Blue Jays skipper John Gibbons didn’t see the departure of Alex Anthopoulos coming, either. While his own job status was the next thing to be called into question last week, incoming president and CEO Mark Shapiro was quick to put any concerns to rest in his introductory press conference on Monday. Gibbons will be back, and with his entire coaching staff expected to stay intact, he’ll represent the on-field arm of the continuity that Shapiro hopes to instill throughout the transition.
Interim general manager Tony LaCava was another voice in Gibbons’ corner, as he tells Jeff Blair of Sportsnet that he’s “a stabilizing force around the organization … sometimes, a voice of reason.