What's going on with Shea Hillenbrand?

Question

I'm not a baseball fan at all, but living in Toronto, this is a big thing and all over the news. What's going on?

Answer 1

Simply put, he became angry with the team after he came back from adopting a daughter. He has now been cut.

Answer 2

It is not Shea, although he seems to be disruptive every where he plays. The problem in TO is that the GM has Mickey Rooney disease. The little fella bragged how his "moneyball" philosophy would make the Jays a contender, however his ability to sign terrible or oft injured pitchers has made this an impossibility. His whipping boys are Shea and his ex-teacher's pet Hinske. John G. is a class guy but I believe JP has a little too much to say in the clubhouse. thus exerting pressure on John G. and the players. C'mon show a little compassion to a guy who's life was turned upside down with the sudden arrival of his adopted daughter. JP and management 'dissed Shea and he reacted or over reacted. Give the man some credit he was a catcher until he made the Sox as a thirdbaseman a position he quickly learned in spring training, he saved the Sox' bacon and then they jumped all over him because he wasn't patient enough at the plate. Hey a rookie, learning a new position and having a decent BA was not good enough as he had a low OBP. Remember you can't have everything. In closing may Shea go in peace and find hapiness with his next team. Fire JP he in my humble opinion is an egotistical jerk. PS he is too short for most rides at Canada's Wonderland amusement park, maybe this is his problem

Answer 3

TORONTO -- After Shea Hillenbrand wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the "ship was sinking," Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons challenged him to a fight.

"He challenged me to a fight, and wanted me to get up and punch him in the face," Hillenbrand told FAN 590 in Toronto.

There was no brawl, but the tense relationship between the two reached the breaking point during a team meeting Wednesday night. Gibbons was adamant that he would've quit if Hillenbrand wasn't cut.

"That's a fact. That's how the whole thing got started," Gibbons said before Thursday night's game against the Yankees. "I told him he won't see the field as long as I'm here."

The Blue Jays designated Hillenbrand for assignment during the game, giving them 10 days to trade, release or send him outright to the minors.

Hillenbrand was batting .301 with 12 homers, 15 doubles and 39 RBI. Known as an extremely intense player, he has moved from Boston to Arizona to Toronto. He had a $5.8 million contract for this season.

"I believe we'll have five or six teams interested in Shea," said his agent, Dan Lozano.

The Blue Jays, who spent millions in the offseason to build a contender, began the day six games behind Boston in the AL East.

Hillenbrand had been upset because he felt the Blue Jays were not sensitive that he needed several days to complete the adoption of a baby girl on the West Coast over the weekend. The designated hitter and corner infielder was not in the starting lineup when he returned.

Earlier Wednesday, Hillenbrand wrote "play for yourself" on a board the Blue Jays use to post batting practice times. He later wrote the "ship was sinking" and Gibbons confronted him.

"Gibby called a team meeting and then he stood up and reamed me out in front of my teammates," Hillenbrand told The Toronto Star. "I'm very disappointed about what he did and I find it very unprofessional."

Gibbons acknowledged he challenged Hillenbrand to a fight.

"He had a chance yesterday to defend himself in front of his coaches and his teammates. He chose not to," Gibbons said.

Gibbons said someone was done in Toronto -- him or Hillenbrand.

"If the front office felt differently than he wins and I lose, and I would be the one out of here," Gibbons said. "I mean it. It was either him or me."

Asked if Hillenbrand did it because he wanted out, Gibbons said: "I know he wanted to get out. That's no secret. To be honest I don't think he really wanted to be here for the last two years."

"You're either with us or you're not," he said. "He got his wish. It's that simple."

Said Lozano, the agent: "From everything Shea told me of the situation, I think it all could've been avoided had it been handled differently."

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi was getting acupuncture treatment and had eight needles in his back when he learned what Hillenbrand wrote.

Ricciardi agreed that Hillenbrand had go to.

"We are a better team without him," Ricciardi said. "I would rather lose than sell myself out to have someone play here that says those type of things about organization."

Ricciardi objected that Hillenbrand said there isn't a winning atmosphere in Toronto. He added, "Gibby's job is more secure than it's ever been."

Ricciardi said he wasn't surprised by Hillenbrand's behavior -- Hillenbrand once called Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein a derogatory term for homosexuals.

"He made some pretty disparaging remarks when he left Boston. I don't think people forgot that," Ricciardi said.

"I don't think his behavior is inconsistent with what his reputation has been. People knew the deal," he said. "The cards are on the table, so if someone wants Shea Hillenbrand we'll try to make a deal. Enough clubs called today."

With the trade deadline approaching July 31, Ricciardi said he's looking for a pitcher than can help this year.

Answer 4

Shea wanted time away from the team so he could finish paperwork to adopt a kid. The Blue Jays pretty much wouldn't let him so he got pissed off. He and the manager had a confrontation. So now Shea is either going to be benched, traded or sent to the Minor Leagues.

Answer 5

He was designated for assignment which means the club has 10 days to trade him or he becomes a free agent. What happened is he had a disagreement with the club he felt he was disrespected and refused to sit in the dugout with his teammates and than later was designated for assignment

Answer 6

He was designated for assignment and will now probably be traded to a contender for a low level prospect. He would be a good short term fix for NYY until Matsui comes back.

Answer 7

The yankees are going to pick him up and dump a-rod on the A train.

Answer 8

there is good news though the Jay's beat the Yanks tonight.