santos, Francisco Cordero and Casey Janssen. It will be the second-to-last home game of the spring for Toronto, which hosts Detroit on the final day of the Grapefruit League season.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 29, 2012

Here’s hoping the Jays save some of this inspired brand of baseball for the regular season as they set a franchise record with their 22nd victory of the grapefruit season beating the Boston Red Sox 3-2.  All the talk was on speedster Anthony Gose who stole second, third and home in the eight inning after reaching on a walk.  Here is the boxscore.

That gave Gose seven stolen bases for the spring, including four in Thursday’s game.

“I never saw anybody steal second, third and home in the same inning in my career,” said Blue Jays manager John Farrell, who arrived in the big leagues in 1987. “He is obviously exciting. He can take over on the basepaths. He has a combination of pure speed, plus the ability to read some things. You just turn him lose. He’s a pure basestealer.”

As for Thursday’s steal of home, Farrell explained Gose saw Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia “lobbing the ball back” to reliever Justin Thomas and took off.

 “It’s a risky play,” Farrell admitted, “but with two outs, it was a calculated gamble.”

Up next: The No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays’ rotation may be on the line Friday, when lefty Aaron Laffey (2-0, 4.80 ERA) takes the mound in Dunedin at 1:05 p.m. ET against also unbeaten Liam Hendricks (2-0, 2.40) of the Twins.

Prior to Thursday’s game, Blue Jays manager John Farrell said the club “should have a better read” on the No. 5 starter after Friday’s game and may make a decision on Saturday.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 28, 2012

The Blue Jays put a beating on the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon, winning easily 9-3.  Here is the boxscore.

Eric Thames recorded a two-run double while Chris Woodward added an RBI double of his own en route to the Blue Jays’ 9-3 victory over the Orioles on Wednesday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

The Blue Jays have tied their franchise record for most victories in the Grapefruit League season, with a 21-4-1 record and are on a nine-game winning streak.

Up next: Pitching prospect Drew Hutchison will get the start when the Blue Jays travel to Fort Myers at 1:35 p.m. ET on Thursday to take on the Red Sox. Hutchison will be followed on the mound by Drew Carpenter, Jesse Chavez, Jim Hoey and Robert Coello. Most of Toronto’s regulars will get to avoid the long drive, and Henderson Alvarez will start in a Minor League game

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 25, 2012

Jose Bautista was beaned, Brett Lawrie made his return and Aaron Laffey might have lost the fifth starter job with a poor effort this afternoon.  The Blue Jays were defeated by the Boston Red Sox 6-5, here is the boxscore.

Toronto’s Aaron Laffey and Boston’s Daniel Bard were each roughed up for five runs a piece, and the Blue Jays came through in the 10th inning on Ricardo Nanita’s single with the bases loaded for a 6-5 walk-off win on Sunday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Laffey, who is competing for a spot in Toronto’s starting rotation, had trouble from the outset. He surrendered a leadoff double to Mike Aviles, which was followed by an RBI triple off the bat of Jacoby Ellsbury in the two-run first.

Boston added another run in the second on an RBI double by Aviles. Laffey pitched two scoreless innings before there was more trouble in the fifth. With two on and one out, Darnell McDonald hit a scorching line drive into the gap in left-centre field that just went under the outstretched glove of Eric Thames for a triple to score two more runs.

Up next: Kyle Drabek will make a crucial start on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. ET, when the Blue Jays visit the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in a game available live on MLB.TV. Drabek is competing for the final spot in Toronto’s rotation and will need a strong outing to make his case. He will be followed on the mound by Sergio Santos, Francisco Cordero and Casey Janssen.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 24, 2012

Another spring training day and another spring training route for the Toronto Blue Jays.  This afternoon they defeated the Atlanta Braves 9-0 behind a solid pitching effort from Henderson Alvarez.  Here is the boxscore.

Adam Lind homered and drove in four runs while Kelly Johnson added three RBIs of his own en route to Toronto’s 9-0 victory over the Braves on Saturday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

Right-hander Henderson Alvarez got the start for the Blue Jays and allowed just one hit through five innings. The 21-year-old also didn’t walk a batter while recording four strikeouts.

Alvarez needed just 61 pitches to get through his fourth official outing of the spring. He has allowed just two earned runs in 11 innings and appears set to begin the year as Toronto’s No. 4 pitcher.

Up next: Left-hander Aaron Laffey will get the start when the Blue Jays host the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Laffey will be followed on the mound by Jason Frasor, Carlos Villanueva and Luis Perez. The game is also expected to mark the return of third baseman Brett Lawrie, who hasn’t played since injuring his left groin on March 16 against Tampa Bay.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 23, 2012

The Blue Jays need to save some of this late-inning heroics for the regular season as they rallied from two runs down to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5.  Brett Cecil wasn’t sharp tonight and got roughed up over 2.2 IPs, giving up 4 earned while walking 5 batters.  Read the full recap here.

In a matchup of two American League East left-handed starters on Friday night, one took a step in the right direction and the other had some trouble finding the strike zone.

Cecil, on the other hand, had command issues right from the start. He walked the first two batters he faced, setting the stage for Jeff Keppinger’s one-out single to plate leadoff hitter Sean Rodriguez.

After the Blue Jays tied the game on Edwin Encarnacion’s solo home run to lead off the second — his third long ball of the spring — the Rays piled on three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Again, Cecil’s control problems were central to the rally. After Jose Molina singled with one out to get things started, Cecil walked the next three batters to force home a run

Up next: The Blue Jays return to their spring home on Saturday to face the Atlanta Braves. Henderson Alvarez will make his fourth Grapefruit League start at 1:05 p.m. at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium as the Blue Jays began to prep their starters for the regular season. Alvarez, who allowed a run on four hits over three innings against the Yankees on March 14, will increase his pitch count up into the 70-80 range. Sergio Santos, Francisco Cordero, Casey Janssen and Darren Oliver are also scheduled to pitch. Julio Teheran will start for the Braves.

Blue Jays Spring Training Recap – March 21, 2012

The Blue Jays rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Orioles 6-3, read the full recap here.

Toronto righty Kyle Drabek, who is in contention for the fifth starter spot, allowed two runs on three hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings in his fourth spring outing. He also struck out three before being replaced by Luis Perez, who tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia hit his fourth homer of the spring, connecting on a 2-0 offering from Hunter in the third inning, and Omar Vizquel had two hits, including a double.

Toronto	ABs	Runs	Hits	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Davis, R, CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.267
Vizquel, SS	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	.435
Arencibia, C	3	1	1	1	0	0	2	.267
Lind, 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.214
Francisco, B, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	.207
Snider, LF	2	1	1	0	1	0	0	.333
Gomes, 3B-C	4	1	2	1	0	1	1	.474
Cooper, DH	2	1	0	0	2	0	1	.294
McCoy, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.185

BATTING
2B: Snider (5, Hunter, T), Gomes (4, Hunter, T), Vizquel (2, Hunter, T).
HR: Arencibia (4, 3rd inning off Hunter, T, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Vizquel 3; Arencibia 4; Bocock; Snider 2; Nanita; Gomes 3.
RBI: Gomes (5), Arencibia (9), Diaz, J (6), Bocock 2 (4).
2-out RBI: Bocock 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Davis, R; Arencibia; Francisco, B; Woodward.
SF: Diaz, J.
GIDP: Cooper.
Team RISP: 3-for-12.
Team LOB: 7.

BASERUNNING
SB: Gose 2 (3, 2nd base off Patton/Paulino, R, 3rd base off Patton/Paulino, R).

FIELDING
DP: (Gomes-McCoy-Lind).

Up next for the Blue Jays: Right-hander Brandon Morrow will make his fourth start of the spring when the Blue Jays host the Phillies on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Morrow is scheduled to throw five innings, and he enters the game having surrendered just one earned run in 7 1/3 innings of Grapefruit League work. He will be followed on the mound by Carlos Villanueva, Darren Oliver and Jason Frasor. Brett Lawrie likely won’t play until Saturday because of tightness in his left groin.