Sprague is currently the co-ordinator of instruction for the Oakland Athletics, the team the Jays traded him to in 1998, and is known to be well respected in the Toronto organization.
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| John Gibbons |
I was kind of surprised however, when at the end of the 2018 playing schedule, out-going Jays manager John Gibbons more or less nominated Stubby Clapp for the managerial job. Knowing of Gibby's sense of humor, one has to wonder if he was being a bit flippant and off-handed after word of his firing was made public. No denying, it was an out-of-the-blue suggestion.
Clapp himself was certainly taken aback when he received the news..
“My phone blew up,” Clapp said of the reaction he got. “No. 1, I thank him (Gibbons) for even thinking of me. Coming from Gibby, I have a lot of respect. It’s a tip of the cap and coming from him is special. He understands the game and you look at what he’s done.”
There is a little history between the two. Gibbons was actually the manager for an Arizona Fall League team that Clapp played on back in 2000. After two seasons of coaching with the Houston Astros, Clapp was hired as a hitting coach for Blue Jays and he spent four seasons in the organization. “I would stick my head in his office and he always had time to talk,” Clapp said. “We’ve kept a decent relationship.”
But Clapp left the organization two years ago to become manager for the AAA Memphis Redbirds, which is the top farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals. Under Clapps' management the Redbirds are repeat league champions.
A Canadian by birth (Windsor native), Clapp was a 36th-round pick by St. Louis in the 1996 MLB Draft and eventually reached the majors with the club in 2001. A second baseman/outfielder, he was a regular member of the Canadian national baseball team for a number of years. He spent a big chunk of his minor-league career in Memphis and the club retired his number in 2007.
“It’s a great organization, great people and they gave me the opportunity,” Clapp said of the Cardinals. But he doesn’t deny he wants to get back to the majors.
“It’s not a secret I want to be in the big leagues,” Clapp said. “If I do it, I want to do it to the best of my ability and at the highest level...That’s why I work so hard.”
But don’t expect the Blue Jays to announce a new manager anytime soon and, if the club is indeed interest in Clapp, there’s still a protocol to follow.
The 45-year-old Clapp is still under contract with St. Louis until the end of October.
“No. 1, there’s tampering rules,” Clapp said. “Usually, you have to wait for the season to end and if a team is in the playoffs, you usually have to wait until they’re done. It’s a courtesy.”
Clapp isn’t the only name being thrown out. Eric Wedge, who is a player development advisor for the Blue Jays and was American League manager of the year in 2007, is also thought to be in the running.
We'll just have to stay turned and wait to see if John Gibbons' pick is given consideration by Blue Jays brass. They could do worse!
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| Stubby Clapp |
Clapp himself was certainly taken aback when he received the news..
“My phone blew up,” Clapp said of the reaction he got. “No. 1, I thank him (Gibbons) for even thinking of me. Coming from Gibby, I have a lot of respect. It’s a tip of the cap and coming from him is special. He understands the game and you look at what he’s done.”
There is a little history between the two. Gibbons was actually the manager for an Arizona Fall League team that Clapp played on back in 2000. After two seasons of coaching with the Houston Astros, Clapp was hired as a hitting coach for Blue Jays and he spent four seasons in the organization. “I would stick my head in his office and he always had time to talk,” Clapp said. “We’ve kept a decent relationship.”
But Clapp left the organization two years ago to become manager for the AAA Memphis Redbirds, which is the top farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals. Under Clapps' management the Redbirds are repeat league champions.
A Canadian by birth (Windsor native), Clapp was a 36th-round pick by St. Louis in the 1996 MLB Draft and eventually reached the majors with the club in 2001. A second baseman/outfielder, he was a regular member of the Canadian national baseball team for a number of years. He spent a big chunk of his minor-league career in Memphis and the club retired his number in 2007.
“It’s a great organization, great people and they gave me the opportunity,” Clapp said of the Cardinals. But he doesn’t deny he wants to get back to the majors.
“It’s not a secret I want to be in the big leagues,” Clapp said. “If I do it, I want to do it to the best of my ability and at the highest level...That’s why I work so hard.”
But don’t expect the Blue Jays to announce a new manager anytime soon and, if the club is indeed interest in Clapp, there’s still a protocol to follow.
The 45-year-old Clapp is still under contract with St. Louis until the end of October.
“No. 1, there’s tampering rules,” Clapp said. “Usually, you have to wait for the season to end and if a team is in the playoffs, you usually have to wait until they’re done. It’s a courtesy.”
Clapp isn’t the only name being thrown out. Eric Wedge, who is a player development advisor for the Blue Jays and was American League manager of the year in 2007, is also thought to be in the running.
We'll just have to stay turned and wait to see if John Gibbons' pick is given consideration by Blue Jays brass. They could do worse!
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