Jays Day off Notes

Ace Ricky Romero gets some work in on the off day (Eddie Michels photo)

DUNEDIN, Fla.— Monday was supposed to be an off day for the Blue Jays but it was anything but as LHP Ricky Romero pitched and RHP Dustin McGowan didn’t.

McGowan cut his start short in a minor league game on Sunday when he suffered what was later described as planters fasciitis in his right foot, a problem he had in his left foot earlier in the spring.

“Hopefully we’ll get a ball back in his hands tomorrow,” said manager John Farrell, “He’ll throw on flat ground then a bullpen session before he is back on the mound.”

“I actually feel a bit better today than I did yesterday,” said McGowan, “It’s tender but getting better actually.”

As to when it happened McGowan said, “After the first inning I felt my foot throbbing a bit.  I didn’t know what it was I thought the shoe was too tight.  So I went out and that second inning I couldn’t push off of it.  It was like picking my foot up and just throwing, might as well stop right there before doing something to my arm.”

Erring on the side of caution McGowan has had two arm/shoulder surgery’s and one knee surgery since going on the DL in July 2008.

“I had it in my other foot before, I kind of knew what it was,” said McGowan, “It took a bit of time and treatment but it eventually went away.  It’s a freak thing, better my foot than my arm.”

Romero went seven innings allowing four runs on 13 hits Monday in a Triple-A game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium pitching for Las Vegas against Toledo.

“I got my work in but gave up some hits and worked out of some jams,” said Romero, “I could have been out of there after three or four innings

but I battled through it.  I was happy to get through seven now I have one more start in before heading to Cleveland.”

“The object was to get him seven innings, 93-94 pitches,” said Farrell of Romero’s outing, “The environment was out there was just different.”  As Farrell referred to a minor league vs. major league game.

One player who used the off day to his advantage was center fielder Colby Rasmus.

Rasmus took the time Monday to ship his car he had been driving in camp back home to Alabama.

Sporting the colors of Auburn University (Orange and Black) Rasmus had some friends trailer his 1966 Chevy Coup home.  The car is understood to have a 502 cubic inch engine under the hood which is the 60’s was used mostly for powering ambulances.

Of course if Rasmus is having the car taken to Toronto he might want to check on the fuel prices north of the border.

JAYS NOTES: On Tuesday RHP Brandon Morrow is scheduled to throw 6-7 innings in a minor league game against the Pirates Triple-A team at the Englebert Complex.