|
DUNEDIN — It may be spring training, but manager John Farrell isn’t giving players a free pass when they fail to recognize and react to game situations.
In the sixth inning, with Toronto leading 1-0, two Pirates on base, two outs and Scott Richmond pitching, Pittsburgh cleanup hitter Pedro Alvarez tripled in two runs.
“The thing you look at is the game awareness, playing the game according to the situation,” said Farrell. “We’re in a tight game, first and third with a 2-0 count and a base open and that’s a situation where you don’t have to challenge the middle of the order and Alvarez ends up getting a two-run triple.”
In the Toronto ninth inning, Jays down 4-1 with one out, Darin Mastroianni on third, Anthony Gose on first, Gose was picked off after taking his usual gigantic lead off first, effectively killing a potential rally.
“We’ve got an aggressive runner on the basepaths. We’re down three and his run doesn’t mean anything. So these are learning experiences that we’ve got to continue to highlight, particularly when these guys are here in camp and getting exposure.”
Gose has generally been a bright spot in camp but he’s only 20 and still very raw.
“He’s got the nerve of a base-stealer, which you love about him,” said Farrell. “At the same time, he’s got to understand where his limits are.”
