Jays Unveil New Look Infield
Posted February 25, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s not exactly Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance, the legendary Cubs’ infield trio immortalized in an old poem. But the Jays are hoping they’ll rhyme off some outs of their own when the season begins this spring.
Meet the newest Jays, two friends who have lots of experience and are prepared to prove it where it counts. Scott Rolen will be patrolling third base for the bluebirds the year, after coming here from the Cardinals in an off season deal. David Eckstein was the World Series MVP in 2006 and will be gobbling up grounders at short.
Rolen’s vaunted reputation was tested somewhat last year after a nagging shoulder injury left him with just 8 home runs and 58 RBIs. But he’s been pronounced healthy and promises he’s ready to go, with a brand new team and that same can-do attitude.
Not that he plans to show his famous sense of humour right off the proverbial bat. “There’s a respect factor in the clubhouse obviously,” the veteran notes, geting acclimatized to the Jays’ spring training nest in Dunedin, Florida. “You know, we’re both new in the clubhouse and we’re going to be respectful and see how things shake out. You don’t go in screaming and yelling and you know, disrobe the first day you’re there, so to speak.”
Eckstein claims coming to T.O. with his teammate is easing the transition from one league – and one country – to another. “Coming over here, I really didn’t know too many people, and then with Scottie coming over, having played with him for the past three years, man, I felt, you know, just so happy because I know the type of guy he is, the type of player he is and he’s a winning player.”
Eckstein will be taking over the every day chores from the defensively magical but lacklustre bat of John McDonald at short, and fans will probably miss his impossible feats on the field.
But GM J.P. Ricciardi believes chemistry trumps fancy plays and thinks these two guys will add a dimension that’s been lacking in the clubhouse. “I think they bring a little something to us,” he contends. “They help us to become a better club. There’s some intangibles that they have that maybe, you know, we haven’t had. So we’ll see. You know, hopefully they’ll be just what the doctor ordered.”
He’s counting on that ‘doctor’ to have the prescription the Jays have been lacking during the past few seasons, something that up until now hasn’t been in the cards.
But maybe this year, it will be in the Cards.
