TAMPA — So, let’s fast forward to opening day Monday afternoon in Arlington, Tex.
Or the game after that or after that.
Your Toronto Blue Jays are up by a run. A tough left-handed hitter is up and it’s the sixth inning. Starter Shaun Marcum is running on fumes without a self-service station in sight.
Who comes out of the bullpen?
“Jesse Carlson of course,” said a veteran advance scout at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Nope. Carlson was sent down to triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
“What about David Purcey? I liked the changes they’ve made with him this spring,” said another scout.
Nope. Purcey was demoted as well.
“Our starter will get him out,” Vernon Wells said.
“If they are short on left-handers, it would have to be the right-handed reliever who is the toughest on left-handed hitters,” said Yankees broadcaster Ken Singleton.
The Jays are short on left-handers in the bullpen after opening the previous two seasons with closer B.J. Ryan, plus Scott Downs, Brian Tallet and Carlson.
Dana Eveland isn’t headed to the bullpen, apparently having won a job as a starter.
Tallet currently occupies a rotation spot, but that could change.
“It’s Cito Gaston’s team, Cito will make that decision,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos in Dunedin.
“It will be Casey Janssen,” Gaston said. “In the seventh or eighth it will be Downs.
Besides Purcey and Carlson, outfielder Jeremy Reed was also demoted to triple-A Las Vegas as the Jays got down to 29 players in camp.
Slowly the Jays roster is taking shape, with Mike McCoy as a backup fielder and Randy Ruiz as a right-handed hitting DH.
“I’m not saying McCoy is on the team ... yet,” Gaston said, even though Reed was McCoy’s main competition. “There could be guys on waivers we like, we could make a trade, or someone could get hurt. We have until Sunday night.”
Opposing scouts say both Jays catchers are available, one of either Jose Molina or Raul Chavez will stick, as well as “all the relievers, all they want in return is young prospects.”
With Jason Frasor, Kevin Gregg, Downs and Janssen assured bullpen spots, those in the running for the three remaining slots are Jeremy Accardo, Shawn Camp, Josh Roenicke and Merkin Valdez. Tallet, however, could join the fray.
The Jays still have to decide who goes into the rotation, one of Brett Cecil, who faces the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday afternoon, Marc Rzepczynski, who went against the Yanks Tuesday night or Eveland.
Or could two make it, with Tallet returned to the bullpen?
Who had the edge coming into camp, Cecil or Rzepczynski?
“I would say Rzepczynski pitched better for us last year,” Gaston said.
And now as they each enter their final start of the spring?
“Dead heat,” Gaston said with a laugh.
Against a split-squad Yankees lineup which included Derek Jeter, Nick Johnson, Marcus Thams, Alex Rodriguez and Randy Winn. Yanks on Tuesday night, Rzepczynski pitched 42/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out four.
“We’ve tossed around a number of scenarios,” Anthopoulos said. “You want to break camp with the best team, but you also want depth for 162 games.”
Translation: “We don’t want to lose anyone” and tie goes to the guy out of options.
All three players sent down had options remaining, while Camp, Valdez, Eveland and Tallet have options remaining.
Carlson’s exit was the most surprising. He had led the team in outings the previous two seasons, working 73 games in 2009 and 69 in 2008 for a total of 142, third most in the American League.
Carlson’s problem was he injured his knee after his March 5 outing against the Philadelphia Phillies when he allowed three runs on three hits and a walk. He worked an inning Monday against the Detroit Tigers, after a minor-league outing.
“Jesse will be back soon,” Anthopoulos said. “It was a tough move, he was slowed up with his knee.”
One thing about pitching staffs, fragile as 2-year-old thoroughbreds, the 12 who start the season, will not finish.
bob.elliott@sunmedia.ca
