Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston expressed surprise over stinging criticism from his own team, and insisted Friday he doesn't feel the need to regain favor in his own clubhouse. "If you've got two or three or four guys in there that have a problem, then you don't have to win anything, do you?" Gaston said before Toronto began its final series of the season at Baltimore. "You might have to certainly deal with those guys, but you don't have to win the clubhouse back." The Blue Jays are 75-84 this year, though they carried a six-game winning streak into Friday night's game against ... Read Full Story

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Carlson has been suspended three games, and other penalties were expected the day after a bench-clearing brawl at Yankee Stadium. Toronto manager Cito Gaston said Carlson was suspended and fined $3,000 Wednesday by Major League Baseball. Gaston also said Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas was fined $1,000. There was no immediate word on penalties handed out to Jorge Posada or any other Yankees. After a pair of Toronto players were hit by pitches, Carlson threw a fastball behind Posada late in the Blue Jays' 10-4 win Tuesday night. Moments later, Posada bumped Carlson after scoring a run, and the ... Read Full Story

Sixteen years after he helped bring consecutive World Series championships to the Blue Jays, retired second baseman Roberto Alomar said Friday that he'd like to work for the franchise someday. Alomar was one of 35 coaches and players from the 1992 and 1993 championship teams who returned for a reunion this weekend. They played golf and attended a dinner on Thursday, then were honored on the field before Friday night's game against Baltimore. Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, who also managed those championship teams, threw out the first pitch to Pat Borders, the MVP of the '92 World Series victory over Atlanta. Alomar got ... Read Full Story

Blue Jays rookie Randy Ruiz was hit in the face by a pitch from Josh Towers of the New York Yankees, and was able to walk off the field without assistance Sunday. Ruiz batted with the bases loaded in the fifth inning after Towers relieved Mark Melancon. Towers threw an 0-2 pitch that appeared to hit Ruiz in the cheek. Ruiz fell forward on his knees, holding his head. Trainer George Poulis and manager Cito Gaston rushed to Ruiz's side, and team physician Dr. Ron Taylor also tended to him. After a few minutes, Ruiz stood up, walked off and left the game. Ruiz ... Read Full Story

The Toronto Blue Jays have activated closer Scott Downs and put third baseman Edwin Encarnacion on the 15-day disabled list. The Blue Jays made the moves Monday. Downs is 1-3 with nine saves and a 3.41 ERA. Toronto manager Cito Gaston said he'll ease the left-hander back into the closer's role. Downs went on the DL for the second time this season Aug. 2 after aggravating an injury to his left big toe. Encarnacion was put on the DL because of a strained left hamstring. The move was retroactive to Aug. 21. The Blue Jays got Encarnacion in a trade with Cincinnati on July ... Read Full Story