Toronto Blue Jays Fire John Gibbons: Is J.P. Ricciardi Still in One Piece?

Noted hothead John Gibbons has been fired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays today. Cito Gaston has replaced him at the helm. Gaston returns to the Jays, where he won the 1992 and 1993 World Series.

Gibbons has had his share of run-ins with players over the years. In 2005, Gibbons berated Dave Bush in the dugout after a lackluster start by the righty. Bush was demoted then traded to Milwaukee within days.

In 2006, he challenged Shea Hillenbrand to a fistfight during a closed-door meeting. Later that season, Gibbons got into a shoving match with mild-mannered Ted Lilly in the tunnel behind the dugout, shortly after removing Lilly due to poor performance.

Quite frankly, I didn't believe JP Ricciardi had the courage to fire Gibbons, fearing the inevitable "let's settle this outside" moment.

Gaston, who ushered the team from the Exhibition Stadium to its current digs, takes over a team that has underachieved thus far. Gaston is the manager responsible for four of the five AL East championships in team history, as well as its two AL pennants and World Series wins.

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