Reeling Blue Jays Dismiss GM Ash

Gord Ash was fired Tuesday as general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, who haven’t made the playoffs since 1993.

“We’re not in the pennant race and that’s part of the reason that we’re looking for a general manager,” Blue Jay President Paul Godfrey said. “I regret this, but I believe in the best interests of the club a change in direction is essential.”

Ash, 49, declined comment. He will remain with the team through the end of the season.

Ash has been with the Blue Jays since he was hired to work in the ticket office in 1978 and became general manager when Pat Gillick left in October 1994.

Gillick helped Toronto win World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

“I’m very disappointed because Gord had all the confidence in my ability to manage this club. I feel like I’ve let him down,” Manager Buck Martinez said.

Godfrey said assistant general managers Tim McCleary and Dave Stewart will share expanded duties until Ash’s replacement is selected.

Toronto, which was expected to contend for a postseason berth in Martinez’s first season as manager, is in third place in the American League East with a 76-81 record, 18 games behind the division champion New York Yankees.

Toronto’s opening-day payroll of $75.8 million was 10th highest in the major leagues.

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Larry Beinfest was appointed interim general manager of the Montreal Expos.

Beinfest, 37, was an assistant to General Manager Jim Beattie, who is resigning following the season.

Beinfest joined the Expos on Dec. 3, 1999, after being Seattle’s assistant to the vice president for baseball operations and, before that, the Mariners’ director of player development.

“Larry’s background in player development and scouting and his expertise in baseball operations make him the ideal person for this job at this time,” Expo owner Jeffrey Loria said in a statement.

Mike Berger, Montreal’s director of pro scouting, was fired.

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Pittsburgh Pirate General Manager Dave Littlefield will retain all of Manager Lloyd McClendon’s coaches next season.

Bench coach Bill Virdon, 70, was the only coach without a contract for 2002. He signed a one-year contract for 2001, but later told McClendon he wanted to return next season.

Under contract for next season are pitching coach Spin Williams, batting coach Dave Clark, first base coach Tommy Sandt, third base coach Trent Jewett and bullpen coach Bruce Tanner.

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Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were honored by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lawmakers, by voice vote, passed resolutions congratulating Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles and Gwynn of the San Diego Padres.

Both were lauded as American heroes.

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For the first time since 1990, the Yankees aren’t raising ticket prices, ending a steep run-up that saw the cost of the best tickets more than double in a five-year span.

The cost of the best box seats will remain at $65 next year, Yankee spokesman Rick Cerrone said. The Yankees will not change concession prices.

The price of the best box seats was $25 in 1996, when New York began its run of four World Series titles in five years.

The Yankees’ average price of $28.90 this year was the second highest in baseball, according to the Team Marketing Report, trailing only the Boston Red Sox at $36.08.