The 25-year-old believes so deeply in Gaston's counsel that he reviews his game plan with the manager before each at-bat.

For technical help, Lind relies on hitting coach Gene Tenace, but says he still needs to improve on patience at the plate and command of the strike zone, which is where Gaston helps.

"He doesn't guess. He just knows what the pitcher is going to try to do to you every time out," said Lind, who appeared in 88 games last season. "It's just waiting for that one pitch. At this level you'll only get it one time."

Yesterday, Lind went hitless with an RBI in the Jays' 6-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. He hasn't recorded a hit this spring but his first-inning sacrifice fly drove in the game's initial run.

The Jays have 12 runs in their last two games after mustering one against the Yankees in Wednesday's pre-season opener.

Since Gaston rejoined the Jays last June, he and Lind have forged a strong bond. Before each at-bat, Gaston drills Lind on knowing what pitch he wants, making sure he gets it and attacking it when he sees it.

Early last season, that pitch was usually on the inside half of the plate.

But as the season progressed pitchers stayed outside, and as late-season fatigue set in Lind's average sagged.

In fact, it dropped 13 points in the season's final 10 games.

Lind spent part of last season in the minors, where coaches used the entire roster and he knew he'd have a day off every week or so, and by season's end playing almost every day had worn him out.

But this spring he says he's prepared mentally and physically for everyday play.

Meanwhile, Gaston has continued assuring Lind that he'll earn plenty of at-bats as a designated hitter, and that even if inside pitches are his strength, outside pitches didn't have to become a weakness.

"He can hit that ball away. It's not like they're getting away with it," he said. "And he can hit that ball in. It's just that he has to make sure he's hitting one or the other."

As steady as their pre at-bat routine has become, Lind says it evolved from pure luck.

Shortly after Gaston took over as manager last summer, Lind noticed he couldn't move from the bench to the on-deck circle without passing Gaston and the empty seat next to him.

One day he sat in the spot, listened to his coach's advice and loved the results.

"I had no choice but to sit right next to him," he said. "I had a good day and Baseball players are going to stick to (what works)."

mcampbell @ thestar.ca