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	<title>Toronto &#187; Sean Addis</title>
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		<title>John Gibbons — The Person — is Irreplaceable</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/27/john-gibbons-the-man-is-irreplaceable/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/27/john-gibbons-the-man-is-irreplaceable/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 2018 14:01:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16787</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[TORONTO &#8212; Entering the Rogers Centre last night, I was greeted by a young man at security similar to every other day I have come to the ballpark.  Except today the conversation went in a different direction. Him:  “It will never be the same.” Me:  “You talking about John Gibbons?” Him:  “Yes, it will be [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>TORONTO &#8212; Entering the Rogers Centre last night, I was greeted by a young man at security similar to every other day I have come to the ballpark.  Except today the conversation went in a different direction.</p>
<p>Him:  “It will never be the same.”</p>
<p>Me:  “You talking about John Gibbons?”</p>
<p>Him:  “Yes, it will be different around here. I will miss hearing his boots coming down the hall, then hearing his loud voice.”</p>
<p>The man that has managed the second most games in Blue Jays history took to the field of the Rogers Centre for the last time on Wednesday. As one reporter noted prior to the game, as bad as the team has performed on the field, John Gibbons popularity with fans has somehow increased. “They have taken to me a little bit eh?” said Gibbons at the press conference prior to the game.</p>
<p>The rounds of applause he received from employees of the club as he walked to and from the press conference was touching. Gibbons smiled and addressed each group he passed, stopping to shake the hands of some. It was a classy gesture from a classy man.</p>
<p>The decision might have been finalized over the past weekend, but there have been discussions about the manager’s future, between Gibbons and Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins, over the last several months. And after two back to back American League Championship Series appearances in 2015 and 2016, the last two seasons have seen the Blue Jays post a record of 148 – 173. With a pending shift in roster construction coming as well, the writing was on the wall.</p>
<p>The decision to make the announcement yesterday was “ultimately who he is as a man and our respect for him,&#8217; said Ross Atkins. Gibbons, for his part, seemed to take the decision to part ways rather well.</p>
<p>“I will be a Blue Jay for life.  I get how this business works.  We were a pretty good team for a couple of years, but things start sliding and that is how it goes.  I have been here a long time and I agree there is time for a change” said Gibbons.</p>
<p>Many have stated that Gibbons is more of a veteran’s manager and the Blue Jays would benefit from more of an instructor, especially considering the rebuild and upcoming youth movement. However, the  56-year old Texan begs to differ. “I am a perfect guy for a rebuild, but I am not sure if I have the energy. Heard the argument against and I don’t buy it.”</p>
<p>He also understands the other side of the argument. “You bring in a lot of young kids and some of them have a chance to be really good. Probably best to bring in a guy that can last a while with those guys.”</p>
<p>During the press conference Atkins shared a story about the positive impact Gibbons had with rookie infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. It was at a time he was really struggling physically, mentally and performance wise, and Gibbons pulled him aside on the bench. He told him “remember to smile and remember to enjoy this”. </p>
<p>“It is the experience of when and how to say those things that is pretty powerful,” stated Atkins on Gibbons strong interpersonal skills.</p>
<p>Atkins even revealed a personal moment he shared with Gibbons. It happened during the GM&#8217;s first spring training when they were flying from Florida to Montreal. He approached Atkins and uttered this sage advice “These are big jobs, there are a lot of expectations, but remember to have fun and remember to enjoy the ride.”</p>
<p>It is considered by many this was a management decision, but that was not clearly stated at the press conference. In the end both parties somewhat agreed it was time to part ways. A manager hired by the previous regime, Alex Anthopoulos and Paul Beeston, is thankful for the opportunity that the current management provided him.</p>
<p>“I thought I was gone then (2016), I can’t thank him enough for keeping me around, that doesn’t always happen it is quite unusual,” shared Gibbons.</p>
<p>What happens with the rest of Gibbons coaching staff will be most likely determined over the weekend, when Atkins meets with each of them. However, it is most common that a general manager will let the new manager choose their coaches.</p>
<p>“Coaches do all the work. They are all loyal guys and team guys” said Gibbons. “Something happens in my position it usually affects some one else.”</p>
<p>Obviously, the greatest highlight for Gibbons was the 2015 season that saw Toronto break a 22-year playoff drought. A moment he said every manager savors.</p>
<p>“Big league sports is all about winning. Sometimes it takes a long road to get there. In 2015 it all came together we became relevant in baseball. Just to be part of that, because we heard it every year, when is the team going to do it. It finally happened, and it happened in a big way, for half that season we were kind of just hanging around and then we exploded.”</p>
<p>But his greatest memories are moments shared with the fans both at the Rogers Centre and on the road trips to places like Seattle. “There are passionate people up here, they are fair people and we are treated great. If you do well they take care of you pretty good.”</p>
<p>Well Wednesday night they took care of John Gibbons pretty well. The crowd of just over 22,000 came with their “Gibby the Best” signs, memorabilia, and most importantly adoration for the 11-year manager. From multiple standing ovations when he came on the field to the Gatorade shower at the post-game interview – it was Gibby’s day.</p>
<p>“I have never been into that; it kind of embarrasses me, but it was different today,” said Gibbons post game. “I&#8217;ve been here a long time. I&#8217;ve had some great times, and I&#8217;ve had some tough times. It&#8217;s kind of sad. It&#8217;s sad in a way. But it brought back a lot of good memories.&#8221;</p>
<p>But true to Gibbons&#8217; humble nature, he said after the game that he was happier for Jon Berti — who finally made the big leagues at 28 and collected his first hit — than he was for himself. Always the “player’s manager,” Gibbons understood and was appreciated by his players.</p>
<p>“Letting you go out there and play. If you make mistakes you learn from it. He helps you learn from it, instead of just getting on you,” said right fielder Randal Grichuk, who hit a two-run home run in the 4-1 Blue Jays win. “He jokes around and keeps things light. He makes you humble with the game, but keeps it light.”</p>
<p>“A person I have grown very fond of,” said longest serving Blue Jay Kevin Pillar of the soon-to-be-former manager. “He is a welcoming human being and he encourages people that come up for the first time”.</p>
<p>So what is next for Gibbons? He doesn’t want to retire and he said he would love to manage again. He even said, with a smile, those “special assignment jobs friends have always sound good to [him].” Whatever he does, we can only wish him the best. The self-proclaimed honest, straight shooting guy with integrity will be greatly missed by many in the Blue Jays organization and outside.</p>
<p>The manager can be changed, but John Gibbons the man, is irreplaceable.</p>
<p>Lead Photo Gerry Angus-USA TODAY Sports</p>
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		<title>The Gurriel Brothers Realize Their Dream</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/25/the-gurriel-brothers-realize-their-dream/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/25/the-gurriel-brothers-realize-their-dream/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:31:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16769</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[TORONTO &#8212; A moment that has been imagined since early February 2016 was finally realized last night at the Rogers Centre. What started with two brothers, who were both top players from the most famous baseball family in Cuba, defecting to the United States, to yesterday living their life long dream of both playing on the [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>TORONTO &#8212; A moment that has been imagined since early February 2016 was finally realized last night at the Rogers Centre. What started with two brothers, who were both top players from the most famous baseball family in Cuba, defecting to the United States, to yesterday living their life long dream of both playing on the same field in the major leagues.</p>
<p>“I am very proud to be here with my little brother,” said the former Cuban national baseball champion. “It is a dream come true, something that is amazing, and I am very proud of him and us being together.”</p>
<p>“I feel proud to be here and have an older brother to do the same as you and follow him,” said the player who was considered the top Cuban prospect prior to his defection. “Knowing that it is something to look forward when we were younger is somewhat amazing.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/09/IMG_2096.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-16773" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/09/IMG_2096-1024x614.jpg" alt="IMG_2096" width="500" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>The Gurriel brothers, Yuli and Lourdes, are as much known for their success on the field as they are their hairstyle.  When asked about their hair, Yuli replied with “One morning I got up and my hair was like that and people started liking it. His (Lourdes) hair grew out and he started doing it too. Now his hair is better than mine”</p>
<p>That gave the public a glimpse into the type of relationship between both baseball brothers. The young brother who looks up to the older sibling, the humour they share, and hints of their friendly competition.</p>
<p>When asked the question “how is it going to be on the field?” They both made it very clear they may be brothers, but they want to win. “We are pretty close as brothers, but whenever the game starts between the lines I am trying to be better than him and beat him,” said Yuli.</p>
<p>Lourdes added that “we have always been very competitive with each other, not just on the field but off the field.  We have always been competitive with video games every time off the field.  I don’t think it is going to change.”</p>
<p>They may compete on the field, but two of their biggest supporters don’t care who ultimately wins or loses. “It is difficult for them to cheer for one team or another,” said Lourdes about their parents. “But I think they are going to cheer for the people we are, the players before the team.”</p>
<blockquote><p>“I can be honest, I am proud he is here. I just don’t believe it.” &#8211; Yuli Gurriel on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.</p></blockquote>
<p>To commemorate both of her sons being in the majors, their mother created a special jersey. One that is half Houston Astros and half Toronto Blue Jays. Their father, Lourdes Gurriel Sr., who played for the Cuban national team and won a gold medal, two batting titles, and an MVP Award in Cuba, is extremely proud of his two sons. “Our dad is very proud, knowing that he was our idol and we can look up to him,” said the Astros&#8217; Gurriel. “To see what we have accomplished so far is very nice and he is very proud of us.”</p>
<p>Being in the shadow of their father’s greatness has not always been easy for the brothers, though. “Dad is a legend, so everybody expected us to be just like him or close to him,” said Lourdes. Yuli added that it has been tougher for his younger brother: “It has been harder for Lourdes because he didn’t only have my dad he had his older brother (to follow in their footsteps).”</p>
<p>The elder Gurriel, 34, signed with the Astros in July 2016 and quickly made his ascension to the major leagues. He was fourth in Rookie of the Year voting last season, in which he helped the Houston Astros to their franchise’s first World Series. He can play all over the field and has a career OPS+ of 112.</p>
<p>He has a 2018 slash line of .289/.323/.431 which is comparable to his younger brother&#8217;s .281/.309/.446. When asked what he saw in Lourdes when he was a young boy, Yuli described how his younger brother would travel with his team at a very young age. It is there that he could see his brother had natural ability. Said Yuli: “I knew with his strength, speed and defence. Everything he was doing when he was younger I knew it then that he was going to succeed and do what he accomplished so far.”</p>
<p>The proud older brother has made it a point to follow closely the early career of his 24-year-old younger brother. “I have been following a lot and after every game I watch every single at bat,” said the third year Astro. “Make sure that I follow everything that he does. I can be honest, I am proud he is here. I just don’t believe it. That he is here in the big leagues and how fast he made the big leagues.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/09/IMG_2099-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-16774" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/09/IMG_2099-1-1024x634.jpg" alt="IMG_2099 (1)" width="500" height="309" /></a></p>
<p>As Blue Jays manager, John Gibbons, commented about Gurriel Jr prior to the game on Monday: “He is a great kid and a good player. A first-class kid, very respectful and a special.” Lourdes credits his older brother and father for influencing who Lourdes is and wants to be.</p>
<p>“I was fortunate to look at him, my older brother, and dad and see how they went about their business both on and off the field. How disciplined and respectful they were with everybody,” said Gurriel Jr.</p>
<p>Earlier in the week they made history by homering twice in the same day. On Monday they hoped to great more exciting moments on the same field together. However, things don’t always end up the way you would like. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., after grounding into a double play in the first inning, suffered left hamstring tightness and needed to be removed from  the game.</p>
<p>The injury that made the night anti-climatic for the fans, but for both brothers Monday was a dream come true.</p>
<p>Lead Photo &#8211; Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</p>
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		<title>Jonathan Davis is Appreciating Every Moment</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/21/jonathan-davis-is-appreciating-every-moment/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/21/jonathan-davis-is-appreciating-every-moment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 10:34:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16742</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This past January, Toronto fans were treated to the very successful inaugural Blue Jays WinterFest. As one attendee making his first trip to Toronto and the Rogers Centre put it: “It was awesome, just getting out there and playing ping-pong with people you don&#8217;t know, and people you get to meet. It was just awesome.” Jonathan Davis, [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This past January, Toronto fans were treated to the very successful inaugural Blue Jays WinterFest. As one attendee making his first trip to Toronto and the Rogers Centre put it: “It was awesome, just getting out there and playing ping-pong with people you don&#8217;t know, and people you get to meet. It was just awesome.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jonathan Davis, Ryan Borucki and Teoscar Hernandez <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TBT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterFest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterFest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBThursday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TBThursday</a> <a href="https://t.co/7jg3M2XYir">pic.twitter.com/7jg3M2XYir</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Super Fan Dan (@Danbot26R) <a href="https://twitter.com/Danbot26R/status/1040227389702205443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>On September 4<sup>th</sup>, that very same person attended his first regular season game at the Rogers Centre. One of the highlights was witnessing of the opening of the dome during batting practice. His initial thought was a common one: &#8220;This is unbelievable.” Unlike most people experiencing the Dome for the first time, though, this person&#8217;s vantage point wasn’t from the stands. He was watching from the field. And this person wasn’t just another fan: He was rookie outfielder Jonathan Davis.</p>
<p>“I was just kind of lost for words,” Davis said, describing his feelings upon receiving news of his promotion. “I mean, of course, you know, been my dream for a while, like it is for a lot of kids.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Blue Jays&#8217; 21<sup>st </sup>ranked prospect has experienced many special, defining moments this season. After a solid first full season in the Double-A Eastern league last year, he followed with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, and an even more successful 2018 campaign in New Hampshire. Davis had a slash line of .302/.388/.443 with 19 stolen bases by early July.</p>
<p>On July 11, after hitting a grand slam for the Fisher Cats, Davis was removed from the game. He originally thought it was precautionary, since he had just returned from an injury. But after the game, manager John Schneider called him into his office and gave the young outfielder a much better explanation.</p>
<p>&#8220;After the game, he called me into the office and said, &#8216;You are going to Triple A. I pulled you out [because] I wanted your last Double A at-bat to be a grand slam,'&#8221; Davis recalled. &#8220;It was an awesome moment.&#8221;</p>
<p>Once a self-proclaimed high school band geek, Davis was now moving one step closer to the major leagues, bringing his positive energy and enthusiasm to Buffalo. Bisons manager Bobby Meachum found that Davis came as advertised. &#8220;I heard incredible things about Jonathan as a person and a player, and they were all true,&#8221; Meachum said.</p>
<p>Growing up a preacher’s kid, Davis has an deep bond with faith and family. He believes that his faith has been a major influence on his life, and has guided him in his journey to the major leagues. It has also given him a profound appreciation of the things &#8212; and people &#8212; around him. &#8220;I love the game of baseball,&#8221; he told me. &#8220;It is something that I cherish: the teammates, the coaches I have met, the friends, the different people.&#8221;</p>
<p>Montreal Expos legend Tim Raines was one of the first coaches to leave a lasting impact on Davis. &#8220;Tim Raines being the base stealer that he was, he was out there working on our leads and our jumps and some outfield work as well,&#8221; Davis said of his experience with the Hall of Famer. These are two areas of Davis&#8217;s game that he most prides himself on, and that many scouts and evaluators have rated highly.</p>
<p>&#8220;I will consider defence to be the best aspect of my game. Simply because, I believe defence is something that you can control at all times,&#8221; Davis explained. &#8220;Of course, the bat is going to come and go. You can hit the ball hard and get out four times a game. But being ready to go get the ball, making the right throw, I feel I can control each and every day regardless of how it goes at the plate.&#8221;</p>
<p>Even though his numbers at the plate during his time in Buffalo were not as good as they were in Double A, Davis still got the attention of the people that mattered. And on the last day of the minor league season, another special moment occurred. Just as had happened when he&#8217;d been promoted to Triple A, Davis found himself unexpectedly relegated to the bench, wondering what the reason for the benching might be. He thought maybe, just maybe, history was repeating itself. But he didn’t want to get his hopes up.</p>
<p>&#8220;I was just sitting on the bench kind of contemplating maybe I might go up. But since the roster up here [in Toronto] was kind of packed, my mind was set on that road trip home,&#8221; Davis said. &#8220;But after the game, Devon came out and he pointed at me and said, &#8216;Hey, Meach wants to see you.&#8217; I came into the office and Ben Cherington, VP of Baseball Operations and Bobby were there. And Bobby said . &#8216;I just want to let you know you are going up to be with the big league club.'&#8221;</p>
<p>An elated Davis immediately phoned the one person who has been his rock, who he loves with all his heart – his wife.</p>
<p>&#8220;It was a moment that I will never forget. I went out to call my wife. She burst out in tears, she kind of made me tear up too,&#8221; Davis recalled with his customary smile.</p>
<p>Stepping on to the field in Toronto for the first time was an emotional moment for Davis. Remembering the times of doubt or adversity, when he had wondered if it was worth it. Reflecting on his season&#8217;s long journey, and the longer journey undertaken over so many seasons before. What he had worked so hard for had finally become reality.</p>
<p>Davis readily admits that when he went to the plate in his first game, he was very nervous. &#8220;First thing that went through my mind walking up to the plate is: <em>Is he going to give me a fastball?</em>&#8221; Davis said of that first at-bat. &#8220;Sure enough it was a 96 mph fastball, and I was like, <em>Let&#8217;s go to work</em>. I ended up striking out, and then struck out the next two times. It wasn&#8217;t the way you want the start it out. I said  to myself, <em>I got the first one out of the way and I&#8217;m ready to compete</em>.&#8221;</p>
<p>Since then he has appeared in 11 games, mostly as a late-inning defensive replacement or a pinch runner. That is by design, as explained by Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.</p>
<p>&#8220;He will be used primarily as a pinch runner. We will get him some game action. He might fill in for those guys [Pillar, McKinney, Grichuk] or something,&#8221; said Gibbons. &#8220;We have four outfielders trying to get as much playing time as we can. So that will be limited. He will be the guy that will come off the bench for Smoak or Mo [Kendrys Morales] or a couple of those guys.&#8221;</p>
<p>No matter what role the team needs him to fill, Davis is ready. And he will do it enjoying his new opportunity and new teammates. &#8220;These guys made me very comfortable, guys like Pillar and Morales,&#8221; Davis said. &#8220;I am very appreciative.&#8221;</p>
<p>Of course, Davis the family man has shared his promotion to the big leagues with his wife and parents. This has included enjoying the city as well. He recalled having breakfast with his parents at Cora’s, where he described having the best pancakes, or going to Sweet Jesus for dessert with his wife.</p>
<p>&#8220;Yeah, we love the city already,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You got friendly people around. You just feel the life and energy in this city.&#8221;</p>
<p>From playing ping-pong at WinterFest to his first at-bat as a Toronto Blue Jay, Davis has appreciated and enjoyed each moment, no matter how big or small. But at the end of the day, his focus still remains on the game that brought him here: &#8220;I focus on what I do best, what I can contribute to the big-league team. Just trying to win a World Series.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>School&#8217;s in Session: Blue Jays Rookies Begin Their Journeys</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/09/05/schools-in-session-blue-jays-rookies-begin-their-journeys/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Sep 2018 10:37:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16713</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first day of a new school year brings the return of sophomores and seniors as well as the arrival of the freshmen. Excitement and hope fill the halls. For some, it signifies a fresh start. For others, it&#8217;s a new beginning. Today, as you walk through the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse, it has become almost [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first day of a new school year brings the return of sophomores and seniors as well as the arrival of the freshmen. Excitement and hope fill the halls. For some, it signifies a fresh start. For others, it&#8217;s a new beginning.</p>
<p>Today, as you walk through the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse, it has become almost unrecognizable from what it was just a year ago. Mixed in with the few remaining veterans are a large group of fresh faces: Players promoted from Triple A or acquired over the last couple of months as the Blue Jays begin their rebuild in earnest. Players, coaches, and media almost need an attendance sheet to account for all the new arrivals, from Rowdy Tellez to Jonathan Davis to David Paulino, who was acquired in the Roberto Osuna trade. Each new player is trying to find their place, make their mark, and prove to management that they should be considered part of the future direction of the ball club. New relationships develop, and old ones are relied on, as players make the transition to the big leagues.</p>
<p>Some, such as Sean Reid-Foley and Danny Jansen, have success and high achievement in their past. Both won multiple player awards for their performances with Blue Jays&#8217; Triple A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to all the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bisons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bisons</a> 2018 award winners, including Most Valuable Player Danny Jansen and Most Valuable Pitcher Sean Reid-Foley. <a href="https://t.co/eujSEZvTcV">pic.twitter.com/eujSEZvTcV</a></p>
<p>&mdash; HERD Chronicles (@HERDchronicles) <a href="https://twitter.com/HERDchronicles/status/1034211195946000384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>“It is a blessing. Buffalo has been an awesome place to play.  The fans have been awesome and you get a lot of Blue Jay fan,” Jansen said, when discussing the awards he received. “It was a really great thing, super humble and looking to build off that and keep going.”</p>
<p>Similar to students graduating from one school to another, it is personal growth beyond the achievements that help move players from one level to another.</p>
<p>Bisons manager Bobby Meachum said that he “likes that men grow and get better at what they do, not only on the field but with their character. Dig deep and think about some things in the middle of the season and the middle of their lives. When things are going good or bad they keep digging and keep working hard.”</p>
<p>Each new player will get the opportunity to experience their firsts and create lasting memories, from catcher Jansen getting his first home run in Kansas City, to pitcher Reid-Foley winning his first major league game against the Miami Marlins.</p>
<p>“It was a high heater, 1-2 count,” Jansen recalled with a smile. “It was one of those where you don’t feel anything. But obviously you are like ‘go go go’. But in the back of my mind I knew I got it pretty good.”</p>
<p>Bringing the lessons and wisdom received at the previous level is imperative to future success with the new team. In the case of Reid-Foley, it was going back to Triple A and regrouping after a couple of starts that made the difference. Working with the pitching coach there helped get him back to the basics that got him to the big leagues.</p>
<p>“Went back to the basics, throwing more over the plate. I got away from that in the one start,” Reid-Foley said. “My side down there right before I came back the pitching coach was like, ‘hey man, just throw the ball over the plate and let your stuff work’. Obviously it kind of helps and kind of works.”</p>
<p>There will also be moments of realization &#8212; small things that make you truly feel that you&#8217;re finally a member of the &#8220;big team.&#8221; These can come in the form of connecting with your new teammates in the clubhouse, or on the plane travelling to away games.</p>
<p>“Being around the guys you grew up watching,&#8221; Reid-Foley said of his experiences with his new teammates, &#8220;playing with on video games – like Russ and Clippard and all of them &#8212; it is pretty cool and surreal, and now I am a teammate of them. I am in the brotherhood with them. That is the coolest thing.”</p>
<p>When asked about his favorite part of being a major leaguer, Jansen also highlighted the plane rides. Besides not having to ride the bus, it also means spending time with his teammates: “The plane rides, the whole team is on it. I was talking to Curtis Granderson, sitting next to him when we went to New York. He was telling me all about it and what to do and the cool things around there. The plane rides are crazy.”</p>
<p>New players will also inevitably have moments of heightened excitement and anxiety. One of these is often going to Yankee Stadium for the first time &#8212; seeing and being part of the history and tradition, and playing in front of a stadium full of some of baseball&#8217;s most raucous fans.</p>
<p>For Jansen, the first inning behind the plate at New York was an anxiety-filled one. “Yankee Stadium is different than Kansas City. There were like 45,000 fans there, so it was different,&#8221; he said of playing in the Bronx. &#8220;But then you realize it is the same game, you take a deep breath, playing baseball like you were five years old.”</p>
<p>Reid-Foley was also initially intimidated by the scale of Yankee Stadium: “Top of the first, you got them doing the roll call, you look up four tiers to the stadium &#8212; you are like, &#8216;Wow, this is a big stadium.’”</p>
<p>Reid-Foley admitted he gets a little nervous before every one of his starts in the majors &#8212; it&#8217;s only human. But once the game is on, his attention is on the action: “If you start worrying about something around you, you start losing sight of what you need to do pitch to pitch.”</p>
<p>Inevitably, there will be some encounters with players from opposing teams that will remind young players that they have truly reached the Show. For Reid-Foley and Jansen, it was facing Giancarlo Stanton in New York.</p>
<p>“When Stanton got in the box &#8212; he is huge. Feels like he is over 7 feet tall!” Jansen said.</p>
<p>For Reid-Foley, the impression Stanton made went beyond just his staggering size. “I was watching him in Double A in Jacksonville, whenever Leiper was manager,” Reid-Foley shared. “I grew up going to those games. I actually saw him on his last game before he got called up to the big leagues. Now, to be on the same field with him competing against him &#8212; that is awesome.”</p>
<p>So as some students begin their new journey this week, there are also many Toronto Blue Jay prospects going through the same process. Their feelings will range from excitement and happiness to anxiety and nervousness. The key is to take the time to breathe, fully enjoy moments, and appreciate the experiences ahead.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo © Kevin Sousa &#8211; USA Today Sports</em></p>
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		<title>The Blue Jays Veterans Catchers are Setting the Tone for Danny Jansen</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/08/22/the-blue-jays-veterans-catchers-are-setting-the-tone-for-danny-jansen/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/08/22/the-blue-jays-veterans-catchers-are-setting-the-tone-for-danny-jansen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2018 10:48:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16615</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Throughout the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have slowly introduced the next generation of players to their fans. Injuries at the major league level and good performances in the minors have led to various promotions; Teoscar Hernández, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Dwight Smith Jr. and Ryan Borucki saw time with the club before August, but one player [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Throughout the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have slowly introduced the next generation of players to their fans. Injuries at the major league level and good performances in the minors have led to various promotions; Teoscar Hernández, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Dwight Smith Jr. and Ryan Borucki saw time with the club before August, but one player lingered behind.</p>
<p>It took an oblique injury to infielder Yangervis Solarte to finally solve this problem. On August 12<sup>th</sup>, catcher Danny Jansen was finally promoted to the major league club.</p>
<p>Many fans, experts and media wondered why arguably the third best Blue Jays prospect took so long to be promoted to the majors, despite hitting .275/.390/.473 at AAA. Even after hitting a home run in the Futures Game, a moment that he described felt like he &#8220;was running on a cloud around the bases tying to look for his parents in the crowd,&#8221; Jansen still didn&#8217;t get the call. It was an injury that finally opened the door.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aWqZ_tQRPiU" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" ></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Strong MLB Catchers</strong></p>
<p>First, Jansen was blocked at the major leagues by the catching tandem of Luke Maile and Russell Martin. A duo that Blue Jays manager John Gibbons implied was his best since returning to Toronto in 2013. “We&#8217;re lucky here with Luke and Russell, two really good defensive players. It makes a huge difference to our pitching staff,” he said. “Some teams that I&#8217;ve had here had a more offensive player back there that struggles with the defence. I mean it hurts you.”</p>
<p>Maile (12<sup>th</sup>) and Martin (15<sup>th</sup>) are two of the best “pitch framers” in the majors. This is based on the stat <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/31022/prospectus-feature-command-and-control/">CSAA (Called Strikes Above Average)</a>, a measure used to indicate how many called strikes the player in question creates for his team.</p>
<p>Another area they are both strong is a key role for the catcher:pitch calling, where catchers help the pitcher navigate through an opposing lineup. Gibbons considers this “the number one job of that guy behind the plate (defence). He&#8217;s running the game with the pitching staff. You take what kind of offence you can get but I don&#8217;t think everyone thinks that way.”</p>
<p>Another former catcher with the same perspective as Gibbons is current Blue Jays studio analyst, Joe Siddall. “As a former catcher I still think defence is first and foremost. That&#8217;s why they signed Russell and he is great at it (2nd highest defensive WAR),” said the former Detroit Tiger backstop. &#8220;I look at Luke Maile right now he&#8217;s a back up. I have a lot of conversations with him because I think I really relate to him. He takes a lot of pride in his role. That&#8217;s his strength and what he does really well.&#8221;</p>
<p>Two strong proven major league catchers were needed on a team with aspirations to contend. Even after the Blue Jays season appeared to be lost, Maile and Martin were crucial in working with the young pitchers being promoted to the team. But an injury to an infielder and Martin&#8217;s positional flexibility finally opened the door for Jansen.</p>
<p><strong>High Volumes of Information and Data</strong></p>
<p>We are in an era of an abundance of data and information that can be a challenge and overwhelming for a young catcher. Siddall commented on seeing college players and some major league catchers recording information on wrist bands to use in game action. He even referenced most notably, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/03/21/rays-catchers-using-wristbands-amid-rotation-experiment/33145821/">David Ross</a> from the 2016 World Series.</p>
<p>&#8220;I just feel sometimes now that we&#8217;ve made the game so robotic. That catchers are not using their own intuition and their own baseball intellect by watching the game as a catcher reading swings.&#8221; Martin discussed <a title="Russell Martin on the Art of Pitch Calling: A Masters in Communication" href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2017/03/07/the-art-of-pitch-calling-a-masters-in-communication/" target="_blank">a similar concept last spring with BP Toronto</a>.</p>
<p>This increase in the amount of information and analytics can almost become an overload to a young catcher. Gibbons empathized with young catchers saying &#8220;you end up confusing yourself more because it used to be simple back when I was playing. Nowadays everything is so advanced that you know every weakness. You are tracking guys all season long; where you can go to certain times. I mean that&#8217;s all good to know, but if your pitcher on that particular night can&#8217;t do that or he was off. You still have to adjust.&#8221;</p>
<p>Maile has come to a better understanding of how to best use the information at his disposal. &#8220;If you start using it in a way that might be detrimental to your pitcher&#8217;s best pitch, it might hurt you. But for me as soon as I get things that I believe in and I feel good about it I pretty much just stop listening,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>&#8220;I like to just go over a few notes. I am a big believer in seeing how they are swinging in the last five or ten games. I might look at the video about a guy I&#8217;m not totally familiar with, but  it just kind of knowing what you like to look for and what you believe in&#8221;</p>
<p>For a younger catcher it is preparation that is important. They need to be ready for the magnitude of information they will be given in the majors. Unlike other positions on the team it can be very daunting. The key is balancing that information with the willingness to adjust as the game dictates.</p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a huge believer in get your game plan and have an idea what you want to do. But in baseball it is not always going to go according to plan,&#8221; said Maile. &#8220;I&#8217;m a big believer in reading swings; just kind of seeing how the field game is going.&#8221;</p>
<p>Rookie Jansen, during an interview in Buffalo, indicated he is aware of the challenge saying he would need to &#8220;understand the way they call it and all the information that they have&#8221; when he comes to the majors, but that he was &#8220;ready for it.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KJDYoFhQjVM" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" ></iframe></p>
<p><strong>Developing Mentorship Plan</strong></p>
<p>In the fall of 2014, the Blue Jays signed Russell Martin to a five year &#8211; 82 million dollar deal. He was key to the two playoff runs with his plus defense and solid bat. &#8220;I think when Russ is behind the plate what he did those last two playoff years the Jays, that&#8217;s why they signed Russell. Whatever he did after that was gravy, but it cost a lot of money,&#8221; said Sportsnet broadcaster Siddall.</p>
<p>&#8220;Russ every year whatever team he was on goes to the playoffs, very few guys can say that.&#8221; said Gibbons &#8220;He&#8217;s got that something extra.&#8221;</p>
<p>Over the past two years, many fans and critics have focussed on Martin&#8217;s decline in his superior defence and offensive production. But what people can&#8217;t deny is his ability to handle the pain and grind of the position.</p>
<p>&#8220;You watch Russ Martin back there take foul tips. They get him good. He just kind off shakes them off — it&#8217;s a pride thing. Other catchers take the same ball and they&#8217;re down there rolling around,&#8221; said a laughing Gibbons. &#8220;So right here I know that guys don&#8217;t want to be back there. Russ you know brings it. That&#8217;s what makes him that much better than most of them.&#8221;</p>
<p>When asked to list two way catchers, Siddall was quick to include a younger Martin. &#8220;Russ Martin and maybe he&#8217;s a bad example because he later in his career now. But there&#8217;s a guy that really did it from both sides and took a lot of pride.&#8221;</p>
<p>The 35-year-old&#8217;s mentality, experience, and success offer incredible value for a team with a rookie catcher. With the quick learning curve of a major league catcher, Martin can help Jansen with that transition.</p>
<p>&#8220;As coaches we could give perspective on the game, but it is better to get it from the actual guy that goes through this with this kid. He was in that guy&#8217;s shoes at one time. It can make a world of difference,&#8221; said Gibbons.</p>
<p>Maile over the last two years has had the opportunity to work closely with Martin. Often they will sit down with the pitchers and pitching coach, Pete Walker, to open a series and go over matchups or specific players. For example,  if there is a really glaring stat, such as &#8220;a guy is hitting .800 on 1-1 sliders from right-handers,&#8221; Maile says that is the type of information he wants to know.</p>
<p>Also through informal conversations with Martin, it has helped both veteran catchers gain a better understanding of how to attack hitters. Maile continued:</p>
<p>&#8220;It depends on how glaring it really is, if something&#8217;s really a big deal. For instance, a pitcher has been throwing a split finger and it&#8217;s his fourth pitch historically. But all of a sudden it&#8217;s really nasty. Russ, if he&#8217;s had more experiences with it and keeps on having success he might come up and say &#8216;Hey by the way that &#8216;split finger is really electric lately, if you get a chance make sure you throw it.'&#8221;</p>
<p>It is these invaluable conversations and opportunities for mentorship that the Blue Jays front office are counting on — hoping they will make the transition from minors to majors smooth for Wisconsin native, Jansen.</p>
<p>&#8220;To have the privilege just to pick their brain. Sitting by Russ on the bench and to try and learn as much as I can from him cause he has been around the game so long. He has been in every scenario,&#8221; said Jansen.</p>
<p>It took a long time for the Blue Jays best catching prospect to get the call. The reason is a lot of things needed to be in place. An opening for him to play regularly, a maturity and willingness for him to be ready for the challenges of the role, and an opportunity for mentorship and development at the big league level.</p>
<p>&#8220;They need to learn the pitchers. They have got to figure out what each pitcher likes to do in certain situations. What they are capable of doing in certain situations. You know you&#8217;re under the microscope — you&#8217;re handling the ball more than anybody,&#8221; said Gibbons. &#8220;All eyes are on you and you learn different techniques. You got to learn from certain umpires and a heck of a lot more than people realize. It is more than just being out there playing.&#8221;</p>
<p>Jansen takes a lot of pride in what&#8217;s going on behind the plate, he likes to call it &#8220;the chess match of the game.&#8221;<br />
The game has begun, let the maturation and development at the big leagues commence.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Sean Reid-Foley Says Previous Lessons Have Led to this Moment</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/08/13/sean-reid-foley-says-previous-lessons-have-led-to-this-moment/</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 2018 14:35:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16557</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[BUFFALO &#8211; It was June 27th, 2018, when Sean Reid-Foley’s friend, left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki, got the opportunity every young  ball player works so hard to get – the call to the big club. Reid-Foley was elated for the Jays&#8217; lefty because of the challenging journey Borucki had travelled. In his own words, he “has the utmost [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>BUFFALO &#8211; It was June 27<sup>th</sup>, 2018, when Sean Reid-Foley’s friend, left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki, got the opportunity every young  ball player works so hard to get – the call to the big club. Reid-Foley was elated for the Jays&#8217; lefty because of the challenging journey Borucki had travelled. In his own words, he “has the utmost respect” for him. And every time his former Buffalo teammate took the mound Reid-Foley and other Bisons players took the time to cheer him on.</p>
<p><a href="https://theathletic.com/437166/2018/07/19/for-blue-jays-prospect-sean-reid-foley-a-pep-talk-by-teammate-ryan-borucki-helped-him-turn-the-corner/">As John Lott of the Athletic</a> wrote Borucki’s influence both on and off the field impacted Reid-Foley and certainly have been part of the turning point of his performance this season.</p>
<p>“I have been part of his journey in many different places, you almost feel a part of it,” said Reid-Foley. “Hearing his conversations on how he pitches and him asking me how I pitch. It is really nice to see someone young up there and doing what he is doing.”</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c-Vd6UdFVaw" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" ></iframe></p>
<p>Reid-Foley, born in Guam, was drafted in 2014 in the second round, 49<sup>th</sup> overall. His fastball has always been his most impressive pitch. It can reach 97 mph, but typically sits around 92-95 mph. As MLB.com notes “his deceptive delivery and arm action make him particularly tough on right-handed hitters.”</p>
<p>Over the years, his pitching role models have ranged from Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens to Corey Kluber and Chris Sale. They are all known for their “bulldog” mentality and ability to dominate the opposition. But what Reid-Foley admires most is that “they all want to compete so much.”</p>
<p>But in order to be able to compete to their level he needed to have secondary pitches that could compliment his electric fastball. Besides the slider he added a curveball and change up over the last few seasons.</p>
<blockquote><p>“I told them ‘I am going to try a curveball and add it to the arsenal’. They weren’t very….I wouldn’t say happy.” </p></blockquote>
<p>Actually the curveball was added when he was messing around with his brother in the offseason following the 2015 season. Reid-Foley had a slider and his brother, David a prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a curveball. They decided to try throwing each other’s offspeed pitch. When Reid-Foley whipped off a few curveballs, his brother said you should throw this in the next season. Reid-Foley did just that. He threw it in the first bullpen session of the 2016 spring training.</p>
<p>“Everyone was ‘woah what is going on?’  I told them ‘I am going to try a curveball and add it to the arsenal’. They weren’t very….I wouldn’t say happy.” Why? They felt he was still too young; at the time he was 20 years old. But Reid-Foley kept it in his arsenal. Today, two and half seasons later , the development of his curveball has surpassed his slider, which was originally considered above-average by many scouts.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the changeup has taken longer to develop and led to some of the struggles he experienced last year  in AA New Hampshire. That season that saw Reid-Foley take a step back in every major category: He posted an ERA of 5.09, an increase in BB/9 (3.60) and a decrease in K/9 (8.28).</p>
<p>“Last year was a big year for my changeup. I threw it a lot, kind of got hurt on it, but I had to learn when to throw it and when not to throw it. This contributed to last year&#8217;s struggles but it has definitely helped me out this year.”</p>
<p>When talking about the 2017 season, Reid-Foley doesn’t hold anything back – he knows it was a struggle. But what it did do is teach him a lot about himself and the importance of being able to figure out how to get out of tough situations.</p>
<p>“You learn who you are and if you ever get into a bind in the future you know how to get out of it,” said the 22 year old righthander. “You gotta try to get better everyday and have fun with it. Just getting better everyday with the pitches and the arsenal, making sure they are in tip top shape”</p>
<p>Beyond the lessons from last year’s difficult season, the further development of his changeup, and the conversations with Borucki, it was the tutelage of pitching coaches Bob Stanley and Vince Horsman that helped contribute to Reid-Foley&#8217;s turnaround this season. Using video from 2016 when the young hurler was in Dunedin, they changed some simple things in his delivery – a delivery that can be deceptive to hitters, but also has a tendency to give him below average control.</p>
<p>This season has seen a return to his numbers of the 2016 season.  A season in which he was ranked 2<sup>nd</sup> among the Blue Jays top prospects. The strikeouts are up (10.28 K/9) and the walks are down (2.95).</p>
<p>Last season, at the time, may have seemed like a lost season. But today it could be considered the best season in terms of the growth and maturation of this young starter. Lessons take time to fully understand and appreciate, while implementing change is never fast. This might explain the Blue Jays front office rationale for keeping Reid-Foley in the minors even when his numbers told a different story. Even when there was a need for starting pitching at the big league level, they let him continue to develop his secondary pitches and build the confidence in Buffalo.</p>
<p>Well the time has come.  On Monday night, under the lights at Kauffman stadium the 6-foot-3, 220 lb right-hander will start his first major league game. He will also be able to pitch to his battery mate from Buffalo, catcher Danny Jansen.</p>
<p>When talking about Borucki, Reid-Foley said “If I get the opportunity to, I hope I can do what he is doing.”</p>
<p>On Monday, night Sean Reid-Foley&#8217;s wish is finally going to come true.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo © Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>Sam Gaviglio is Enjoying Life in Toronto</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/08/07/sam-gaviglio-is-living-in-the-moment/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:21:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16516</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays have had a connection going all the way back to 1977, when both became part of the American League at the same time. Over the last few years, that connection has grown. Blue Jay fans from Western Canada have made Safeco Field their home away from the Rogers Centre much [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays have had a connection going all the way back to 1977, when both became part of the American League at the same time. Over the last few years, that connection has grown. Blue Jay fans from Western Canada have made Safeco Field their home away from the Rogers Centre much to the chagrin of the Mariner fans and players. Also, many players of late have donned both jerseys from Justin Smoak to Brandon Morrow to J.A. Happ. Sunday was a combination of both recent events. Sam Gaviglio made his return to the city where he opened his MLB a year ago in front of hordes of Blue Jays faithful.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam Gaviglio, who was with the Mariners during last year’s Canadian invasion: “It’s way better on this side. You get a hit and you score a run (with Mariners) and it’s quiet.”</p>
<p>&mdash; Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) <a href="https://twitter.com/longleysunsport/status/1026248061515837441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The Mariners organization was a special place for the righty to begin his major league career; his dad was from the area and there was a lot of family in the area. In fact, Gaviglio lived with his aunt in Tacoma during his short tenure with the Mariners. He wasn&#8217;t there for long though.</p>
<p>After a quick detour to Kansas City via waiver claim, Gaviglio was traded to the Blue Jays on March 21, 2018. It was deal that at the time that didn’t garner much attention. Most people labelled this deal as a “depth signing” type of transaction, the type that would hopefully never matter in the big leagues.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Former Oregon State pitcher Sam Gaviglio tosses a 1-2-3 first inning in his first game against the Mariners, his former team.</p>
<p>&mdash; TJ Cotterill (@TJCotterill) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJCotterill/status/1026201933449551872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Unlike Ryan Borucki, Sam Gaviglio is not considered a top prospect. Unlike Sean Reid Foley, he doesn’t possess a 95 mph fastball. His repertoire does not overwhelm people, especially in an era that puts emphasis on big young arms that can throw hard. But that doesn’t bother Gaviglio.</p>
<p>“I don’t pay attention to the gun. I am just looking at the swings guys are putting on my pitches,” he said. ‘I rely on my sinker a lot and movement and try to miss some barrels with it. Also, I might have to throw a few more offspeed pitches to keep them honest and off my fastball.”</p>
<p>When you quickly look at his statistics there are some less than flattering numbers. You see an ERA above five and in 15 starts he has pitched six or more innings only five times. But looking deeper and beyond the numbers, there is reason to be optimistic.</p>
<p>If you remove three really bad starts, Gaviglio has an ERA of 3.59 over 14 games. Also, as the season has progressed, he has shown the continued ability to bear down in high pressured situations. For example, in the fourth inning of Sunday’s game, runners at second and third with no one out. Gaviglio retired the next three batters, including striking out Denard Span with a nasty curveball down.</p>
<p>Gaviglio has relied primarily on location and movement to be successful. An excellent example was his start on July 20<sup>th</sup> against the Baltimore Orioles, in which he went 7.2 innings while striking out a career high eight batters.</p>
<p>“He did a good job of running his ball back over the plate which was really effective for him and kept hitters off balance,” said Baltimore outfielder Trey Mancini. “Location is the most important thing, unless you are somebody like Chapman. Sam did a good job of locating and that is the most important thing: movement and location. If you have both of those things you will do pretty well.”</p>
<blockquote><p>“I am not fazed by the lineup I am facing.  You have to make your pitches and fill up the zone.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Gaviglio’s main pitches are his sinker (89 mph) and slider (83 mph), while he has the ability to mix in a changeup, fourseam fastball and curveball.</p>
<p>“I am always going to be a sinkerball pitcher. That is what I have been my whole career for the most part,” said the 28-year old right-hander. “I think the use of my changeup and slider have been a lot better. Last year I used my fastball but this year I have been able to put guys away with my slider and my change up.”</p>
<p>That shows up in the numbers as players are hitting a mere .163 against his slider and .184 versus the change. He also has an above league-average ground ball rate (49.6%) and weak contact rate (5.8%). “I try to get weak contact, not necessarily trying to strike guys out. Get weak contact and looking for outs.”</p>
<p>Gaviglio may not be trying to strike batters out but this season he has been doing it more often than in previous years (8.54 K/9). Why? He attributes it to keeping it simple – get strike one. “It makes the whole at bat a lot easier when you get strike one.” He has done that with 67.2% of the batters he has faced.</p>
<p>Over his limited time with the Blue Jays, it has become apparent when talking to Gaviglio that he takes his success and occasional struggles in stride. He doesn’t allow himself to get too high or too low. He remains in the moment, appreciating the opportunity to throw in each start and not worrying about what he can’t control.</p>
<p>When asked about facing tough lineups and his tendency to give up the long ball (17.3 % HR/FB) Gaviglio said “I am not fazed by the lineup I am facing. You have to make your pitches and fill up the zone. What I am trying to do is go out there and compete. – don’t worry about the HR”</p>
<p>He is also focused and dedicated on improving his craft. For example, during the All Star break, he wanted to stay in his routine and get his work in. So while others spent their break away from the ball park, Gaviglio stayed in Toronto and with the help of former Blue Jays catcher, J.P. Arencibia, he threw at side session at the Rogers Centre.</p>
<p>Gaviglio embraces being a student of the game and has learned from the different people he has interacted with in his pro baseball journey. One aspect of being a part of multiple organizations that the Oregon-native enjoyed was the opportunity to learn from different people. “Sometimes there is something here you can try and it works and maybe it doesn’t work. You are always learning more.”</p>
<p>From day one after arriving in Toronto, he has felt a comfort within the Blue Jays clubhouse. That has started with the pitching coach, Pete Walker who has encouraged Gaviglio to pitch to his strengths.</p>
<p>“He (Walker) lets me go out and pitch my game, he doesn’t say go out there and do something I am not, or try to be a pitcher I am not. He said that from the moment that I came up, when I debuted with the Blue Jays. He said go out there and pitch your game.”</p>
<p>While the learning for Gaviglio continues on the mound. It is here that he has taken advantage of the expertise and skill of his battery mates, Russell Martin and Luke Maile. They help him work out the mechanical aspects of his game and share with him their understanding of the hitters in the league.</p>
<p>“I rely on the catchers to see what is working, a big, important role that they play is to identify what is working and what is not&#8230;&#8217;Maybe we don’t have to go to that pitch, maybe we will stay away from this one.&#8217;”</p>
<p>In a season that went incredibly wrong for the Blue Jays, it is an opportunity for players like Gaviglio to use this as an audition to be part of the team’s future. He has certainly caught the attention of one very important person:</p>
<p>“He is a pitcher, he is a great competitor and can get you out in different ways.  Some guys are overpowering, he doesn’t. He just pitches and dissects the plate a little bit and he has showed us he is pretty strong,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s a pretty good endorsement.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo © Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>For Dwight Smith Jr. it&#8217;s All in the Preparation</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/07/27/dwight-smith-jr-its-all-in-the-preparation/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/07/27/dwight-smith-jr-its-all-in-the-preparation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jul 2018 10:27:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dwight Smith Jr]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16392</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Video Produced and Edited by Sean Addis As the trade deadline approaches, anyone who follows the Toronto Blue Jays expects that a few familiar veterans will be gone by the end of the month. A season that started with the hope of meaningful baseball has shifted focus to the future. Fans are looking forward to [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E0w9H5vbwEg" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" ></iframe><br />
<em>Video Produced and Edited by Sean Addis</em></p>
<p>As the trade deadline approaches, anyone who follows the Toronto Blue Jays expects that a few familiar veterans will be gone by the end of the month. A season that started with the hope of meaningful baseball has shifted focus to the future. Fans are looking forward to seeing what will be the next core of Blue Jay players.</p>
<p>Ken Rosenthal recently reported that teams have inquired about veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson. Should he be dealt, his replacement may already be with the big club. That player is Dwight Smith Jr.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Phillies?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Phillies</a> talking to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> about Granderson, sources tell The Athletic. PHI looking for left-handed bat off bench and occasional starter in OF. Demoted fourth outfielder Altherr to AAA last night. Granderson .230/.337/.417 in 274 plate appearances this season.</p>
<p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1021401332597575680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>While Smith Jr. is not ranked as one of the Blue Jays top prospects, he has caught the attention of the Blue Jays manager. “Smitty has always done a good job for us in limited playing time,” said John Gibbons. “When I see him he always plays well.” His stats in the majors back up Gibbons&#8217; assessment. Over 32 games spanning two years, Smith Jr. has a slash line of .314/.400/.500.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My shot of Dwight Smith Jr. making an impression …<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/R8vmC1D2Wd">pic.twitter.com/R8vmC1D2Wd</a></p>
<p>&mdash; John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LottOnBaseball/status/876160626040635393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2017</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of 2011 as the 53<sup>rd </sup>overall pick, Smith Jr. comes from baseball blood lines. His father, Dwight Smith Sr., played eight years in the Major Leagues. Over the younger Dwight Smith&#8217;s minor league career, evaluators have noted his knowledge of the strike zone and patient approach at the plate. Over the past two years, he has seen an average of 3.9 pitches per at bat, and this year a high in walk/strikeout ratio at 0.92.</p>
<p>When discussing Smith Jr., Blue Jays hitting coach Brook Jacoby made sure to emphasize that his success goes beyond his limited time in the majors.</p>
<p>“He’s had good success in the minor leagues too.  Success to him isn’t anything new.  He has done a good job for us the times we have used him here over the last two years.  He has swung the bat well,” said Jacoby. “He has got a big leg kick, he gets it up early, that is the biggest thing. He is early with it and gets it back down early.”</p>
<p>Smith Jr. introduced that leg kick into his swing at the age of 11. Why? It was the only thing he could do to help him stay back on his leg.  Today it allows him to not only stay back longer, but to generate increased bat speed, making him a tougher out as a result.</p>
<p>The humble 25-year-old Georgia native says he has kept the same approach at the plate at every level of professional ball.  “I try not to do too much, trying to not get too big in my swing,” said Smith Jr. &#8220;It has been working, laying off the tough pitches being patient.” It is this approach that has helped him avoid a trap many young players fall into: being too pull-conscious. It has also seen his OBP increase to above .350 over the last two seasons.</p>
<p>“I think with time kids are less anxious, they start to slow the game down a little bit,” said Jacoby referring to Smith Jr’s plate patience (13.8 percent walk rate). “And hopefully that is a trend that will continue.”</p>
<p>Defensively, Smith Jr. can play all outfield positions with above average speed, but is not blessed with a strong arm. Offensively, he has a knack for hitting, though he doesn&#8217;t hit for much power. Some scouts have suggested him as a fourth outfielder at the major league level, but he does enough little things right, both on and off the diamond, that he may exceed expectations.</p>
<p>Prior to every game, Smith can be seen in the outfield participating in pregame drills and his own warm-up regimen with the same intensity whether he is in the starting lineup or not.“I do all my reps like I am starting,” shared Smith Jr. after his pregame preparation. “So whether I am playing, coming off the bench, pinch hitting, pinch running or defence, I work on everything like I am starting. So when I am called upon I am ready.”</p>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TMaW0bnTC7c" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" ></iframe>
<p>Young players who are accustomed to playing every day often get less playing time when they first arrive in the majors, and it can result in struggles at the plate. These struggles can be more pronounced in players that use a high leg kick. Players like Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista, whose swings feature high leg kicks, always stress the importance of their timing when planting their feet for their swing to be successful. And the key to get the timing right is to face live pitching regularly.</p>
<p>Jacoby understands how Smith Jr.&#8217;s infrequent playing time can pose challenges for the young player. For Jacoby, the key for success is all in the preparation and simulating game like conditions.</p>
<p>“It is not easy especially being a young kid with a big leg kick that doesn’t play every day that is tough.  He has got to work off some velocity, even in the cages” said Jacoby. “Many times with leg kick guys you try to tone them down, but he has been able to get them up and down early so we haven’t messed with that at all.”</p>
<p>Manager Gibbons believes it is important to play everybody as much as you can. He acknowledges that certain guys, such as Teoscar Hernandez and Randal Grichuk, will play regularly, but he looks to find a balance to get players like Smith Jr. playing time.</p>
<p>“You don’t want them to sit too long. If you don’t play them the next thing you need them for a stretch and they have no timing,” Gibbons said. “I think that is important. They are young guys trying to make it and they are anxious as it is. So when they are here you give them playing time.  That is how guys get opportunities and make it in the big leagues you give them playing time.”</p>
<p>When the trade deadline dust settles, young players will be given the opportunity to audition to be part of the new core. As he has shown already, when that playing time is available, Dwight Smith Jr. will be ready for the call.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo </em>© <em>Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>The Real Blue Jays All Stars</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/07/10/the-real-blue-jays-all-stars/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/07/10/the-real-blue-jays-all-stars/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jul 2018 14:08:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=16310</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Sunday, Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the 89th Annual Midsummer Classic in Washington, DC. Players from around the league were chosen and recognized based on their performance on the field and star power. Toronto will be sending one representative on Tuesday July 17th,  left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ. As the first half comes to [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On Sunday, Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the 89<sup>th</sup> Annual Midsummer Classic in Washington, DC. Players from around the league were chosen and recognized based on their performance on the field and star power. Toronto will be sending one representative on Tuesday July 17th,  left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ.</p>
<p>As the first half comes to an official end, Happ&#8217;s performance has been one of the few bright spots for the Blue Jays. With numerous injuries, players underperformin,g and a well documented suspension, the 2018 season has been a major disappointment. But if we look beyond the negative aspects of the season, there are some pretty remarkable things happening with the Blue Jays.</p>
<p>This past weekend the 34th annual Lady Jays Food Drive, in support of Food Banks Canada, took place at the Rogers Centre. This event organized by the spouses and partners of Blue Jays players collected non-perishable food items and monetary donations throughout the ballpark.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lady Jays Food Drive is back today at entrances around the ballpark. Here’s what they’re up to. ⁦Help ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/amandathon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@amandathon</a>⁩ raise more than the Lady Jays did last year! <a href="https://t.co/p8BLva9VCH">https://t.co/p8BLva9VCH</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Aaron Rose (@AaronBenRose) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronBenRose/status/1015988479426064385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The community outreach doesn&#8217;t end there though. Throughout the season, players interact with local youth through school and hospital visits and various programs in conjunction with the Jays Care foundation. And while third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Russell Martin have under performed <em>on</em> the field relative to their habitual standards, it has not impacted their contributions off of it.</p>
<p>Donaldson recently hosted his 3<sup>rd</sup> annual BaseBOWL Tournament to raise money for the Jays Care Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters – Canada’s leading child and youth mentoring charity, while Martin hosted a poker tournament with fans and players to raise money for the charitable foundation of the Blue Jays.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Squad’s out! Thanks to everyone who came out to support <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BaseBowl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BaseBowl</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysCare?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JaysCare</a>! <a href="https://t.co/FFqV3mU8Sp">pic.twitter.com/FFqV3mU8Sp</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jays Care Foundation (@JaysCare) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysCare/status/1012507170607230976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>“Just being a baseball player, you are given the spotlight to impact people,” said 13-year veteran, Martin. “I always believe that giving back and being positive and trying to create positive ripples through the community is important.”</p>
<p>Jays Care Foundation was established in 1992 and continues to focus on using baseball as a tool to engage youth and develop life and leadership skills. The charity helps over 65,000 children annually through various programs hosted and supported by Blue Jay players and alumni with the goal to inspire positive social change.</p>
<p>“Jays Care does a tremendous amount of things all throughout Canada. They really do a good job getting involved in communities,” said Martin. “People that don’t have the means to send their kids to organized baseball, Jays Care is able to help with that.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our program ambassador <a href="https://twitter.com/KPILLAR4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KPILLAR4</a> speaking about why he’s passionate to support Challenger Baseball and <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysCare?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JaysCare</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnstoppableKids?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnstoppableKids</a> <a href="https://t.co/BbbwzHiZb0">pic.twitter.com/BbbwzHiZb0</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jays Care Foundation (@JaysCare) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaysCare/status/1008841713211719680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>It&#8217;s just long-serving Blue Jays getting into the act, however. One of the notable offseason acquisitions has done more than provide a veteran presence in the clubhouse, he has helped to bring his charitable work to the Blue Jays. Left-fielder Curtis Granderson has introduced to the city of Toronto his own foundation, Grand Kids.</p>
<p>The foundation was created in 2007 while Granderson was a member of the Detroit Tigers. The focus was based on elements about which Granderson is most passionate: baseball, education and being active.</p>
<p>In the early years it was used to help out local schools. At that time the graduation rate in Detroit was only at 50 percent and some local areas, like Flint, had high crime rates. So the focus of Grand Kids was on these troubled areas by getting kids active. He wanted them to feel engaged and empowered through the game of baseball.</p>
<p>“Now 10 years later we added different elements that still focus on youth being active and staying fit which affect them in the classroom,” said Granderson. “[We] provide food and security which also affects them in the classroom. Also playing baseball and softball, a combination of all those things wrapped up into one.”</p>
<p>Schooling is very important to Granderson, having grown up in Chicago with both parents working in the education system. He promotes education and emphasizes that learning can go beyond the traditional courses.</p>
<p>“I wanted to show the importance that it may not necessarily be that you need to be the best math student. But if you enjoy music, computers or cars and being around people, there is something to be learned and that is still a component of education. This makes learning fun,” said Granderson.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He’s not just a great ballplayer. Here’s how Curtis Granderson is giving back to the City of Toronto. <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueJays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cgrand3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cgrand3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CityMichaud?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CityMichaud</a> <a href="https://t.co/j0VJkjaQOR">https://t.co/j0VJkjaQOR</a></p>
<p>&mdash; CityNews Toronto (@CityNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CityNews/status/1015006187857772544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Last Thursday, the 37-year-old outfielder hosted the New Balance Fitness Challenge with 1200 children from the Toronto area. With the help of some Blue Jay teammates, the kids participated in activities as an opener to the Rookie League Challenge, a seven-week program sponsored by Jays Care and Toronto Community Housing.</p>
<p>That help from fellow Blue Jays didn&#8217;t go unnoticed. Granderson has always been impressed by the interest his teammates show in participating in his foundations initiatives. “It is really cool.  You have players ask, &#8216;I really want to do things like this but I don’t know how,&#8217;” said Granderson. “So when the opportunity presents itself, they can come see what we do. It is great. I can talk to them and give them a little bit of tips and pointers that have helped me along the way.”</p>
<p>After a fun filled day of events on a hot summer day, Granderson thought he would be more thankful to his teammates for coming in on their off day, but it was the other way around. “They continued to come to me and say thank you for having me, thank you for letting me be there.”These initiatives are a reminder that some of the best moments with players don’t come when they are on the field.</p>
<blockquote><p>“There is so much going on that is negative in this world. Somebody&#8217;s got to try and counter that with positive energy. I feel like giving back is one of the ways to do that.” &#8211; Russell Martin</p>
<p>Jays Care and Grand Kids Foundation are long-standing programs that are well-developed and garner media attention. But, as Granderson reminds us, not all positive impacts are noticed.</p>
<p>“Some things are more public and some are going to be private, but it doesn’t take away the impact. People go home to their home town, where they grew up or living now, they are doing things.  You might only be helping one person but that one person could go on to do some amazing things.”</p>
<p>So while baseball celebrates the All Stars in Washington and Blue Jay fans reflect on a second half that will not see a pennant race, take a moment to think of the true All-Star players; the ones that give their time, money, and effort to support their communities. It is easy to focus on the negative, but these players remind us that wellness in society is bigger than the game of baseball.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo © Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>Randal Grichuk Represents A Changing of the Guard in Right Field</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/07/06/randal-grichuk-a-changing-of-the-guard-in-right-field/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2018/07/06/randal-grichuk-a-changing-of-the-guard-in-right-field/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jul 2018 15:24:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Addis]]></dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Directed and Edited by Sean Addis On May 22nd, many Toronto Blue Jay fans declared the recent New York Mets two game series as a must attend-series, though it had nothing to do with the teams playing that night. Tuesday marked the return of a legend. Bautista back in Toronto. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/GKcWealroB &#8212; Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) July [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<em>Directed and Edited by Sean Addis</em></p>
<p>On May 22<sup>nd</sup>, many Toronto Blue Jay fans declared the recent New York Mets two game series as a must attend-series, though it had nothing to do with the teams playing that night. Tuesday marked the return of a legend.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Bautista back in Toronto. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/GKcWealroB">pic.twitter.com/GKcWealroB</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/gregorMLB/status/1014223516688736259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Jose Bautista was the face of the Blue Jays for a decade. He provided exciting moments ranging from a 50 home run season to multiple jaw-dropping throws, culminating with the infamous “Bat Flip.” He was the hero Toronto needed to lead them out of a very dark period. Even though the last couple of seasons had seen a regression in performance, his place in the heart of many Jays fans is still beating strong. That meant replacing him wasn’t going to be easy.<br />
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On January 19<sup>th</sup>, the Blue Jays made a trade to acquire a 26-year old right fielder from the St Louis Cardinals. As Ross Atkins said to BP Toronto prior to Wednesday’s Mets-Jays game “we acquired what we deemed could be an everyday outfielder for a reliever and a minor league reliever. We felt it was a good decision.” The post-Bautista era in right field would be manned by Randal Grichuk.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cardinals</a> organization and fans for all the love and support you gave me over the past 5 years. While I am going to miss St. Louis, I am excited to start the next journey in my career with the <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BlueJays</a>!!</p>
<p>&mdash; Randal Grichuk (@RGrich15) <a href="https://twitter.com/RGrich15/status/954505212407894016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Atkins wasn’t the only one excited about the trade, so was the newest Blue Jay. “I was happy, I knew going into St Louis this year I wouldn’t have much playing time with the trade for [Marcell] Ozuna,” said Grichuk. “I was definitely happy for the opportunity to come over here and play every day.”</p>
<p>A week after the trade, he shared on <a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-grichuk-hoping-traded-toronto/">Sportsnet’s the Jeff Blair Show</a> that the Blue Jays were one of the teams to which he hoped to be traded. One reason was playing time. The other was more sentimental: being able to go to Houston and play in front of family and friends. &#8220;[It&#8217;s] something special for me. I am happy to be in AL and be able to go back there once a year.  So many people came out and showed support (during the recent road trip). It is three days I look for in the schedule,&#8221; shared Grichuk.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Obviously struggling is tough on the mind, but doing it somewhere a team hasn’t seen you at your best and understand what you are capable of it is really tough.  You want to get out of it as quick as possible.&#8221; &#8211; Randal Grichuk</p></blockquote>
<p>The Houston-area native was in good spirits about being in Toronto and the Blue Jays were pleased with their decision. But for some fans in Toronto, though they understood on a baseball side the team needed to move on from Bautista, emotionally letting go of an icon wasn’t going to be as easy.</p>
<p>So when Grichuk struggled during the first month of the season, had his playing time reduced, and subsequently was put on the disabled list with a knee injury many fans became frustrated and impatient. Some started questioning his abilities and focused on the weaknesses of his game, such as his past poor plate discipline (career 0.2 BB/K ratio).</p>
<p>No one was more frustrated with those early struggles than Grichuk himself. As he stood by his locker and recalled the first month, there was disappointment in his voice. He came into the season wanting to show his new teammates what he could bring to the team. “I wasn’t doing that. Obviously struggling is tough on the mind, but doing it somewhere a team hasn’t seen you at your best and understand what you are capable of it is really tough.  You want to get out of it as quick as possible. Unfortunately, I did not get out of it,” said Grichuk.</p>
<p>Two very important people empathized with the early season struggles of the new outfielder, Ross Atkins and Toronto manager, John Gibbons. The Blue Jays skipper has seen this happen before with new players. &#8220;When he got here he had a tough start” said Gibbons. “Guys put that extra pressure on and I think that is what happened and he of course he had the injury.”</p>
<p>Since taking over after the 2015 season, Atkins and team president Mark Shapiro have placed more emphasis on the wellness of the club&#8217;s players. “I think we shared his frustration, not nearly as much as he did,” said Atkins. “What we tried to do is take as much pressure off of him to prove the trade [was worthwhile].”</p>
<p>In the game of baseball, struggles happen to the best athletes over a 162 game schedule. But in Grichuk’s case, it was poor timing as this was his first introduction to Toronto. As Atkins later said, “ultimately we are human”. Baseball can be a game of failure, the key is how you handle that adversity and move forward.</p>
<p>Consequently, Grichuk may have struggled in the box score but his behaviour and work ethic during the struggles made a big impression on Toronto’s management. “As frustrated as he was and as much as he did care, his professionalism and emotional intensity level were at an elite high level,” said Atkins. “In those struggles, you see the true colours and his true colours are very bright.”</p>
<p>As we flipped the calendar on June 1<sup>st</sup>, Grichuk did the same with his performance. He returned from the disabled list and for the duration of the month he hit .294/.341/.647 with eight home runs and 20 runs batted in. Working with coaches he was able adjust his stance, which helped to limit the holes in his swing.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not only has he been voted (by us) as having the best hair in the league, you&#39;ve chosen him as your June <a href="https://twitter.com/HondaCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HondaCanada</a> Player of the Month. </p>
<p>Please help us in congratulating Randal Grichuk! <a href="https://twitter.com/RGrich15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RGrich15</a> <a href="https://t.co/CbpMe3ikOG">pic.twitter.com/CbpMe3ikOG</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1013791905597886464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The Toronto organization, his teammates, and fans finally got to see the tools that Grichuk brings to the table. As Atkins stated, “[Grichuk is] an above-average athlete, with some speed and arm strength and is a tick above to play all three outfield positions.”</p>
<p>When Grichuks was struggling early, it was easy to focus on his weaknesses. As he was playing well in June, people were starting to focus on his strengths: a swing that generates high exit velocities and above-average raw power. But what has most impressed the manager is his ability to hit some line drives around the field. Why? “You don’t just want him to be a slugger; you want him to be a good hitter,” explained Gibbons.</p>
<p><a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/07/Screen-Shot-2018-07-06-at-2.19.58-AM.png"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-16283" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/07/Screen-Shot-2018-07-06-at-2.19.58-AM.png" alt="Screen Shot 2018-07-06 at 2.19.58 AM" width="400" height="481" /></a></p>
<p>It was because of this recent good hitting that Gibbons has periodically pencilled Grichuk into the leadoff spot against lefties (when Granderson would be on the bench). When asked about hitting in top spot of the lineup, Grichuk says he keeps the same approach. He simplifies it to, “you go out there trying to get a quality at bat and to get on base.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Randal Grichuk is finding his groove atop the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> batting order. That and so much more from <a href="https://twitter.com/SNJeffBlair?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SNJeffBlair</a>.<a href="https://t.co/I1FWZHCNT7">https://t.co/I1FWZHCNT7</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1013832218282807298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Atkins also used the words “steady” and “selfless” when describing the six-foot-one, 205 pound right fielder. These words could easily be applied to his presence in the outfield.</p>
<p>Steady because of what he brings in the field. “He is dependable out there. He gets to a lot of balls that a lot of guys don’t get to,” said Blue Jays outfield coach Tim Leiper. “He does all the little things you need to do to be a good outfielder.”</p>
<p>Leiper went on further to explain that Grichuk’s excellent range posed an initial new challenge for the team. In the past, the corner outfielders have had limited range. As a result, the Blue Jays have relied too heavily on the excellent play of centerfielder Kevin Pillar. Grichuk has changed all that because he is a plus defender. So the main challenge for Leiper was how to position the two players so they didn&#8217;t overlap in the field and maximize their ability.<br />
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Grichuk&#8217;s &#8220;instincts&#8221; and understanding of outfield defence have helped with a smooth transition into the Blue Jay outfield. &#8220;I know Pillar and I both have a lot of range. If a ball goes up that is in between I will let him take it,&#8221; explained Grichuk. &#8220;I don’t like there to be confusion of him calling and me calling it, both of us calling it and running into each other. I&#8217;ve got to play back and let him take what he can get.&#8221; This is an example of him being selfless.</p>
<p>Going forward Gibbons sees a strong future for Grichuk. He feels the right fielder has the capabilities to become a middle of the order bat. Also he could play some more centerfield, like he did Wednesday night against the Mets. &#8220;He could do that even more often out there because he is that good,&#8221; said the Blue Jays manager.</p>
<p>Bautista returning to Rogers Centre this week brought back great memories for many, but it may have helped put some closure for some. Grichuk has come in with no intention to replace or compare himself to the Blue Jay legend. &#8220;My main focus is on understanding the player I am and what I can do and trust it and go out and play my game,&#8221; said Grichuk.</p>
<p>The Mets series was about saying a proper goodbye to the past, Randal Grichuk is the future.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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