DUNEDIN, Fla. – By the time the first inning ended Friday, many of the Toronto Blue Jays’ newest acquisitions had already made an impact on the field.
Curtis Granderson hit a leadoff homer, Randal Grichuk put his off-season vision work to use by working a walk and Aledmys Diaz added an RBI single. Afterwards, strong pitching performances by starter Joe Biagini and an assortment of relievers allowed the Blue Jays to beat the Phillies 2-1.
Does it count for anything? Nope, not even close. But the Blue Jays couldn’t have drawn it up much better than this. As manager John Gibbons said, “For Day 1, I thought it was pretty good.”
Here are some observations from the Grapefruit League opener …
GRANDERSON HOMERS
In his first at bat with his new team, Granderson showed exactly why the Blue Jays signed him this winter. He stood in against a right-handed pitcher and pulled a ball over the right-field wall for a homer.
“I’m sure he won some fans over with his first at bat,” Gibbons said. “He’s probably already a legend in Canada if he keeps doing it.”
To Granderson, though, a Grapefruit home run only means so much.
“It is February,” he said. “I understand that it is early, but any time that you do something positive, it’s always a good thing.”
BIAGINI ON TRACK
At times in 2017, Joe Biagini had trouble repeating his delivery. As a result, he simplified his mechanics over the winter, eliminating his pre-pitch knee-bend and picking up his tempo on the mound.
“I’m hoping to see that consistent release point and that ability to repeat my mechanics a little bit better,” he said. “I feel like if I do that, I feel like I could be a pretty good pitcher.”
So far, so good. Biagini pitched two clean innings against the Phillies Friday and his rhythm was a little quicker, too.
“I thought it looked much better, and he threw the ball really good,” Gibbons said.
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SLICK DOUBLE PLAY
With Nick Williams attempting to steal second base, Biagini induced a ground ball up the middle in the top of the second inning. Diaz gloved the ball at short, flipped to second for the force and Yangervis Solarte threw to first to complete an impressive defensive play.
“Great double play,” Gibbons said. “That was good to see.”
Depending on how much Devon Travis and Troy Tulowitzki are available, Diaz and Solarte could be relied on regularly up the middle in 2018.
YOUNG LEFTIES START STRONG
Two young left-handers impressed in their spring debuts Friday. Tim Mayza, 26, struck out two of the three hitters he faced, while Matt Dermody, 27, picked up a strikeout of his own and induced two ground ball outs.
“They showed us a lot last year, and we think they’re going to be valuable to us,” Gibbons said.
Both Mayza and Dermody are on the 40-man roster with options remaining, but there’s room for a second lefty in the bullpen alongside Aaron Loup.
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