Shapiro can't step in and say anything. At least, he shouldn't. That builds a bad rep for any prospective manager...you can't manage with autonomy in Toronto...the suits tell you how it's done. It's as bad as having a meddling owner. Shapiro might hate it, but he has to give Gibby autonomy. They may very well have had multiple conversations about strategy, but ultimately it has to be Gibby's team. Otherwise fire him. And sure, maybe that's what needs to happen, and that's a different conversation...but you can't keep him around on one hand, and not let him do his job on the other.
Shapiro might just be giving Gibby enough rope to hang himself with.