VENUE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
While the Toronto Blue Jays are well ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the standings, their manager appears to be in worse shape for the future.
The Blue Jays and Orioles continue their season-ending three-game set Saturday night at Camden Yards with managers who appear headed in opposite directions.
This will be the first losing season for Toronto (75-85) in four years in its first full season of the second stint of Cito Gaston's managerial career. Gaston guided the club to its lone World Series titles in 1992-93.
Reports have surfaced that things aren't going well this time around for Gaston. Information attributed to players who spoke anonymously began circulating Friday detailing widespread problems that players want addressed, including the perception that the 65-year-old Gaston displayed a negative attitude and a passive managerial style.
Gaston doesn't believe there is a problem.
"The guys are fine. I talked about it early so there isn't a lot of need to go into it now," Gaston said after his club's 13-7 loss Friday.
Baltimore (62-98), meanwhile, is finishing up its 12th straight losing season and second in a row in last place. The club, though, announced Friday that manager Dave Trembley will be coming back for a third full season with the Orioles.
Trembley has compiled a 170-244 record since taking over for the fired Sam Perlozzo on June 18, 2007. The Orioles have won two straight after a 13-game losing streak.
"It has been difficult the last couple weeks for everybody. But take that last couple weeks aside (and) what we said we were going to do, we did," Trembley said.
Baltimore ended a five-game skid against Toronto on Friday behind Michael Aubrey's two homers and career-high six RBIs. Cesar Izturis added three hits and three runs scored.
"It's good to know what you are going to be dealing with in the future. Having uncertainty leaves everyone tiptoeing around," Aubrey said. "But now everyone knows, everyone is comfortable with the way things have been run and handled."
Matt Wieters hit a three-run homer Friday and is batting .418 with four homers and 16 RBIs in his last 17 games. The rookie has raised his average from .265 to a season-high .295 in that span.
The Orioles will try to defeat Scott Richmond (8-10, 5.35 ERA) for the first time Saturday. Richmond is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts against the Orioles, including two wins this year.
The right-hander will try to close 2009 on a three-start win streak. He yielded four runs over six innings Monday in an 11-5 victory at Boston.
Mark Hendrickson (5-5, 4.38) will try to end a nine-start winless streak when he takes the mound for Baltimore. He won his first outing April 10 over Tampa Bay before going 0-5 with a 6.10 ERA in the next nine.
The left-hander gave up three runs over six innings Monday in a 7-6 road loss to the Rays.
Hendrickson began his career with Toronto in 2002, and is 2-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 12 career starts against the Blue Jays.
Morning clouds. Warm.
