Level of Excellence:
Gibbons made strides, but he’s no Cito
As the managerial career of John Gibbons winds down, the question has come up on several fan sites and radio talk shows as to whether the popular Gibbons should be included on the Level of Excellence along with other Blue Jays greats. The answer is no. The Jays are 68-82 after Monday’s win in Baltimore. Gibbons’ career record in two stints over 11 seasons is 788-782.
The Level of Excellence should be taken seriously, honouring the best of the best in franchise history. Gibbons has rehabbed his reputation by becoming a far better manager and leader this time around than he was in 2004 when he first took over. But the Excellence honour is for a body of work, not just the last impression.
Cito Gaston is the only manager up on the wall just below the fifth deck at the Rogers Centre, but Gaston had more win credentials and more of a historical importance as the first African- American to win a World Series. Gibbons ranks second in career wins as Jays manager, but the wall should be reserved for greatness.
Gibbons has one year left on his current contract, but it is expected that shortly after the season he and GM Ross Atkins will negotiate a settlement and he will be replaced moving forward. The fact is, Gibbons is one of my favourite human beings to wear the Jays jersey, but that is not enough for the Level of Excellence. Otherwise John McDonald and Jose Cruz Jr. would be up there, too.