renuszm
03-23-2003, 11:44 AM
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- The early returns are excellent. Frank Catalanotto has bounced right back into active duty with his batting stroke intact. In two days of game action, Catalanotto has gotten on base four out of the five times he's approached the plate. More importantly, he hasn't felt any recurring hints of the back injury that sidelined him.
"When I'm playing, no -- and that's the good thing," he said on Saturday, when asked if there were lingering effects from the injury. "Before, right when I hurt it, I could feel it and it was affecting what I was doing out there. Finally, I had to say, 'That's enough; I've got to get this thing better.'"
The right fielder served as Toronto's designated hitter on Saturday, and he stroked two singles in three at-bats. On Friday, he walked twice in two plate appearances. Carlos Tosca, Toronto's manager, said he's thrilled with the way Catalanotto has looked in limited action.
"He's a machine, isn't he? My main thing is just to get him at-bats and keep him healthy," he said. "Tomorrow we'll give him a day off, since we've got a bus ride. We're shooting to play him in right field on Monday."
Catalanotto said that he may even get some at-bats at the minor league camp on Sunday, as opposed to taking a full day off. He also said that his timing is a little bit off, but no more than he expected. With a week left in the exhibition season, he has plenty of time to make things right.
"I felt fine at the plate; I just felt like I was behind a little bit," he said. "I didn't think, after missing two weeks, that I'd just come in here and start swinging the bat great. Usually, it takes four or five days for me to start swinging the bat good."
Three's a crowd: It's still a three-way race between Bruce Aven, Mike Colangelo and Rob Ryan for the lone reserve outfielder position. None of the trio has managed to separate himself from the pack, according to Tosca.
"None whatsoever. Do you see any separation? I haven't, either," he said. "They all have an at-bat here or an at-bat there; they all make a play here or a play there."
Since that's the case, the margin for error is very small. Two of them will begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse, even if they play well enough to make the team. Tosca said that they all understand the situation and that they're all giving their best effort.
"They know what they're up against. God bless them," the skipper said. "They're baseball players; they love to play the game. All three of them are intelligent guys with a good work ethic. That's what competition is about."
Injury updates: Four Blue Jays were held out of action on Saturday because of health concerns. Carlos Delgado missed his third straight game with an injured knee, but Tosca said that it wasn't a pressing concern.
"He's going to need a couple more days," Tosca said. "He probably won't be available for a couple of days, but he's feeling much better."
The same thing applies to Orlando Hudson, who missed his second consecutive game with a sore wrist.
"Orlando Hudson just needs a couple days. His wrist is still sore, but all the tests came back negative," Tosca said. "We're just going to give him a day or two before we get him back in the lineup. He's much better today than he was yesterday."
Two of Toronto's outfielders, Dewayne Wise and Jayson Werth, are making incremental progress in their attempts to return to the lineup. Wise is trying to overcome a recent groin injury, while Werth has been out since March 4 with a sore wrist.
"Dewayne Wise is doing some cutting drills and some running drills with the strength and conditioning guys. He's improving," Tosca said. "Jayson Werth hit off the tee today with no problems at about 75 percent effort. He'll do that again tomorrow."
Cuts: Tim Young and Corey Thurman were sent down to Triple-A Syracuse before the game on Saturday. Thurman, a Rule 5 player last season, will be given some experience as a starting pitcher. Tosca said that he was thrilled with the right-hander's effort, but that he just needs some repetitions in a less stressful environment.
"With him changing his arm action and working on a slider, it would be unfair to ask him to do that at the Major League level, where he has to get outs every time he comes in," Tosca said. "I still think he's on track, and I still think he's going to be a very valuable piece for us.
"He's got a great work ethic, and he's improved so much from last year to this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him up here at some point in time."
Young's demotion leaves just Trever Miller in the hunt for the second southpaw slot in Toronto's bullpen. As of now, the Blue Jays have 33 players in camp, including six non-roster invitees.
The skipper speaks: "We haven't made a determination. One of our toughest decisions is whether we should carry 12 pitchers or three catchers. Starting a guy, pinch-hitting and still having a guy available -- I think it gives us some flexibility. They all bring something to the table; you're able to better match up against the opposition. It's probably the only position in our order that we're going to pinch-hit for much. I don't think it will be a problem getting them at-bats and playing time." -- Tosca on his team's depth behind the plate.
Weather report: Saturday saw 76 degrees and partly cloudy skies. Sunday is expected to be more of the same -- cloudy with a high temperature of 79 degrees and a 60 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Coming up: The Jays play against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at Bradenton. The game will start at 1 p.m., with Toronto's Mark Hendrickson matched up against Kip Wells.
"When I'm playing, no -- and that's the good thing," he said on Saturday, when asked if there were lingering effects from the injury. "Before, right when I hurt it, I could feel it and it was affecting what I was doing out there. Finally, I had to say, 'That's enough; I've got to get this thing better.'"
The right fielder served as Toronto's designated hitter on Saturday, and he stroked two singles in three at-bats. On Friday, he walked twice in two plate appearances. Carlos Tosca, Toronto's manager, said he's thrilled with the way Catalanotto has looked in limited action.
"He's a machine, isn't he? My main thing is just to get him at-bats and keep him healthy," he said. "Tomorrow we'll give him a day off, since we've got a bus ride. We're shooting to play him in right field on Monday."
Catalanotto said that he may even get some at-bats at the minor league camp on Sunday, as opposed to taking a full day off. He also said that his timing is a little bit off, but no more than he expected. With a week left in the exhibition season, he has plenty of time to make things right.
"I felt fine at the plate; I just felt like I was behind a little bit," he said. "I didn't think, after missing two weeks, that I'd just come in here and start swinging the bat great. Usually, it takes four or five days for me to start swinging the bat good."
Three's a crowd: It's still a three-way race between Bruce Aven, Mike Colangelo and Rob Ryan for the lone reserve outfielder position. None of the trio has managed to separate himself from the pack, according to Tosca.
"None whatsoever. Do you see any separation? I haven't, either," he said. "They all have an at-bat here or an at-bat there; they all make a play here or a play there."
Since that's the case, the margin for error is very small. Two of them will begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse, even if they play well enough to make the team. Tosca said that they all understand the situation and that they're all giving their best effort.
"They know what they're up against. God bless them," the skipper said. "They're baseball players; they love to play the game. All three of them are intelligent guys with a good work ethic. That's what competition is about."
Injury updates: Four Blue Jays were held out of action on Saturday because of health concerns. Carlos Delgado missed his third straight game with an injured knee, but Tosca said that it wasn't a pressing concern.
"He's going to need a couple more days," Tosca said. "He probably won't be available for a couple of days, but he's feeling much better."
The same thing applies to Orlando Hudson, who missed his second consecutive game with a sore wrist.
"Orlando Hudson just needs a couple days. His wrist is still sore, but all the tests came back negative," Tosca said. "We're just going to give him a day or two before we get him back in the lineup. He's much better today than he was yesterday."
Two of Toronto's outfielders, Dewayne Wise and Jayson Werth, are making incremental progress in their attempts to return to the lineup. Wise is trying to overcome a recent groin injury, while Werth has been out since March 4 with a sore wrist.
"Dewayne Wise is doing some cutting drills and some running drills with the strength and conditioning guys. He's improving," Tosca said. "Jayson Werth hit off the tee today with no problems at about 75 percent effort. He'll do that again tomorrow."
Cuts: Tim Young and Corey Thurman were sent down to Triple-A Syracuse before the game on Saturday. Thurman, a Rule 5 player last season, will be given some experience as a starting pitcher. Tosca said that he was thrilled with the right-hander's effort, but that he just needs some repetitions in a less stressful environment.
"With him changing his arm action and working on a slider, it would be unfair to ask him to do that at the Major League level, where he has to get outs every time he comes in," Tosca said. "I still think he's on track, and I still think he's going to be a very valuable piece for us.
"He's got a great work ethic, and he's improved so much from last year to this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him up here at some point in time."
Young's demotion leaves just Trever Miller in the hunt for the second southpaw slot in Toronto's bullpen. As of now, the Blue Jays have 33 players in camp, including six non-roster invitees.
The skipper speaks: "We haven't made a determination. One of our toughest decisions is whether we should carry 12 pitchers or three catchers. Starting a guy, pinch-hitting and still having a guy available -- I think it gives us some flexibility. They all bring something to the table; you're able to better match up against the opposition. It's probably the only position in our order that we're going to pinch-hit for much. I don't think it will be a problem getting them at-bats and playing time." -- Tosca on his team's depth behind the plate.
Weather report: Saturday saw 76 degrees and partly cloudy skies. Sunday is expected to be more of the same -- cloudy with a high temperature of 79 degrees and a 60 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Coming up: The Jays play against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at Bradenton. The game will start at 1 p.m., with Toronto's Mark Hendrickson matched up against Kip Wells.