Tuesday, June 04, 2002
Blue Jays fire manager Martinez, promote Tosca
Baseball notebook
Enquirer news services
TORONTO — Buck Martinez, who was hired as Toronto Blue Jays manager without any coaching experience on the minor or major league level, was fired Monday in his second season.
The Blue Jays, off to their worst start in two decades, made third base coach Carlos Tosca the manager for the rest of the season.
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Martinez, who went to the Blue Jays bench before last season directly from the broadcast booth, was fired because of his lack of experience and leadership.
“I don't know if Buck even knows what his philosophy or style is because he hasn't had a lot of time to manage,” Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “It's not so much the wins, the losses at this point, it's more the leadership.”
First base coach Garth Iorg was also fired. Bullpen catcher John Gibbons takes over for Iorg, while Brian Butterfield, fired May 16 as manager of New York's Triple-A affiliate, joins the Blue Jays as third base coach.
Martinez becomes the fifth manager fired since opening day. Detroit fired Phil Garner, Colorado replaced Buddy Bell, Kansas City dismissed Tony Muser and Milwaukee fired Davey Lopes.
The Blue Jays, third-worst in the American League with a 20-33 record, swept a three-game weekend series with Detroit but that didn't stop Ricciardi from replacing Martinez.
Martinez's fate has been questioned since spring training when Ricciardi, who replaced the fired Gord Ash in the offseason, issued a virtual ultimatum for Martinez to produce a hardworking team or face dismissal.
Ricciardi said the team quit halfway through last season and if things went as they did last year a change would be made.
After the Blue Jays dropped to 8-20 at home following a 0-6 stand at SkyDome last week, Ricciardi said Martinez's status would be monitored series to series.
“I don't think he was surprised. He understood something was maybe coming,” Ricciardi said.
Only Tampa Bay and Detroit in the AL, and Milwaukee in the NL, have worse records than the Blue Jays.
Martinez had a year remaining on the three-year deal he signed in November 2000 after leaving the broadcast booth.
“Let's face it, Buck has never managed anywhere outside the big leagues and it's a tough place to learn from,” Ricciardi said in spring training.
Tosca, who was hired by Ricciardi in the offseason, has managed 1,759 games in the minors. He managed Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate in Richmond in 2001 and spent the three previous years as bench coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has been a minor league manager with the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins.
Ricciardi said Tosca has paid his dues despite having never played professional baseball.
Tosca held a team meeting after being hired. He said he would meet with each player this week.
“I have been known to be confrontational,” Tosca said.
Tosca said he wants to see some leadership from his players.
“It's a clubhouse that needs to have some leadership come forward,” Tosca said.
Rookie third baseman Eric Hinske agreed.
“We've got some guys that are quiet but lead by example,” Hinske said. “We need somebody to step up and say 'This is how it's got to be done.”'
First baseman Carlos Delgado, named a team captain when Tim Johnson managed the Blue Jays in 1998, said he wouldn't get in the face of his teammates. He said they just have to play better.
“We need some players to step up, especially the older guys,” Delgado said.
BONDS LEADS NL VOTING: Barry Bonds, whose 19 home runs was tied for the most in the major leagues, led balloting for the National League All-Star team.
Bonds had 315,557 votes. New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza was second with 277,041, followed by Chicago outfielder Sammy Sosa (273,421).
Other leaders included Houston first baseman Jeff Bagwell, New York second baseman Roberto Alomar, third baseman Scott Rolen and shortstop Jimmy Rollins of Philadelphia, and Montreal outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.
The All-Star game will be played in Milwaukee on July 9 and the NL team will be managed by Arizona's Bob Brenly.
CLEMENT, CONINE WINNERS: Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Clement was voted the National League's player of the week, while Baltimore Orioles first baseman Jeff Conine received the award in the American League.
Clement went 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA earned run average in his two starts. He allowed seven hits and struck out 14 while walking five in 16 2/3innings.
Conine led the AL league with five home runs and 26 total bases, and tied for the lead with nine runs batted in over six games.
He hit .375 with a .444 on-base percentage, seven runs and two doubles.
Other players nominated for the award in the NL were Houston's Richard Hidalgo, Los Angeles' Brian Jordan, Milwaukee's Richie Sexson, Pittsburgh's Craig Wilson, Atlanta's Tom Glavine and Philadelphia teammates Bobby Abreu and Robert Person.
Also nominated in the AL were Cleveland's Jim Thome, Anaheim's Garret Anderson, New York's Bernie Williams, Cleveland's Chuck Finley and Minnesota's Kyle Lohse.
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Blue Jays fire manager Martinez, promote Tosca