I thought this was worthy of its own thread rather than being buried in just the Blue Jays thread. The Blue Jays have just fired John Gibbons as manager and re-hired Cito Gaston. Gaston is the manager who won the Jays back to back World Series in the early 90's. I've always been baffled with how well regarded he was that he never was scooped up to manage another team after he and the Jays parted ways.
Most of the coaching staff was let go to as the Jays cleaned house more or less with the exception of the architect of this mess GM - JP Ricciardi.
Not surpirsing in light of Toronto's pathetic bats this year that hitting coach Gary Denbo, who was in his first year with the Jays was let go. Also gone are third-base coach Marty Pevey and first-base coach Ernie Whitt.
The Jays have hired Gene Tenace its new hitting coach, Dwayne Murphy and Nick Leyva as the club's first-base coach and third-base coach, respectively.
Gaston, along with the new coaches, will be in the dugout tonight in Pittsburgh, where the Jays are opening a three-game series.
Full Version: Cito Gaston back as Blue Jay Manager
A shocking turn of events. One has to wonder whose idea this was. It doesn't smell like JP Ricciardi's handiwork. I suspect this was Paul Godfrey's doing. But Cito could save Ricciardi's job. Either way, it's a win-win situation for the Jays. Cito brings goodwill and fond memories of the Jays' glory days. The Jays didn't have to offer him big money or a long-term deal; he's signed only until the end of the season. The fans are happy (familiar) change and management can coast for another half season.
The big question, though, is.... when will JP be let go?
*Further evidence that JP is skating on thin ice was his disrespectful outburst this week on the local sports radio. Answering a caller question about Adam Dunn, Ricciardi said:
"What do you know about Adam Dunn? He's a lifetime .230, .240 hitter that strikes out a ton and hits home runs. Do you know that the guy really doesn't like baseball all that much? Do you know the guy doesn't have a passion to play the game that much?
How much do you know about the player? There's a reason why you're attracted to some players and there's a reason why you're not attracted to some players. I don't think you'd be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here."
to which Dunn replied:
"I know nothing about this clown.
I have no idea who he is," Dunn said. "I don't really care what one guy thinks, to be honest with you. If I'm a GM, I don't know if I would go out of my way to kind of discredit a player.
"He doesn't even know me. If he knew me, fine, say what you want. This guy doesn't know anything about me, other than what he sees on whatever SportsCenter they have up there. That's it."
The big question, though, is.... when will JP be let go?
*Further evidence that JP is skating on thin ice was his disrespectful outburst this week on the local sports radio. Answering a caller question about Adam Dunn, Ricciardi said:
"What do you know about Adam Dunn? He's a lifetime .230, .240 hitter that strikes out a ton and hits home runs. Do you know that the guy really doesn't like baseball all that much? Do you know the guy doesn't have a passion to play the game that much?
How much do you know about the player? There's a reason why you're attracted to some players and there's a reason why you're not attracted to some players. I don't think you'd be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here."to which Dunn replied:
"I know nothing about this clown.
I have no idea who he is," Dunn said. "I don't really care what one guy thinks, to be honest with you. If I'm a GM, I don't know if I would go out of my way to kind of discredit a player."He doesn't even know me. If he knew me, fine, say what you want. This guy doesn't know anything about me, other than what he sees on whatever SportsCenter they have up there. That's it."
Ernie Whitt wonders (as we all do) why J.P. still has his job:
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Ricciardi's response: "People have forgotten the fact that I put Ernie in the big leagues. He got a big league job because of me. I'm the one who pushed him to be on this staff. I don't know what his comments were I just know that Ernie was a big league coach because of me."
In other words, how dare Ernie be upset? He owes everything to J.P. We should all bow down to J.P. He is god.
Paul Godfrey's comments weren't much better, rambling on about how he's known Ernie since he was a player--but hasn't yet contacted him. Too busy answering media requests, it seems. Too busy to console a guy he's known for over 20 years.
That's Blue Jay loyalty for you. I'm disgusted with that organization. Yeauch!
QUOTE
"The saddest part is that the GM says: 'I'm responsible ... I put the team together.' But he still has his job," Whitt said.
* * *
"I thought I had people in my corner," Whitt said. "I go back a long way with Paul Godfrey, with people close to the team like Herb Solway and Paul Beeston,.
"I'm beyond angry, I'm beyond shock. I am trying to take the high road, but if I did something wrong, I wish they'd have explained it to me."
* * *
"I thought I had people in my corner," Whitt said. "I go back a long way with Paul Godfrey, with people close to the team like Herb Solway and Paul Beeston,.
"I'm beyond angry, I'm beyond shock. I am trying to take the high road, but if I did something wrong, I wish they'd have explained it to me."
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Ricciardi's response: "People have forgotten the fact that I put Ernie in the big leagues. He got a big league job because of me. I'm the one who pushed him to be on this staff. I don't know what his comments were I just know that Ernie was a big league coach because of me."
In other words, how dare Ernie be upset? He owes everything to J.P. We should all bow down to J.P. He is god.
Paul Godfrey's comments weren't much better, rambling on about how he's known Ernie since he was a player--but hasn't yet contacted him. Too busy answering media requests, it seems. Too busy to console a guy he's known for over 20 years.
That's Blue Jay loyalty for you. I'm disgusted with that organization. Yeauch!
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