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Still finding rhythm, Blue Jays’ Berrios pleased with Spring Training opener – Sportsnet.ca

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3 years ago

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SARASOTA, Fla. – Even in the first Grapefruit League game of this abbreviated spring, even against a Baltimore Orioles team that still appears to be exceptionally bad, Jose Berrios is looking for any little edge he can find.

So, knowing he’s likely to face the American League East rival several times during the season ahead, the ace Toronto Blue Jays right-hander was careful with what he offered up in his first of four pre-season starts.

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No matter that he was facing only one, maybe two of the Orioles regulars. Every look counts and the less information a frequent opponent has against him, the better.

“I already have six years at this level, they know my weapons – but team is in the same division, so I don’t want to show all my strengths,” Berrios said after logging two outs in each of the first two innings of a 9-5 victory Friday. “They know me, but I don’t want them to keep seeing me so early. I wanted to feel where we are with the spin, the changeup, fastball we have to throw it over the plate. But I know when the lights go on that things are going to change a little bit.”

Such a strategic outlook coloured the entirety of Berrios’ approach to the 2022 season.

Feeling secure after signing a $131-million, seven-year extension allowed him for the first time to focus his off-season on being “ready for October” rather than gearing up to be ready for the middle of March, he said.

Among his focuses, picking up on a thread from late last year, was concentrating on keeping his weight on his heel rather than his toes on his back foot as he’s driving to the plate. The subtle weight shift allows him to avoid tipping forward and stay better in line throughout his delivery.

An immediate result is that despite a somewhat messy 27-pitch first inning – in which manager Charlie Montoyo pulled him with the intent of having him re-enter the game in the second – plus roughly 10 more in the second, he said there was no fatigue in his arm or elsewhere.

“In past spring trainings, my back hurt, my glutes hurt, like tight,” said Berrios. “Today, I didn’t feel those little things.”

All of which left him pleased with his day’s work. He felt strong though out of rhythm, which is to be expected given that he reported for duty last Sunday and started in a game five days later.

The Orioles got him for two runs on a Tyler Nevin double in the first and Berrios retired the only two batters he faced in the second, a beneficiary of the re-entry rule instituted this spring instead of the ability to roll-out innings employed a year ago.

“It was weird,” Berrios said of coming back into the game. Under different circumstanes, “maybe I’d feel frustrated or something. Now, we know why we came here. We came to work. We’ve got a plan, that’s what we do. Keep following the plan and try to execute.”

NOTES

Kevin Gausman starts Saturday at the Philadelphia Phillies.

Berrios is on pace to start opening day April 8 in Toronto. Is that the plan? “I think I have a chance,” he said with a smile. 

During a meeting with Major League Baseball officials Thursday, manager Charlie Montoyo and his staff were informed about the plan to use the re-entry rule this spring. In this instance, he said, “it worked out great” but when asked if he’d prefer the ability to roll out an inning, he grinned and said, “well, if you want to go by this game … I know how I feel right now because it was a five-hour game. That’s the rule. It worked out for us today.”

Time of game was actually three hours 33 minutes, but his exaggeration is demonstrative of a plodding game in which pitchers from both sides struggled to get out of innings.

Bo Bichette was hit by a pitch in the first and walked twice after before exiting the game. He was replaced by top prospect Orelvis Martinez, who made a couple of loud outs, including one rocket to shortstop that had the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sound off the bat (there was no Statcast data available for the game).

Righty Adrian Hernandez, who struck out 44 batters in 28.2 innings while walking just eight and allowing 12 hits at high-A Vancouver last year, was among those to impress Montoyo. He struck out three in 2.1 scoreless innings. “That changeup is pretty nasty,” said Montoyo.

Cavan Biggio, who didn’t make the trip, will focus his defensive work this spring at second base, right field and first base, said Montoyo. There are no current plans to get either him or Santiago Espinal reps in centre field.

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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November 12, 2024

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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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.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

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.

___

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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4 days ago

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November 8, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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