Saturday Bantering: Borucki to miss a start

We have two games happening today. The Jays play the Yankees, in a game that’s on TV. And the Jays play the Canadian Junior Team, and that game is on radio.

But first, as always, we have some injury news. Ryan Borucki came out of his start in a minor league spring game, with soreness in his elbow. He said he ‘felt something’ in the back of his elbow (and Montoyo says he had some elbow discomfort earlier in the week) and he doesn’t want to take any chances. He’s had elbow surgery before.

He says that this has happened before and he’s confident he’ll only miss one start. Which means we’ll have a spot starter the first week. Names mentioned as possibilities were Trent Thornton, Sean Reid-Foley, Thomas Pannone and Same Gaviglio. Notability absent from that list was Clay Buchholtz. I would have thought he would be the perfect choice, even if he isn’t ready to pitch deep into a game. If he can go 3-4 innings, and continue to stretch out his arm, I don’t see the downside. But that doesn’t look like the plan.

It has been a bad week for injuries. John Axford, Ryan Tepera and Dalton Pompey all look to be out for longer than we’d like. Bud Norris? We don’t know yet.

Henry Schlman, in the San Francisco Chronicle, writes that the Giants are looking for a right-handed outfielder since releasing Cameron Maybin. Kevin Pillar was mentioned as a possible trade target:

The Giants have looked into Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar and Brandon Guyer, who was released by the White Sox on Friday morning after an uninspiring spring. Both are right-handed. It’s unclear whether the Blue Jays would entertain a deal.

I can’t imagine that the Jays wouldn’t ‘entertain a deal’, if they were made a decent offer.

You have likely heard, but I’ve been away for a couple of days, so I’m playing catchup, Max Pentecost has left camp to ponder his future. I can’t blame him, he’s had a rough time of it since being a first round pick in 2014. He’s had more surgeries in the last 5 years than most of us will have in our lives.

I hope he gives it another year, but I can understand if he decides again it.

It was good to see that Aaron Sanchez had a good start last night. 6 innings, 1 hit, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. He had a lot of balls hit on the ground (boxscore says 9 ground outs, 3 fly outs). There is no one I’d rather see have a great season than Aaron.

Brandon Drury and Justin Smoak each had big days. I think Drury would be my opening day leadoff hitter if I got to choose.

Tim Mayza was told he has made the team and has been told he might play some first base. I think we are going to enjoy Charlie Montoyo,

Today’s lineup vs. the Yankees, where Trent Thornton gets the start:

And our lineup against the Canadian Junior team, Danny Barnes starts.