Notes: Griffin gets new look on old turf
03/11/2006SARASOTA, Fla. -- Taking the field at Ed Smith Stadium isn't anything new for John-Ford Griffin.
Less than three miles away from where Griffin stood in left field on Saturday sits Sarasota High School, where the Toronto Minor Leaguer played baseball for the Sailors. A good number of Griffin's high school games were played at the Cincinnati's Spring Training home, and a few of his hometown friends were in the stands to see him play the Reds.
"Before our stadium was built at our high school, we played our home games here. It's always great to come back here," Griffin said. "It's always good to come back and see some friends and family that come around to enjoy the games."
Griffin, 26, is probably hoping that his family and friends won't always have to head to a Spring Training stadium to see him playing with Toronto. Perhaps in the near future, they can head north from Sarasota to Tropicana Field to see Griffin and the Blue Jays play the Devil Rays.
Toronto's outfield is currently locked in with Vernon Wells, Frank Catalanotto, Reed Johnson, Alex Rios and Eric Hinske, though. But Griffin is one of the likely callups if something were to happen to one of the regulars.
"I'm not worrying about where [the Blue Jays are] sending me or what they're going to do with me. That's up to them," Griffin said. "I just love being a part of this organization. I just want to go out and show them I can play and, hopefully, contribute to the team when the time calls."
Last year, Griffin played for Triple-A Syracuse and led the International League in home runs (30) and RBIs (103). Griffin also had an impressive stint with the Blue Jays last September, when he hit .308 with a homer and six RBIs in seven games.
Despite his good totals, though, the 6-foot-2 left-hander is bound for Syracuse again.
"Right now, he's on the outside looking in," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said recently. "But we like him a lot, and there's definitely a future here for him."
With Catalanotto's contract up after this season, there is a possibility that Griffin will be considered to play left field next year.
Something special: The World Baseball Classic was something that Toronto Minor Leaguer Vince Perkins won't forget.
Perkins, who is from Saanichton, British Columbia, was part of the Team Canada squad that upset Team USA on Wednesday. The right-hander also pitched the final inning against Mexico, Canada's final game in the inaugural tournament.
"I had a lot of fun out there," said Perkins, who rejoined the Blue Jays in Sarasota on Saturday. "Everyone on the team had a good time and I think we took some people by surprise."
"It was pretty cool. Everybody was excited," he added, referring to the win over Team USA. "We enjoyed it for a little while, and then we fought the next day playing Mexico. But things didn't quite work out."
Since Perkins wasn't battling for a position with Toronto this spring, he jumped at the chance to join Blue Jays bench coach Ernie Whitt, who managed Team Canada, as representatives of his home country. It was something that he said he would love to do again if the tournament becomes an annual event.
"If it was the right situation, [I'd play for Team Canada] again," Perkins said. "If you can spare the time, it's worth it. It was something special to be a part of."
Perkins first appearance back with the Jays didn't go as well as his last outing with Team Canada. He took the loss against the Reds after he gave up two runs -- one earned. Perkins walked three, allowed one hit and struck out two in 2/3 of an inning.
Classic update: Frank Catalanotto (Italy) arrived back in Dunedin, Fla., on Saturday morning and Toronto manager John Gibbons said that the outfielder will play against the Astros on Monday at Knology Park.
In the second round, Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells and Team USA will play Japan at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Korea and Mexico round out the other Pool 1 teams.
In Pool 2, Blue Jays pitcher Gustavo Chacin and Venezuela play Cuba at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios and Puerto Rico take on the Dominican Republic at 8 p.m. ET.
For starters: Josh Banks, one of Toronto's top pitching prospects, made his first Spring Training start with the Blue Jays against the Reds on Saturday. Banks threw two scoreless innings and gave up two hits with one strikeout.
"For my first start, just to get through the innings was fine with me," said Banks, who will probably begin this season with Triple-A Syracuse. "All I'm trying to do is get outs. I just try to get through every inning as quick as I can."
In three appearances this spring, Banks is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA. He has given up one run, three hits and has two strikeouts across four innings.
On a roll: Hinske belted his third home run of Spring Training on Saturday -- a solo shot to left field off Cincinnati's Brandon Claussen. It was his second shot against a left-handed pitcher. Toronto plans on using Hinske, who bats from the left side, primarily against right-handed pitchers this season.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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