Jays take closer look at bullpen depth
03/05/2006DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Toronto's bullpen appears to have seven relievers locked in for Major League jobs, but the recent injury to Justin Speier raises questions about who the next options might be.
The Blue Jays signed veteran pitchers James Baldwin and Ben Weber to Minor League contracts this winter and they could be two possible replacements if someone gets hurt.
Baldwin, 34, had a good stint with Baltimore as a reliever last year. The right-hander posted a 3.20 ERA in 20 games with the Orioles. Weber, 36, has struggled with injuries during the last two years, but he's trying to use his time with Toronto to regain the form he displayed in 2002-03, when he was with the Angels. During those two seasons, Weber was 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA.
Beyond those two, Toronto has a few younger pitchers it could turn to. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has noted Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and Brandon League as possible solutions if one of the Major League relievers were to get injured.
On the move: Wayne Lydon has played in just three games, but the outfielder has already turned some heads. In his only official games of Spring Training so far, Lydon is 3-for-5. In the exhibition game against Team Canada, Lydon was 1-for-2 with Toronto's first home run and stolen base of the spring and a walk.
Lydon played for the Double-A Binghamton Mets last year and swiped 42 bases. He'll probably start at Double-A this year, but if he keeps impressing his new club, Triple-A might not be out of the question.
Names in the game: Marty Pevey, who spent part of the 1989 season as a catcher and outfielder for Montreal, was hired as Toronto's new first base coach after managing Triple-A Syracuse last season. This is Pevey's ninth year coaching in the organization and his second stint at the Major League level. He has been spending a lot of time working with the outfielders.
They're No. 1: Aaron Hill, who was Toronto's first selection in 2003, has been getting used to a new position this spring. Hill was drafted as a shortstop out of Louisiana State and played short in the Minors, but the 23-year-old will be the Blue Jays' everyday second baseman this year. Hill is working with Toronto infield intructor Brian Butterfield on perfecting the pivot-turn for double plays -- one of the more difficult aspects of the transition.
Class of '05: Ricky Romero, who was selected sixth overall last year, made his first ever Spring Training appearance on Saturday against Philadelphia. The 21-year-old left-hander had a rough debut -- giving up four runs, two earned, on four hits in one inning to pick up a blown save and the loss. He allowed back-to-back home runs to Shane Victorino and Chris Roberson and nearly yielded a third straight bomb when Marc Tugwell followed with a double off the center-field wall.
Stat machine: The good: Shortstop Sergio Santos has just two hits this spring -- both doubles. The not-so-good: Pitchers Ricky Romero, Shaun Marcum and Ismael Ramirez each have appeared in one inning and they all currently have an ERA of 18.00. The bad: Pitcher Vince Perkins has an ERA of 40.50 after giving up three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
What they're saying: "He can fly. I didn't know him when he was with the Mets -- I had only heard his name over there. This is a chance -- first year in this organization -- to open some eyes and he's been doing that." -- Gibbons, on Lydon
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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