MINNEAPOLIS — When Matt Stairs isn't paying attention to hitting at the plate, he is just as likely to be goofing around on the field.
Yesterday at the Metrodome, several hours before the first pitch in the game against the Minnesota Twins, the Toronto Blue Jays' designated hitter stood in foul territory down the first-base line and methodically rifled baseballs into the lower rows of the stands.
Not quite sure what the purpose of the exercise was, except, perhaps, to see whether he could leave his mark on the plastic seating.
The night before, Stairs, 40, left his mark on the Twins through a more traditional fashion – clubbing a home run to right field in the sixth inning that helped lift the Jays to a 5-3 victory in the first of a three-game series against Minnesota.
The home run was the fifth of the season for Stairs, who is settling quite nicely into the role of the Jays' everyday designated hitter after Toronto parted ways last month with Frank Thomas.
It was also the 12th home run of his career at the Metrodome.
“It's just one of those ballparks you come to you just feel comfortable hitting in,” said Stairs, who is batting a team-best .306 on the season. “Different ballparks, you step into the batter's box you feel you have a chance to hit a home run every time.”
Hitting homers has allowed Stairs to dine out at the major-league baseball level for the past 16 seasons.
And while his stroke does not feature the same high front leg kick that it did in his younger years, Stairs is still blessed with great bat speed, which he uses to generate most of his power.
“He's got that bat speed, that velocity,” manager John Gibbons said of Stairs, who he said has been Toronto's most consistent hitter this season. “More than that, though, he's got a good idea what he's doing.
“If the situation calls for the long ball he can do that. If you need base runners, he can take his hits the other way. He's not up their swinging, letting it rip. He's got a plan every time.”
Stairs, who grew up in Fredericton, has hit 246 home runs in his career, including 21 last season, his first with the Jays.
That unexpected power production prompted general manager J.P. Ricciardi to sign Stairs to a two-year, $3.25-million (U.S.) contract during the off-season.
Stairs is in second place among Canadian home-run hitters in major-league history, trailing Larry Walker, who hit 383 in his great 17-year career.
Stairs said that, at the age of 40, he is a little more refined in his approach at the plate than he used to be.
“I think I've made my stance and my swing a little more simple than it was before,” he said. “Before, I had the huge leg kick. Now, I kind of took the leg kick out of it and just use hands.
“I guess the good thing is I haven't lost any bat speed, so I can still generate power.”
A renowned hockey buff who both plays and coaches hockey during the off-season in Bangor, Me., Stairs said he has no idea why his talent to swat the long ball has remained a gift to him for so long.
He said it certainly doesn't have anything to do with any special off-season conditioning program he might follow, because he really doesn't have one, other than playing hockey.
Stairs admits he will not even pick up a bat. “Maybe to autograph one,” he said.
He said the baseball season is long enough that he doesn't have to concern himself with it once the year has ended.
“It's just a mental break,” he said. “You play 135, 140 games a year, so why would you want to play more baseball? Spring training is what you do to get ready for the season.
“I found when I was younger I used to go play winter ball or I used to take 200 swings a day, even at spring training. It used to be interesting, then it would become boring.”
It's not an approach many modern-day major-leaguers, who spend as much time in the gym as they do on the field, would adopt.
“Maybe the off-season programs [are] overrated,” Gibbons remarked.
“He still strikes fear into the other team, that's a big thing. He's a home-run threat, and if you make a mistake, he can burn you.”
