The Blue Jays, as the Mets and Mariners did earlier in the week, decided it's far easier to fire the manager than it is to overhaul a disappointing team close to midseason. Despite having five players making $10 million or more on its opening day roster, Toronto is 35-40 with six consecutive losses and is 10 1/2 games behind AL East leader Boston following a 1-0, 12-inning loss in Pittsburgh on Friday night.
"We've underachieved at this point with a good club," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "There's a lot of the season left and we've got a chance to turn things around."
Gaston said the Blue Jays' season "starts over again tonight - we've got to get to where we should be. There's a good club here."
The new start didn't look much different than the Blue Jays' season until now. The offense-thin Jays were shut out in 12 innings by the Pirates, who were coming off a three-game sweep by the White Sox in which they were outscored 37-15.
"It's a little different. I feel I made some mistakes, but we'll see if it gets better tomorrow," said Gaston, who will manage the rest of the season before being evaluated.
The managerial move was not especially popular in the clubhouse, where Gibbons was respected despite the club's on-field failings.
While Gaston managed the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, he hasn't managed since being fired by Toronto in 1997 and, as the team's special assistant to the president and chief executive since 2002, had little more than a nodding relationship with most players.
"Obviously, the organization thought it was time to make a change," third baseman Scott Rolen said. "I have nothing but the highest regard and the best things to say about my time with Gibby."
Rolen and several other players are unhappy Gibbons and coaches Marty Pevey, Ernie Whitt and Gary Denbo took the blame for their failings. The Blue Jays are 15-7 against the AL Central, but are 9-14 within their own division, with records of 1-5 against Tampa Bay and 2-4 against the Yankees.
"It's the worst part of the job when the manager gets the blame," first baseman Lyle Overbay said. "It's too bad because it's really the players."
Gibbons, who became manager midway through the 2004 season, had a record of 305-305. His best season was in 2006, when the Blue Jays went 87-75 to finish second in the division
- the same season he had well-publicized blowups with players Shea Hillenbrand and Ted Lilly.
"The team just wasn't doing what was expected of it, and maybe changes were needed," Gibbons said during a conference call. "There was a lot expected this year, we came in riding high and speaking high. And that's not the results we're getting now."
Ricciardi roomed with Gibbons when both were prospects in the New York Mets system during the early 1980s. He predicted Gibbons will manage again in the majors.
"I put this team together and I share in the blame," Ricciardi said. "I'm hoping this will spark us, and I think Cito is the right guy."
Gibbons is the third major league manager fired this week, following Willie Randolph of the Mets and John McLaren of the Mariners. Randolph was fired early Tuesday and McLaren on Thursday.
