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http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-rework-gibbons-contract-remove-rollover-clause/

The Toronto Blue Jays have reworked the contract of manager John Gibbons, removing the rollover clause that previously existed on his deal in exchange for “a slight bump in pay.”

Former general manager Alex Anthopoulos set up a unique clause in Gibbons’ contract in which a rolling option became guaranteed on the first of January every year with another option year added annually.

Gibbons is under contract through 2017 and under the old structure would have had an option for 2018.

Ladies and gentleman, your 2017 Toronto Blue Jays Manager, Eric Wedge.

I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

0 - 100 wrote:I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

He hasn't been that successful, in my opinion. The team arguably underachieved his first two years back, and were again treading water before the trade deadline last year.

We can debate until the cows come home whether Gibby was responsible for that. But I can't recall a Gibby team that ever overachieved.

Gibby is a solid, steady-hand manager with a likeable personality. If a better alternative comes along I wouldn't lose any sleep over moving on.

Apparently, by removing the automatic rollover, Gibby can more easily become a free agent and then negotiate a longer contract - say three years and an option - assuming the Jays perform well. That new contract can be with the Jays or elsewhere. Looks like Gibby is thinking he has one last good shot at a longer term contract, so this is the time to go for it. Plus, he was given a raise to remove the automatic rollover clause.

0 - 100 wrote:I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

Until the team finally made the playoffs under Gibby last season, nobody thought he was anything special. In fact there was an uproar when AA brought him back for a 2nd stint.

He's a baseball manager. At the end of the day, they don't really make much difference.

The_Hater wrote:

0 - 100 wrote:I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

Until the team finally made the playoffs under Gibby last season, nobody thought he was anything special. In fact there was an uproar when AA brought him back for a 2nd stint.

He's a baseball manager. At the end of the day, they don't really make much difference.

I agree, to an extent. I think they can make a noticeable difference in a negative way. But at their height not a huge positive factor to the team. Mostly they are there to manage egos.

The_Hater wrote:

0 - 100 wrote:I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

Until the team finally made the playoffs under Gibby last season, nobody thought he was anything special. In fact there was an uproar when AA brought him back for a 2nd stint.

He's a baseball manager. At the end of the day, they don't really make much difference.

That's true. I think it's likely that Wedge is our next manager. When that is, I'm not sure.

I guess I'm just pulling for Gibby because he's a likable guy and I like continuity.

James_Raptors wrote:

The_Hater wrote:

0 - 100 wrote:I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

Until the team finally made the playoffs under Gibby last season, nobody thought he was anything special. In fact there was an uproar when AA brought him back for a 2nd stint.

He's a baseball manager. At the end of the day, they don't really make much difference.

I agree, to an extent. I think they can make a noticeable difference in a negative way. But at their height not a huge positive factor to the team. Mostly they are there to manage egos.

Coaches. Managers. Etc. They all make a difference to some extent but when compared to the complex strategies and details football, hockey and basketball coaches handle every day baseball managers do very little. That's why they're called managers and not coaches I guess.

I'm hoping the next manager will be Pat Hentgen and I hope the new regime has taken notice how important Pat for the development of our pitchers.

James_Raptors wrote:

The_Hater wrote:

0 - 100 wrote:I really hope Gibby continues to be successful with the Jays and is here for a long time.

Until the team finally made the playoffs under Gibby last season, nobody thought he was anything special. In fact there was an uproar when AA brought him back for a 2nd stint.

He's a baseball manager. At the end of the day, they don't really make much difference.

I agree, to an extent. I think they can make a noticeable difference in a negative way. But at their height not a huge positive factor to the team. Mostly they are there to manage egos.

I would agree with the "noticeable difference in a negative way" part, but I also think managers can impact the outcome in a positive way. The decision to bring in a reliever in certain circumstances, pinch-running, defensive alignment...those are all maneuvers at the manager's disposal that can impact his team's outcome for better or worse.

When I think about the stud Marlins teams and manager Jack Mckeown (sp?), having a veteran manager can help guide your club. Obviously you still need the talent, but managers are more important that people are giving them credit for here.

northernpuppy wrote:

James_Raptors wrote:

The_Hater wrote:
Until the team finally made the playoffs under Gibby last season, nobody thought he was anything special. In fact there was an uproar when AA brought him back for a 2nd stint.

He's a baseball manager. At the end of the day, they don't really make much difference.

I agree, to an extent. I think they can make a noticeable difference in a negative way. But at their height not a huge positive factor to the team. Mostly they are there to manage egos.

I would agree with the "noticeable difference in a negative way" part, but I also think managers can impact the outcome in a positive way. The decision to bring in a reliever in certain circumstances, pinch-running, defensive alignment...those are all maneuvers at the manager's disposal that can impact his team's outcome for better or worse.

When I think about the stud Marlins teams and manager Jack Mckeown (sp?), having a veteran manager can help guide your club. Obviously you still need the talent, but managers are more important that people are giving them credit for here.

Once they decide on roles of each player, there's really not much decision making to be done. You have your RPs for the 6th through 9th innings already designated. You have your LHP specialists. The starters are on pitch counts. You have your stats on who hits who well/poorly to help make those grey area decisions both pinch hitting and pitching.

Sure some managers are better than others to the small degree they matter but it's incredible how much heat they'll take for a cold pitcher or a cold lineup leading to some losses. They have no control over that.

And1Skip wrote:I'm hoping the next manager will be Pat Hentgen and I hope the new regime has taken notice how important Pat for the development of our pitchers.

Serious question, but what has he done exactly? I'm unaware of his influence.

Considering he's about to open the season with our worst hitter in the leadoff spot getting the most plate appearances, it may be addition by subtraction. There's very little a manager does that affects a team's chances of winning but he seems to screw up all of them. Lots of little mistakes can add up.

The_Hater wrote:

And1Skip wrote:I'm hoping the next manager will be Pat Hentgen and I hope the new regime has taken notice how important Pat for the development of our pitchers.

Serious question, but what has he done exactly? I'm unaware of his influence.

He's like a roving coach..i forgot what his official title is. But he's very well spoken on the radio and is brutally honest. He talks about what he says to the young guys and what he teaches them both technique but also the mental side of pitching. Listen to one of his interviews and you'll hear how knowledgeable he is and how no non-sense he is.

And1Skip wrote:

The_Hater wrote:

And1Skip wrote:I'm hoping the next manager will be Pat Hentgen and I hope the new regime has taken notice how important Pat for the development of our pitchers.

Serious question, but what has he done exactly? I'm unaware of his influence.

He's like a roving coach..i forgot what his official title is. But he's very well spoken on the radio and is brutally honest. He talks about what he says to the young guys and what he teaches them both technique but also the mental side of pitching. Listen to one of his interviews and you'll hear how knowledgeable he is and how no non-sense he is.

Based on his influence, wouldn't he be better as the pitching coach than the manager? And why hasn't he been hired as coach by some team yet?

Skin Blues wrote:Considering he's about to open the season with our worst hitter in the leadoff spot getting the most plate appearances, it may be addition by subtraction. There's very little a manager does that affects a team's chances of winning but he seems to screw up all of them. Lots of little mistakes can add up.

Im not happy about this either but on the whole, having a 320 OBP at the top of the lineup instead of say a 340 guy isn't going to mean all that much. And it is both temporary and on a trial basis. I doubt that he's still batting there in 6-8 weeks and if he is, perhaps Pillar overachieved on us yet again

The_Hater wrote:

And1Skip wrote:

The_Hater wrote:
Serious question, but what has he done exactly? I'm unaware of his influence.

He's like a roving coach..i forgot what his official title is. But he's very well spoken on the radio and is brutally honest. He talks about what he says to the young guys and what he teaches them both technique but also the mental side of pitching. Listen to one of his interviews and you'll hear how knowledgeable he is and how no non-sense he is.

Based on his influence, wouldn't he be better as the pitching coach than the manager? And why hasn't he been hired as coach by some team yet?

Well he was the Jays' bullpen coach. You'll usually find his name brought up here to replace Pete Walker whenever Hutch has a bad start.

If we're going after big-name former Jays as future managers, though, why not Carlos Delgado?

Randle McMurphy wrote:

The_Hater wrote:

And1Skip wrote:
He's like a roving coach..i forgot what his official title is. But he's very well spoken on the radio and is brutally honest. He talks about what he says to the young guys and what he teaches them both technique but also the mental side of pitching. Listen to one of his interviews and you'll hear how knowledgeable he is and how no non-sense he is.

Based on his influence, wouldn't he be better as the pitching coach than the manager? And why hasn't he been hired as coach by some team yet?

Well he was the Jays' bullpen coach. You'll usually find his name brought up here to replace Pete Walker whenever Hutch has a bad start.

If we're going after big-name former Jays as future managers, though, why not Carlos Delgado?

Because Delgado never played for the Indians. Duh...

The_Hater wrote:

Skin Blues wrote:Considering he's about to open the season with our worst hitter in the leadoff spot getting the most plate appearances, it may be addition by subtraction. There's very little a manager does that affects a team's chances of winning but he seems to screw up all of them. Lots of little mistakes can add up.

Im not happy about this either but on the whole, having a 320 OBP at the top of the lineup instead of say a 340 guy isn't going to mean all that much. And it is both temporary and on a trial basis. I doubt that he's still batting there in 6-8 weeks and if he is, perhaps Pillar overachieved on us yet again

I'd get rid of Gibbons right now if it could be guaranteed that his replacement wouldn't start the season with Pillar as the leadoff hitter. He's been shown to be progressive in this area before, though (see Tulo hitting leadoff for the first time in his career last season solely because of his OBP or guys like Stairs, Wells and Lind hitting leadoff in his first run with the team), so hopefully he will see reason soon enough.

Randle McMurphy wrote:

The_Hater wrote:

Skin Blues wrote:Considering he's about to open the season with our worst hitter in the leadoff spot getting the most plate appearances, it may be addition by subtraction. There's very little a manager does that affects a team's chances of winning but he seems to screw up all of them. Lots of little mistakes can add up.

Im not happy about this either but on the whole, having a 320 OBP at the top of the lineup instead of say a 340 guy isn't going to mean all that much. And it is both temporary and on a trial basis. I doubt that he's still batting there in 6-8 weeks and if he is, perhaps Pillar overachieved on us yet again

I'd get rid of Gibbons right now if it could be guaranteed that his replacement wouldn't start the season with Pillar as the leadoff hitter. He's been shown to be progressive in this area before, though (see Tulo hitting leadoff for the first time in his career last season solely because of his OBP or guys like Stairs, Wells and Lind hitting leadoff in his first run with the team), so hopefully he will see reason soon enough.

I think even Gibby led off with Bautista before as well? I know Gibby believes in moving everyone up in the order when someone gets injured (see now when Edwin is injured and Tulo bats cleanup). Nothing is worse than Cito's belief that everyone should stay in their spot in the order so he would put someone like Johnny Mac in the two hole if he replaced that guy in the order.