 |
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Back in Dunedin, reliever Jesse Carlson is nursing a tender left knee and that can have a ripple effect on the Blue Jays rotation, as well as the bullpen.
It certainly could have meaning for both Marc Rzep- czynski and Brett Cecil, two sophomore lefties who are fighting for a spot in the rotation.
Carlson, a left-hander who is used in the mid-to-later innings against left-handed hitters, did something to his knee, his push-off knee, about a week ago. He's not quite sure when it happened, or how.
It has prevented him from pitching but, on Wednesday, he will give it a go on the mound in a bullpen session. If it's still sore or if, horrors, it requires some sort of operation, it would mean a key piece of the Jays' bullpen mix would be missing.
With Brian Tallet gunning for a spot in the rotation -- he is the probable fifth starter until Dustin McGowan returns -- it would leave just setup/closer Scott Downs as the lone lefty in the current bullpen setup.
If Carlson isn't ready by the start of the season, then manager Cito Gaston may have to put Tallet back into the bullpen for additional lefty strength.
Or how about Rzepczynski, who has excellent numbers against left-handed hitters?
Somebody has to take Carlson's spot.
After Monday's loss to Detroit, Gaston pulled another name out of the hat as a possible replacement -- lefty David Purcey, who threw two shutout innings, allowing one hit against three strikeouts.
"The guy who really pitched great today was Purcey. He threw strikes," Gaston said of the morning 'B' game against the Phillies. "Bruce Walton (Jays' pitching coach) has cut him back to just fastball, slider. You've seem him pitch a lot and you'd be amazed if you'd seen him this morning. He threw great."
Gaston added that Purcey is no longer being looked at as a starter, but as a reliever.
"We'll see what he can do," Gaston said. "We'll try and find a spot for him where he's comfortable. I was very impressed. That's the best he's thrown since I've been here."
In spring training, things can happen fast.
Roster moves
On Monday, the Jays dispatched righty Ray Gonzalez and infielder Jesus Merchan to their minor-league camp for assignment. The previous day, they re-assigned future first baseman Brett Wallace to minor-league camp and outrighted righty Casey Fein to triple-A Las Vegas.
The 'B' game
In the 'B' game at Dunedin against the Phillies, the Jays won 8-1.
Five Toronto players had two hits each paced by Joey Gathright, who had a two-run home run. Jose Bautista, Aaron Hill, Vernon Wells and Adam Lind also chipped in with two hits apiece.