Wednesday Bantering: Devon Travis, Bo Schultz

Is it Wednesday already? This week is just flying by. Maybe it has something to do with the bathroom destruction and construction happening around our house. It makes it tough on a household to suddenly being down to one bathroom for 4 people. I know, First World Problems.

The big news out of the Blue Jays camp is that Devon Travis ‘might not’ be ready to break camp with the team at the end of spring training. A bone bruise on his right knee has been slow to heal. It seems to be a very very slow healing bruise.

Without Travis, it’s likely that Darwin Barney would start the season at second base, and it might make room for Ryan Goins to make the team. Goins is out of options, if he doesn’t make the team, he would be exposed to waivers. I have my doubts that he would be picked up, most teams have good field/no bat middle infielders of their own, but you never know, some team might feel he’s an upgrade.

If the Jays feel Travis can’t make the opening day roster, it is possible they would consider signing Brett Lawrie. I’m not exactly a fan of the idea. I’m kind of a fan of utility infielders who, what’s the right term, don’t make waves. I want a quietish, good humored guy in that spot. I don’t really see him as much of an upgrade over Barney.

But, I suppose if Lawrie could play outfield, he could be in the mix for some at bats there when Travis is ready to come back.

Mike Wilner tells us, among other things, that Bo Schultz should make the opening day roster.

The difference is that Schultz has been more unlucky than bad. He allowed four hits in two-thirds of an inning in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay, all singles, only one of which was hit hard. The other two hits he allowed, against the Tigers on March 1st, were a bloop and a little looping liner, also both singles.

Schultz can throw hard and all (FanGraphs says he averaged 96 on his fastball last season), but if he’s been unlucky, he’s been unlucky for a lot longer than just that one appearance. He’s never been able to get strikeouts at the rate we would expect. He’s had a 16.6% strikeout rate, in his time in the majors. With how hard he throws and with the good slider, you would expect more strikeouts than that.

Right now, I don’t see him making the roster. Yeah, that means they would have to expose him to waivers, and someone would likely grab him up, but I don’t see him as one of the top 8 or 10 candidates for our bullpen.

Sportsnet has an interview with Joe Biagini, and it’s worth reading.

Arden Zwelling writes about Francisco Liriano and how he has dealt with getting hit in the head with a line drive. I really can’t imagine how you would get back on a mound after something like that, but then I don’t have to do it.

Shi Davidi talks to Freddie Freeman about playing for Team Canada.

I missed out on Joe Carter’s birthday yesterday. I hope the man that gave us our greatest moment had a great 57 birthday and wish him all the best.