Atkins responds to Giles' exchange with Paulino

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins likes the fact that Ken Giles is holding his teammates accountable, he just wishes the closer went about it a different way.

Giles got into a heated exchange with prospect David Paulino during an on-field drill prior to Thursday's game against the Yankees. The veteran reliever appeared to take issue with the fact that Paulino was not participating in a defensive drill near third base.

The 28-year-old Giles unloaded a profanity-laced rant in the direction of Paulino. Atkins doesn't mind the concept of calling out a teammate whenever the need arises, but he doesn't like that it happened in full view of the media and fans shortly before the game.

"Overall, we never like for a controversy to occur," Atkins said. "We would certainly prefer that when controversy does occur, that it’s not public and in front of our fans and friends. But ultimately, a teammate making another teammate accountable is part of creating a better environment. How that transpires, we can’t always control. But accountability is certainly important as a teammate."

Giles initially was scheduled to pitch against the Phillies on Friday afternoon, but he was scratched after manager Charlie Montoyo claimed the native of New Mexico slept on his right shoulder the wrong way and was experiencing soreness. The news came one day after Montoyo said Giles had been away from the field this week because of the flu.

Toronto is more than a month into Spring Training and Giles, who finished last season with 14 saves, still hasn't received much work. Giles has allowed five runs (four earned) over 2 2/3 innings. Despite the lack of appearances, Atkins said the Blue Jays are confident Giles will be ready for Opening Day vs. the Tigers on March 28.

"No, it’s not concerning," Atkins said. "Based on what we’re seeing, how the ball is coming out of his hand and how much time we have left."

Atkins held his weekly availability with Toronto reporters on Friday morning, and Giles was far from being the only topic discussed.

On what the Blue Jays have liked about Ryan Borucki, who allowed one run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings to the Phillies on Friday:
Atkins: "It’s the body of work. But this spring has been similar to the body of work. He’s been extremely prepared, he’s been extremely committed every day to his routine. He has the physical attributes of a Major League pitcher, a Major League starting pitcher as well. It’s more in just the commitment to his offseason, the commitment to his routines, that we feel that he has certainly earned that consideration."

On the performance of Anthony Alford:
Atkins: "It’s been fun. He’s such an easy guy to pull for, for very obvious reasons. His perseverance, the person that he is, to see the three home runs in a couple of days was very exciting; put a big smile on my face. Players like Anthony Alford, there’s so much volatility, it’s so hard to predict exactly what he’s going to be. He could be a star and he could end up not having a great Major League career. Those flashes are really exciting to see and I’m really happy for him."

On whether prospect Bo Bichette has raised expectations:**
Atkins:** "It would be hard for him to raise expectations, because they’ve always been very high. But he does continue to find a way to really give us encouraging feelings about his future. His commitment, I think players, in our view, especially high school players who become great, it’s 12 months. It’s not the six or seven months that they’re with us or the weeks in the offseason that they spend with us, it’s how they treat every day for 12 months of the year. And Bo is one of the best I’ve been around on that front. Francisco Lindor was that way. And Bo Bichette, he wakes up every day thinking about he can be a better baseball player, and that is not just the days that we’re playing baseball games."

On whether he believes the Blue Jays are a better defensive team this season:
Atkins: "Yeah, we are. I think having options and having Freddy Galvis in the middle, having played 162 games for a longer period of time is very encouraging. But the progress of Lourdes [Gurriel] that he’s making at second base. Brandon Drury has been exceptional. We felt as though he would be a solid third baseman. Justin Smoak is as consistent as they come at first base. Kevin Pillar you can see is playing deeper. I think that’s positively affecting him. But it’ll take time before we’re elite. We’ve made some positive steps."

Up next

The Blue Jays will play a pair of split-squad games on Saturday afternoon. Lefty Thomas Pannone is scheduled to face the Yankees on the road at 1:05 p.m. ET, and right-hander Sam Gaviglio is set to start at home vs. the Orioles at 1:07 p.m. ET.