Tag: Randal Grichuk

Grichuk continues to sizzle as two-homer day helps Blue Jays sweep Orioles — Toronto Sun

The evolution and timeline of Randal Grichuk’s rise from overpaid and inconsistent hitter to top of the order force in the Blue Jays offence has been beyond impressive. Grichuk was at it again in a Camden Yards matinee on Wednesday, hitting a pair of home runs to lead the Jays to a 5-2 win and […]

Grichuk continues to sizzle as two-homer day helps Blue Jays sweep Orioles — Toronto Sun

The evolution and timeline of Randal Grichuk’s rise from overpaid and inconsistent hitter to top of the order force in the Blue Jays offence has been beyond impressive.

Grichuk was at it again in a Camden Yards matinee on Wednesday, hitting a pair of home runs to lead the Jays to a 5-2 win and three-game series sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.

In that trio of games, Grichuk had no less than 11 RBI on four home runs. With power to all parts of the field, Grichuk is now second on the team in homers with six, all of them coming in his past six games.

It has been an incredible and welcome run for the Jays, who are now riding a season-best three-game winning streak as they return to Buffalo for a Thursday doubleheader with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Moving up in manager Charlie Montoyo’s batting order after shortstop Bo Bichette was lost for a month, Grichuk has clearly been on fire of late. But it didn’t happen overnight.

The evolution in Grichuk’s offensive game began after the 2019 season in which he led the team with 31 home runs but struggled with consistency at the plate and an ice-cold start. That prompted the Jays highest-paid position player to admit he needed to get improve.

A productive off-season working on his approach took another leap forward at spring training when Grichuk tapped into the sound advice of guest instructor Dante Bichette. With a modified and more disciplined approach at the plate, Grichuk had success in Grapefruit League play, but took some time to fire it up after the COVID-19 shutdown.

Not anymore, it would seem.

“He just looks on time with everything,” said Jays infielder Brandon Drury on a post-game Zoom. “He’s not chasing a lot out of the zone. I feel like he is really sticking to his plan, whatever it is that at bat. He’s on every pitch, whether it’s soft or it’s hard and he’s looking for something and he’s not missing it.”

Far more comfortable at the plate than at any point in his four seasons with the Jays, Grichuk is chasing fewer bad pitches while hitting balls to all parts of all parks that he plays. His two homers on Wednesday — including the two-run shot in the sixth — were well struck and hit in the air, the latter a point of emphasis for Grichuk during spring training.

“He’s driving the ball to all parts of the park,” Drury agreed after watching his teammate hit a solo shot in the second and two-run effort in the sixth. “Hanging breaking balls and changeups he’s hitting to left and fastballs he’s hitting out to centre or right centre. It’s been impressive to watch, that’s for sure.”

Though he had started to heat up in Buffalo, Grichuk’s output at Camden Yards was one of the best over a three-game series in club history. The 11 RBI were the second most in a three-gamer, trailing only the 13 Josh Phelps blasted against Seattle back in 2004.

“His approach was very good in spring training and in summer camp and he’s kept it going,” Montoyo said. “We needed someone to pick up the slack when Bo (Bichette) got hurt and he’s done that.”

The runs weren’t coming at such a prolific pace on Wednesday but as the Jays improved to 10-11 it has been the offence that has carried them. In their past eight games, the Jays have banged out 23 home runs after hitting 15 in their previous 13.

And Grichuk was front and centre, providing his team’s first three RBI and nearly adding more.

“I’m hitting the ball in the air but I’m still driving it,” Grichuk said recently. “Things are working. What I’m working on is heading in the right direction so I’ll try to keep doing that.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4lJqB7Ogo8?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1

ROARK TO THE RESCUE?

Prior to Wednesday’s contest, Montoyo was understandably concerned about his bullpen. Not only had the relievers been pushed hard the previous night, the doubleheader in Buffalo was looming.

Montoyo’s hope, then, was that starter Tanner Roark could give him six solid innings. When the Jays acquired the veteran right-hander during the off season, one of the attractions was his ability to eat innings, something that Roark has struggled to do so far this season.

While far from dominating on Wednesday, Roark came close to his manager’s wishes, going five not-always-pretty innings. He allowed just two earned runs on 94 pitches but had to work his way out of a number of jams after allowing nine hits.

“The more I get in synch and the more I get to face hitters, the more consistent I am,” Roark said post-game. “The more I’m attacking hitters – that’s what makes me, me.”

But Roark dug in to leave with a lead handing the ball to Ryan Borucki (1.1 innings), Thomas Hatch (1.2 innings) and finally Rafael Dolis to close it out. Dolis did allow a pair of runners but kept the Orioles off the board to protect the win and earn the save.

TROUBLE WITH TEOSCAR

Beyond the Grichuk home-run trots, a fuming Teoscar Hernandez in the Blue Jays dugout after the fifth inning was the most prominent image coming out of Baltimore.

After his latest outfield follies in the fourth inning, Hernandez was seen fuming in the Jays dugout. An error as he completely misplayed a rolling ball in right field led to the Orioles first run of the game and erased an early Jays lead.

To his credit, Hernandez rebounded with a strike to home place after a Cedric Mullins single, gunning down Pat Valaika for the final out of the inning. That solid play aside, the Hernandez miscues continue to be problematic for Montoyo and the Jays and a stark defensive liability.

And who knows when it may start to affect him offensively? Hernandez was a hapless 0-for-5 on Wednesday.

Ryu’s pitching, Grichuk’s hitting spark Jays — Toronto Sun

The crafty, controlled arm of Hyun Jin Ryu and the big bat of Randal Grichuk, the one-two punch would propel the Blue Jays on this night in Baltimore. Read More

Ryu’s pitching, Grichuk’s hitting spark Jays — Toronto Sun

The crafty, controlled arm of Hyun Jin Ryu and the big bat of Randal Grichuk, the one-two punch would propel the Blue Jays on this night in Baltimore.

Toronto wasn’t exactly known for its efficiency of late, more blunder than thunder in how the Blue Jays went about their weekend business back in Buffalo. But it all changed, at least it did Monday, because Ryu came up big by going six strong innings, surrendering one run on four hits while walking zero Baltimore batters.

Ryu’s pitching, Grichuk’s hitting spark Jays

Grichuk’s three-run blast and single accounted for four runs as the Jays beat Baltimore, 7-2.

Cavan Biggio’s two-run blast in the ninth capped the night off in style.

Anthony Bass (back), who wasn’t available Sunday, was back on the mound in the eighth to retire the side in order, an encouraging sign as the Blue Jays move forward.https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4lJqB7Ogo8?embed_config={%27relatedChannels%27:%20[],%27autonav%27:true}&autoplay=0&playsinline=1

Hard to describe the evening as a must-win for the Jays, but the urgency was there following a disappointing and disjointed Sunday when the team lost twice to Tampa and the services of their best player.

Clean hasn’t been the operative word when assessing this team, but to its credit Toronto played good baseball against a pretty good Orioles side.

The Jays entered the night with a 7-11 record, the kind of numbers you want to roll when playing craps. But it’s baseball that is being played and unable to play cleanly has proven costly, especially in late innings. Mental errors have also conspired to deny the team wins.

Rowdy Telez, who was at first against the O’s, didn’t know how many outs there were in Baltimore’s first at-bats. It didn’t cost the Jays anything, but it highlighted the lack of focus and attention to details that has characterized this group.

The Orioles, in contrast, have been among baseball’s surprise stories.

Baltimore’s bats have been hot, but it was apparent early that Ryu would be a tough nut to crack, hitting his spots and showing a strong command of his pitches.

Following the win, the fourth for the Jays in Ryu’s fifth start, the lefty admitted how his velocity wasn’t quite there yet.

Against an aggressive lineup such as Baltimore’s, Ryu knew the goal was to coax as many weak contact as possible.

A total of 11 ground-ball outs would be recorded as Ryu kept Baltimore’s bats off balanced.

He wouldn’t take the bait as to whether Ryu should have stayed in the game following his 86-pitch outing.

The fact is the Jays produced an add-on run in the seventh, which meant Ryu had no business being back on the mound in the wake of the extended inning.

Moving forward, Ryu says he wants to get to 100 pitches.

Manager Charlie Montoyo loved his ace’s performance.

“That was vintage Ryu,’’ said Montoyo. “He’s pitching so well.”

Equally pleasing was how his team played, the approach they took and the execution they showed.

“The key is a good starter and it doesn’t matter what happened the night before,” added the skipper.

Montoyo said how Telez is in concussion protocol after he took a late-inning elbow to the head.

“That’s why we took him out (of the game),’’ said Montoyo. “He’s day to day.”

THE WORD ON BO

Sportsnet’s baseball insider Shi Davidi had the goods on Bo Bichette and his injured knee that placed the stud shortstop/hitter on the 10-game injured list.

According to Davidi, the second opinion on Bo’s knee was diagnosed as a Grade 1 strain of the lateral collateral ligament. It’s considered minor with no long-term impact.

The injury needs time to heal, but how long that involves remains to be seen.

SECOND AND LONG

Without Bichette, who was wielding a hot bat, in the lineup the Jays had to tweak their order.

Montoyo had Grichuk in the No. 2 spot.

His explanation was pretty straight forward and to the point.

“Other than Bo, he’s been my hottest hitter,’’ Montoyo said of Grichuk. “He’s been swinging the bat well.”

During the team’s five-game “home’’ stand in Buffalo, Grichuk went 8 for 19 at the plate.

He carried it over to Monday’s game.

SHORT STROKES

Not only will Bichette’s bat be missed, but also his glove at short.

 Monday’s series opener in Baltimore, the Jays went with Joe Panik at shortstop.

The way Montoyo discussed the team’s plans in the absence of Bichette, a shortstop by committee will be in effect with Panik, who played short in college, Brandon Drury and Santiago Espinal in the mix.

Matchups, obviously, will play a role when Montoyo fills out his lineup.

“He’s going to get more of a chance to get regular at-bats,’’ said Montoyo of Panik.

FOUR THE RECORD

Right-hander Nate Pearson makes his fourth start Tuesday.

In his most recent mound appearance, the kid struggled mightily.

To his credit, Pearson acknowledged how his past two starts were marred by poor command, an issue he tried to address with pitching coach Pete Walker during Pearson’s side sessions.

Video showed how Pearson’s front leg was an issue in his lack of command.

Pearson referred to the placement of his front leg as the source of his troubles.

“It was flying open a little bit,’’ said Pearson. “I’m learning to be more consistent in my delivery.”

Blue Jays Grichuk lashes out at MLB owners and commissioner Rob Manfred — Toronto Sun

With no baseball to be played and an infuriating impasse between Major League Baseball and its players, Randal Grichuk has to get his swings somewhere other than at the plate. Read More

Blue Jays Grichuk lashes out at MLB owners and commissioner Rob Manfred — Toronto Sun