Jays have ‘thirst’ for more innovation
TORONTO There are only two survivors from John Gibbons’ coaching staff still with the Toronto Blue Jays — pitching coach Pete Walker and third base coach Luis Rivera — but general manager Ross Atkins said the organization will help the castaways land on their feet.
Atkins took part in a conference call Wednesday to discus the club’s revamped coaching staff under new manager Charlie Montoyo. He thanked the former coaches who were fired from the big-league staff and said he will do everything he can to help them land new gigs. Most of the former coaches let go still have a year left on their deals.
“From the very start, from the last day of the (2018) season, all of these individuals were free to talk to other clubs and we wanted to make sure that was clear to the other teams,” Atkins said. “Each situation is different and each discussion that we’re having — whether that’s with John Gibbons, Demarlo Hale, Dane Johnson, Tim Leiper, Mike Mordecai, Brook Jacoby — all the interactions that we’re having are different about what’s ahead for them. (But) we want nothing more than the best for each of them and we’ll try to help them either land with us in a significant way or elsewhere.”
There’s a chance that some of them will remain with the organization, but in a different capacity than as a major-league coach.
The general theme of Atkins’ 17-minute discussion about the revamped staff Wednesday was the spirit of “collaboration” and the “thirst” for information in terms of embracing new technology.
“I think first and foremost is ( being) open-minded,” said Atkins, when asked if there was a general theme in terms of the coaching additions he and Montoyo were looking to find. “In today’s game, the innovation that is occurring ... with information, with technology is changing rapidly. Everything is changing rapidly. So that was at the forefront of every discussion.”
One of the more interesting new hires is Shelley Duncan as the major-league field co-ordinator, a new position with the club. Mordecai was previously the quality control coach, a similar type of position. Duncan was most recently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ double-a affiliate.
Atkins said new coach John Schneider, who was promoted after guiding the Jays’ double-a affiliate to a title last year, will work with the catchers.
Other hirings include hitting coach Guillermo Martinez, who spent last season as Toronto’s hitting co-ordinator. Mark Budzinski is the new first base coach and Matt Buschmann the bullpen coach.