CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Be patient.
That was the message to Toronto Blue Jays fans from Lloyd Moseby, who patrolled centre field for the team for a decade. The Jays (52-62) entered Friday’s play in fourth place in the American League East and are among a glut of teams out of the playoff race. The squad has dealt with a series of injuries to key players like shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (Tulo) and third baseman Josh Donaldson (J.D.).
“Listen, we’ve got guys (coming), you just have to be patient,” said Moseby, who fills an ambassador role. “We don't want to bring them up and get their hearts broken.”
Moseby was in town for a two-day Honda Super Camp, run by the Blue Jays Baseball Academy, that started Thursday and concluded Friday.
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Moseby sees similarities between the team he joined in the early 1980s and the current rendition.
“Our job now is you try to get these young players to a certain standard and (then) you can put something around them,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Tulo is hurt. Unfortunately, J.D. is hurt. And unfortunately, you can see that right now. But if you get these young players . . . and put some guys around with some validity, you’d be amazed how quickly it happens.”
Moseby said he’s met Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at Winter Fest and noted Bo Bichette is also amongst the top prospects in the game.
Moseby recalled when the Jays sent young ace-in-the-waiting Roy Halladay from the majors to Class-A to work on his delivery.
“I was in AAA when we sent him back. He was down,” Moseby recalled.
“He was mentally burnt out. Somehow . . . we got him to believe he could do this thing and the rest is history. Baseball is not all about talent, it’s about the fight.”
