Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette could make awaited…
TORONTO — The Blue Jays arrived at the World Series having survived the first two rounds without one of their best bats from the common season.
That could change Friday, though where Bo Bichette really performs and just how efficient he may be after a prolonged injury layoff stays very a lot in query.
Bichette went through a workout Thursday at Rogers Centre that was anticipated to be the ultimate hurdle in probably clearing him to make the Blue Jays roster forward of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night time against the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette fields a ball during media day Thursday in Toronto forward of Friday’s World Series Game 1. AP
“I think after our workout today, there’ll be a lot more understanding of where I stand,” Bichette said Thursday afternoon before the workout. “For me, I’m just trying to do everything I can to be ready for whatever I’m physically capable of doing. I’m ready to help the team in whatever capacity that is.”
Bichette has not performed since Sept. 6 when he collided with Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a play at the plate and sprained his left knee.
Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider indicated that shortstop (Bichette’s natural place), second base (where Bichette took ground balls on Thursday but has not performed since 2019 at Triple-A) and DH could all be in play for the right-handed hitter who batted .311 with an .840 OPS during the common season.
His addition would pressure another person out of the lineup — along with probably having George Springer (who has been hobbled himself since getting hit by a pitch on the knee during the ALCS) transfer from DH to proper subject.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) responds to questions on media day before recreation one of the World Series at Rogers Centre. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
It was all half of the equation that the Blue Jays have been weighing Thursday.
“I think that where we are now, there’s going to be emotions and thoughts and feelings that these guys are going to feel that they haven’t felt regardless of if they just played in Game 7 or if they haven’t played in a while,” Schneider said. “Just in conversations with Bo, he’s pretty realistic about how he feels and how he will feel if he’s out there. So it’s something we got to continue to work through, really. I think that if he feels comfortable [playing second base], I’m going to listen to players and trust them.”
The Dodgers might not have one of their top relievers out there at least to start the collection.
The membership announced early Thursday night that lefty Alex Vesia was away from the crew “as he and his wife Kayla navigate a deeply personal family matter.”
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia is away from the crew due to what the Dodgers referred to as a “deeply personal family matter.” Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Manager Dave Roberts said the crew was still working through its roster choices, including whether or not Vesia may be out there to them at any level.
“I think, right now, we’re in the mode of trying to understand the process, the rules, a way that we could sort of try to navigate the roster,” Roberts said. “We’re going through the process of trying to backfill his spot on the roster.”
The Blue Jays have been more aggressive than any other crew this season in taking the bat out of Aaron Judge’s fingers.
Schneider made it sound as if they are going to be even more cautious with Shohei Ohtani.
“I think we’re talking about a totally different kind of animal here that can do things on the field that not many people can do, with all the respect in the world for Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh,” Schneider said.
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