The Blue Jays have fired supervisor Charlie Montoyo, stories Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). The choice comes barely three months after Montoyo signed a one-year extension that ran by way of the tip of the 2023 season.
The Blue Jays have introduced the transfer by way of press launch. Montoyo has been “relieved of his duties as supervisor” (i.e. fired) in favor of bench coach John Schneider, who’ll assume the place on an interim foundation by way of the tip of the 2022 season. Triple-A supervisor Casey Candaele is becoming a member of the Main League workers as an interim bench coach as properly.
It’s uncommon to see a crew that’s 4 video games over .500 and in possession of a Wild Card spot oust its skipper, however Montoyo’s Jays are within the midst of a dreadful stretch that has seen them drop 9 of their previous 11 video games. That features a sweep by the hands of a red-hot Mariners membership that used a collection of 4 straight wins over Toronto to tug itself again to inside a half recreation of the very Wild Card spot to which the just lately floundering Blue Jays are clinging. ESPN’s Jeff Passan provides that “questions within the clubhouse about management” additionally contributed to Montoyo’s dismissal (Twitter link).
It’s been an unexpectedly mediocre season for the Blue Jays on the entire. Whereas their lineup has been properly above-average total — Toronto hitters are batting .259/.321/.435, good for a fifth-ranked 111 wRC+ — that masks a dismal stretch in the midst of the season the place the Jays had been one of many lowest-scoring groups within the league for a couple of weeks. Even with these stable price stats, Toronto sits simply eleventh in whole runs scored (401), and their offense has not been the juggernaut unit that the majority anticipated.
Every of Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been higher than the common hitter however shy of their latest ranges of manufacturing (Bichette specifically). Offseason acquisition Matt Chapman has been higher than he was in his previous couple seasons with Oakland however has but to rebound to the shape he confirmed previous to 2020 hip surgical procedure.
There have been equally surprising troubles on the pitching workers, with Jose Berrios’ surprising decline chief amongst them. The longtime Twins high starter and prized 2021 deadline acquisition for the Jays signed a seven-year contract extension within the offseason and has instantly adopted up with far and away his worst efficiency since his rookie season.
Berrios was the image of consistency for the Twins from 2017-21 and pitched like his usually sturdy self down the stretch with Toronto following final July’s commerce. Nevertheless, he’s stumbled by way of the 2022 season with a 5.38 ERA and career-low 20.7% strikeout price by way of 95 1/3 frames. His rotationmate, offseason free-agent signing Yusei Kikuchi, has had related struggles within the first season of a three-year deal. Hyun Jin Ryu was misplaced for the season as a result of Tommy John surgical procedure. Accidents have prevented Nate Pearson from taking the mound.
In fact, these shortcomings definitely don’t fall squarely on Montoyo’s shoulders, however he’ll be the one to bear the blame for the struggles of these anticipated contributors and the crew’s latest spate of typically shut losses. He turns into the third supervisor to be dismissed this season alone, as each Joe Girardi (Phillies) and Joe Maddon (Angels) had been fired earlier within the yr.
Not less than when it comes to win-loss report, Montoyo will go down as one of many extra profitable managers fired in latest reminiscence. Regardless of taking on within the late phases of a rebuild in 2019, he guided the Jays to a good 236-236 report in his three-plus seasons on the job. Previous to his time with the Jays, the bilingual Montoyo was probably the most profitable minor league managers in Rays franchise historical past, and he additionally spent 4 seasons as bench coach in Tampa Bay. On condition that historical past and observe report, it stands to motive that he might discover himself within the operating for some offseason teaching and/or managerial searches — if his want is to get proper again right into a dugout, after all.
