Advertisement 1

Travis the latest lead-off experiment for Blue Jays

Article content

Another day, another new leadoff hitter for John Gibbons’ Blue Jays.

The Ezequiel Carrera experiment at the top of the order temporarily was grounded when he suffered what is believed to be a minor Achilles tendon injury in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks. That opened the door on Wednesday for Devon Travis to get the opportunity Gibbons has been predicting for weeks for the Jays second baseman.

With the off-season departure of Ben Revere, the leadoff roll was obviously up for grabs from the opening day of training camp — and 74 games into the season, it effectively still is. Kevin Pillar claimed it for opening day, but never seized control of the spot and with the offence struggling earlier this month, Gibbons went to Jose Bautista.

That was only to be a short-term move anyway, but with Bautista injured, the search has continued.

Ideally, the Jays manager said he would like to have a consistent hitter batting leadoff and some stability in the top four of the order, but it has been a season of tryouts and tinkering so far.

“A lot of people who look at it, it’s not a big deal,” Gibbons said. “But to the guys who are out there playing, it’s such a mental game, they like everything to be steady, routine. Even the littlest thing like that — hitting can screw with you.

“So ideally if you’ve got a guy who is your leadoff (it’s a good thing.) Normally, your tinkering may be done at the bottom (of the order) against whomever you’re facing off.”

Though it came about in part by circumstance on Wednesday, Gibbons has long held the belief that Travis was suited for the role. The eight-game hit streak he took into Wednesday’s contest couldn’t have hurt, either.

“That’s kind of how we looked at it,” Gibbons said. “We traded Revere and we really didn’t have that guy whose at least done it before.”

Remember, too, that projection for Travis to be the Jays regular leadoff hitter was stunted when off-season shoulder surgery forced him to miss both spring training and the opening of the season. Until this week, he had spent most of this season batting in the bottom three of Gibbons lineup, but was hitting .452 in that eight-game hit streak.

WORTH THE WAIT?

Rightfielder Darrell Ceclliani, a late cut in spring training, finally got his opportunity to start a game for the Jays on Wednesday, hitting ninth and playing in right field.

Acquired from the New York Mets in February, Ceciliani was thought to have a shot at a fourth infielder spot with the Jays, but was instead sent to triple-A Buffalo to start his first season with the Jays.

“It was discouraging that I didn’t make the team (in spring training), but at least I left a good impression of what I can do,” said Ceciliani, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Wednesday with his first starting assignment as a Jay. “The idea was to get up here as soon as I can and help this team.

“They told me I had a great camp and just do down there and work hard and be ready to go. That’s what I’ve done — worked my butt off just to get back here.”

Ceciliani was recalled from the Bisons on June 17 when Bautista was placed in the 15-day disabled list. His only Jays appearance prior to Tuesday was as a defensive substitution on the same day he was recalled, though he didn’t get an at-bat against the Orioles.

It wasn’t the slickest debut for Ceciliani, who was charged with an error when he misplayed a routine single from the D’Backs Phil Gosselin that allowed Jean Segura to score from first for Arizona’s first run of the game.

QUICK HITS

In a minor deal on Wednesday, the Jays traded Buffalo Bisons left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc to the Seattle Mariners for cash or a player to be named later … After one of their busiest stretches of the season, it has been an odd schedule for the Jays this week with off days on Monday and Thursday sandwiching a mini two-game homestand against the Diamondbacks. Next up is a six-game trip, starting Friday against the White Sox … While future Leaf Auston Matthews was getting his cuts down the QEW with future Blue Jays prior to a Buffalo Bisons game, Arizona Coyotes goalie (and Kingson, Ont.) native, Mike Smith was doing the same at the Rogers Centre. Decked out in Diamondbacks colours, Smith took batting practice with his (hockey) hometown team … Gibbons on the rarely seen Diamondbacks: “Young, very athletic team with great uni’s.” … While not an official update, Gibbons expects Marco Estrada (sore back) to be available for his next scheduled start vs. the White Sox this weekend on the south side of Chicago … The quick two-gamer was just the second Arizona visit to Toronto and first in a dozen years. 

Article content
Advertisement 2
Advertisement
Article content
Article content
Latest National Stories
    This Week in Flyers