More Hillenbrand Details...

The context behind yesterday's blow-up apparently stretches back two months to another confrontation between Hillenbrand and the manager that took place in late May. Toronto had just been swept on the road by the Colorado Rockies, with Hillenbrand sitting out all three games played in the National League park.

Shortly after the team's return to Toronto, Hillenbrand said he went to the manager's office at the Rogers Centre to ask him for more playing time. Things apparently got heated and Hillenbrand said Gibbons "reamed him out'' in private.

"He was claiming that I'm a cancer to my teammates, that I'm a coward,'' Hillenbrand said. "He said that my teammates were all laughing at me and that they think I'm a joke.

"He said he was washing his hands of me right then and there and that he was done with me,'' he said. "He said he didn't want anything more to do with me but have me show up and win ballgames for him.''

For two months, player and manager apparently cut off all lines of communication.