Only Rod Barajas (.289), Vernon Wells (.277), and David Eckstein (.278) have a batting average better than .275 in more than 100 at-bats.
The Blue Jays have also been bereft of any legitimate power production from any player not named Matt Stairs (eight homers) all season. Toronto's 49 home runs are 13th in the American League and 28th in Major League Baseball.
While watching Toronto's at-bats, it is easy to see that the players often seem listless, and disinterested, as if they are trying to finish their at-bats as quickly as possible.
This lack of enthusiasm may be a reflection of Gibbons' generally passive personality and measured demeanor around his players and the media
However, if Gaston can help this team become a more cohesive unit over the remaining MLB season, Toronto could field a decent team next year in the surprisingly deep AL East.
With Gibbons gone, the blame will now lie on Blue Jays general manager JP Ricciardi in the event of a continued lack of results since Gaston will have no pressure on him, due mostly to the fact that he is a new manager who was hired halfway through the season.
In a related note, should Ricciardi's team not produce results, any large scale overhaul will be nigh impossible, despite the fact that team owner Rogers Communications Inc. has given Ricciardi the green light to spend as he sees fit.
Nine players are signed with the team until at least 2010 and it will be difficult for Ricciardi to unload any of these contracts.
It is unclear how this whole mess will be resolved. If all goes well, Gaston will have a home in Toronto and Ricciardi's job will be safe.
However, Gaston's job will be "evaluated" at the end of the season if he can't turn the team around and Ricciardi could come under some heavy scrutiny as soon as the end of the season.
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