Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos confirms John Gibbons will be back in 2014, stresses process over results before 7-1 loss to Yankees

TORONTO – When Alex Anthopoulos was crowned champion of paper baseball for his royal upgrading of the Blue Jays roster in the off-season, he surely expected the conversation around the late August series at home against the New York Yankees to be about the Jays' five game lead in the A.L. East and whether Detroit or Texas would be a tougher match-up for Toronto in the postseason. At the very least he would have expected that the series would be contested between two contending teams.

He certainly couldn't have envisioned being called to address the media about growing concerns around his manager's ability to lead the team to success as they sputtered towards the end of a tumultuous and fruitless season.

Prior to Tuesday night's 7-1 loss to the Yankees, when asked whether or not he had even considered firing John Gibbons at the end of the season, Anthopoulos gave a very direct answer.

"There has never been any thought on that respect at all. John is our manager, and we expect him to be," said Anthopoulos. "But I understand what the response is. When you're not playing well as a team, these are the things that happen. You talk about the GM, the manager, you talk about the players - people want a reason, and changes usually come when players aren't playing well and teams aren't performing. I think that comes with the territory."

The calls for his dismissal from both fans and the media have augmented in recent days, the criticism focused on Gibbons' inability to foster a winning culture in Toronto. Gibbons appreciates Anthopoulos standing up for him but understands there's only one way for the noise to go away - win.

"It's nice to hear but it's not going to change my approach," said Gibbons.

The first step to winning more baseball games is by having reliable starting pitching. The Jays have trotted out 13 starters this season and they've combined for a 5.03 ERA, the second worst mark in the majors - only the Twins are worse with a 5.11 starters ERA. For all the statistics and strategy around the game, there are some aspects that are remarkably simple.

"I do think and I believe that, if you look at this historically, second last in starters' ERA, I've yet to see some teams have success doing that and ultimately we can examine why that is," said Anthopoulos. "That's not to say we can't improve in other areas, offensively, defensively, but I think that's where it starts. We've had three-fifths of our rotation in flux, whether it's through injury or performance. We've only had two mainstays in the rotation the entire year. That's not an excuse; that's just a fact. That comes to my chair, it comes down to the players, the staff, the training staff - we're all accountable, to an extent, why things have gone the way they have. But to sit there and say it's one person, that doesn't make any sense. I think it's an easy out, to be honest with you."

In most aspects of life an explanation can serve as an explanation but in sports it's an excuse and fairly or not, Gibbons is the figurehead of the on-field operation.

"I actually think, the in-game managing, I think he has done a great job," said Anthopoulos. "I think it's so easy to pin results on one person. I think it's convenient. I could say that for myself, I could say that for certain players, for the manager. I just don't think blame falls on one person. I think when we're playing the way we have, I just don't think it falls on one person, it's collectively. There's blame to share, that's probably the best way to put it. I just don't believe it's one thing and that's the issue. I think Gibby, in game, has done a great job."

Amid the swirl of negativity, the Blue Jays fan base should be encouraged by Anthopoulos' leadership. His thought process is measured and analytical. He is showing faith in his manager at a time when many would opt for the popular choice.

However, as sound as the process may be (and I believe it to be sound), Anthopoulos has to be aware that at some point patience runs thin. Although under different circumstances, sticking to his principles cost the far less diplomatic and exponentially more blustery hockey GM down the street his job earlier this year.

The golden luster and glow around Anthopoulos isn't quite as shiny as it was just a few months ago. Some of it is deserved (the Brett Lawrie at second base mid-season experiment for one) but for the most part the process hasn't changed. Perception is a funny thing.

Here's another thing that hasn't changed - Alex Anthopoulos remains intent on putting together a winning baseball team in Toronto and John Gibbons will be the manager that leads it.