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The Return of Cito Gaston

Jun 20, 2008 – 2:27 PM
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The news that has come down from the Toronto Blue Jays that John Gibbons and his coaching staff have been relieved of their duties (read: fired) comes as no surprise ... as J.P. Ricciardi had recently been given the go-ahead to fire Gibbons from upper management.

Here's the surprise: Cito Gaston, the man who led the Jays to back-to-back World Championships in '92 and '93, is back at the helm as Blue Jays manager. He was already with the club as a special ambassador and special assistant to the CEO (read: stay around the ballclub in case we need a new manager, maybe) so the transition will be somewhat smooth. The fact that Gaston, who was relieved of Blue Jays managerial duties himself in 1997, has gone this long without landing another manager's gig is puzzling. He's had plenty of success with the Jays, and should command instant respect in the clubhouse ... especially following the somewhat combative Gibbons.

Managing in the A.L. East has become an exponentially tougher challenge with the Yankees and Red Sox having become perennial beasts, and the Rays emerging this year as a legitimate winner. Gaston may be taking on an impossible chore. We wish him well much the same.
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