‘It’s go time’: Canucks struggling to find higher gear during homestand

After two practice days to prepare for Saturday’s game against the desperate Washington Capitals, the Canucks slipped out of third gear in the second period and were stuck in neutral for 12 or 14 minutes. They lost their lead and then the game, 2-1.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — It’s 9:10 a.m. on a cloudy Sunday morning in Dunedin, Fla., when Joey Votto emerges from the clubhouse at the Blue Jays’ player development complex. Donning a blue short-sleeve hoodie, he’s got an equipment bag over his right shoulder and begins to walk toward Field 1. Suddenly, he freezes, before turning around and heading in the opposite direction.

Spring training hitting schedules can be a bit tricky, especially when you’re in a new environment like Votto, who signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays less than two weeks ago.

When Votto arrives at the diamond, he drops his bag, grabs his first baseman’s mitt and heads out to left field by himself. It’s a seemingly peaceful moment for the Canadian as he’s about to embark on the most important day of his spring training thus far.

Later, the 40-year-old will take the field for the Blue Jays in a split-squad game against the Philadelphia Phillies in nearby Clearwater. This will be his first game against major-league competition in five and a half months. Of course, it carries a different meaning than that last contest 168 days ago, when Votto was a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

Votto is currently fighting for a spot on the major-league roster, trying to prove to himself and to the Blue Jays that he’s still got it.

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The day would ultimately play out in interesting fashion, including a dramatic home run and a disappointing injury. However, before all that unfolds, here is Votto in the outfield at Field 2 of the Blue Jays’ complex. As a group of Blue Jays catchers begin to take batting practice, Votto readies himself.

It’s quite the sight — a potential future Hall-of-Famer who hasn’t played a full inning in the outfield in the last 16 years is tracking fly balls and helping collect strays, before firing them back to the infield.

About 25 minutes later, Votto takes turns fielding grounders with fellow first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and, after that, it’s time for the veteran to get in his BP cuts. Votto removes his hoodie and is down to a black, sleeveless tank that reveals the tattoos on his left shoulder and bicep.

As Votto takes his swings, Don Mattingly watches from behind the cage. The Blue Jays bench coach and offensive coordinator — an all-star left-handed hitting first baseman during his own playing days — first met Votto years ago when they were introduced by then-Reds third baseman Scott Rolen.

Mattingly is keeping his distance, but Votto finds him in between rounds in the cage and engages in conversation. They’re not talking hitting, though. Mattingly doesn’t necessarily feel the need to do so with Votto right now.

“He’s just consistent,” Mattingly says later. “He knows what he wants to do. And he’s a guy that’s obviously accomplished and knows the process he wants to go through to get where he wants to go. So, for him working on something out here, he knows that’s part of the process to get to where he wants to go.

“He knows what he needs to do. He’s getting his swing the way he wants it.”

It’s just after 1 p.m. and Votto slowly walks up to the plate at BayCare Ballpark. On the mound is Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who’s among the very best pitchers in the National League. Votto, the No. 2 hitter in the Blue Jays’ lineup, takes a breath, steps into the box and the first pitch he sees is a 94.3 m.p.h. four-seam fastball from Wheeler.

Votto wastes no time, generating a smooth yet vicious swing that produces a rocket to left-centre field. The ball, which left his bat at 103.5 m.p.h. and travelled 392 feet, hits the padding on the fence and the umpires rule it a home run.

First at-bat, first pitch, first home run on the biggest day of the year for Votto. Feels like a movie script, doesn’t it?

Yet, just as screenplays typically involve the protagonist overcoming adversity, there was some of that for Votto too on this day.

After the first inning, he stepped on a bat in the dugout and rolled his right ankle.

“It hurt like the Dickens,” Votto said. “So, I came out of the game. Not intentionally. I wanted to play. I was scheduled to play five [innings] and to get three at-bats.”

Votto said he doesn’t expect the ankle to be an issue. The Blue Jays have a scheduled off day on Monday and Votto says he’ll rest then and be “back real soon.”

“I wanted to leave on a high,” he joked. “I wanted to leave everybody wanting more.”

Sunday marked Votto’s 10th day since he signed with the Blue Jays. He spent the first 17 seasons of his big-league career with the Reds so, naturally, starting fresh with a new organization is bound to feel different.

“I feel welcomed and I feel supported,” said Votto. “And I feel like I’m trying to fit in, which can be difficult in the heart of spring training. Guys have their routines and are looking toward Opening Day, looking toward having a successful season, and a random player showing up can throw things off a little bit.

“I do my best to kind of fit, go with the flow, find the rhythm and they’ve been good,” he continued, before emphasizing that he’d be happy to play anywhere in the organization as he works toward being major-league-ready. “Baseball is the same everywhere … I’m grateful that it’s here in Toronto. Buffalo. Extended spring training. New Hampshire. Dunedin, Florida State League. I’m down for whatever.”

Votto dealt with various injuries over the past two seasons that limited him to just 65 games last year and 91 in 2022. During that span, he hit a combined 25 home runs and produced a below-league average 93 OPS-plus.

Before Sunday’s mishap, he’s been healthy with the Blue Jays this spring and says he was encouraged by his home run off Wheeler.

“This was the sort of swing that I was chasing,” said Votto. “The pull homers are a bit fake. They’re a little bit of an illusion. If you ask any really, really, good hitter, when you’re keeping the ball in the centre of the field or on the opposite field side with some power, it’s hard to fail with that. It’s hard to feel dissatisfied. So, I’m ecstatic about that swing.”

As Mattingly mentioned, Votto knows himself. He’s among the best hitters of his generation and possesses an understanding of hitting that few can rival. Yes, his day may have concluded with an unfortunate accident. Nonetheless, his impressive home run offered a dose of positivity, something that Votto will take on what was a significant day in his 2024 journey.

“I’m nowhere near where I want to be physically and with my swing,” said Votto. “But that’s a good step. It’s a good step in the right direction.”

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