Reports from earlier this season suggested that Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle is contemplating retirement following the season, but the highly durable workhorse tells Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet (Twitter link) that such talk is “kind of ridiculous,” adding that he has yet to make any kind of decision on his future. The 36-year-old Buehrle has struggled in the early stages of the 2015 season as he aims to complete his 15th consecutive 200-inning season.
A few more notes on Major League Baseball’s lone Canadian team…
- As Shi Davidi of Sportsnet writes, the Blue Jays and infielder Steven Tolleson have circumvented the rule that requires outrighted players to remain in the Minors for 10 days before returning to the big league club. While initial reports stated that Tolleson accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A, Davidi reports that he instead opted for free agency (as all players that have been previously outrighted are allowed to do) and re-signed on a Minor League deal. Because of that, he will be eligible to rejoin the club whenever the Blue Jays decide they need an additional infielder, which could even be this weekend, according to Davidi.
- Outfielder/first baseman Chris Colabello is healthy this season after quietly suffering through nerve damage in his right thumb following his hot start last season with Minnesota, writes Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. However, Colabello was battling for playing time after having clawed his way to the Majors from independent ball and didn’t feel a stint on the DL was something he could afford. Medical tests after the season revealed that there was no tear, and a hand specialist told Colabello that some rest would allow the issue to heal, which the 31-year-old said is indeed the case. Colabello has six hits in eight at-bats and has a window for some playing time as both Michael Saunders and Jose Bautista are less than 100 percent, Chisholm notes.
- Colabello spoke with the Toronto Star’s Mark Zwolinski about his unorthodox path to Major League Baseball and the decision to turn down a $1MM offer to play in Korea because he was unwilling to let his dream of making it to the Majors die. He tells Zwolinski that his time with the Twins has taught him that he can’t worry about the future, because doing so ultimately hurt him. Now, says Colabello, he’s simply living in the moment and soaking up another opportunity to be in the Majors: “Every day on a baseball field is the best day for me.”
I love Buehrle but dang, a couple more mph on his fastball wouldnt hurt. Throwing 83 just aint cuttin it for him this year. at least last year he was throwing 85 lol.
I don’t think it matters how fast his “fastball” is. His bread and butter pitch has always been that change-up which is only 1-2mph away from what his fastball is. Last year he was throwing a lot more cutters and curveballs to get guys off timing up his change-up which he’s been throwing way too much as it is this year.
Anyways, he actually hit 86mph yesterday and averaged 84mph I believe lol.
Oh trust me, I watch every game, I know he doesnt need to throw harder to be effective. But to be fair, his second half was absolutely awful last year, and has got off to a rocky start, with his WHIP higher than recent years. Buehrle is still awesome, and a solid #3. I just think it wouldnt hurt to throw a tinyyyy bit harder is all. Lock up those hitters inside a bit more effective. But yes, he has been throwing more cutters for sure. Definition of a true “pitcher”
Love how he nicknames his changeup the claw too
His changeup seems to be 78-79 MPH.
Buehrle is going to be pitching 200 innings a year until his walker breaks on the way to the mount and the fall takes him out. Dude’s a different breed.
Guys pretty much guaranteed to get a Dan Haren type offer from a big market team next year. Guy holds the running game perfectly with that amazing pickoff and gives you 200 innings. Don’t see him retiring anytime soon.
Time to deal Buehrle back to Chicago so the Sox can guarantee a 2:05 minute game every 5 days.
It is a treat to watch.
Sorry but my Jays need him what with our shaky starting pitching and bullpen.
Seems like yesterday that AA was considered a wunderkind.
I thought GMs ran teams, not make pitchers throw strikes or hitters make contact, etc.
Anyway, I never put any labels on AA myself but the whole Jays system is a lot better off now than when Ricicardi ran the team.
You’re maybe reading more into what I commented than I intended. Sure, GM’s don’t play the game….but they are in charge of putting the team in a place to be successful. Its more a statement about the beliefs of the baseball fan-osphere not long ago. Oh..no doubt better than under Ricciardi…but no doubt have underperformed. They’ve been in a winnable division for several seasons and haven’t even drawn a wild card. Jury is still out on fans in general.
To be fair, regardless of what the perception is of the ALE, there isnt one weak team in the division when healthy. The jays are an amazing team, but AA does fail to fill some holes every year, mainly the pitching. We really needed a veteran front of the line starter this year, and for stroman not to go down. Could have had Sanchez in the pen but then again, hes projected to be a starter. I think if the jays can get serviceable pitching, they will be a force.
Certainly. Health always seems to be the determinate of most divisions.
Agreed, Jays have had brutal luck health wise last few years
I question whether AA gets overruled by Rogers ownership.
Beeston has spoken out on record on bob mccowns radio show that he has veto’d an AA move before. My guess is on a long term deal with a big name guy.
Some of the moves for major free agents seemed to go against the minor league build up AA had been touting. But….people underestimate the Toronto market…its very large. My absolute favorite radio team.
Rogers is also one of the richest owners in the league as well.
The single richest, it’s a multi billion dollar corporation.
Their market is 35 million Canadians, arguably the largest market in baseball.
Is that realistic though? The population base is thin from Western Ontario until the Rockies. Are those in British Columbia more Mariners fans?
I assume there are vetoes in most organizations. My concern would be with actual meddling of the Arte Moreno variety.
I’m certain it has happened, more than once.
Jays actually have an interesting niche market within the US. Largely due to the recent multimedia advances. Now a person in Iowa can watch Toronto play while being blacked out of Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Minnesota, and Kansas City games.
The talk about Jon Daniels has also gone silent as well. Truth is they get too much and too little credit. It’s not something that we want to admit in this day of statistical science… But the largest indicator of success in baseball is luck. Luck by health..luck by unforseen breakout….luck being the Angels nabbing Trout late in the 1st rd.