[스포티비뉴스=박성윤 기자] “The problem isn’t the director…”
Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo has been fired. Toronto officially announced the sacking of manager Montoyo on the 14th (Korean time). US media ‘USA Today’ reporter Bob Nightingale announced the news of Montoyo’s sacking and said, “Bench coach John Schneider, who had a strong relationship with many young Toronto players in the minor leagues, will serve as interim manager.”
John Heyman, a columnist for the New York Post, put a question mark on the news of the sacking. He said, “Toronto’s real problem is not Montoyo. The problem is the bullpen except for Jordan Romano, the closing pitcher, and Ryu Hyun-jin’s injury and some stars are sluggish.”
Montoyo has been the Toronto manager since 2019. In the followingmath of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in 2020, he recorded a win rate of 32 wins, 28 losses and a win rate of 0.533, leading to the Toronto Postseason. In addition to the 60-game shortened season, he was invited to the autumn feast while receiving the benefits of expanding the postseason. Ryu Hyun-jin, who signed a four-year, $80 million contract ahead of 2020, did his part as an ace.
In 2021, George Springer was added to strengthen the attack power, and Bo Bisht, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Marcus Simeon played great performances, showing good performance with a win rate of 91 wins 71 losses and 0.562. In the trade market, Jose Verrios was added, and left-handed starter Robbie Ray played as an ace. However, it was lost in the fierce American League East Division competition. Tampa Bay took 100 wins, Boston and Yankees 92 wins.
He took 3rd place in the American League Manager of the Year award in 2020 and 4th place in 2021, establishing himself as one of the major league managers. But in 2022, difficulties came to him. The start was good. He signed an extension contract with Berrios and brought Kevin Gaussman into the new starting rotation. Japanese starting pitcher Kikuchi Yusei also joined.
The Toronto starting lineup looked so strong that Ryu Hyun-jin was the third starter. If the National League World Series contenders were the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, the American League was the Houston Astros and Toronto. But with the start, things changed.
Ryu Hyun-jin decided to have elbow surgery and was out this season. Berios and Kikuchi are struggling. Only Gaussman and Manoa are doing their part, but Gaussman is off for a while following being hit by a batted ball.
In batting, Guerrero Jr. and others are doing well, but not as good as usual. Alejandro Kirk, Springer, and Luerdes Gurriel Jr. are the main players, but none of the batters with an OPS exceeding 0.9 among the batsmen. Last year, Guerrero Junior’s 48 home runs, Simeon’s 45 home runs, Theosca Hernandez’s 32 home runs, and Bissett’s 29 home runs are not seen this year.
Toronto have recently lost once more in a row and allowed a chase to the Baltimore Orioles. It is also in a position where it cannot be guaranteed to advance to the wild card, and a fall to the bottom of the American League is possible. In the World Series nominations, the bottom of the American League Eastern Division fell to a possible position. Toronto’s future doesn’t look bright following the loss of its captain.
