--It seems like manager Cito Gaston and general manager J.P. Ricciardi have different views regarding the use of RHP Jeremy Accardo. "He's a guy that we're trying to stretch out, and maybe he might fill one of those starting roles," Gaston said of Accardo, who missed most of last season because of a strained right forearm. That was news to Ricciardi. "That's probably a reach. He's never really started, so I think that's tough for us to envision," he said when informed of Gaston's comments.
--Poor mechanics were the reason that LHP B.J. Ryan used for pulling out of Team USA and the WBC. "I shouldn't have to go out there and be working on something when you go out there and play for your country," said Ryan, who saved 32 games last season. "(Playing for the national team) is something you take pride in. You want to be able to go out there and step on it every pitch. It's something I didn't think I was capable of doing right now." --If Vernon Wells' left hamstring remains an issue this season, moving Alex Rios from right to center field isn't manager Cito Gaston's only option. Jose Bautista can play there, too, and that is where he is expected to line up when he plays for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. "I played it this winter for Licey (in winter baseball) and that's a pretty big outfield, like the Rogers Centre," Bautista said.
--RHP Jesse Litsch, who lines up as the No. 2 starter in the Blue Jays rotation this season, has a goal for 2009. "I'd like to get over 200 (innings)," he said. "I was 196 last year between the two (major leagues and minor leagues) and I'd like to go 210, 220."
--Manager Cito Gaston will use LHP Scott Downs and RHP Brandon League as his set-up guys depending on the makeup of the opposition's lineup. Down the road, Gaston can see League, a hard thrower who pitches in the high 90s, as a "future stopper," a guy who can come in to a game and throw two or more innings. "I think League can do that," Gaston said. "I think League is more along the lines of (Scot) Shields in Anaheim. He might be like the old Goose Gossages of the world."
BY THE NUMBERS: 7 -- The number of strikeouts logged by rookie LHP Brett Cecil in his first two spring outings, spanning 4 2/3 innings. Cecil is a candidate for one of the open spots in the rotation.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm comfortable where I'm at and everything is getting pretty darn close to back to normal." -- RHP Casey Janssen, who missed the 2008 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
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