TORONTO -- The Blue Jays' starting rotation is following a new pregame routine this season, and it all centers around showing signs of solidarity.
Prior to each game, the rotation can be found in the bullpen watching that day's starting pitcher warm up. When the session is over, the entire group then walks from the bullpen to the dugout before the start of the game.
The idea behind the new routine came from new Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. It's something the Yankees have been doing for years; something the Rays started doing the last couple of seasons, and the tradition is now in Toronto as well.
"It's something we've talked about as a staff," Toronto right-hander Matt Shoemaker said. "We want to support each other. We want to pump each other up, do whatever it takes to have each of us do well. It's something each of us discussed. We want to do that, we want to set that precedent. You're facing all of us, not just one of us."
Toronto’s rotation ranked 28th in the Major Leagues last season, with a 5.14 ERA. The Blue Jays are hoping for much better results in 2019, and the club started off on the right note with both Marcus Stroman and Shoemaker picking up scoreless outings over the first two games.
Drury impressing
Brandon Drury likely won't be sticking at third base for very long, but Montoyo has been impressed with what he has seen with the glove during Spring Training and the first couple games of the regular season.
Drury should be destined for second base once Vladimir Guerrero Jr., baseball's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is called up at some point during the first half of the season. For now, the 26-year-old is holding it down at third, where his range has been an early topic of conversation around the team.
Third base is Drury's preferred spot on the field and it shows. He's extremely comfortable making a backhanded play with his glove, which means Drury is able to play further away from the line and cover more ground.
"He has been lights out at third base," Montoyo said Saturday morning. "He plays in the hole. There were like three bullets in the hole yesterday, and they were outs. That's big for me. I want my third baseman to be off the line, but not everybody can do it because it's not that easy to do the backhands and stuff. But he's comfortable, and he's playing almost at short. It's great."
Quotable
"Probably about 300-400 texts. I've been trying my best to get to all of them. That's what I've been doing since last night. I'm that guy who always has to answer because otherwise people will think 'Ah, he's changed already.' So, I'm trying my best." -- Montoyo, on the number of messages he received from family and friends after picking up the first win of his managerial career on Friday night.