Gossage absent when Jays visit Steinbrenner Field

After making comments critical of instant replay in baseball and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, Hall of Famer Goose Gossage was not at Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday night when Toronto played New York.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Gossage was at an autograph signing and was not asked to stay away by the team.

Gossage, a Yankees spring training instructor, criticized Blue Jays star Jose Bautista last week for his bat flip during last year's playoffs, calling him "a disgrace to the game" during an interview with ESPN.

In remarks about replay published Monday, Gossage told the New York Post: "Who's died in the last 100 years because of a bad call?" He also said "do we want a bunch of Cam Newtons running around?" a reference to the flamboyant NFL player.

Gossage met Friday with Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Cashman. Girardi said there have been no additional meetings with Gossage since then.

"I heard a great comment the other day," Girardi said Wednesday. "There's freedom of speech in our country, but that doesn't always mean that's there not freedom of consequences. Sometimes people want to say there's freedom of speech, but sometimes you're going to be judged on what you say. So, that's part of life."

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