DUNEDIN, Fla. – The 20-second pitch timer for spring games unveiled by Major League Baseball on Friday is designed to do what Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker has long preached to his hurlers.
"We definitely want to work at a good pace and since I’ve been here that’s one thing we’ve emphasized," he said. "Some guys can do it and some guys are set in their ways. Working quickly keeps your defence fresh and into every pitch – the slower you work, that tends to put them asleep out there. We want our guys taking less time between pitches, it’s easier for hitters to make adjustments pitch-to-pitch on their feel the longer you take. So there are a lot of benefits to it."
No decision has been made on whether the clock will be implemented during the regular season, although commissioner Rob Manfred has long suggested that he may do so unilaterally, which he can if he so chooses.
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There will be three stages to the spring phase-in:
• In the first spring games, the clock will run without enforcement;
• Early next week, umpires will warn players of violations and inform coaching staffs between innings;
• Ball-strike penalties will begin later in the spring, depending on the status of talks between the league and players.
"I want to see how it works," said manager Charlie Montoyo.
Of the five starters projected to be in the Blue Jays rotation this year, Clayton Richard had the quickest pace in 2018 per FanGraphs, at an average of 20.1 seconds between pitches.
Ryan Borucki was second fastest at 21.2, followed by Aaron Sanchez’s 22.9 and Marcus Stroman’s 23.0. Matt Shoemaker was at 27.4, but his pace slowed the past two years when he’s fought through forearm issues, and had been in the 22-24 second range when healthy.
"That’s something that was brought to my attention last year," said Shoemaker. "I like to be aggressive and work fast and I’m going to get back to that. Whatever reason I unintentionally steered away from that, whether it was battling (injury) subconsciously, is something wrong, I’ll give myself an extra few seconds each pitch, I can’t tell you. It happened without me really thinking about it. One of my mindsets is, that’s me, that’s my tool – be aggressive, attack the zone, get weak contact, work quick."
Joe Biagini, who’s been working to get quicker this spring, was the slowest Blue Jays pitcher last year at an average of 28.4 seconds between pitches. Ken Giles was at 27.7, Ryan Tepera was at 27.4 and John Axford was at 26.3.
The pitch-timer will follow the minor-league model under which:
• Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher with at least five seconds remaining on the clock;
• Pitchers to begin their windup or motion to a set position before time runs out;
• The timer won’t run for the first pitch of an at-bat.
While the focus is on the adjustment pitchers have to make, some hitters will need to adapt, as well, although right-fielder Randal Grichuk was all for that.
"I step out to get a sign and then I get back in there. I don’t like to mess around, I’m locked in, in the box," he said. "If I step out, it might be to stretch after a swing, tweak something, otherwise I try to stay in and get on with the at-bat. It won’t affect me. I know some guys like to be a little showy, like to get that TV time while they’re at the plate, so they’re going to be frustrated with it. But hopefully it cuts all that out of the game and it’s let’s go, let’s get on with it."
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First baseman Justin Smoak doesn’t expect much to change, except for perhaps speeding up a few of the slowest-paced pitchers.
"I try to keep at my pace," he said. "They’re going to do what they have to do. It’s all about getting comfortable and taking your time. Hopefully they don’t put a clock on the hitter. I feel like they put one on us anyways, we can’t leave the circle. I’ve gotten (violation) videos of myself leaving the circle. It’s just a matter of doing what you always do until you get caught for doing something the wrong way."
NO VLAD ‘TIL SUNDAY: The Blue Jays begin Grapefruit League play Saturday against the Detroit Tigers and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won’t be in the lineup. Brandon Drury will be at third base for that one, with baseball’s top prospect getting the start Sunday against Baltimore in Sarasota. Where Guerrero bats once he arrives is the subject of some intrigue, although Charlie Montoyo made the point that from a player development perspective, it may be better to start him lower down the order and then move him up. Eventually, "if he is what he’s supposed to be, I would love to hit him third, for sure," said Montoyo.
LINE THEM UP: Ryan Borucki will get the ball against Matt Moore on Saturday with this lineup behind him: Danny Jansen, C; Justin Smoak, 1B; Devon Travis, 2B; Freddy Galvis, SS; Brandon Drury, 3B; Teoscar Hernandez, LF; Kevin Pillar, CF; Dalton Pompey, RF.
LEADOFF MEN?: The early candidates to bat leadoff for the Blue Jays are Billy McKinney and Devon Travis, although Charlie Montoyo stressed that he’s "going to use spring training to decide" how the batting order lines up. What is he looking for atop a lineup? "It used to be patience but it’s not like that anymore," he replied. "So on-base percentage, hopefully. If we can get a guy with a good on-base percentage to lead off, that would be great."
TEMPORARY DIGS: The single-A Dunedin Blue Jays received approval from Clearwater’s city council to play its home games this year at Jack Russell Stadium, the former spring home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Dunedin will also play eight home games on the road while Dunedin Stadium is renovated. Work is set to begin April 1, once the major-league team is gone.
