Good news, everyone! The Toronto Blue Jays are ever closer to playing Toronto Blue Jays players again!
With Brandon Morrow and Jose Bautista (grand slam in rehab game tonight) closing in on returning to the big league roster this weekend, the light at the end of the tunnel is almost upon the Blue Jays. Toronto will look to actually play something resembling a regular roster just in time for when rosters expand in September. Joining in on the fun is catcher JP Arencibia, who has been out since July 25th with a broken hand, but is just about ready for a minor league rehab assignment:
Arencibia will travel to Florida on Sunday to begin his rehab. Previously was in strengthening phase — still likely for September return.
— Gregor Chisholm (@gregorMLB) August 23, 2012
If all goes well with the rehab games, that “September” return for Arencibia could very well be the first day of the month. It would also mean that Jeff Mathis‘ time as the Blue Jays’ everyday catcher is thankfully coming to an end. I’d like to be able to say that Mathis fill in adequately in Arencibia’s absence…but he really hasn’t. Not that Arencibia has had an amazing year, but considering Mathis put up a very Mathis-like .172/.182/.297 triple slash in 64 August ABs so far (34 points lower than JPA’s abysmal .513 April!) , I think that’s just about enough, defense be damned.
Arencibia’s injury came at a particularly inopportune time, with the streaky hitter just getting on one of his good streaks with a 1.081 OPS in July over 53 ABs before he was hurt. It’ll probably take some time for him to round into form, so expectations upon his return should probably be tempered. With Mathis signed to a 2-year extension recently, could this be Arencibia’s final hurrah as a member of the Blue Jays? Or could the 2nd-year catcher (yes, with all the hype surrounding Travis d’Arnaud being the chosen one, it’s easy to forget that Arencibia hasn’t actually been around all that long) make enough of an impression in the final month of the season to change the Blue Jays’ long term plans with their catchers?
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