News
Gaston: Wins will bring more fans
Toronto (67-83) vs. Baltimore (60-90), 7:07 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/21/09 11:40 PM ET
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays once again drew a sparse crowd on Monday night, continuing a recent run of disappointing attendance figures as the season nears the finish line. Looking ahead to next year, Toronto manager Cito Gaston knows there is only one way to convince more fans to head to Rogers Centre."The fans were coming out when we were winning," said Gaston, whose club hosts the Orioles on Tuesday night in the second tilt of a three-game series. "They were supporting us. That's what we have to do. We have to put a winning club out there on the field, and I think they'll come back. It's as simple as that."
On Monday, the Jays drew an announced crowd of 11,598, marking the fifth consecutive home game with fewer than 14,000 in the seats. Each of the past three home games have drawn crowds smaller than 12,000, including a record low of 11,159 for a contest against the Twins on Sept. 9. Dating back to Aug. 21, nine of 11 home contests have seen crowds of fewer 18,000, excluding one series against the Yankees.
For an organization that has not been to the postseason since 1993, Gaston knows the team risks losing the interest of some fans if the Blue Jays continue to post losing records. This year, Toronto will finish below .500 for the first time since 2005, ending a run of three straight years with winning marks.
"People forget," Gaston said. "A couple years ago, I was walking by this ballpark and little kids were walking by and they didn't know who I was. Now that I'm back [as manager], they do, but that happens. If you have good clubs, people are watching you. People are watching you on TV or they're coming to the games and everybody knows the good players and they know the team that's doing well.
"I guess when you're not playing well, a lot of things can happen bad. We just need to put a good club out there and hopefully get healthy for next year. That's the first thing, is getting some of these pitchers back that we lost this year and start over next year and see what happens."
Gaston said he would tell fans that healthy pitching is the reason to be optimistic about 2010. Injured pitchers Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch should both make comebacks at some point, and Dustin McGowan might be an option at some time as well. Add them to a mix of young arms who have gained experience this year, and Gaston sees reason to be hopeful about the future.
"I think you sell [the fans] on that we will have more experienced pitchers than we had this year," Gaston said. "And some of the kids that have pitched this year, some of them have a chance to certainly make this club and come back and pitch for us next year.
"Who knows what's going to happen in the offseason as far as acquiring other players and things like that? I think you start with the pitching, though. You can't win without pitching."
That being said, there also is the possibility the Blue Jays will entertain trade offers for ace Roy Halladay during the offseason. Gaston asked if he would still tell fans to expect a better team if Halladay were to be dealt before next year.
"It depends on what you get for him -- who you get," Gaston said. "If that happens, hopefully you're going to get a couple of guys back who are going to come in and pitch pretty well for you. If you can do that and you get the other kids back, you probably could. It just depends who you get back."
The Jays are hoping to get more fans back at the ballpark, too.
"I think they still support us," Gaston said. "They probably support us more watching us [on TV] than coming out to see us. As I've said, I think if you win, they'll come back. That's just the way it is. If you win, they come back. If you don't, they don't."
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.31 ERA)
Tallet is 2-1 with a 6.87 ERA in four starts since returning to the Blue Jays' rotation.
Hendrickson is 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 27 games (three starts) on the road this season. Bird feed
Litsch, who underwent season-ending Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his throwing elbow in May, is with the Blue Jays for the team's final homestand of the season this week. When the homestand ends, Litsch will return to Florida to resume his rehabilitation. The Blue Jays hope he will be ready to rejoin the rotation in May or June next season. ... Gaston is not ready to declare lefty Scott Downs (right hamstring) done for the year, but the manager is nearing that point. "We're pretty close," Gaston said. "We're going to go day-to-day with him, and if he can pitch, fine. If he can't, it's getting close to that time when you say, 'Hey, we'll see what happens for next year.'" ... Shortstop John McDonald launched a solo home run in the sixth inning on Monday night, tying his career best with three long balls this season. McDonald hit three in 260 at-bats in 2004, compared to three in 105 at-bats this year. ... Rookie outfielder Travis Snider has struck out at least once in nine consecutive games, striking out 18 times in his past 33 at-bats over that span. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• SNET On radio
• FAN 590 Up next
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 6-10, 5.31) vs. Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 10-15, 5.05), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 12-9, 4.28) vs. Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 16-5, 2.45), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Friday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 15-10, 3.01) vs. Mariners (Doug Fister, 2-3, 4.37), 7:07 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.
