Should Gibbons Get the Bout?

I don't think it's too soon to tell. We've have had him for 3 yrs now.  The players make like him but that doesn't mean they play hard for him.  I"ve had bosses i like but that doesn't mean they're the best boss I had or the boss that I worked the hardest for.  Whether the players like him or not is irrevelent.  Sure it helps to keep the manager around longer but it doesn't translate into wins and that's what the game is all about.  This is typical Blue Jays under Gibbons play hard and good againest the haves like NY and Bosox and then stink out the joint againest the weak teams.  This team could easily be 8-0 right now but instead is stuck at 4-4 because they don't have any fire in them to win and keep winning.  As long as they play 500 they think it's ok because that's all that's expected out fo their manager so that's all they play for.  Until they get a manager that actual wants to win and inspires his plays to win, instead of being happy with being average this team has no shot, no matter how much talent we have on it!

Gibbons should have every chance in the world to keep his job and take this team to the playoffs. The reason he wasnt extended is because this year is do or die for him. If the Jays have a great season and make it to the playoffs or win it all, Gibbons will probably win some award and get a nice contract.

Last season the team was plagued with injury problems, i think the team lost over 900 man-games over the season, yet they still finished above .500. The Jays were expected to do great things last season, but the injuries wouldnt let it happen. You cant blame gibby for that.

If the team stays healthy and still has a bad season, Gibby is gone, maybe even if the team has injury problems, but as i said, if the team wins, he will get a nice contract. I dont mind him personally, i think he is decent enough, i dont think he needs to be fired just yet...

I have wanted him gone for quite some time, but he's a product of J.P. Ricciardi, and I believe HE is the problem with this team's approach.  I'm in favour of getting rid of both of them.  That said, if we can put the '06 offense together with the '07 pitching, and B.J. Ryan stays healthy, it should be a fun year.

GO JAYS GO!

Last night was the first encouraging sign I've seen - a sacrifice bunt with 2 on and nobody out, even though we were up 5-1 at the time.

That being said, Eckstein probably did that on his own.

If Gibby can't manufacture runs in close games, then he's useless.  I don't blame him for Oakland's offence roughing up our pitching (kudos to them) but Gibby lost Marcum's gem of a start all by himself - that game should have been over in regulation.  And it's symptomatic of his typical approach - play for the big inning all the time.

He lacks a feel for when to play small ball.

Time for Gibbons to get the boot now.  Last night, in a fourteen inning yawner, Gibby went to the pen to get his LAST reliever in the tenth inning.  Throwing seven pitchers in regulation frames is ridiculous, especially in a relatively low-scoring affair, as the score was fives going into extras.  The kicker, though, is that Gibbons needed a new hurler to start the 14th inning and he taps AJ Burnett to go out there and continue the party.