The dust has finally settled from arguably one of the most exciting postseason series in history. 5 games, 45 runs, and 53 exhilarating minutes later, the Toronto Blue Jays emerged victorious after a 0-2 series deficit. In the midst of champagne showers and post-game Kawasaki dancing, though, one question hangs in the frigid air of Toronto: is John Gibbons brilliant, or out of his mind?
The question stems from a questionable game 4 decision that would have been magnified further had the Jays been at the wrong end of the crazy 7th inning. The prodigal son, Marcus Stroman, withstood the test of pressure and bore the weight of an entire franchise’s 22-year championship drought. After six innings, however, Stroman left the mound after having thrown 98 pitches, with his team down 2-1 in the crucial elimination game. The appearance of an Edwing tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, but John Gibbons now had to turn to his bullpen.
And thus, the question shone in the limelight once more.
Toronto’s bullpen did not have a single left-handed reliever – not by design, but certainly not by coincidence. Sure, Brett Cecil’s unexpected injury and Aaron Loup’s unexpected leave of absence cost Gibbons the only two legitimate left-handed bullpen arms. However, the Blue Jays skipper could have had the option of Cy Young Award frontrunner and former winner, David Price, on the mound for the most crucial of innings; that is, if Price had not thrown 50 pitches out of the bullpen for a 3-inning relief session in game 4… in the midst of a 7-1 Jays lead.
It may be safe to say that John Gibbons would have been printing out more copies of his lackluster résumé if the Jays were sent packing early. After the Royals’ series victory, the manager may still be on the chopping block.
In the matter of one game, Gibbons may have reversed all of the warm receptions and country love that David Price has received since joining the Jays at the trade deadline this year. When the season crowns a new champion, and the free agent frenzy begins, Price will undoubtedly remember the treatment he received when the series was on the line.
The only guarantee for Gibbons’ job and Price’s re-commitment to the team evaporated in six hard-fought games against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. At the end of the day, star pitchers can get a maximum contract from at least five teams in the league on any given day. The factor that wins their service – and their loyalty – comes down to the ability to deliver a championship. The Toronto Blue Jays have shown potential this year, but potential does not become immortalized in the history books.
The Blue Jays, a team with incredible offense and one of the league’s best defense since the All-Star break, crumbled under the weight of the world’s eyes. Center-stage was an uncomfortable position for many of the pitchers, once again proving that pitching wins championships. At the conclusion of the Jays’ season, one thing became abundantly clear: Toronto needs David Price.
Do not misunderstand that statement. By no means does Toronto need David Price himself, but an ace of his caliber is necessary for the team to rise to the superstardom of 1992-93. The starting rotation is beginning to look like a mess heading into the offseason, with Buehrle and Dickey uncertain about retirement, Price and Estrada as free agents, and a depleted farm system for strong arms.
Toronto became the frontrunner for Price’s services in the second half of the season, doing absolutely everything right, from stadium sellouts to one of the hottest records in baseball. However, Gibbons treated Price like a dispensable reliever in game 4 of the ALDS, and the rest was quickly forgotten.
Every player on the Blue Jays’ roster will say that they enjoy playing for Gibby, whether that is true or not. Ask them after, though, if they would enjoy playing for a winning team more than for Gibby, and there should be a unanimous agreement. The miraculous run of the 2015 Blue Jays proved one indisputable fact: Toronto cannot win with John Gibbons at the helm.
Even if the Jays were able to retain all four of their starting pitchers, keeping the majority of their 2015 roster intact, Toronto would only be projected to go as far as they did this season – 6 wins short of the World Series trophy. For a team boasting the best offense, phenomenal defense, and great pitching, the most important upgrade is in the dugout.
Try arguing that Ron Washington is not an upgrade from John Gibbons. Washington, for those unfamiliar with his work, managed the Texas Rangers to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010-11, with a roster that featured far less talent than the 2015 Blue Jays.
And how about Dusty Baker, the hottest commodity in the manager hunt for teams throughout the league? A 3-time Manager of the Year award winner, with 1,671 wins under his belt (17th all-time), should be an upgrade also, no?
Currently unemployed is also Don Mattingly, who had done wonders with the Los Angeles Dodgers before getting the ax. His mentorship of young players, namely Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp, helped to establish the Dodgers as a franchise to be feared, winning three straight NL West division titles.
The bottom line is, there are far better options on the market than John Gibbons. In Bautista’s and Encarnación’s contract year, after which one (or both) is highly likely to leave in search for a bigger payday, the Jays need to capitalize on the core talent of historic offense. Gibby’s game 4 mistake magnified the problem for the league to scrutinize.
Like a building kit, Toronto has all the pieces. They are just missing a capable builder to put it all together.