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TORONTO – Before landing the management position at the Toronto Blue Jays, Charlie Montoyo had little time to prepare for the interview process.
He went to a downtown restaurant with General Manager Ross Atkins and Team Chair Mark Shapiro just two days after first contact.
"It was supposed to be a dinner (long)," Montoyo said. "It took forever because the waiter took forever, so it worked for me, I can not wait to see this server so I can tip it even more because it was awesome – j & # I knew these guys better.
"When dinner was over, I thought it would be good to work for these two guys."
Atkins and Shapiro were also impressed. Montoyo returned home late Wednesday and received the good news the next day.
He was chosen by the team to become the 13th manager of franchise history.
"I would say that the excitement would come back lightly," said Atkins after officially introducing Montoyo Monday at the Rogers Center. "I'm delighted, I think when he started to become clear to me that he was the right choice, and to the point of accepting his conditions, I was absolutely delighted and that was not good. only grew as my progress progressed, know it more. "
Montoyo spent last season as a coach at the Tampa Bay Rays bench. He led teams in every Rays system standings, including seven years at the helm of the triple-A Durham Bulls.
His three-year contract with Toronto runs until 2021 and includes a team option for 2022.
Montoyo succeeds John Gibbons with the Blue Jays, who have had a disappointing season of 73 wins. The team announced at the end of the regular season that Gibbons would not come back as a skipper.
Montoyo, 53, spent 10 years as a field player in the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies. He retired as a player after the 1996 season.
He compiled a minor league management record of 1,266-1,142 (.526) before occupying the third base coaching position with the Rays in 2015.
In Toronto, he will be responsible for guiding a team of young solid players and some high-level potential players, but in at least two years' time.
"I do not think like that, we will play to win early," said Montoyo. "This is not even what I think.In the first game of the spring training, we will play to win, and then what will happen after that will happen after that."
The first on his to-do list will be to set up the coaching staff. Once finalized, he will begin planning his approach for the 2019 campaign.
"I've already talked to Ross – I could not sleep – because my number one goal is to find a coaching staff that will help these kids improve," he says. said Montoyo.
The Blue Jays appeared in the AHL playoff series in 2015 and 2016, but have struggled in the past two years.
Meanwhile, the farming system of the team has become much deeper and there are some young people – including the best hopeful Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – who could make the leap into the big leagues this spring.
A native of Florida, Puerto Rico, Montoyo experienced his only great experience as a player in 1993 with the Expos when he appeared four times. Guerrero's father was part of this team and they remain friendly.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Vlad and hugging him and I'm sure he'll be happy that I'm his son's manager," Montoyo said.
As for his management style, Montoyo describes it as a "mixture of old school and badysis". Communication will be in the foreground.
"I think it's one of my strengths," he said. "I respect the players because I know it's not an easy game, so whatever I do as a manager, I think of him as a player." "How would I feel when someone?" would you talk to me? "
Montoyo, chosen by Milwaukee for the sixth round in the first selection of players in 1987, also coached the Puerto Rico team at the 2009 World Baseball Clbadic. He was named director of the international league of the United States. year in 2010 and 2013.
"I'm excited about Charlie, excited about what he's been and what he's done," Atkins said. "I'm really excited to start with him."
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Follow @GregoryStrongCP on Twitter.
Gregory Strong, Canadian Press
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