Just over a year ago the Toronto Blue Jays were a bland, struggling team with virtually no hope of a winning season - let alone competing for a playoff spot.

The Jays - despite having a Cadillac starting rotation and the strongest and deepest bullpen in the majors - were struggling along, falling farther and farther behind. The season appeared to be lost.

Then the Blue Jays did something radical - they brought back Cito Gaston to manage the team.

Some called his re-hiring a publicity stunt. Some said the Jays organization was desperate to distract its paying customers from another losing season by bringing back the team's most popular former manager.

Then it happened: winning. When that happened the critics soon fell silent.

Since Cito's return the Blue Jays have posted the best record in the American League. By the time he returned last season the Jays were already too far out of the race to contend, but he managed to push them to 86 wins. The hot finish last year, combined with the blistering start over the first month of this season has made the Jays the best team since the date Cito returned to the club.

The transformation of the team has been nothing short of incredible. Some would call it miraculous, but I wouldn't. I remember when Cito took over the Jays in 1989 the team was 12 games under .500 and he rallied the players to a division title and playoff experience. Cito knows turnarounds!

With one move the Jays went from being an uninspired group of underachievers to a lean and mean professional baseball team capable of beating any team on any day of the week.

The return of Cito removed all the excuses from the clubhouse. Under J.P. Riccardi's parade of previous weak managers losing was semi-tolerated. Of course the Blue Jays wanted to win - or perhaps the better word would be they hoped to win.

Cito expects to win. He has a presence. He brings with him an aura of respect, dignity and mystique. It's his team. I'm sure when he speaks - the players listen. Just look at him, the man is 65 years old, but doesn't look a day over 48. I'm not a millionaire baseball player, but I know I wouldn't want to disappoint or cross Cito in anyway.

All of it works. A year ago this team couldn't hit. Now it is the best hitting team in the American League. Four out of the five starting pitchers from last year's team are gone due to injury or free agency. Yet, Cito keeps them winning. The bullpen has been weakened by the loss of BJ Ryan, yet they continue getting guys out.