Spring is about the process, not the results, for Jays starter José Berríos

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This article was published 23/03/2022 (1617 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CLEARWATER, Fla.—In his second start, and for the second time, José Berríos got an early hook.

With two out in the second inning and the Philadelphia Phillies up 4-0, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo sprung out of the visitors’ dugout to extricate his putative ace. Yet the manager slingshot Berríos back onto the mound to start the bottom of the third.

It’s an oddity of nouveau spring training baseball — this in-and-out thingy — and not directly attributable to a lockout-mutated schedule because they did it last spring, too, amidst other adjustments while under pandemic siege.

It didn’t work out too well for Berríos on Wednesday as, upon re-entry, he immediately gave up a solo home run shot to J.T. Tealmuto and ultimately took the loss as the Jays succumbed 8-7.

Berríos pronounced himself pleased with his 1 2/3-inning act nonetheless.

“They scored six runs against me but, besides that, I feel much better throwing my changeup.”

That had been the right-hander’s focus as strong winds buffeted his work space. He didn’t reach much for his slider and curve in a 53-pitch appearance.

“I know that I’ve got that weapon in my pocket.”

This is, however, an abbreviated Grapefruit League itinerary with the pressure primarily on starters to get stretched out by opening day April 7, a day later for the Jays. The concern for arms and the men is hastening to get there and multi-tasking to prep a pitching arsenal.

“That’s what I don’t want to (do), rush myself out there and tend to do too much,” Berríos said.

His first trip to the mound in 2021, Berríos threw 82 pitches. “I’m preparing myself to throw that much.”

He arrived in camp having already thrown half-a-dozen bullpens at home and two live batting practices. On Wednesday, after departing the fray, Berríos still felt fresh, particularly in the legs. “I feel like I didn’t even pitch.”

Before hopping on the bus for the short ride to Clearwater, the Jays did drills and took batting practice at their now ultra-groovy training complex in Dunedin.

It was there, at the completion of rundown drills, that Montoyo noticed Matt Chapman imparting to the assembled infielders his elite tactical instruction. They were all understandably agog. “I liked how he did it,’’ said Montoyo, who then encouraged Chapman to continue the tutorial.

The most important detail to know about Toronto’s shiny acquisition: He’s dandy.

That full-throttle tag on the Yankees’ Ender Inciarte in Tuesday’s game left a mark. Inciarte’s spikes slammed into Chapman’s forearm and that contact caused considerable blood to gash and probably some heart palpitations among Blue Jays brass. The can relax.

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“A little sore, as expected,” Chapman told reporters, “considering that was probably the best-case scenario, not getting my wrist blown up or something like that.”

He didn’t need stitches; the doctor just cleaned up the mess and applied some Steri Strips to the abrasions.

Don’t even try suggesting to Chapman, a three-time Gold Glover, that maybe he shouldn’t have played the scene with such gusto, not in meaningless March.

“Couldn’t help myself,” he said. “When I’m in the game, I’ve got one speed. I saw the throw go and I knew I could make the play. I wanted to make the out.”

Rosie DiManno is a Toronto-based columnist covering sports and current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @rdimanno