Mark Shapiro 'disappointed' with Blue Jays' slow start

Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro isn't hiding how he feels about his team's slow start to the 2016 season.

"Disappointing. We share [that feeling] across the board whether it's the players, the coaching staff, the manager or the front office," Shapiro told Sportsnet. "It's not hard to think about last year ... or when we left spring training to where we are now. There is both a sense of urgency and disappointment with how we've played to date." 

Prior to Friday's game against the Minnesota Twins, the defending American League East champion Blue Jays were 20-23, six games behind division-leading Baltimore Orioles. 

The Blue Jays led the Majors in scoring last season, racking up 891 runs, 127 more than any other team. This year, Toronto's batting average (.233) is worst in the AL and the team ranks 18th in MLB runs scored. 

On April 28, Shapiro told Sportsnet that although he wasn't happy with the Blue Jays' 10-13 record, but he wanted to refrain from drawing any conclusions until at least the 40 mark. The Jays played their 44th game last night.

But despite the offensive struggles, Shapiro doesn't have any changes in mind, including changing the manager. Shapiro said John Gibbons is still very much "part of the solution." 

"We feel that he is consistent. He is strong. He is tough. He is committed," Shapiro told Sportsnet. "I feel that he is the right guy to help guide us through the challenges that we are facing right now." 

Proven toughness

Instead, Shapiro feels the onus is on the players. 

"There is a disproportion amount of focus gets put on a manager. That's because changing out 12 players or changing out six players is never a reality." 

Toronto's big bats have gone quiet as new leadoff hitter Jose Bautista is hitting just .221, well down from his career average of .256. The reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson, prior to Friday's contest, has managed only one hit in his last 25 plate appearances. Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin have also struggled, hitting .196 and .171 respectively. 

"If the offence was performing even close to expectations ... we would be fighting for the top of the division," Shapiro said.

However, Shaprio said the easiest thing to do is overreact. He believes the Blue Jays' core has enough experience to figure it out. 

"This a group that has [faced] adversity and challenges and has demonstrated toughness in overcoming those things in the past." 

"This club was built to win now."