Blue Jays fans shouldn't expect to see Brett Lawrie at third base Tuesday night when he returns to Toronto to face his old team for the first time since Oakland acquired him in a trade last off-season.
No, Lawrie isn't injured, although that was commonplace in the Canadian's three seasons in Toronto.
The Langley, B.C., native has shifted to second base, a position he occupied at times with the Blue Jays, while Danny Valencia, Lawrie's teammate in Toronto, mans the hot corner.
While the Athletics arrive for a three-game series having won three of four from Houston, Lawrie is in the midst of a funk at the plate, posting a .194 batting average in a 17-game stretch. But the struggles aren't enough to bring down the usually amped-up Lawrie in his return home.
'I've learned what I need to do ... to be able to stay on the field every single day.' - A's 2nd baseman/ex-Blue Jays Brett Lawrie
"I loved playing in Toronto. I loved the fan base and the fans," Lawrie, who's hitting .268 with 10 home runs and 47 runs batted in this season, told Oakland reporters recently. "I was in a good situation when I was there, but the stadium [Rogers Centre] the way it made me feel physically wasn't really good."
Lawrie, who has played 106 of 113 games this season but managed to appear in only 177 over the two previous campaigns, visits an acupuncturist twice a week during Oakland's homestands.
"I've learned what I need to do … to be able to stay on the field and help the ballclub," he said. "Acupuncture … helps to get things back in line so I can stay on the field every single day. It gets things back in line."
Lawrie will face a Blue Jays outfit that has won eight in a row following a three-game sweep of the American League East-leading New York Yankees. An 11-1 run has Toronto within 1 ½ games of the Bronx Bombers.
Life is good
Lawrie said he is enjoying life as an Athletic, even though the team is 51-62, 10 games behind the American League West-leading Astros and nine back in the wild-card race.
"The numbers may not say good things as far as win and lose … but as far as the camaraderie goes and playing with these guys, it's been great. I've had the opportunity to meet some new guys, build some new relationships."
'He's got an opportunity, and he's taken advantage of it.' - A's manager Bob Melvin on newcomer/ex-Jay Danny Valencia
Valencia, whom Oakland claimed off waivers last week from Toronto after the Blue Jays traded for speedy left-fielder Ben Revere, has fit in with his new team. The fan favourite in Toronto delivered the winning hit in Sunday's 5-4 victory over Houston and earlier in the game hit a home run.
Valencia is 7-for-16 (.438) in four games for Oakland with two homers and five RBIs, and has also been batting in the cleanup position. In 58 games as a role player with the Jays this season, he hit .296 with seven homers and 29 RBIs.
"He's got an opportunity, and he's taken advantage of it," A's manager Bob Melvin told Oakland reporters. "We've won a couple of games [since his arrival], and we'll leave him there [cleanup] for the time being."
Kendall Graveman, a former Blue Jays pitching prospect who was part of the five-player trade with Lawrie that saw third baseman Josh Donaldson join Toronto, takes the mound for Oakland in the series opener.
The 24-year-old right-hander also opened a three-game set versus the Jays in Oakland three weeks ago and it was an outing he would rather forget. Graveman surrendered solo home runs to Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion while Russell Martin added a three-run blast. He allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings.
Since that game, the Blue Jays have added shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, starting pitcher David Price, relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe, along with infielder Cliff Pennington and Revere.
Drew Hutchison (10-2, 5.42 earned-run average) starts for the Jays and Toronto's high-octane attack has been particularly lethal with the right-hander on the mound, scoring at least six runs in 10 of his last 11 outings.
Hutchison again was bailed out by his teammates in his last outing, picking up the win against Minnesota despite giving up seven runs (three earned) over five innings.
It has been a common theme for Hutchison, who has managed to avoid a loss despite getting singed for 17 runs and 21 hits in 14 innings over his last three turns. He has pitched markedly better at home, posting an 8-1 mark and 2.69 ERA in 11 starts at Rogers Centre.
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