Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins believes his team isn’t playing up to its potential and that’s why the Toronto organization fired manager Charlie Montoyo on Wednesday.
Bench coach John Schneider will replace him on an interim basis by the end of the regular season, the Jays said.
Atkins’ decision comes after two tough weeks for the Blue Jays, with the club winning just two of their last 11 games.
“We are not playing as well as we can. I see several small opportunities to improve our team and this was one of them. I see several things that are good and several other things that we could improve on,” noted Atkins.
AAA farm manager Casey Candaele has been named the Blue Jays’ interim bench coach.
Montoyo went 236-236 in four seasons at the helm of the Blue Jays.
The latter are 46-42 so far this season, and they currently have the third and final bye given to teams drafted in the American League — even though they are fourth in the American League East.
They were, however, swept in their recent four-game series against the Seattle Mariners.
Serious scarcity
“The team took a step back,” Atkins said.
“We are not disappointed with the individual efforts. Truth be told, there were several good individual performances. But we feel like we can play better as a team,” added Atkins.
The Jays’ drought began on July 2, when they were swept in a two-game series by the Tampa Bay Rays. Montoyo and first base coach Mark Budzinski left the dugout during Game 2 after learning of the death of Budzinski’s daughter, Julia.
Several members of the Toronto organization traveled to Virginia on a day off Monday to attend his funeral.
Montoyo, 57, replaced John Gibbons as manager of the Blue Jays following the conclusion of the 2018 season. Montoyo’s deal was extended through 2023, the 1er april.
The Puerto Rican captained a tumultuous period in the history of the Blue Jays, who played their home games in three different cities last season — including two in minor league stadiums, due to travel restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19. The Jays also played their home games at their AAA farm club in Buffalo, New York.
Montoyo led the Blue Jays to a 32-28 record and a playoff bye at the conclusion of the 2020 season, which was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. The Jays, however, were swept away in the first playoff round by the eventual champions of the American, the Rays. They went on to go 91-71 in 2021, and miss the playoffs by just one game.
Prior to joining the Blue Jays, Montoyo spent six seasons on the Rays coaching staff, the last three as a bench coach. Previously, he spent 18 seasons as a minor league manager with the Rays system, and also worked with the Puerto Rican team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.