Blue Jays manager shrugs off Bautista comment on Indians rookie pitcher
TORONTO — Blue Jays manager John Gibbons shrugged off the suggestion Wednesday that star slugger Jose Bautista had given the Indians some juicy bulletin-board material by suggesting rookie Cleveland pitcher Ryan Merritt would be “shaking in his boots.”
Merritt, a 24-year-old left-hander, had made just one career start in the majors prior to Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. He wasn’t on the Indians’ ALDS roster but has been pressed into action die to injuries in the rotation.
He is somewhat of a mystery for the Jays.
“We’ll try to look at videos, look at some scouting reports, see how his ball moves,” Bautista told reporters after Game 4 Tuesday. “Not having seen him is something that could go either way. But with our experience and our lineup I’m pretty sure he’s going to be shaking in his boots more than we are. So I like where we’re at.”