OTHER CITIES: VANCOUVER MONTREAL

Is this 1993? Jays Fire Gibbons, Bring Back Gaston

Posted by Joseph
Filed in Sports & Play
June 20, 2008

It's the 1990s all over again as the Jays have fired John Gibbons and his coaching staff and replaced them with Cito Gaston (as manager), and former coaches Nick Leyva and Gene Tenace.

This is no joke folks, although I have to say I doubled checked whether it was April 1st when I saw this news cross the wire.

After a fantastic May, the Blue Jays have struggled in June, going 4-12, and have fallen to last place in the American League East. The team is now 10.5 games behind first place Boston after losing their last five games.

Basically, the team had hit rock bottom and something had to give. Firing a manager is generally conceived as a smart move when a team is struggling, but the Blue Jays woes go far beyond the manager.

Photo credits: Gibbons, Gaston

Reader Reviews and Comments

Submit a Review or Comment

Citooooooo! :)

Posted by: Jerrold at June 20, 2008 2:37 PM

Bring back George Bell, Lyodd Moseby & Jesse Barfield!

Posted by: Jim at June 20, 2008 2:38 PM

Hey, if Gaston's the only one that could get the Jays to win (heck, not just win, but destroy everyone else in the league for two years) then it makes sense to bring the man back. Don't mess with what's good.

At least Gibbons' firing wasn't as bad as what my Mets did to Willie Randolph.

Posted by: Sameer Vasta at June 20, 2008 2:40 PM

@Jim: Don't forget the infield: Ernie Whitt, Willie Upshaw, Damaso Garcia, Tony Fernandes and Rance Mulliniks

The great classic Jays lineup!

\m/

Posted by: Chris Luckhardt at June 20, 2008 2:42 PM

CITO!!!

@Jim, Chris You guys are recalling the wrong guys.

Call on Devon White! Robbie Alomar! John Olerud! Dave Stewart! Duane Ward! Ed Sprague! Pat Borders! Joe Carter!

It's all or die for the J.P. Ricciardi era

Posted by: Let's Party Like It's 1993 at June 20, 2008 2:54 PM

@Chris Luckhardt - great lineup! Sadly along with firing Gibbons, they also fired Whitt (who'd been the Jays first-base coach this year)

Out with the new and in with the old! I think it's a great move - not only in terms of getting the club back on it's feet but in bringing back Cito, I think they'll bring some fans back to the game (people are a sucker for nostalgia...especially where winning was concerned!)

Posted by: Emma at June 20, 2008 2:58 PM

Poor Ernie Whitt, I thought if they fired Gibbons they would give him a shot to manage.

It's cool to have Cito back though, but you wonder with Ricciardi in charge if it will really make any difference.

So with the manager fired, who do you think is the first to be traded?

Posted by: Lyndon at June 20, 2008 3:04 PM

as has been pointed out elsewhere, Cito hasn't had a major league manager role since being ousted from the Jays...

As for Gibbons - does a team that pays a manager the league-lowest salary deserve more than a 305-305 record?

Posted by: Mark Dowling at June 20, 2008 3:22 PM

Wow. For the first time in 14 years, I'm interested in the Blue Jays again! I'll have to go see a game--my first in 15 years. Cito, iirc, is very shy. But this is gonna be interesting.

Posted by: andrew at June 20, 2008 6:19 PM