Manoah shelled early by Astros, Blue Jays running out of options

TORONTO – John Schneider tends to be candid and honest when fielding questions from media, a refreshing and welcomed distinction from a lot of his extra buttoned up friends.

Still, when he wants to bounce round a query, he can dance and he did exactly that forward of the most recent disaster outing by Alek Manoah, when requested if a visit the minors may, as a final resort, finally be on the desk to assist the troubled right-hander get sorted.

“We’ll see. We haven’t brought it up,” replied the Toronto Blue Jays supervisor. “We’re talking about a really good pitcher who’s going through a little bit of a tough time. The cool thing about this team and organization is, yeah, we’re willing to do anything that we feel like we need to do to help you and players understand that, too. But as of now, though, no.”

That’s a grasp class in leaving all choices open, one thing that’s turning into more durable and more durable to do with Manoah, who lasted solely 9 batters in Monday evening’s 11-4 thrashing from the Houston Astros, permitting six runs on seven hits and a stroll whereas recording one measly out.

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The finish end result was worst-case on a number of fronts, as any incremental features Manoah may need drawn from his four-inning begin final week in opposition to Milwaukee disappeared, whereas the Blue Jays burned by means of six relievers within the first of 4 with the defending World Series champs, additional pressuring an already closely used bullpen.

A deep Kevin Gausman outing Tuesday can assist repair the latter however the subsequent steps for Manoah are much more difficult. Schneider deftly averted tipping the Blue Jays’ hand afterwards – there’s no have to, nor sense in making a heat-of-the-moment choice on one thing this necessary – and his post-game message was easy and constant, regardless of how questions have been framed.

“The main focus is just do whatever we need to do to get him better,” stated Schneider.

Fair sufficient, however in that reply’s wake, two questions that minimize to the center of the matter – what’s finest for Manoah, brief, medium and long run; and what’s finest for the Blue Jays.

Though he did have some dangerous luck – a bunt single by Jeremy Pena that stubbornly clung to the third-base line, a Yordan Alvarez grounder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. couldn’t pluck on a hop, Corey Julks seemingly guessing proper on a sinker that broke in off the plate to nonetheless barrel it for a grand slam – the outing was a microcosm of all that’s ailing him.

Stuff that’s not fairly as crisp because it was a yr in the past. Falling behind hitters. Not ending off those he did get forward of. Lots and much and plenty of pitches, resulting in an excruciatingly lengthy inning within the area for his teammates. His between begins work not totally translating.

“I mean, the first pitch of the game was blooped into the right field,” stated Manoah “Two pitches later, the ball was bunted right down the line. Thought I made some good pitches to Alvarez, obviously he got a base hit. Got (Alex) Bregman out and had (Jose) Abreu down 0-2, tried to get him to chase some pitches, then walked him. Then threw what I thought was a really good sinker at the knees, (Julks) kind of just ambushed it and hit a home run, so. A lot of things I’ve been working on didn’t even have a chance to really go out there and use. Just got to show up tomorrow and get ready for the next one.”

Barring a change, that will be Saturday in opposition to the Minnesota Twins, however the membership can’t afford one other begin like this one, clearly, burying the offence early in opposition to an incredible workforce within the softer elements of its rotation, whereas forcing Schneider to burn by means of the bullpen.

But the Blue Jays aren’t precisely flush with alternate options proper now and a few of their prime choices at triple-A Buffalo – veteran Casey Lawrence, depth-add Zach Thompson and farmhand Bowden Francis after Drew Hutchison exercised his opt-out – aren’t locks to offer way more.

To make somebody like them work, they’d have to rejig their bullpen with a bulk-innings arm and Mitch White, now not being stretched out as a starter in keeping with Schneider, is an choice relying on how he emerges from Wednesday’s rehab outing. Thomas Hatch additionally impressed throughout an earlier call-up.

But that will additionally imply clearing out somebody presently within the combine to make room, which is much from very best.

Yet if that’s the perfect factor for Manoah, then possibly that’s what it must be.

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Schneider was optimistic about his starter’s work between outings, saying his bullpen had “intensity” that made the session “a little bit more game-like.”

It didn’t translate, though Manoah “was in the zone much more, I think,” the supervisor added. “But at the end of the day it’s a lot of pitches through the first nine hitters and one of the things we’re looking at is pitches per inning and tonight wasn’t his night.”

In that method, the answer to Manoah’s points stays a shifting goal, starting with varied mechanics to fixing his slider to a deal with mindset.

Manoah’s post-game remark final time that he must shift his thought course of again to throw a strike from don’t throw a ball “was part of the conversation,” over the past week, stated Schneider, “but once that conversation is done, then you have to go do it. You have to go execute it whether you’re playing catch, or you’re throwing off the mound.”

Does a nudge-nudge, wink-wink neck pressure just like the Blue Jays used to get Yusei Kikuchi an injury-list breather final summer time assistance on that entrance? Do they go extra excessive and choice him to the minors for a get-right tuneup?

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Optioning Manoah the season after an all-star marketing campaign wouldn’t be unprecedented, as in 2019 Atlanta demoted Mike Foltynewicz when in his first 11 begins he pitched to a 6.37 ERA over 59.1 innings. The right-hander spent a month and a half at triple-A Gwinnett earlier than returning to make 10 begins, posting a 2.65 ERA throughout 57.2 innings, however he by no means regained his all-star type.

In Blue Jays historical past, Ricky Romero is the closest comp, as he was an all-star in 2011, gutted his method by means of a making an attempt 2012 that ended with surgical procedure on his left elbow and injections into each his knees, after which was optioned throughout spring coaching in 2013. Betrayed by his physique, he made solely 4 extra big-league appearances after that.

Then there’s Roy Halladay, who appeared to have established himself as a big-leaguer with a strong swingman 1999, struggled badly in 2000 and within the spring of 2001 was optioned right down to low-A, the place he completely rebuilt himself into the Hall of Famer he’d finally grow to be.

None are blueprints. Every state of affairs is exclusive. What labored for one pitcher gained’t essentially work for one more. And so, the Blue Jays are left with determining what’s finest for Manoah, together with what’s finest for them as a gaggle, too, no fast fixes, no simple solutions.

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