Daily Report 28/03/03

The Toronto Blue Jays are leaving Florida with a very unusual roster arrangement.

First of all, Toronto is going to carry 12 pitchers. This is one more than is now common in the majors, but the odd thing is only four of the 12 are starters.

With the Jays schedule in the early going, manager Carlos Tosca does not feel that his team will need a fifth man in the rotation for some time. However, with the first 20 games being against three of the top six American League teams last season (New York, Boston and Minnesota) Tosca wants to have as many extra arms available as possible. That means Doug Linton is heading north.

The veteran, who seemed to be on the bubble to make this team, may have only received a short stay of execution. The Jays plan to call up Justin Miller to be the 5th starter as soon as the days off stop coming. With Aquillino Lopez, a Rule 5 draft pick (meaning he must stay in the major’s for the entire season or be offered back to the team the Jays drafted him from, Seattle) making the team, Linton is likely the first man out.

Then the Jays did something even more unusual. They decided to leave Bruce Aven, Mike Colangelo, and Rob Ryan behind.

This isn’t unusual because one or more of these players was lights out this spring, in fact all struggled. No, the unusual thing is that by leaving ALL three behind the Jays are heading into the regular season without a legitimate fourth outfielder.

Utility man Dave Berg has played the outfield, but he’s average defensively at best. While Tom Wilson (the Jays 3rd catcher – another unusual situation) is being told that he will be the “emergency” 5th OF.

This wouldn’t bother me too much except that the Jays new right-fielder Frank Catalanotto has two strikes against him.

One, he’s only played the equivalent of one full major league season in the outfield, after being a career second baseman. Two, Catalanotto missed a large position of the spring with a bad back. A very bad sign for someone who is going to be playing on turf, known for being tough on knees and backs.

With Catalanotto seeming to be an even money bet to miss at least some time due to his back the Jays are taking a real chance that they will weaken their team. If Berg plays in the outfielder, the Jays are left with one back-up infielder. If Wilson does – well “mobility” is not Tom’s middle name (for the record it’s “Leroy”).

The Jays choices were made tougher to a degree because the two youngsters they have more interest in getting playing time, Jayson Werth and DeWayne Wise, both are fighting niggling injuries.

My bet is the Jays roll the dice, and if they get through the first 20 games two roster moves are made; Miller comes up and Linton goes down, and Jayson Werth is added - either for another pitcher or perhaps Wilson.