Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun has more on the acrimonious departure of Shea Hillenbrand from the Blue Jays.
It had a lot to do with Hillenbrand writing: "This is a sinking ship" on the chalkboard where batting practice times are written.
The team was having a players-only meeting, called by Vernon Wells, when in stormed irate manager John Gibbons.
According to one unnamed Blue Jay: "The manager said: 'You're gone! I'll be gone before you ever play another game in this organization.'
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"He was a cancer in this clubhouse," another player said. "Shea's day went the way the lineup card went. If he was in the lineup, everything was fine. If he wasn't he'd sulk. Sometimes he wouldn't even come out to hit."
There are two things I've read in this Hillenbrand saga that befuddle me. The first is Hillenbrand saying "that's why they're not winning" about a team with a .553 winning percentage. The second is JP Riccardi saying his 3-4-5 hitters are killing the team, when they're actually the primary reason they're winning. What on earth is going on up there?
Hillenbrand seems to wear out his welcome rather quickly everywhere. First it was calling Theo Epstein a "fag" and now it's moved on to desecrating the Canadian flag. What's next?
11 Well the article makes it sound like he kind of tore up the flag patch. And it also makes it sound like he did it in petulance, when he was removed from a game.
Whatever. To each his own. Let's just say I'd rather he go to SF or SD than LA.
Or the Canadian habit of spelling center with an "re" at the end.
(at least blame Terrance and Phillip)
Tearing ANY flag in simply not right.
Whatever. To each his own. Let's just say I'd rather he go to SF or SD than LA.
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