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Last-place Blue Jays fire Gibbons and coaches
13 minutes ago
Buzz Up PrintPITTSBURGH (AP)—John Gibbons was fired Friday by the last-place Toronto Blue Jays and replaced by Cito Gaston, who led the team to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.
The Blue Jays began the day 35-39, having lost five straight and 13 of their last 17 games to fall 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
He is the third major league manager to be fired this week, following Willie Randolph of the New York Mets and John McLaren of the Seattle Mariners.
Gibbons, who became manager midway through the 2004 season, had a record of 305-305 with the Blue Jays. His best season was in 2006, when the Blue Jays went 87-75 to finish second in the AL East.
But that 2006 season was also when Gibbons challenged Shea Hillenbrand to a fight after the infielder wrote on a clubhouse bulletin board that the “ship is sinking,” and a month later had a physical altercation with pitcher Ted Lilly in a dugout tunnel following an argument on the mound.
The Jays, who were in Pittsburgh to open a weekend series against the Pirates, also fired three of Gibbons’ coaches—Marty Pevey, Ernie Whitt and Gary Denbo.
The 64-year-old Gaston becomes the Blue Jays’ first two-time manager. He previously managed the team from 1989 to 1997.
Gaston, who has been special assistant to the president and CEO, had a 681-635 record as manager during his earlier stint. Joining his staff will be first base coach Dwayne Murphy, third base coach Nick Leyva and hitting coach
13 minutes ago
Buzz Up PrintPITTSBURGH (AP)—John Gibbons was fired Friday by the last-place Toronto Blue Jays and replaced by Cito Gaston, who led the team to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.
The Blue Jays began the day 35-39, having lost five straight and 13 of their last 17 games to fall 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
He is the third major league manager to be fired this week, following Willie Randolph of the New York Mets and John McLaren of the Seattle Mariners.
Gibbons, who became manager midway through the 2004 season, had a record of 305-305 with the Blue Jays. His best season was in 2006, when the Blue Jays went 87-75 to finish second in the AL East.
But that 2006 season was also when Gibbons challenged Shea Hillenbrand to a fight after the infielder wrote on a clubhouse bulletin board that the “ship is sinking,” and a month later had a physical altercation with pitcher Ted Lilly in a dugout tunnel following an argument on the mound.
The Jays, who were in Pittsburgh to open a weekend series against the Pirates, also fired three of Gibbons’ coaches—Marty Pevey, Ernie Whitt and Gary Denbo.
The 64-year-old Gaston becomes the Blue Jays’ first two-time manager. He previously managed the team from 1989 to 1997.
Gaston, who has been special assistant to the president and CEO, had a 681-635 record as manager during his earlier stint. Joining his staff will be first base coach Dwayne Murphy, third base coach Nick Leyva and hitting coach
