John Mayberry Jr. said all the right things after his first home run with the Toronto Blue Jays, opting for understated clichés instead of self-congratulatory bluster.
“I’m just trying to go up there and have good at bats,” Mayberry said. “Not put too much pressure on myself, though that’s probably easier said than done.”
Not long after tying the game with a line drive, pinch hit home run off of dominant Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Jake McGee, the Blue Jays had lost 6-5. Just like that their playoff hopes took another hit.
“We have to put together another solid win streak and see where we end up,” Mayberry said.
But even if the lefty-mashing outfielder chose to downplay his seventh career pinch hit home run, the Blue Jays took notice.
“That’s what he does,” manager John Gibbons said. “He’s spent a lot of years in the big leagues doing that.”
Gibbons hinted that Mayberry earned himself a start Monday when the Blue Jays face the Baltimore Orioles and left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.
Given that Mayberry is a career .274/.325/.542/.867 hitter with 30 home runs in 517 career plate appearances against left-handers, he’s an intriguing option not only in 2014, but for next year as well. The 30-year-old, who was acquired August 31 for minor leaguer Gustavo Pierre, will be arbitration eligible for the second time after earning $1.59 million in 2014.
With Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus set to hit free agency, the Blue Jays need answers in the outfield, and while Kevin Pillar and Anthony Gose are frontrunners for playing time, depth always helps.
After Sunday’s performance, the Blue Jays could be a bit more inclined to look at Mayberry as a part-time player for 2015. History – in this case very recent history – suggests he can be an impact bat against left-handers.
CECIL FINE: Gibbons said Brett Cecil is fine physically despite a heavy workload. “He’s healthy and he’s doing a tremendous job,” Gibbons noted.
Cecil was on the mound when the Rays rallied in the tenth inning Sunday, but he has a 2.90 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 49.2 innings this year.
DRESS-UP: The Blue Jays left for Baltimore after the game with the team’s rookies donning costumes for the flight. Marcus Stroman wore a wedding dress, so needless to say the team was having some fun. But costumes or not, Mark Buehrle doesn’t like the position the Blue Jays are in.