Year from hell continues for Blue Jays' Alek Manoah with move to triple-A inactive list – Toronto Sun

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From bad to worse, from the high of pitching in the big leagues to the depths of being demoted to the deepest levels of the minor leagues, Alek Manoah could have written such an improbable narrative.

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When he returned to The Show, some flashes of his past form were apparent, but nothing suggested any sustained success.

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Then came Manoah’s second demotion, which is when the confusion began as so much time elapsed before he reported to Buffalo.

Early Tuesday, on a day when the Blue Jays were poised to play the host Oakland A’s later in the evening in the second game of a three-game series, Manoah unwittingly was placed smack-dab in the spotlight.

Once again, there are more questions than answers.

When he returned to the majors, many believed it was far too premature.

In hindsight, Manoah wasn’t ready.

When he was jettisoned the second time, there was this belief that player and club weren’t on the same page when the stated goal was to turn the page on Manoah’s disappointing season.

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Nothing of any substance would be conveyed for almost two weeks as Manoah remained in Toronto when many thought he would join the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

He wasn’t hurt, the Jays insisted, but Manoah did undergo a wide-ranging series of tests, a decision that was made “mutually.”

Manoah has not pitched since Aug. 10,  when he went four innings against visiting Cleveland. He hasn’t seen a mound since and it’s anyone’s guess when, or even if, Manoah will be back on the bump this season at any level.

All that’s known, at least for now, is that Manoah has been placed on the temporarily inactive list at triple-A Buffalo, allowing the Bisons to free up a roster spot.

The Minor League Baseball website states that if a minor-league player “is away from a team for a few days because of a personal matter, travel to an all-star game, etc., and is not placed on the (injured list), he is placed on the temporarily inactive list.”

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Manoah remains with the club as he builds back up, which is understandable given he hasn’t pitched in such a long time.

During Manoah’s first absence, a four-man rotation was used with Trevor Richards filling in as an opener. When the Jays had to endure a stretch of playing 17 games in 17 days, it made sense to go with a six-man rotation.

When Hyun-Jin Ryu made it back from Tommy John surgery and provided the team with a shot in the arm, it also made sense to go back to a more conventional five-man rotation. Manoah was the obvious odd-man out.

Given his competitive spirit and personality, Manoah must have felt broken when informed of his second demotion.

It’s unfortunate how Manoah’s 2023 season has played out when reflecting on a 2022 season in which the right-hander was a Cy Young Award candidate.

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Including Tuesday night’s game in Oakland, the Jays have 24 games remaining in the season. It’s almost a certainty Manoah won’t be on the team’s playoff roster, assuming a post-season berth is secured.

The chances of Manoah pitching at the big-league level in 2023 didn’t look promising once the decision to demote him for the second time was made.

Tuesday’s news further adds to the uncertainty. Instead of clarity, many remain confused, similar to when it took two weeks for Manoah to report to triple-A.

Physically, he wasn’t hurt, the baseball world was told, but his spirits must have been crushed.

September baseball is a time for marquee players to step up as the push for the playoffs intensifies. Manoah was known as a big-time player who relished every challenge. He hasn’t spoken since his second demotion, but there’s all kinds of chatter circulating.

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No one could have seen this coming, especially Manoah. How he responds to the latest bout of adversity will test his character and will.

The Bisons wrap up their regular season in three weeks. There’s no word on whether Manoah will pitch or whether he even wants to pitch.

When the 2023 season began amid so many expectations surrounding the Blue Jays, the prevailing thought was Manoah would be pitching in a post-season game.

His season has gone completely off the rails, beginning in his very first outing when he went 3.1 innings and allowed five runs in a loss to the host St. Louis Cardinals as Toronto’s opening day pitcher.

Two months later, he was jettisoned to the Florida Complex League to refine his mechanics after a drop in velocity and lack of command led to a bloated ERA in 13 starts. A month later, he rejoined the Jays and earned the win in Detroit in his first start.

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It’s now starting to feel that Manoah won’t be back with the Jays in 2023.

WAITING ON JANNO

Danny Jansen is scheduled to visit a hand specialist Wednesday in Pennsylvania, after which some kind of timetable for a possible return will be known.

Jansen broke the middle finger to this throwing hand following a foul tip in Colorado and was placed on the injured list this past weekend

He’s having a career year at the plate, but a tough time behind it in the wake of so many bumps and bruises, and the latest mishap involving a break.

It’s an injury that will likely keep Jansen from playing for the balance of the regular season, but more will be known following Wednesday’s exam.

Tyler Heineman was called up to back up Alejandro Kirk.

With Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman expected to return soon, roster moves will be made.

Daulton Varsho can catch as an emergency option after having caught when he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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