Toronto Blue Jays Morning Brew: Mottola Removed, Pitching Possibilities and ’93 til’ Infinity

Toronto Blue Jays manager

and pitching coach

watch during spring training at

Training Centre. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays News and Rumours*

*Canadian spelling, eh!

The Toronto Blue Jays announced via press release last night that Hitting Coach Chad Mottola and First Base Coach Dwayne Murphy will not return to the Major League staff in 2014. Murphy is retiring but the news about Mottola comes as a surprise to many. Savvy readers may remember a tidbit we shared from John Lott of the National Post in the September 29th edition of the Morning Brew when Lott wrote “it would be unsurprising if one or two Toronto coaches were jobless within the next week or two.” I figured at the time it would either be Pete Walker or Mottola who would be handed walking papers (the former more so than the latter) so I’m not entirely shocked by the news that Mottola won’t be back but I’m also not sure if it’s the right move.

Although I said it was a possibility that Mottola could go it wasn’t to discredit the work he’s done with Colby Rasmus or Anthony Gose among others, I just felt that either rookie coach could be used as a sacrificial lamb. But they might have picked the wrong guy. I’m sure that there are more than a few Blue Jays’ fans that aren’t exactly happy about the choice of keeping Walker over Mottola. Alex Dineley also covers the story for us here at Jays Journal and noted that the choice is a bit strange especially since Mottola had received such glowing reviews from his time in the Jays minor league system. Dineley also directs to a tweet from Gregor Chisholm who shares that Mottola and Gose had already planned workouts for the offseason. No replacements have yet been named at this time of writing.

Andrew Stoeten at DJF surprises me with his take on Bronson Arroyo and says something “intrigues” him about the possibility of Arroyo suiting up for the Jays next season.

Wes Kepstro at AL Eastbound and Down looks at the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff and categories eight players as either keepers, swingmen, goners or “status unclear” for next year.

MLB Nation gives us their Black and Blue Jays Postmortem.

Mop Up Duty takes a look back at what life was like the last time the Toronto Blue Jays were in the playoffs. Chipper Jones was Baseball America’s #1 pre-season prospect, a hot dog and beer combo was only $7 and R.A. Dickey was still older than Alex Anthopoulos.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats website reminds us that the Arizona Fall League starts today! We’ve covered it previously but in case you missed it attending from the Blue Jays organization will be Drew Hutchison, Aaron Sanchez, Marcus Stroman, John Stilson, Andy Burns, Derrick Chung and Kenny Wilson.

Jay Blue ranks the Vancouver Canadians over at the Canadian Baseball Network.

The Buffalo Bisons posted a PR piece to thank everyone who has visited their website as Bisons.com has become the most visited site in Minor League Baseball. I’m sure enough of us Blue Jays fans contributed to those numbers trying to figure out the roster in August and September so Bisons.com, you are welcome.