News
Accardo returns to Toronto's bullpen
Former Jays closer called up with Downs on disabled list
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
06/18/09 7:47 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Jeremy Accardo stopped following the Blue Jays closely. There was a time earlier this season, while pitching for Triple-A Las Vegas, when the reliever kept an eye on what was happening in Toronto. That changed after a development with the big league club had Accardo believing he was about to be promoted.The call never came.
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"I quit paying attention," said Accardo, who joined the Blue Jays on Thursday after finally being called up from Vegas. "It's too frustrating and it's too stressful. You've just got to go out there and do your job."
On Wednesday, Accardo's wait came to an end. While walking to the bullpen inside the ballpark in Reno, Nevada, the right-hander was called back to the dugout. He was informed that Blue Jays closer Scott Downs was being placed on the 15-day disabled list and that Toronto needed Accardo to catch a flight to Philadelphia.
That was welcome news for Accardo, who had been passed over for a handful of relievers all season.
When the Jays needed an extra arm after starter Jesse Litsch went down with a right elbow injury on April 18, the club promoted Bill Murphy. After former closer B.J. Ryan was shelved with a left shoulder issue at the end of April, the Jays called up right-hander Bryan Bullington. In May, the Jays swapped Bullington for Brian Wolfe, and then returned Wolfe to Vegas in favor of Dirk Hayhurst earlier this month.
Accardo, who saved 30 games as a closer for the Blue Jays in 2007, tried to keep his head high while watching other pitchers head between Las Vegas and Toronto.
"It's been a rough one," Accardo said. "It's been frustrating at times, but you've got to show up to the field every day with a positive attitude and just go about your business. Whatever happens, happens -- you can't control it. It's out of your hands. I learned that after a couple callups."
It was a frustrating chain of events that followed the disappointment of not making Toronto's Opening Day roster out of Spring Training. At the time, Accardo was upset, declining comment to reporters after being returned to the Minor Leagues at the end of the preseason.
Looking back now, Accardo views things differently. He's tried to see the situation from Toronto's perspective. The right-hander missed nearly all of last season with a right forearm injury and wasn't completely recovered during the spring.
"I kind of sat myself down and thought about it," Accardo said. "I missed a big chunk of the year last year and it's tough getting back. I was battling through some growing pains in spring and trying to work on stuff, where a lot of times if you don't have that big contract you've got to go out there and pitch to get outs.
"I'll be the first to say, with the way I pitched in spring, I wasn't ready for the big leagues. The first couple weeks down in Vegas I kind of got it all together and have just been fine-tuning since then."
Accardo didn't have to wait long for his first appearance. After flying through the night to get to Philadelphia, the Jays needed him to pitch in the ninth inning of a draining, 8-7, win over the Phillies. Accardo faced three batters, allowing one hit and earning his first save since April 20 of last season.
"It's good," Accardo said of his outing. "It just gives you that confidence. You have to pitch confident. I knew I was ready, but I have to prove to some people that I belong here and this is a good way to go about it."
Accardo said things really began to click for him on the mound about a month ago. During the spring, he was still holding back some while pitching, trying to get back to the point where he completely trusted his healing arm. Accardo said he has finally reached that stage, adding that his splitter and cut fastball have been as strong as they have been.
In 21 games with Las Vegas, the 27-year-old Accardo -- signed to a one-year, $900,000 contract to avoid arbitration with the Jays in January -- posted a 3.38 ERA with 22 strikeouts and seven walks over 24 innings. Last season, Accardo appeared in only 16 games for Toronto, finishing with a 6.57 ERA and landing on the DL in May.
Accardo has come a long way, considering he was close to undergoing Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow last year. In July of last season, he flew to Los Angeles to meet up with the Jays at Angel Stadium, but also to talk to Dr. Lewis Yocum, who examined the pitcher's enigmatic forearm injury.
"It had been talked about at the field," said Accardo, referring to possibly having surgery. "I ran into one of my teammates and they said, 'You're here to get Tommy John?' I'm like, 'No, I'm not. We don't even know what's wrong yet.' They were tossing it around.
The source of the injury was hard to determine, but Accardo eventually decided against a reconstructive operation after renowned arm specialist Dr. James Andrews told him continued rest was the best option.
"It's one of those nagging injuries that if you don't let it heal, it's just going to continue to bug you," Accardo said. "Once I let it heal, it was fine. I never really had a problem. There's been some soreness and stuff, but the last month and a half, I haven't had a problem with it.
"It's one of those injuries where nobody really knows what it is. Nothing shows up on it. It sounds like Tommy John. I can't even tell you how many MRIs I had last year."
Needless to say, it's been a long, and often frustrating, road back to the big leagues for Accardo.
"It was one of those things where the situations didnt match up," Accardo said with a shrug. "Now, it did. You hate to have it happen with one of your friends going down [with an injury], but you've got to come out here and pitch the best you can."
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
