Cito's Staying Put

Ian Hunter by Scribe Written on October 30, 2009

For those who were hoping there might be some new blood in the Blue Jays manager's office next year, you're going to have to hold your breath for yet another season.

Sportsnet has confirmed that Cito Gaston will serve out his final year as the manager for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010. Following the end of the 2010 season, Cito will retire and remain on with the club as a consultant for the next four years.

News of Cito's comes on the heels of the announcement that Brad Arnsberg has accepted a position with the Houston Astros as their pitching coach. I'm still undecided as to what move will affect this team more - Arnsberg's departure or Cito's survival as manager.

So what does this all mean? Basically this move assures that Kevin Millar will be their full-time cleanup hitter next season, Randy Ruiz will be on the 25-man roster but spend all 162 games on the bench, and Jesse Carlson will pitch in almost every single game.

For a baseball franchise that's trying to turn over a new leaf with a new General manger and a new-ish President and CEO, this move feels counter-productive and merely puts the team in limbo until the 2011 season.

Even if the Blue Jays bump the payroll up to $120 million, what's the point if the coach is liable to not use those new players in the right manner?

Rogers can spend all the money they want on this team in 2010, but it seems like the money that will go towards free agents might just end up going to waste anyway.

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written on October 30, 2009 Sports

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