Gibbons Worth

[KSaw]

For those who say that managers don't matter much...

 

AA asked Gibbons if he wanted to go with Jenkins, Nolin, Lincoln or Cecil to start short term. Those were the only names mentioned and he said that he had his guy in Rogers. Now give credit to bullpen catcher Andreopolous and to Walker but that's pretty bold if you ask me.

 

Without giving much detail AA gave Gibby credit for the Rogers decision to USA Today but around the club everyone knows that this was pure Gibbons! Full credit to the former catcher for knowing his s***!

[CHRIS]

Interesting. So much to like about Gibby. Probably the best move AA made in the offseason.

[flafson]

They also said that Pat Hentgen wad the one who decided to teach Rogers the sinker, i wonder where that part sits with what you said.

[CHRIS]

Rogers is exactly the kind of surprise a team needs throughout the season.

[Jimcanuck]

Rogers a nice surprise

 

Cecil a massive surprise

[saskjayfan]

Gibby has just been fairly even keel throughout the year....He deserves some credit for keeping the team positive and focused....when you get to 11 games below .500 as a team it's easy for a team to fold and give up on the season....this team did not do that.

[Deadpool]

For those who say that managers don't matter much...

 

AA asked Gibbons if he wanted to go with Jenkins, Nolin, Lincoln or Cecil to start short term. Those were the only names mentioned and he said that he had his guy in Rogers. Now give credit to bullpen catcher Andreopolous and to Walker but that's pretty bold if you ask me.

 

Without giving much detail AA gave Gibby credit for the Rogers decision to USA Today but around the club everyone knows that this was pure Gibbons! Full credit to the former catcher for knowing his s***!

 

Kirk, when I say (I don't want to speak for everyone, but I assume the sentiment is not limited to myself) that "managers don't matter much", I'm talking about on field decisions. Line-up constructions, plays called from the dugout, pitching changes etc...

 

Personal decisions are outside the scope by which I judge the value of a manager, though this was an excellent decision.

 

FWIW, I think Gibby has done (for the most part) a great job with the few things a manager influences during the game (not much bunting, generally good use of the bullpen, though he is still too much of a "slave to the save" with Janssen).

[G-Snarls]

For those who say that managers don't matter much...

 

AA asked Gibbons if he wanted to go with Jenkins, Nolin, Lincoln or Cecil to start short term. Those were the only names mentioned and he said that he had his guy in Rogers. Now give credit to bullpen catcher Andreopolous and to Walker but that's pretty bold if you ask me.

 

Without giving much detail AA gave Gibby credit for the Rogers decision to USA Today but around the club everyone knows that this was pure Gibbons! Full credit to the former catcher for knowing his s***!

 

Good story

 

Thanks for posting

 

I like Gibby a lot

 

Can't believe how many wanted him gone after 6 weeks. He was never the problem.

[G-Snarls]

They also said that Pat Hentgen wad the one who decided to teach Rogers the sinker, i wonder where that part sits with what you said.

 

Well that might be something that Gibby knew and liked the look of. He's presumably been practicing it all year but just started using it. AA might have been unaware of the presence or the significance of the added plus pitch.

[G-Snarls]

I refuse to believe Gibby is not responsible for the bullpen success. Now at a 2.96 ERA, fourth-best in baseball. He has played a huge role in that.

 

Boston has just as much if not more talent in their pen --> 4.00 ERA.

 

Suck it Farrell

[Deadpool]

I refuse to believe Gibby is not responsible for the bullpen success. Now at a 2.96 ERA, fourth-best in baseball. He has played a huge role in that.

 

Boston has just as much if not more talent in their pen --> 4.00 ERA.

 

The Jays bullpen is 100% full of people in whom I have confidence. There are no holes there right now. He could throw any of them out there at any time and it would be the right move (with the possible exception of McGowan, but only until he shakes some of the rust off, IMO he's the best pitcher in the pen talent wise.)

[Deadpool]

Suck it Farrell

 

Always relevant.

[ElNik2013]

The Jays bullpen is 100% full of people in whom I have confidence. There are no holes there right now. He could throw any of them out there at any time and it would be the right move (with the possible exception of McGowan, but only until he shakes some of the rust off, IMO he's the best pitcher in the pen talent wise.)

 

 

Not to mention Carreno and Stilson in Buffalo, pen is certainly looking good.

[G-Snarls]

Always relevant.

 

I tried to start a "John Farrell is a bad bullpen manager" thread on the Red Sox message board. It won't show up. That board is heavily moderated it seems.

[Deadpool]

I tried to start a "John Farrell is a bad bullpen manager" thread on the Red Sox message board. It won't show up. That board is heavily moderated it seems.

 

So, the anti-bluejays.com-messageboard?

[G-Snarls]

So, the anti-bluejays.com-messageboard?

 

Aparently...

[GD]

I'm like 99% sure the 'mod' on the jays board on mlb.com is a Red sox fan.

[LittleWall]

Suck it Farrell

 

It also has to be the positive attitude. Gibbons just seems like a good guy, where Farrell seemed like a nice guy, but also a prick at the same time. Also I don't see Gibbons pretty much jumping ship mid season.

[Mac Outlaw]

John Gibbons is the man.

 

First of all, the guy just looks like a baseball manager. Put him in a lineup, ask 10 people to pick out the baseball manager and all ten would pick Gibby 10 times out of 10. When he walks out to the mound to change the pitcher he has all the moves and mannerisms down. Maybe he was a bust as a catcher, but he's not as a big league manager.

 

He's kept this group together well. This is a team that came in with massive expectations. MASSIVE. A lot of people were picking us to win the East and then we don't get any starting pitching, we don't hit, and by May 10 we're 12 games under 500. I think a lot of managers might have cracked under the pressure of s***ing the bed so massively and started doing something detrimental to the team. Look what happened to Valentine last year calling guys out. Things snowballed and got worse. But Gibby kept it together and he's reaping the rewards now.

 

His bullpen work has been phenemonal and he's doing a good job getting the right people the proper playing time. Players know their roles and are performing. Great job by Gibbons so far.

[KSaw]

I'd say very good. I won't say great. I'm giving him an A-. I base that on his continually playing Bonifacio in the infield. It was even happening prior to Lawrie's second injury. It has to stop altogether. There comes a time to cut bait.

[ElNik2013]

John Gibbons is the man.

 

First of all, the guy just looks like a baseball manager. Put him in a lineup, ask 10 people to pick out the baseball manager and all ten would pick Gibby 10 times out of 10. When he walks out to the mound to change the pitcher he has all the moves and mannerisms down. Maybe he was a bust as a catcher, but he's not as a big league manager.

 

He's kept this group together well. This is a team that came in with massive expectations. MASSIVE. A lot of people were picking us to win the East and then we don't get any starting pitching, we don't hit, and by May 10 we're 12 games under 500. I think a lot of managers might have cracked under the pressure of s***ing the bed so massively and started doing something detrimental to the team. Look what happened to Valentine last year calling guys out. Things snowballed and got worse. But Gibby kept it together and he's reaping the rewards now.

 

His bullpen work has been phenemonal and he's doing a good job getting the right people the proper playing time. Players know their roles and are performing. Great job by Gibbons so far.

 

 

I think you put it very well. I particularly agree with the way he handled the tough start, he kept calm and collected and I think gained a lot of fans in that clubhouse. Then you add the way he put Lawrie in his place and I think the players gained a lot respect for him. You've gotta also like the way he handled Lind early in the year by having him face rhp almost exclusively, then Lind built up his confidence and started hitting some lhp and is now playing every day. Let's hope it stays this way!

[Mac Outlaw]

I like your work Kirk, but it's not like Izturis and DeRosa are must haves in the lineup. He was trying to get Boni going. I'm not going to hang him out considering the other options he had.

[ElNik2013]

I'd say very good. I won't say great. I'm giving him an A-. I base that on his continually playing Bonifacio in the infield. It was even happening prior to Lawrie's second injury. It has to stop altogether. There comes a time to cut bait.

 

 

 

Have to agree, but would add that AA had some input in this. I like the fact that he mentioned yesterday that Kawasaki could play 2B and send a reliever down. We'll see if they do, but I think Kawasaki could play solid defense there and I'd take that with his OBP and long at-bats.

[KSaw]

In limited appearances EE has performed well at 3b. He hasn't even resembled his old wild throwing E5. I think that EE or DeRosa at third and Izturis always at second would have been a better choice and it's still a direction he can go in. I hear you though but it really is time to realize that Bonifacio is an outfielder.

[KSaw]

I'd absolutely keep Kawasaki and send Perez down.

[Deadpool]

You've gotta also like the way he handled Lind early in the year by having him face rhp almost exclusively, then Lind built up his confidence and started hitting some lhp and is now playing every day. Let's hope it stays this way!

 

I agree that the way he handled Lind was excellent, but I think you have the causality backwards. I think it was less of a case of "Gibbons put Lind in against righties exclusively to build his confidence, and when he was confident, made him a full time guy." and more a case of "Gibbons put Lind in against righties exclusively because his career numbers say that's how best he should be used, but Lind forced his way into the everyday role."

 

Either way, definite credit to Gibbons for realizing that Lind could be a useful everyday player (for the time being, SSS warning etc...).

 

You cannot stop Adam Lind, you can only hope to contain him...

[ElNik2013]

I agree that the way he handled Lind was excellent, but I think you have the causality backwards. I think it was less of a case of "Gibbons put Lind in against righties exclusively to build his confidence, and when he was confident, made him a full time guy." and more a case of "Gibbons put Lind in against righties exclusively because his career numbers say that's how best he should be used, but Lind forced his way into the everyday role."

 

Either way, definite credit to Gibbons for realizing that Lind could be a useful everyday player (for the time being, SSS warning etc...).

 

You cannot stop Adam Lind, you can only hope to contain him...

 

 

 

You're right, I stand corrected. It was the move dictated by his track record, unlike the previous 2 years were this was ignored.

[flafson]

I'd absolutely keep Kawasaki and send Perez down.

 

Perez doesn't have options, someone will 100% claim him.

[Deadpool]

You're right, I stand corrected. It was the move dictated by his track record, unlike the previous 2 years were this was ignored.

 

I don't know that I "corrected you" so much as offered a differing opinion with which you now may agree. Neither of us could possibly know Gibbons' actual reasoning.

 

Perez doesn't have options, someone will 100% claim him.

 

The more I think of it, the more I'm of the mindset that it has to be Loup sent down. Call him into the office and explain to him that it's not a demotion based on his performance, it's just a numbers game and because of his contractual situation, he's the odd man out. He'd likely be the first call up were another reliever needed, so it wouldn't be a long term thing.

[KSaw]

Perez doesn't have options, someone will 100% claim him.

 

Let them! DFA creates a 40-man roster spot. More than one team will put in a claim. Trade him! Heck add a minor leaguer and send them to Pittsburgh for de Jesus.