The Blue Jays Played a Game Today (Sort Of): Thursday, March 16th
Photo credit: YouTube
The New York Yankees. 2017 Spring Training Champions. Plan the parade!
- Aaron Sanchez made his second start of the spring in the wake of his agent’s media shit-storm, aaaaaaaaaand performed like a league-minimum player! I joke, I joke. It’s spring, it doesn’t matter. Neither does that aforementioned shit-storm. Anyways, Sanchez tossed two-and-one-third innings, surrendering three runs on four hits and a walk while picking up three strikeouts. It wasn’t particularly noteworthy results, but like his last time out, Sanchez was working on his secondary pitches so that he can be a more multidimensional pitcher this season and not rely so much on his fastball. That’s why they call it spring training!
- Jason Grilli came on in relief in the fourth inning and immediately allowed a solo home run to Rob Refsnyder. He settled in getting the next two batters out, but then allowed a couple of singles before getting Starlin Castro to ground out to end the inning. Joe Smith and J.P. Howell, the Jays two offseason bullpen additions, each had spotless innings, while the former picked up a strikeout and the latter picked up two.
- Tim Mayza, this year’s version of the dude who goes from ‘who the fuck is that’ all the way to ‘this guy should pitch in important situations in the regular season’ within a matter of weeks, allowed his first run of spring today. It came by way of a Todd ‘Haircut’ Frazier home run, but otherwise, Mayza’s inning was spotless.
- Lucas Harrell was given the ninth inning and was completely bombed by the Yankees random late-game batters. He allowed four runs, two of them earned, thanks to an error from some lucky fan in the audience named Gunnar Heidt that was allowed to come into the game. Chad Girodo had to come in and mop up the inning, recording the final out. But it was too late! The Yankees big ninth inning rally put the ever-meaningful game out of reach.
- Justin Smoak took TWO walks today. Not one, but two of them! Seriously! Go look! I’m not fucking with you! Kevin Pillar clubbed a triple, but DIDN’T take a walk. So maybe he isn’t an on base god anymore? Damn.
- Zeketon, the Carrera/Upton platoon, had a solid day, as both Melvin and Zeke drove in a run with a single. Maybe the news about Steve Pearce possibly starting the season in left field scared them?
- Troy Tulowitzki, who’s had a slow start to spring, got his first two hits of 2017, two singles in three at bats, which is always a good sign. And Kendrys Morales continued his strong showing with a double, keeping his spring average at a torrid .476.
Breaking News
- Blue Jays reinstate seven from 60-day injured list, outright CJ Van Eyk to Triple-A
- Blue Jays decline Myles Straw’s 2027 club option making him a free agent
- Andrés Giménez’ hot start couldn’t stop him from being a below league-average hitter in 2026
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. robbed of American League’s Gold Glove at first base
- Blue Jays Arizona Fall League check-in: Jake Bloss rebounds in most recent outing