Departing Gibbons beloved by those who dealt with him

The Toronto Blue Jays officially announced that John Gibbons will not return as manager in 2019 on Wednesday.

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

I am a fan of John Gibbons, the person, and the manager, like a lot of media in Toronto.

I'm not sure that anyone in the media corps dislikes Gibbons. No matter how most/some fans might think of Gibbons, he is popular with his players and media. He's genuine and down to earth, funny and he has that lovable Texas drawl.

I'm just a backburner reporter, who has never met Gibbons in person or talked to him on the phone.

Gibbons won't be back next season, even though he has one season remaining on his contract. His second run as manager has been a long one. He's had a great time. He's had two runs with the Jays but on both occasions, he never applied for the job.

Don't be surprised, if the entire coaching staff is let go, too, although both are paid for next season. It's perhaps time for a fresh, new look. Don't be surprised if pitching coach Pete Walker, batting coach Brook Jacoby, bench coach Demarlo Hale, bullpen coach Dane Johnson, quality control coach Mike Mordecai and bullpen catchers Alex Andreopoulos and Jason Phillips are let go.

And the Rogers ownership people may want to look way up at the top. They could see president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins let go. Rogers may want to start completely clean. A new president, a new GM, a new manager and a new coaching staff to coincide with what will be a re-build of the team.

Globe and Mail sports columnist Cathal Kelly thought so highly of Gibbons that he reached out to Gibbons a few weeks ago to see if Gibby would meet with him for lunch. Genuine as he is, Gibbons said yes. Kelly recounted in his ensuing column there was a time years ago when he met Gibbons in a room that included then GM J.P. Ricciardi, who was sitting with a few other members of the Blue Jays braintrust.

Riccardi, in a smart-ass move, said in referring to Kelly, "Oh, so is this the latest asshole from the Toronto Star?'' Everyone laughed, except Gibbons. Kelly always remembered that.

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun wrote recently, "This will be a tough year for Toronto sporting media, having already lost Dwane Casey to Detroit and now about to see John Gibbons walk. Don't know if two finer men have been around these parts before. They will be missed, personally and professionally.''

Other media big-wigs like Steve Buffery of the Sun and Rich Griffin of the Star think highly of Gibbons, too, as do the Sportsnet duo of Shi Davidi and Hazel Mae, not to mention numerous other media types who cover the team on a regular basis or even part-time basis.

Gibbons is a holdover from the Alex Anthopoulos regime but he seemed to get along wonderfully with Shapiro and Atkins. In Gibbons' place, management will likely look at the recently fired Mike Matheny, a former Jays catcher, who had a good run as Cardinals manager.

And if indeed Mike Scioscia leaves the Angels at the end of the season, he might be considered. How about Canadian Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.), whose minor-league managing resumé is wonderful. Tim Wallach? Brad Mills?

But we revert back to Gibbons and wish him the best of luck. Don't be surprised if he surfaced next season as manager of another team. How about the Royals, if Ned Yost doesn't return? Gibbons was a coach with the Royals way back when so they might look at him.

Danny Gallagher's upcoming book is called Blue Monday: the Expos, the Dodgers and the Home Run That Changed Everything. It will be released Oct. 13 in stores across Canada.