SARASOTA, Fla. — Asked to describe his whirlwind past few days and the trade that landed him in Toronto Blue Jays camp, Matt Chapman scanned his new surroundings at the club’s player development complex in Dunedin.
“Is today Friday?” the new Jays third baseman asked honestly. “I think I found out Wednesday. It happened in a flash.”
That’s how most around baseball feel these days, as a hectic week post-lockout has produced blockbuster trades, signings, and, oh yeah, baseball games started Friday, too. The Jays were busy packing the bus for a trip to Sarasota to face the Baltimore Orioles in the Grapefruit League opener as Chapman was talking to the media.
A lot has been happening and the Jays have been right in the thick of it all.
While the driving force behind the Chapman trade was his all-world glove and filling a gaping hole at third base, there are questions surrounding what kind of impact he can have with the bat.
Questions that Chapman is eager to start answering another year removed from September 2020 hip surgery.
“Last year was a tough year for me,” Chapman said. “Coming off that hip surgery in 2020, I just wasn’t quite as strong as I wanted to be. And there’s never enough time to get ready for a season when you’re rehabbing like that after a shortened off-season with my hip.
“I learned a lot from last season and learned what will make me successful and what adjustments I needed to make. I got strong again, first things first. I learned how to get into using my back hip and stay behind the baseball again. I feel a lot like I did in 2018 and 2019, physically healthy.”
That should be music to the Jays’ front office’s ears, and something that must be factored in to
his down numbers over the past two seasons.
Chapman had his best years in 2018 and 2019, hitting 36 home runs in 2019, but more importantly producing the lowest strikeout rate of his career at 21.9 per cent.
It’s been well over 30 per cent the past two years, sapping some of the value Chapman brings to the table.
There’s an obvious combo of power and patience with Chapman, but it’s been a couple of years since he’s been a true impact player with the bat.
Playing at less than 100 per cent could be the reason for that.
“I think this year you’re going to see a more athletic, well-rounded version of myself,” Chapman said.
In this lineup, Chapman won’t be relied upon in the heart of the order like he was in Oakland, and he realizes that.
“I think it’s such a deep lineup that’s capable of wearing down starting pitching and able to get into the bullpen and take long at-bats and if one guy doesn’t get the job done the next guy can come to the plate and take a good at-bat,” Chapman said. “It seems like a lineup that there’s not too much pressure on one specific guy because it’s a deep lineup and everybody just kind of does their part.”
But Chapman isn’t trying to be a role player, either.
If his bat rebounds to previous levels, he could end up being a vital part of one of the best offences in baseball.
“I still think that just because I’m maybe not hitting third or fourth doesn’t mean I don’t think I’m capable of doing that,” Chapman said. “But it is nice to know not all the pressure is on me or (Matt) Olson or somebody like that.
“We have such a deep lineup; I can just jump in and do my part.”
Chapman got to work right away Friday and will likely make his Blue Jays exhibition debut over the next few days as manager Charlie Montoyo works his veterans into the lineup with a shortened spring schedule.
Marcus Semien, a former teammate in Oakland, already gave Chapman a bit of a heads up on what to expect.
“He just told me that I’m going to love it and I’m going to love the guys and I can tell that he’s already right,” Chapman said.
His relationship with Bo Bichette on the left side of the infield is a work in progress, but there’s no doubting Chapman’s presence is a plus for the young shortstop.
“For me, I want to get to know Bo and what his strengths are defensively and where he likes to play,” Chapman said. “Being able to cover a lot of ground over there at third, I just want to help him out and hopefully he doesn’t have to take too many backhand plays.”
Even as Jays fans are dreaming of Jose Ramirez at second base, an infield of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Chapman, Bichette and either Santiago Espinal or Cavan Biggio is pretty star-studded.
“I think this infield is amazing,” Chapman said. “We have so many talented players offensively and defensively, but I’ll leave the best-in-baseball to you guys. I think it’s worth putting us in that conversation and once we get to play with each other and get to know each other a little bit better, who knows what’s possible.”
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
