TORONTO – Kevin Pillar figured four straight games off in combination with Thursday’s off-day would help ease the soreness around the torn ligament in his left thumb enough for a return Friday night.
But given their current roster construction, the Toronto Blue Jays couldn’t afford to wait out the healing process, not with a short bench because of the six-man rotation and 13-man pitching staff.
So Pillar is off to the 15-day disabled list instead, with Darrell Ceciliani recalled from triple-A Buffalo, and everyone believing that right now the starting centre-fielder has a chance to be back in two weeks. The time off is sure to be beneficial for Pillar, who can give the damage more time to heal, but just like last week when the Blue Jays played short while Troy Tulowitzki was given a few days to rest the chip fracture in his right thumb, the Pillar decision highlights the perils of the club’s current configuration.
“I didn’t resist the decision,” said Pillar, wearing a brace around his thumb, after seeing a hand specialist Monday. “Definitely told them I was open to the idea of going on the DL, whatever they felt would help this team, it’s not about me, it’s about our team, we put ourselves in this situation to get to the post-season and with the way our roster is constructed right now with six starting pitchers it leaves us a little thin on the bench, and we’ve got to be prepared for that.
“It was their decision, I was OK with it, and as much as I wanted to avoid it, I felt like it’s in my best interest, too. Time is only going to help this injury heal. I look forward to starting this healing process and getting back on the field as soon as possible.”
The Blue Jays considered playing with a short bench for three days and adjusting further if needed, and also going with a six-man bullpen. They could have, in theory, optioned Aaron Sanchez for the minimum 10 days and gone back to a five-man rotation briefly.
Since the plan is to try and stick with a six-man rotation and 13 pitchers until rosters expand Sept. 1, they may find themselves in a similar dilemma if another player suffers the kind of injury that requires more than a day or two off but less than the 15-day minimum required for a DL stint.
Basically, it’s fingers crossed that nothing else happens between now and then.
As things stand, the Blue Jays’ acquisition of Melvin Upton Jr., is especially fortuitous now, given that he’ll step into Pillar’s role and offers a legitimate second option.
“Definitely,” said manager John Gibbons. “It’s important to have experience out there in that spot.”
Upton is off to a rough start to his Blue Jays career, going 4-for-32 with a walk over 11 games, but Gibbons pointed to some good batting practice and better swings in game as reasons to think the outfielder’s performance is set to turn.
Upton himself admitted that maintaining timing through sporadic playing time after everyday action in San Diego was a challenge, and that returning to the American League after three and a half years in the National League has required some adjustment.
“It’s a little bit different,” he said. “There are a lot of guys I haven’t seen in a while, a lot of guys I haven’t seen period, but that will come. Finally settled in, settled in with the team, settled in with the city, just play baseball and help this team win.”
The Blue Jays have already overcome a nearly six-week absence for Jose Bautista and now will have to do the same with Pillar.
The thinking right now is that the ligament tear won’t require surgery, but that will be revisited at season’s end. With two weeks of rest, the Blue Jays and Pillar feel he should be able to swing the bat and close his glove sufficiently.
His pain tolerance will be tested again, too, but that’s something he’s ready for, given that his hands have been beaten up all season long. In the spring, he suffered a ligament injury in his ring finger similar to the one Edwin Encarnacion struggled with last season, and has played through it.
“The things [in the thumb] that were revealed definitely weren’t all new damage,” said Pillar. “There’s definitely some old wear and tear, probably from diving or sliding, but nothing to this extent.”
He wonders if a sliding catch last week in Houston, when his thumb appeared to get caught on the grass a sliding catch, might have led to weakness in his thumb that left him susceptible to further injury. On Saturday night in Kansas City his thumb got caught on the dirt during a slide into second base.
In the past, Pillar has worn an oven mitt while running the bases but dislikes the feeling. He’s off and on with shin guards for the same reason.
“Having to miss some time is definitely going to be a lesson learned to take care of my hands when I’m on the bases,” said Pillar, who has tried sliding feet first but always ends up reverting to head-first slides for better control on his way into the bag. “You get thrown out one time and you’re like, ‘Screw that, I’m going to go headfirst again.’”
NOTES: The Blue Jays are picking between a couple of prospects in the lower levels of the Seattle Mariners system as the player to be named in return for Pat Venditte. The Mariners claimed the switch-pitcher on revocable waivers last week leading to the exchange. … Outfield prospect Harold Ramirez, acquired as part of the Francisco Liriano deal, suffered a minor left knee injury in his debut with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats last week. He’s improving and expected to return soon. … Right-hander Blake McFarland, who was released and re-signed last week to clear a 40-man roster spot for Danny Barnes, had right shoulder surgery earlier this season. He’s currently in Dunedin where he’s throwing side sessions.
