Buffalo Boy's Blog

Its funny, after the game tonight against Baltimore Cito Gaston was asked about the mutiny in the clubhouse and he was clueless. Other players such as Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay were also clueless as to the hotilities toward Gaston.

Im going to step up on Cito's behalf and say that this is not a Cito Gaston problem. The problem lies much deeper. It probably has more to do with JP Riccardi than anything Cito has done or any one player or group of players in that clubhouse.

Every player to a tee, with the exception of maybe David Wells would tell you that Cito Gaston was a players manager and the players from those World Series years and beyond respected Gaston more than any other manager they played for. He let the players play and every player knew their role on the team.

Is their frustration in the clubhouse? Absolutely and why shouldn't there be? The frustration shouldn't be misdirected though. Cito was given a potential winner this year as evidenced by this teams first place status back at the end of May-Early June. So what did his GM do to support his manager? He offered up his best player on the trade market.

That alone would frustrate any group of players, knowing you are in first place and your GM is still selling your best player on the roster.

He didn't stop there, instead of working with Alex Rios and the upside that is still there he let the outfielder go for nothing on the waiver wire.

In addition, he let the team leader Scott Rolen go for an under achieving Edwin Encarnacion.

This is not Cito's doing and would it surprise anyone if JP isn't tring to divide the clubhouse behind Cito's back in order to keep his job secure for next year? JP Riccardi is a snake, he can't be trusted to keep a good team on the field as GM and when it comes to crunch time he can't deliver when his team has a chance to actually compete in the AL East.

So, who does he manipulate to help shift the blame? The coaches left from the John Gibbons regime and any player willing to listen to his hot air.

Cito is not the problem. He is a winner who was hired to turn this group into winners. Obviously some of the players think otherwise. To me, if you are not willing to listen to a manager who got it done not once, but twice and willing to take his leadership and allow it to get you as a team to the next level then go play for another ball club.

Cito has one guy going for him at this point, Paul Beeston the one higher up in the organization who can vouch for Cito. Beeston should see this thing for what it is, JP Riccardi's ship has sunk and its time to bring in a new GM, one that will work with Cito, spend the money necessary on talent to compete and give the team the tools it needs. JP has not done that, especially in June when the team needed it most.