News
Gaston returns to site of World Series win
Toronto (27-17) at Atlanta (20-20), 7:30 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
05/21/09 11:45 PM ET
BOSTON -- It'd be hard for Cito Gaston to forget the last time he was in Atlanta as manager of the Blue Jays. Braves outfielder Otis Nixon tried for a bunt single in the 11th inning on that night 17 years ago, but the ball skipped too close to the mound, and the rest is history.
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Reliever Mike Timlin gloved the grounder and tossed it over to Blue Jays first baseman Joe Carter, sealing a 4-3 victory in Game 6 of the 1992 World Series and setting off a celebration for Toronto and its fans. That was the first of consecutive championships for the Jays in an era that helped Gaston establish himself as one of baseball's great leaders.
"It's nice to go back there," Gaston said with a smile.
On Friday, Gaston and the Blue Jays return to Atlanta for the first Interleague series of the season for Toronto. On that October evening nearly two decades ago, Braves manager Bobby Cox watched the Jays clinch their first crown. He'll be sitting in the home dugout again when the Jays visit Turner Field this weekend.
Had it not been for Cox -- now in his 20th season as Atlanta's skipper -- Gaston may never have experienced some of the great moments he has in baseball. Gaston doesn't forget that.
Back in 1982, when Cox was managing the Blue Jays, former Toronto general manager Pat Gillick approached the skipper about hiring the club's first full-time hitting instructor. Cox knew Gaston from their days in the Minor Leagues and thought he would be a good candidate to help the Jays' hitters.
"I really like Cito. He's a gentleman and the players love him," Cox said. "When Pat Gillick asked me for some names for a hitting coach, he was one of the first guys that I mentioned."
Gaston, who played with the Braves from 1975-78, worked under Cox in Toronto for four seasons and was later named the team's manager in 1989. A year later, Cox began his stint as Atlanta's manager, setting a chain of events in motion that would have the pair of longtime friends in opposing dugouts for that '92 Fall Classic.
Following Toronto's World Series titles, Gaston managed the club until he was dismissed at the end of the 1997 season. It took another 11 years for Gaston to land a managerial job in the big leagues. Last June, Toronto brought Gaston back as its field general, hoping to breathe some life into a struggling ballclub.
The Jays improved down the stretch last season under Gaston, and the club is currently in first place in the American League East, thanks in part to a resurgent offense. Under the circumstances, Gaston is viewing Toronto's upcoming series as just another set of games to win, especially considering the Jays were just swept in Boston.
"It's just going to play another team and trying to beat them," Gaston said. "But, it's always nice to see Bobby Cox."
Gaston and Cox reunited last season during Interleague Play, and the Blue Jays won two of the three games in Toronto. Since Interleague Play began in 1997, Toronto has posted a 14-7 mark (8-4 at home and 6-3 on the road) in games against Atlanta. Toronto's last trip to Turner Field came in 2006, and the Jays swept that three-game series.
Having the same managers facing off 17 years after matching wits in a World Series is rare. Cox admitted that there is a special feeling when he is managing against someone he has known for a long time.
"Cito and I go back a long way," Cox said. "When you're going up against guys you've known that long, there's some different feelings there. I can't really explain them, but they're there."
It will be a special series for Gaston and Cox, but also for those who have had the privilege of being around the veteran managers over the years. Just ask Bobby Dews, a former Cox assistant who now serves as a Major League consultant for the Braves. Dews was a Minor League coach when Gaston played for Atlanta.
"Those are two of the most respected guys you'll ever find," Dews said. "It's not just because they are solid baseball guys. It's because they are solid people. Those are the kinds of guys that everybody in baseball looks up to and respects. I'm not talking about popularity. I'm talking about respect."
Pitching matchup
TOR: RHP Roy Halladay (8-1, 2.78 ERA)
Halladay is 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA in four starts on the road this year.
Kawakami is 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA in four starts at home this season. Bird feed
While he's a fan of Interleague Play, count Gaston among those who are not fans of having AL pitchers bat. "It's certainly a disadvantage to American League teams," he said. "I don't care what they say, it's a disadvantage. Doc can take a swing and you could lose him for I don't know how long. Or, up there bunting, they don't bunt. They could get hit on their fingers with a pitch. They don't run bases. It's just altogether not good for American League teams." ... Blue Jays pitchers have combined to hit .100 (24-for-240) with one home run and five RBIs in team history. The lone home run came off the bat of Mark Hendrickson on June 21, 2003, in Montreal. ... Halladay has hit .081 (3-for-37) with two runs and one RBI in his career. Halladay is tied for the most hits by a Toronto pitcher in club history. ... Last season, Blue Jays pitchers combined to go 0-for-16 at the plate. Toronto was one of five AL teams without a hit from its pitching staff. ... Toronto has lost three games in a row for the first time this season. ... The Jays are 11-11 on the road this season. ... Entering Thursday, the Blue Jays had scored 54 more runs than they had allowed, representing the best run differential in the AL. ... Following Thursday's game, the Blue Jays optioned outfielder Travis Snider to Triple-A Las Vegas. The club will announce a replacement on Friday. Tickets
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• FAN 590 Up next
• Saturday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 4-2, 3.64) at Braves (Derek Lowe, 5-2, 3.58), 7:00 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 2-2, 4.47) at Braves (Jair Jurrjens, 4-2, 1.96), 1:30 p.m. ET
• Monday: Blue Jays (Brett Cecil, 2-1, 4.38) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 3-4, 5.37), 1:35 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
