ARLINGTON, Tex. — Cito Gaston begins his 14th season and final season as a manager this afternoon when the Blue Jays open against the Texas Rangers.
It will be his first season as a lame duck.
“Buck was probably right, for his situation,” said Gaston, after being told of Rodgers thoughts with the 1989 Montreal Expos.
He has company. Exactly half the 30 major-league managers are on the final year with varying degrees of job security awaiting them.
“I’m different from some guys,” Gaston said in the Jays third base dugout Easter Sunday. “I’m going to walk away, some of those guys are going to get fired.”
Joe Girardi, NY Yankees
Jerry Manuel, NY Mets
Dusty Baker, Cincinnati
A best case scenario for Gaston?
“A .500 season,” he said.
And then what? What if the Jays ask him to return?
“Whatever is good for the organization,” Gaston said.
Earlier, when asked what he thought he’d be doing a year from today, Gaston answered “The Riviera? I’ve got some places I want to see.”
Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs
Dave Tremblay, Baltimore
Trey Hillman, Kansas City
And a worst-case scenario, what if Gaston is looking at a 90-losses?
“As long as we see some kids grow, if Travis Snider and Brandon (Morrow) improve, it will be a step in the right direction for next season,” Gaston said. “I want to come back in a few years and see this team in first.”
Bobby Cox, Atlanta
Ken Macha, Milwaukee
Ron Washington, Texas
The 2009 season was supposed to be Cox’s farewell but chose to return. And if Cox changes his mind again, he’ll be back again.
“I enjoyed the start of 2009,” said Gaston, whose Jays were 13 games before being swept in Boston, Atlanta and Baltimore. They finished with 75 win, with Roy Halladay.
Tony La Russa, St. Louis
John Russell, Pittsburgh
“I enjoyed all of last season, but Baltimore wasn’t too much fun,” said Gaston, referring to the Mutiny in Maryland, now played down by the players, and the 1993 all-star game at Camden Yards, where he sent in Duane Ward over hometown hero Mike Mussina and was greeted by “Cito sucks” T-shirts.
Joe Torre, L.A. Dodgers
Buddy Black, San Diego
Gaston is in a different class of duck, walking away on his own terms.
bob.elliott@sunmedia.ca
