Jays Player Revolt

The news is spreading this morning that the Jays players have turned on Cito and do not want him back next year. Normally I support management and am not in favor of the inmates running the asylum. However in this case I am not surprised at the feelings of the players and do think that its time for Cito to slip back into retirement.

The word is that the players find that Cito does not communicate and is constantly negative. What I have seen in this reincarnation of Cito is that his calm and experienced manner has tipped to the point of being arrogance. He seems to take pride in not showing emotion to the point that he looks like wins or losses have no effect on him. When I listen to him speak I see a man who’s pride does not let him admit that any problem with the Jays may be his fault. The blame from him always seems to fall on the players and that they are not adopting his plan.

When you manage, a big part of the job is teaching and communicating. Even if the lesson that you are teaching is correct, there is a problem if your students are not learning. A good teacher should not simply shrug his shoulders and blame the students for not learning. A good teacher should realize that learning is a two way street and it is also the teacher’s job to figure out a way to get through to his students. If the students are not learning, you have to find a new way to teach.

Cito appears to be lost in the past. When he was rehired last year he did not look to find the best new coaches. Instead he went back to his personal comfort zone and hired the coaches that were with him in the Jays glory years over fifteen years ago. These coaches had not gone on to greatness in the intervening years, but had largely been forgotten by baseball. They, like Cito, had chosen not to grow with the game but remained steadfast in their beliefs that their old ways are the best ways. Baseball is a grand old game, but time and people do move on and must continue to grow and learn.

You would think that Cito’s quiet confidence would be appreciated by veteran players. Maybe it can be accepted by a veteran team that is winning and has veteran leaders. But today that attitude is seen as one of detachment and arrogance. The manager does not seem to be part of the team and the manager does not seem willing to take any responsibility for the failures of the team.

While the Jays were spiraling down after their hot start much heat was put on the players and JP. When Cito was asked about his future he seemed to just assume that none of this was his fault, or even concern, and he mused on about his plans to manage in 2010 and then retire and spend more time with his grand children. His whole attitude was that his methods were beyond question and it would solely be his decision when he would choose to step aside.

Maybe it is Cito’s close relationship with Beeston that gives him this feeling of security. However, when he spoke he did not seem like a manager that was looking for ways to turn his team around. He was just going to carry on doing what he had always done until he did not feel like doing it any more. That attitude does not inspire the group of men that you are leading.

It is interesting that Cito used to be considered a players’ manager. Maybe in his day players wanted a manager that let them be. Today it appears that players want a manager that will lead them and be part of the team.

I believe that Cito’s best days are in his past and this off season it is time to go with a new and more aggressive approach to try and win games and win back fans.