Travis Snider Fires Return Salvo In LF Battle In Blue Jays Win Over Pirates

Published: 5^th Mar 12 12:02 pm

Thom Tsang
thomastsang

RANT It!

Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

It was Eric Thames who made the first bit of noise in what is expected to be a tight battle for for Toronto Blue Jays’ LF job, hitting a home run in the teams’ Grapefruit opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With most of the regulars off on Sunday, Travis Snider answered soundly, helping the Blue Jays to an 8-5 win – and a sweep – over the Bucs.

While it wasn’t quite as emphatic as a home run, Snider showed off an impressive mix of skills in the practice game, going 2-for-4 and driving in 3 runs, and also playing some alert defense, throwing out former-Jay Rod Barajas at 2nd on a 2-run single in the 3rd frame. Oh, and he also stole a base too, catching Pirates starter Erik Bedard napping on the mound. Sure, a pair of the RBIs came from a pretty silly play where the Pirates forgot to cover 1st base (pitcher Evan Meek had to retire Snider himself on an infield roller), but the kid we used to call “the Franchise” looked good on the field, and I’d say the ball is now promptly back in Thame’s court.

On the mound, Aaron Laffey put together a solid pair of innings for the Blue Jays, allowing a run off 2 hits, and striking out 3. The former Indian is a long-shot to make the 5th spot in the rotation this season, but considering just how many guys we went through in the rotation last year, I wouldn’t necessarily rule him out here. In fact, if I had to guess, the chance of Laffey starting at least a couple of games for the Blue Jays during 2012 is probably pretty good, with the uncertainty in the rotation. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve put an unlikely lefty in the starting 5 over the last few years; that being said, considering how the other guys worked out, maybe it’s not something we should necessarily hope for *cough* danaevelandandjojoreyes *cough*

Laffey will still has to outperform (among others) Henderson Alvarez, who will get his first starting assignment this spring later today, taking on reigning Cy Young-winner Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers.