John Schneider glad to have Anthony Santander with Blue Jays

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SARASOTA, Fla. – Blue Jays manager John Schneider was never a big fan of the guy who looms as his new home run threat.

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He didn’t like the way Anthony Santander stood in the batter’s box.

He didn’t like his mannerisms.

And he especially didn’t like the way the man they call “Tony Taters” tended to clobber his team with timely hits and home runs.

“You joke about it a little bit at first, but I’ve told him I used to hate when during his first (at-bat) he does that little dig in and kind of stares in the dugout and looking at the clock,” Schneider said of the former Oriole, who was in the lineup here on Tuesday night for a game against his former team. “I wanted to punch him in the face every time he did that the last couple of years.

“And now I love it.”

Schneider didn’t actually want to punch Santander in the face. But like the hockey pest you hated to play against but has now moved into your lineup, there was some distaste for a despised foe.

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Of course, there’s another big reason Schneider is thrilled that Santander signed a five-year, $92.5-million US deal with the Jays. The temperature of the Jays’ rivalry with the O’s has risen over the past couple of seasons, especially as Baltimore has become a contender in their division. And in the context of the upcoming season, the Jays are now just nine days away from opening their season with a four-game homestand against Santander’s former squad.

“The cool part is you’re not only adding a really good talent to your team, you’re taking it away from a really good team in your division,” Schneider said before Tuesday’s contest at Ed Smith Stadium. “To get an outsider’s perspective is is pretty cool from a different lens. It’s competition that does that to you, but I’m glad he’s on our side now.”

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The bonus is now that he’s a blue bird instead of an orange and black one, Santander has been a terrific fit in the Toronto clubhouse. The veterans we spoke to have appreciated his knowledge, his work ethic and, of course, the potential his bat adds to the lineup.

Schneider is all in on that personality.

“It has been pretty apparent early that he is such a team-first guy, just in conversations with him,” Schneider said. “And then seeing him interact with the team and all the reports that we got from Baltimore, he’s kind of exceeded them with the type of person that he is.

“And when you have success, you kind of have immediate street cred with the guys, especially when you’re playing against him quite a bit. So the guys respect him. And when you get to know him and you get to talking about what’s important to him — which is not his personal stats or his 44 homers last year or his contract — he said what’s important to him is winning. I think that’s a really good message to send to everyone.”

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MAX FACTOR

Pitcher Max Scherzer made a brief appearance in the Jays clubhouse in Dunedin before the team took the bus ride south to Sarasota. He said the status of his right thumb is still “day to day,” though the team is hopeful he’ll be back in action later this week.

The 40-year-old veteran felt pain in his thumb after throwing 47 pitches in a simulated game Monday in Dunedin.

“Max was feeling pretty good today, probably a little bit better than I think he expected,” Schneider said. “We’re just going to kind of continue to manage it.”

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As for next steps, Schneider said the hope is Scherzer will throw off the mound again this week, potentially in game action.

Scherzer was doing his best to remain even-keeled about his situation, despite the obvious frustration.

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“I don’t want to be positive. I don’t want to be negative,” Scherzer said. “It’s really stupid. That’s what it is.”

Schneider said that failing a recovery by Scherzer, the team will keep its rotation options open. Yariel Rodriguez, whose work has been uneven this spring, has remained stretched out and is likely the lead possibility. Another is lefty Eric Lauer, who got the start here on Tuesday.

AROUND THE BASES

The form of veteran George Springer, dodgy as it was the past couple of seasons, remains an ongoing concern for the Jays. Schneider on what he’s seen so far from the outfielder: “My impression is he’s making progress in the things he’s working on. I couldn’t tell you what he’s hitting — couldn’t tell you, really, what anyone’s hitting. But roughly what I’m looking for for him is are you swinging at the right pitches?” … Starting the season at home affords the Jays the luxury of rest and preparation for next Thursday’s opener. After flying to Toronto on Sunday night, there will be an off day Monday and then the team will have workouts at the Rogers Centre on Wednesday and Thursday. For those practice sessions, Schneider said he’ll have hitters facing live pitchers to help get acclimated to the park.

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