Blue Jays dump Gibbons, bring back Gaston as manager

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

PITTSBURGH (AFP) — John Gibbons was fired Friday as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, with Canada's Major League Baseball club turning to former Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston to guide the squad.

The Blue Jays stand last in the American League at 35-39, prompting owners to make the change ahead of a game here against Pittsburgh. Gibbons went 305-305 in parts of five seasons with Toronto.

Gaston guided the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993 in a stint as manager that lasted from 1989 to 1997.

He will bring in a new staff of assistants, including batting coach Gene Tenace, who managed on an interim basis in 1991 when Gaston had a herniated disc.

Gibbons was the third manager this week to be fired, with the New York Mets dumping Willie...