Tigers#1
06-03-2002, 03:44 PM
TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays fired manager Buck Martinez on Monday after the team's worst start in two decades.
Toronto third-base coach Carlos Tosca has been named Martinez's successor.
"The goal is to be a better club in September than we are now and we feel like Carlos can help us to get there," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said.
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 against Detroit but that didn't stop Ricciardi from replacing the second-year manager.
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 an 0-6 stand at SkyDome last week, Ricciardi said Martinez's status would be monitored series to series.
Only AL rivals Tampa Bay and Detroit, 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 and taking over the Jays without any managerial experience.
"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.
Martinez, an ESPN analyst before the Blue Jays hired him, still has another year-plus left on his original three-year contract signed when he was hired in November 2000.
Toronto third-base coach Carlos Tosca has been named Martinez's successor.
"The goal is to be a better club in September than we are now and we feel like Carlos can help us to get there," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said.
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 against Detroit but that didn't stop Ricciardi from replacing the second-year manager.
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 an 0-6 stand at SkyDome last week, Ricciardi said Martinez's status would be monitored series to series.
Only AL rivals Tampa Bay and Detroit, 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 and taking over the Jays without any managerial experience.
"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.
Martinez, an ESPN analyst before the Blue Jays hired him, still has another year-plus left on his original three-year contract signed when he was hired in November 2000.