PHILADELPHIA – Between triple-A and the majors, Joe Biagini has made eight appearances this year, all of them starts, some of them rough ones.
And yet for one game at least, he was listed among the team’s available relievers on the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup card. On Friday his role wasn’t limited to long relief, either.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to use him in a crucial spot,” manager John Gibbons said.
That doesn’t sound like mop-up duty; it sounds like high leverage.
“Could be,” Gibbons said. “I don’t think I’ll hesitate.”
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Granted, Biagini’s return to the bullpen could be so brief that the Blue Jays never need to call on him in relief. If Sam Gaviglio falters in his second start with the team Friday, the Blue Jays might again need Biagini out of the rotation. The same logic applies if Jaime Garcia’s return from the disabled list doesn’t go as smoothly as hoped Saturday.
But it’s equally imaginable that Biagini would return to a Blue Jays bullpen dealing with the continued absence of closer Roberto Osuna, whose administrative leave was extended again Friday.
“You never know what happens the next couple of days,” Gibbons said. “It’s hard to say.”
The Blue Jays made the understandable decision to stretch Biagini out in spring training because the upside of an effective starting pitcher far exceeds that of a middle reliever. Still, it’s becoming harder to look past the fact that Biagini has pitched markedly better as a reliever over the course of his three MLB seasons.
For the moment his tenure in the bullpen has no defined length, but if other starting options emerge for the Blue Jays, there will be more reasons to shift him back there for a more extended period.
Injured Blue Jays make progress
Initially, it hardly sounds noteworthy, but then again Troy Tulowitzki hasn’t played in a game for 10 months. In his case, running on the ground represents progress, and that’s what awaits Tulowitzki next week after a period of running on an anti-gravity treadmill designed to ease the stress on his surgically repaired heels.
A follow-up meeting with Dr. Thomas Clanton went “great,” according to the Blue Jays, which means that Tulowitzki will continue his throwing, hitting and fielding routines in anticipation of game action.
“I’m a huge fan [of Tulowitzki], there’s no doubt, but he’s probably a ways away still,” Gibbons said. “Good things happen when he’s out there for this team. Hopefully he’s still as mobile [as before]. We’ll find out.”
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The Blue Jays’ other injured shortstop seems closer to returning than Tulowitzki. Aledmys Diaz (ankle) hit and participated in baserunning drills in extended spring training games in recent days and should start a rehab assignment next week. Until he returns, the Blue Jays don’t have a true shortstop and are instead relying on Giovanny Urshela, primarily a third baseman.
Meanwhile, Randal Grichuk (knee) continued his rehab assignment with the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays Friday, hitting a single in his first at bat after homering on Wednesday. His return doesn’t necessarily appear imminent, but he’s certainly closer than Steve Pearce (oblique), who continued long-tossing and running and will attempt to ramp up his hitting next week.
On the mound, the Blue Jays expect Marcus Stroman to throw a side session next week as he recovers from shoulder soreness. In the meantime the Blue Jays are left mixing and matching in the rotation – not that that’s anything new for Gibbons. Between the losses on the field and the injuries off of it, he has plenty to juggle.
“That’s the beauty of baseball and that’s the curse of baseball,” he said. “You do it every day.”
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