Quick Jays Quirps: 9-May-10

Here are some news and happenings involving the Jays:

• Marc Rzepczynski has recently threw 4.2 innings (59 pitches) while striking out 4 in extended spring training as he makes a return from injury. It was his second start there and he could be able to return as soon as within 2 weeks which only adds to the already deep rotation.
• Nathaniel Stoltz of Call to the Pen touches on Brett Cecil as he looks at a player for every MLB team here.
• If I told you before the season started that at this point in the season 2 of the Jays 3 top HR hitters would be John Buck (8) and Alex Gonzalez (10), I’m pretty sure I would have been laughed out of town, but such is the case. Both players have more HRs than Aaron Hill and Adam Lind combined. Although that could be viewed as a bad thing, it’s more of a security blanket in knowing that those 2 players are bound to get hot at some point and makes the future a little brighter as a result.

• Fred Lewis is hitting .356 over his last 10 games. Why San Francisco couldn’t find room for this guy is beyond me when you consider how starved for offense they are.
• 1B Brian Dopirak has to be one of the biggest disappointments so far in the minors for the Jays. He only has 3 HRs to go along with his .189 average and .225 OBP. After a big 2009 and the arrival of Brett Wallace, it seems that Brian has taken a giant leap backwards.
• CF Darin Mastroianni is hitting a whopping .463 over his last 10 games with a .510 OBP, 1 HR, 1 double, 2 triples, and 2 SBs. His close to 1 walk to K ratio on the season (20/21) is impressive and it shouldn’t be long before the 24 year old moves up to AAA.
• SP Henderson Alvarez has proven to be human in his last 2 starts, giving up 4 ER in 3.1 innings and 2 ER in 4.1 innings between them. More disturbing is that he gave up 14 hits and 4 walks over those 2 starts (7.2 innings in total) and only got 4 Ks. Dealing with adversity builds character, so hopefully he learns from it and regains the dominance he had within his first 4 starts soon.
• 22 year old SP Ryan Tepera is alternating between good starts and bad starts, with his latest effort yesterday being a good one for Lansing. He threw 5 innings of shut out ball with only 3 hits and 2 walks allowed while striking out 5. In his 6 starts this year he has 3 games where he lasted more than 5 innings and shut the opposition out, and 3 outings where his ERA was over 8.00, making volatility his only consistent factor. Still, the quality is there and he could be promoted this season if he gains consistency. He certainly has the stuff to do well in HiA.
• Lansing’s CF Kenny Wilson was placed on the DL while 3B Marc Sobolewski has been activated from the DL.