I figured we would need this thread to keep track of any news that comes up in Spring Training related to actual baseball. This is a contract-free zone.
Also, we can track information about the Spring Training games here. Yesterday the Jays played and Stroman started and we didn't hear really anything about any of their performances. Not that it's important right now, but we should have a place to at least discuss it.
Anyways, I'll start us off with some Jays news...
http://www.tsn.ca/osuna-storen-saying-right-things-about-closer-role-1.446260
The article discusses the closer competition between Osuna and Storen, but I found the bits about Osuna interesting for those interested in his route to becoming a starter.
Osuna, who one Blue Jays’ observer described as “the best pitcher in the organization … and it’s not even close,” isn’t ready to take his vast repertoire of pitches into the starting rotation. He’s three years removed from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and there’s a further complicating factor: the club considers him high risk for re-injury. Osuna throws hard and his mechanics – the infamous “inverted W” through his delivery – are a dangerous combination. With that in mind, there continues to be internal debate as to whether Osuna would be best suited to a long career as a dominant late-game reliever.
It’s too bad if that’s the case because the kid has the top-of-the-rotation potential.
Osuna’s elbow is clearly on his mind and it should be. The likelihood of big-league success lessens significantly following a second Tommy John.
“I would like to be a starter in a couple of years but not yet,” said Osuna. “I don’t want to injure my elbow; I don’t want to get hurt again, so I’ll be a reliever for now. Hopefully I’ll be in the starting rotation in a couple of years or whatever.”
Also, we have our first "forearm tightness" of the season award and the winner is Aaron Loup!
Aaron Loup is suffering from tightness in his left forearm; the Blue Jays are hopeful it’s nothing serious.
“He’s feeling better. The next couple of days he’s going to throw and then we’ll have a better idea,” said Gibbons. “The doctors didn’t think it was too big a deal. They told him to take five days off.”
Finally, for those interested in the 4th OF competition, it looks like Pompey won't be in the running. He either needs to win the starting job or he'll be in the minors according to Gibby.
If Dalton Pompey doesn’t land the starting job in left field, which seems likely, he’ll begin the season in the minor leagues.
“If he’s not an everyday player right now, especially in the beginning of the season, he needs to be playing; otherwise you stunt his growth,” said Gibbons. “He’s still polishing his game.”
