One week from today is the Jays last pre-season game. From this point on Cito intends on playing the regulars more and more to get ready for the real games. Cito also announced that Jason Frasor is his likely closer.
The Jays got off to a fast start in the spring but the results have been rockier recently. Shaun Marcum celebrated his being named as the opening day starter by giving up nine runs yesterday and Brian Tallet and Marc Rzepczynski have been getting hit around too. Brandon Morrow, Dustin McGowan, Jesse Carlson, Edwin Encarnacion and Lyle Overbey are battling injuries.
But these games don't count right?
Jordan Bastian has been doing sterling work turning out a multitude of stories.
Brandon Morrow threw a bullpen yesterday and everything went well. He will pitch in a minor league game on Monday and then five innings next Saturday in Houston. That would set him up for the game three start and presumably five or six innings.
In the same story Bastian tells us that Dustin McGowan will be shut down for two more weeks as he has not shown any improvement in his fatigued shoulder. Also Jesse Carlson threw in a minor league game and he is on track for opening day.
Lyle Overbey bruised his knee in fridays game but he appears to be day to day.
Cito says he is leaning towards Jason Frasor being the closer.
It's still up in the air, but Frasor was my closer last year," Gaston said. "He hasn't really done anything to lose that opportunity or that job.
In the National Post John Lott talks to nine Jays about meeting their childhood heros.
Also Lott interviews Dirk Hayhurst whose book, the Bullpen Gospels is now out and is getting excellent reviews all over the interwebs.
Finally, Paul Beeston conducted an online chat yesterday. Here is the transcript.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20100326203816158