Chris Bassitt gave Craig Albernaz a tight, personal assignment Thursday, facing the Blue Jays and refusing to let nostalgia touch the mound.
This was Bassitt's first start against Toronto since leaving for Baltimore on a 1-year, $18.5 million deal in February after 3 seasons with the Blue Jays.
And Bassitt admitted he handled it differently on purpose. He said he went into the game trying to keep tunnel vision and ignore who was standing in the other dugout.
That even included George Springer. Sportsnet reported Springer stuck out his tongue from the box early, but Bassitt said he was too locked in to even notice it.
The approach worked on the mound. Bassitt held Toronto to 1 run on 4 hits over 6 innings, with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts in one of his cleaner outings of the season.
Then came the honest line that made the moment feel even more real. Bassitt admitted he especially did not want to get lit up by those guys because he knew how much grief they would hand him if he did.
That part fits the relationship. Bassitt told Sportsnet he did not expect to leave Toronto with some of his best friends in the world on that team, and the bond clearly still sits close.
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Why this Chris Bassitt start felt different
Bassitt said he has made the mistake before of trying to make games like this too friendly. In his words, that can turn the competition meter off.
So this time he kept his head down. He said he did not want to look at Blue Jays players or coaches because his love for them could outweigh the edge he needed to pitch.
That is not fake clubhouse talk. Bassitt's thank-you message to Toronto back in February made it plain how much the city, the fan base, and that clubhouse meant to his family.
He also was not carrying bitterness into the matchup. Bassitt told Sportsnet he has no animosity toward the Blue Jays and remains forever grateful to the organization.
That is what made Thursday so interesting. The emotions were real, the friendships were real, and the best way Bassitt found to handle all of it was to shut the whole thing out for a few hours.
In the end, he got exactly what he wanted. Chris Bassitt did not let the reunion throw off his start, and he made sure the Blue Jays had to beat Baltimore without getting an easy laugh at his expense.
Did Chris Bassitt handle his first game against the Blue Jays the right way?
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