April 26--Kevan Smith enthusiastically said he was ready Monday afternoon for his major-league debut -- until the "roller coaster of emotions" he rode from Triple-A Charlotte to Chicago to Toronto over three days made one more dip.
About an hour before the White Sox's game against the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, Smith, a 27-year-old catcher who was called up Sunday, was scratched from the lineup because of back spasms.
Smith had spent the afternoon going over the game plan with pitching coach Don Cooper and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, whom he had caught twice with Charlotte.
But the back issue popped up during warm-ups, and with catcher Alex Avila on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hamstring, Dioner Navarro was the only option behind the plate.
Manager Robin Ventura said before the game that Navarro would get the majority of the playing time while Avila is out, though Smith would occasionally give Navarro a rest.
Navarro faced a Blue Jays team he said he had a "great experience" with the previous two seasons. He said he had "some conversations" about returning to Toronto in the offseason, but it wasn't the right fit because he would have been a backup.
"I just want to play, man," Navarro said. "Obviously Russell (Martin) had a great last year, and I knew my playing time would be less. I loved the team and everything about it, but I have three kids and I had to look out for my family too. When this opportunity showed up, I knew it was going to be the best."
Navarro entered Monday hitting just .129, but he had a home run and three RBIs in his previous two games. He also has proved to be a valuable game caller, specifically in his work with right-hander Mat Latos, who has raved about their relationship during his 4-0 start.
"When you watch his games, he has that everyman's look," Ventura said. "He's smart. He has a feel for the game. We've seen the way Matty is pitching -- and any pitcher who feels that confident with a guy back there putting up the fingers -- can only be a positive.
"We know he'll hit, and he's come up in situations and gotten big hits for us. He's actually hit it better than his numbers indicate. When it warms up, those numbers will get up there."
