Blue Jays Podcast (VIDEO): Devon Travis Joins Jays’ Nest

This week our Blue Jays podcast, Jays’ Nest is a good one! We covered some hot topics coming out of Spring Training and we sat down for a fun chat with prospect Devon Travis. To catch all of our episodes, you can find us on Stitcher (for Android) and iTunes. If you’d rather watch our show, check us out on YouTube. If you like what you hear, please be so kind as to give us a good rating. Thanks!

Spring Training is well under way by now. And, already there have been some hot topics for conversation. Specifically, our group discussed the bullpen situation.

Toronto Blue Jays

With

experiencing inflammation in his shoulder, it prompted many to consider some drastic alternatives. It reignited the

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debate. Should Sanchez be pushed into the bullpen? What happens if Cecil needs more than a week or two to get over this set back?

Our panel looked at this possibility, but we were also interested in recent comments by GM, Alex Anthopoulos regarding the future of prospects Roberto Osuna and Miguel Castro. Anthopoulos has said that Osuna could be ready to join the big league club at some point this season. As if this wasn’t enough, he went on to say that Castro could join them as early as Opening Day! If you’ve been listening to our previous episodes, you would have heard us debate the movement of Sanchez to the bullpen. Oddly, the idea of moving Castro does not come with the same hesitation for us. At the end of the day, if his arm can help this club win, it should be considered.

We moved our conversation into tossing around the names of players competing for the 2B job in 2015. After much debate, we came to the general consensus that it is Maicer Izturis‘ job to lose with the caveat that Devon Travis could be brought up at a later date if he is found to need more seasoning at AAA Buffalo. In fact, all of the potential options available to the Blue Jays are really just stop-gap options to bide time until Travis is deemed ready to join the big league club.

Feb 28, 2015; Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

And, based on our time with him, we hope that he has a great spring and pushes the club into making a decision that John Gibbons already acknowledged as a possibility. Devon Travis is such a magnetic personality that you can’t help but hope he does indeed show he’s ready to start the year at the major league level. Now, we are not so star struck to think that it is a foregone conclusion. But, once you listen to him on our show, you’ll certainly be pulling for him…if you weren’t already.

Travis covered a number of interesting subjects. He talked about his brief time with the Blue Jays and the learning curve that comes with being in big league camp. His story about NOT missing the bus is quite funny. He also responded to a couple of comparisons. When asked about a comparison to Red Sox 2B, Dustin Pedroia, he was quick to point out that he doesn’t think he can be compared, but would love to live up to “half the player” Pedroia is. As well, Travis responded to being compared to a bulldog. You have to listen/watch to truly enjoy his response.

Another interesting highlight from our chat with Devon Travis was the time he actually faced Marcus Stroman. The two squared off in college. Travis didn’t fare so well. In fact, the result  was quite scary. But, Travis was thankful because it meant he got on base. Again, you’ll have to listen to the show to get the full story.

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As always, we welcome your comments and feedback. Feel free to drop a line in the comment section below. If you have any questions for upcoming shows, or ideas you’d like to see us pursue, you can send us your thoughts via email: JaysNestPodcast@gmail.com

Next: Is Miguel Castro on a Fast Track?