TORONTO – Lost somewhat in the shuffle the past few days was Jose Bautista becoming just the third player in Toronto Blue Jays franchise history to hit 25 or more home runs in five consecutive seasons.
The other two are Carlos Delgado, who did it in nine straight years from 1996-2004, and Joe Carter, who did it in six seasons in a row from 1991-1996.
"We’re all more concerned with getting some wins at this crucial time, but it’s a pretty cool personal feat, just something I guess I’ll get to enjoy in the off-season a little more," Bautista says of the accomplishment.
"I take pride in being consistent just like any other player would. Adjustments are a part of becoming a consistent major-league player, especially when you’re average and then becoming good, and good then becoming elite. It’s a part of the process, I’m glad I’ve been able to bring that new element since 2009-2010 to my game, because I did lack it before that.
"Finding a good routine that worked for me, a good preparation that worked for me, understanding my swing, knowing when I needed to do some things like starting earlier, when to start, and just becoming an expert at that, and being as good as I can be at that, has allowed me to translate that into results. It’s been a long process but it’s been a learning one and a satisfactory one because look at the results."
His home runs Tuesday and Wednesday gave him homers in consecutive games for the first time since July 1-2 against Milwaukee.
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With 99.2 innings in the majors after his 7.2 frames Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox plus 35.2 more frames at triple-A Buffalo, Marcus Stroman is already 24 innings above his previous high as a professional.
How is body handling it? Very well, the 23-year-old insists.
"That has to do with the off-season, too," he says. "I work extremely hard in the off-season with my trainer back home, and I feel like he’s able to set me up to be able to pitch super deep into the season. I feel just as strong now as I did on Day 1. As far as tinkering with workout plans and doing certain things to make sure you have your stuff each day out, we’ve been doing that but I feel great, I couldn’t feel any better."
There have been some peaks and valleys as he readies to throw six months for the first time, but they haven’t been an issue.
"You’re going to have days when you don’t feel good but overall for the most part I haven’t had that," Stroman says. "I feel great every time I take the ball on the fifth day, I feel strong, my arm feels strong and I feel like I’m able to compete with anyone."
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Boston Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa has allowed 20 career home runs and eight of them, including Danny Valencia’s decisive drive Wednesday, have come against the Blue Jays.
Is he tipping his pitches?
"I think that was the fact in the past," he says through an interpreter. "That was mentioned in the past when I had some meetings with my coaches, but I think I’ve already eradicated that."
The adjustments he’s made against the Blue Jays go as follows: "I’m using my breaking balls a little bit more, slide stepping. Those are the things that I’m trying to incorporate. I think I’ve been doing a better job. Today, obviously, I didn’t pitch as well, but I think I’m making some improvements."
Adam Lind, with two, Jose Reyes, Juan Francisco, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and J.P. Arencibia have the other Blue Jays homers against Tazawa.
Red Sox manager John Farrell doesn’t think his reliever tipped his pitch to Valencia.
"I think they picked up something that we felt like we corrected, probably two and a half months ago," he says. "Tonight was a matter of a ball that ran back to the inner third of the plate against Valencia, rather than staying down and away from him."
