mark shapiro blue jays

Fans revolt against the Toronto Blue Jays after disastrous press conference

Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro spoke to media on Thursday in what proved a tense season-ending press conference held at Rogers Centre, and fans are now threatening to punish the team via the box office next season.

Shapiro announced that general manager Ross Atkins will remain in his role next season, coming just days after Atkins himself spoke to media and confirmed that manager John Schneider would also stay on in 2024.

Fans were looking for blood and/or a scapegoat over the controversial move to pull starting pitcher Jose Berrios after just 4 dominant shutout innings in what would eventually be a Wild Card series-deciding elimination loss to the Minnesota Twins.

With Schneider, Atkins, and Shapiro all set to retain their roles and two uninspiring press conferences in the books, fans on X (formerly Twitter) have revolted against the club's front office and are threatening a half-empty Rogers Centre for the 2024 home opener next April.

Calls for firings have ramped up since the Thursday presser, as disappointed fans who had hoped for firings or grand promises from the organization were instead told by Shapiro that no big changes were expected.

Shapiro tempered expectations about massive off-season acquisitions, stating that "even in the preliminary conversations [with team ownership], I don't expect a dramatic philosophical shift in payroll next year."

The Jays did dramatically increase their payroll the year before to well north of the $200 million mark, and in the end, the team finished with three fewer wins and no playoff improvement over the previous year.

In the hours after the press conference, there was no shortage of fans demanding change, and warning the organization that they would refrain from purchasing tickets if they could only expect the status quo going forward.

One X user proclaimed that "us fans should stay away from the Rogers centre. Let the stadium be empty, so all the renos would be pointless. No fans, no money coming in, can't pay the bill for the renos.. they should spend that money and improve the players and salary."

The Blue Jays have now been swept in three consecutive postseasons, but Shapiro remains steadfast that the front office's goal is to go the distance in the postseason — whether or not Rogers is willing to foot the bill for the acquisitions required to make this group a true contender.

"I just want to do what makes the fans happy, which is win and ultimately win a world championship," said Shapiro.

However, fans might need some proof beyond his assurances after years of falling short.

Lead photo by

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports


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