The Blue Jays have fired manager John Gibbons and made former manager Cito Gaston the interim manager. We asked you what you thought of this move. Here's what you had to say.
I feel that Gibbons should of been let go last year. Gibbons likes to be one of the boys but that doesn't work in a business. You have to be firm and have expectations from the players, otherwise changes have to be made. Hopefully Cito can do that.
John Norbruis, Paris, Ont.
Right to fire Gibbons and the coaching staff, but bringing Cito back is not necessarily the best move. I would like to have seen Ernie Whitt get a shot. In any case, the real culprit for the team problems remains. How does J.P. keep his job? If he's not the worst GM in baseball, he must be close.
Richard Wertheim, Toronto
I had a good laugh at first, thinking it was a hoax. I liked Cito in 1993, but I'm not sure he's right for the job now. At any rate, I'd rather see J.P. Ricciardi fired than Gibby but all in good time, I suppose.
Jack Payne, Toronto
Once again in major league sports we see the manager or coach being the first casualty when a team is failing to live up to expectations. It is my belief that coaches and managers are not as significant to the major league team's success as they are in the minor or junior leagues where the coaches also teach the game. At the major-league level the responsibility lies with the general manager, who is responsible for selecting the players and the players themselves who are expected to know how to play and are paid accordingly. For this reason, the firing of the manager and coaches is just the beginning. The roster itself will have to be changed and with that a new general manager.
David Browne, Toronto
In other news, the Jays have signed Lloyd Moseby, Tony Fernandez and Kelly Gruber. Work is also underway to move back to Exhibition Stadium - all part of the "Let's Take a Step Back in Time" improvement strategy by the Jay's front office. This has 'worst move in history' written all over it.
Paul Mayne, London, Ont.
Way to go. This is the best news that I have heard about the Blue Jays for a long time. Cito Gaston in my opinion was the greatest manager the Blue Jays have ever had. I for one will be watching or listening every game from here on it. Good luck Cito.
Gale Speirs, Tillsonburg, Ont.
During the season while this team has not been hitting, I have not heard any reference or criticism toward the hitting coach. I like Cito, but John Gibbons doesn’t bat or drive in runs. The players that get paid to do this are underachieving. I am of the opinion that this team is capable of winning when the teams start to hit as they were expected to.
John Atkins, Richmond Hill
I find this news completely shocking and uplifting at the same time. Who better to manage the Jays than the one guy who brought them to win 2 back-to-back World Series? That being said, I'm a little apprehensive about it, if only because Cito hasn't managed since 1997. The one thing about Cito is that he has always been known as a player's manager. He can make a good team (on paper) a great team, and that might be exactly what the team needs right now.
Joel Dembe, Hamilton
Great. Now change the line where it says Blue Jays fire Gibbons to fire Ricciardi and we're on our way towards a better team.
Eric Lau, Unionville, Ont.
Cito Gaston will provide proven leadership in the clubhouse, which the Jays need, and may be able to right the sinking ship. Wondered why Gibbons stayed on as long as he did. Sorry to see Ernie Whitt go -- an all time Jays favorite.
Stephen Grubba, Greer, S.C.
Firing Gibbons is the right thing to do. He wasn't producing enough to earn a victory, whereas Cito was the commander and chief of the Toronto sports fan. Cito brought championship fame to this city. In short, Cito is 100 times better than Gibbons is.
Gowry Soma, Toronto
I'm sorry for Gibbons as I felt he deserved better, but every manager is hired to be fired; that's baseball. You gotta figure Ricciardi is feelin' the heat right now. I wonder if there are plans to bring back Manny Lee, Mark Eichhorn, Darnell Coles and Rickey Henderson too?
Jim Branscome, Newark, Ohio
It might be just me but it is likely too little to late. The Jays need to finish 60-28 to get to that 95-win mark to have any chance of winning the wild card. Gibbons has never been a very good manager and many would argue that he should never have been given the privilege to being a MLB manager in the first place. Even if the Jays have a successful second half of the season and finish close to 90 victories it is very safe to say that JP will not be around the Jays head office this winter.
Mike Harper, Fort St. John, B.C.
Not surprised at all at the Gibbons Firing. What did surprise me is that Mr. Ricciardi was not let go the same time. Oh well perhaps that is next week’s edition of the current 'soap opera' called the Jays.
Ed Jones, Mississauga
Finally! J.P. had better be the next one to be fired.
Justin Hutch, Whitby
Anyone other than Gibbons is a step in the right direction. I didn't like it when they brought him in and I think the lack of playoff appearances speaks for itself.
Marcel Friedmann, Mississauga
Looks like another Toronto team trying to make the coach a scapegoat when the real problem is at the top.
Erich Isopp, Vancouver
Finally, a wake-up call! Kudos to Ricciardi for having the guts to do the right thing. What I can't understand, though, is why Ernie Whitt was fired. Pevey's been routinely screwing up the baserunning calls at third, and Denbo can't get the hitters to hit, but I'm perplexed as to why the Jays would keep Butterfield as bench coach over Whitt. Ernie's a former Blue Jay who would work great with Cito, and who has experience managing Team Canada in the Olympics! What was J.P. thinking on that one (if at all)?
Andy Taylor, Oakville
Was it Ricciardi's idea to hire Gaston? If it wasn’t, then Ricciardi is next to go.
Fred Duquette, Edmonton
Too late for this year, but maybe next season will bring better results under Cito Gaston's leadership. The real winner this year is Reed Johnson, who was let go by the team, picked up by the Cubs, and will in all likelihood be playing in the post-season.
Anne Beazley, Markham
I see this as a move of indecision by the real problem that the Jays have, an inept and incompetent General Manager. Until ownership seriously addresses a horrific front-office situation (Godfrey and Ricciardi), the Jays will become a series of stop-gap measures that eventually will turn off their remaining fan base.
Ernest Reed, Toronto
