Add the Toronto Blue Jays to the list of MLB teams that decided to make a managerial change this season. The Blue Jays announced on Wednesday that they had fired manager Charlie Montoyo with bench coach John Schneider set to take his place on an interim basis.
The decision came after the Blue Jays went 2-8 in the past 10 games and slipped to fourth place in AL East.
It’s safe to say that the Blue Jays’ decision to fire Montoyo surprised more than a few people. The 56-year-old signed a new contract back in April after leading the team to a 91-win season in 2021. Toronto was also in a good place to make the postseason this year despite the recent bad form. The difference between them and second-placed Tampa Bay Rays is just 1.5 games.
However, it appears that just barely making the playoffs, if that ends up happening, isn’t good enough for the Blue Jays’ front office. After an encouraging run last year, the expectations were sky-high for the only Canadian MLB team, and so far, they haven’t been met. It now remains to be seen if Schneider can change the team’s course and salvage this season.
Charlie Montoyo leaves the Blue Jays after compiling a 236-236 record in three-and-a-half years in Toronto. He managed to get the team to the postseason during the shortened 2020 campaign when the Blue Jays were swept by Tampa Bay Rays.
