One thing BlueJays manager Charlie Montoyo is concerned about as he gets this team thinking situationally in the field is that his pitchers retain their focus on quality pitches. (SNJeffBlair)
By comparison, the Blue Jays shifted 13.7 per cent of the time in 2018, which left them 21st in the Majors. The Houston Astros led the way with 37.3 per cent and right behind them at an even 30 per cent was the Tampa Bay Rays, for whom Montoyo was the bench coach.
One thing Montoyo is concerned about as he gets this team thinking situationally in the field is that his pitchers retain their focus on quality pitches. He shook his head when asked if he worried pitchers might subconsciously or, for that matter, consciously start pitching along with the shift. “Nah, the pitcher should just pitch,” Montoyo said. “Moving position players around … that has to have nothing to do with how you pitch inside or outside.”“No,” Montoyo said quickly.
• Not a huge fan of this but right now it’s difficult to see the Blue Jays going with less than eight relievers especially if they want to carry the 19-year-old arm of Rule 5 pick Elvis Luciano
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