Towers backs Gibson for potential fourth season

SAN DIEGO -- D-backs general manager Kevin Towers said his recommendation to ownership will be that manager Kirk Gibson return as manager in 2014, and all indications are that Gibson will be back for his fourth full season.

Gibson and Towers both will enter the final years of their contracts in 2014.

"I know I'm under contract next year," Gibson said. "I expect to be back. I have not been told that I've been back. So we get to the end of the year and we take care of those type things I think."

Towers said he will meet early next week with team president/CEO Derrick Hall and managing general partner Ken Kendrick to discuss things.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to Ken and Derrick, but I'm going to tell them I think [Gibson] should definitely be back and would like their support as well," Towers said. "I haven't had a chance to have a face-to-face with those guys, but I would think they would back my decision on that."

That does not mean that Towers is satisfied with the way the past two seasons have played out. The D-backs will finish this year around the .500 mark for the second year in a row after winning the National League West in 2011.

"I'm not content with where the club is at right now, and neither is Gibby," Towers said. "I want to win and to me, just finishing .500 is unacceptable. I think Gibby and I realize that if we continue just to play .500, mediocre baseball, we won't be here long."

Gibson said that each year, he goes through a self-evaluation process to try and see how he can get better as a manager.

"I don't make any excuses, I take 100 percent accountability of what goes on," Gibson said. "It's my responsibility to lead us, and so I reflect on those things and things I can be better at. I know people look and try to fix blame in certain areas so they can put it on me. I've got no problem with that. It would be accurate to say I'm a harsh self-evaluator. I'm looking to get better; always have been, always will."