Jays right to cut loose Hillenbrand
07/20/2006The Toronto Blue Jays parted ways with Shea Hillenbrand on Wednesday night for one basic reason -- they had no other choice.
When a player makes it clear he no longer wants to be a part of your team, you have to consider moving that player to another team.
When a player writes the words "This ship is sinking" on the clubhouse bulletin board, there is nothing else to be considered. The player has to go. Immediately!
According to news reports out of Toronto, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has confirmed that Hillenbrand wrote those words on the bulletin board in the Blue Jays' clubhouse prior to Wednesday night's game.
The words sent Gibbons into a rage, and rightfully so.
It's one thing for a player to be unhappy with his role. That's a common complaint all too familiar to the ears of managers and general managers.
It's another thing for a player to use words that express doubt about his team's ability to win.
A manager and a team can't live with a player who feels the team is "sinking" and expresses these thoughts in an open fashion.
Gibbons was so upset, he reportedly told Hillenbrand, "You're gone! I'll be gone before you ever play another game in this organization."
In other words, it's you or me. That's how strongly Gibbons felt about the player's expressed sentiments.
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi did the only thing he could do. He supported his manager.
Before the evening was over, Ricciardi made the technical move to immediately remove Hillenbrand from his team's roster.
The contract of Hillenbrand was "designated for assignment." The Blue Jays now have 10 days to trade or release Hillenbrand.
Ricciardi shouldn't have a problem finding a new home for Hillenbrand. He is batting .301 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs.
If you wonder why the Blue Jays simply didn't release Hillenbrand, there is a simple answer -- he is being paid $5.8 million for the season.
As the general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, we once had a player who expressed doubt about our chances to win.
I knew the player had been unhappy with his role, but when he didn't feel we could win and expressed these thoughts to me, I knew it was time to say goodbye to the player. The contract of the player was designated for assignment.
Managers and general managers grow accustomed to players complaining about their roles and lack of playing time. You don't like to hear the complaining, but there are times you have to live with the situation.
You can say you're unhappy and that's one thing. Once you say you're unhappy and the ship is sinking, it is time for the player to set sail on his own.
John Gibbons made a bold move on Wednesday night, but he has shown me he is a good captain of the Blue Jays' ship.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
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