Hickey says Towers can’t interview either
Noted here. I think I’ll be adjusting the “sitting GM” percentage downwards tomorrow.
Cashman Signs 3 Year Extension with NY
Cross Brian Cashman off the candidates list – he’s re-signing with the Yankees. 3 years at a reported $2 million per year.
From what I’m hearing, it’s more likely that the M’s are going to go with a first time GM over an experienced guy. It’s not set in stone, but right now, bet on Hahn, Lacava, or Ang.
Current GM Handicapping: Tuesday
A semi-random gauge of who’s likely to get the job. Based on current press coverage, rumors, substantiated and un, educated guesses, and so on. We claim no insight into front office machinations. Please, no wagering.
For names and brief resumes, check our potential GM candidates post.
| Who | Percent |
| LaCava | 25% |
| Hahn | 23% |
| Woodfork | 21% |
| Ng | 10% |
| Avila | 5% |
| DiPoto/Hinch/Hoyer | 3% |
| Antonetti | 1% |
| Evans | 1% |
| Forst | 1% |
| Pelekoudas | 1% |
| White | 1% |
| Bulk candidates | |
| Sitting GM | 3% |
| Field | 5% |
“Sitting GM” is someone who currently has a GM job: Kevin Towers, for instance.
“Field” is everyone not listed.
New to the list: Rick Hahn, White Sox assistant general manager.
Significant change: DePodesta drops to 0%
Updated to take Mike’s suggestion and clean up a typo.
GM candidate: Rick Hahn
Current job: Assistant GM, White Sox (VP,AGM)
Job history from Baseball America
Puff bio from the MLB site:
Hahn’s primary responsibilities include assisting Senior Vice President/General Manager Ken Williams with all player acquisitions, evaluations and contract negotiations, as well as with overseeing all elements of the club’s baseball operations, including the scouting and player development departments. Williams credits Hahn with negotiating multiyear contracts with several current White Sox players, including 2006 All-Stars Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski.
(shudder) Sorry. Make of that list what you will.
Former agent.
Other GM job news:
Previously interviewed for the Cardinals job along with Antonetti and Peter Woodfork, who you’ll also see on our leaderboard. The Cardinals hired their interim GM.
Declined to interview for the Pirates job, as did Antonetti. LaCava, who you’ll see on our leaderboard, did.
Background scoring:
Contracts and player negotiation: strong
Player scouting and development: ?
Modern baseball analysis: ?
Relevant articles… ummm…. if you find anything good, please drop them into the contents. I didn’t turn anything up except this radio interview: Hahn discusses offseason needs, 11/30/2007
Thiel and Lincoln
Art Thiel spends some quality time with Howard Lincoln and asks a lot of questions. There’s actually some good stuff in his answers, so it’s worth reading. Basic summary:
They liked the results Gillick gave them (no world series appearances, destroyed farm system, WOO!) and didn’t like the results Bavasi gave them, so they’re going to try to find someone who gets better results. No mention of any change in process that might lead to better results, of course.
When given a direct chance to give credit to the A’s for their success, Lincoln avoids doing so and instead talks about the Twins. The M’s have never really acknowledged that the A’s are just way, way better at this running a baseball team thing, and they probably never will.
Can’t evaluate the Erik Bedard trade as a disaster “until it plays out”. Again with the judge-strictly-by-results philosophy, which is one of the main reasons this organization is about 20 years behind the rest of baseball.
They won’t trade Ichiro.
There’s not much else we can say until we see who they hire – hopefully the new GM understands that the processes need changing if the results are going to improve. You know what, I’m just going to steal Paul DePodesta’s success matrix:
The Mariners are in the lower right hand corner. The goal is to be in the upper left hand corner. You can’t just hope to shift left, Howard – you need to move up too.
No DePo
For those of you hoping that the M’s would interview/hire Paul Depodesta for their next GM spot, you can cross him off the list – the note that I put at the end of the GM update about DePodesta agreeing to not pursue a GM job in exchange for the three year contract extension he received has been confirmed by a “clubhouse insider”. And yes, I just wanted to use that term.
So, DePo’s out. At least we can keep reading his blog, which is awesome.
Current GM Handicapping: Post-season edition
A semi-random gauge of who’s likely to get the job. Based on current press coverage, rumors, substantiated and un, educated guesses, and so on. We claim no insight into front office machinations. Please, no wagering.
For names and brief resumes, check our potential GM candidates post.
| Who | Percent |
| LaCava | 30% |
| Woodfork | 25% |
| Ng | 12% |
| Avila | 5% |
| DiPoto/Hinch/Hoyer | 5% |
| Antonetti | 3% |
| Evans | 1% |
| Forst | 1% |
| Pelekoudas | 1% |
| Towers | 1% |
| White | 1% |
| Field | 5% |
“Field” is everyone not listed.
Dave adds: I’ve heard DePo gave up the right to interview for GM positions this winter when the Padres re-signed him to an extension a month or so ago.
And It’s Over
Thank God. I think we all agree that the 2008 season was one of the most frustrating, disappointing seasons of baseball we’ve ever followed. And it’s mercifully over.
So, let’s talk about the future.
Despite how badly we all agree that this organization has been run, there’s no deep dark abyss that the team is about to fall into. There’s actual, tangible hope to be found within, with real talent at all levels of the system. Clement, Balentien, Halman, Saunders, Valbuena, Tuiasosopo, Moore, Johnson – there are eight position player prospects at AA or AAA with legitimate chances at major league careers. For all the talk about how the M’s have been terrible at developing from within, they’ve got some guys knocking on the door. Maybe only a couple of them make it and the rest wash out, but that means a couple of them make it, and the team would have two or three good young position players around which to build. And led by Carlos Triunfel, there’s more on the way.
Felix and Morrow and Rowland-Smith give the team three young starting pitchers. Yea, there’s nothing else coming for a couple of years, but the rotation isn’t an urgent need anymore. There’s time to let Aumont and Ramirez and Pineda develop. They don’t have to rush the teenage arms up to try to patch holes.
They’ll have the 2nd pick in the draft next summer, and for all the talk Stephen Strasburg has garnered, there’s a college shortstop named Grant Green who could be a franchise type player at a position the M’s could use a significant upgrade. The M’s are going to get a terrific player next summer even if Washington does take Strasburg.
The major league team needs some work, but there’s talent in the organization. Don’t let despair overwhelm you, because help is on the way. Most of it won’t be ready in 2009, but there’s a legitimate core of a good major league team coming. There’s reason to hope.
Thanks
Hey, readers. If you’re reading this, thanks for sticking it out this horrible season. You’ve been great, and knowing (and having met many of) you all really has made it easier to find the time to keep writing, keep the site running, and all of that.
Hang around for the off-season: it should be a doozy, and we’re going to be all over it.
But more importantly– thanks.
Game 162, Athletics at Mariners
Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn:
Seattle, 60-101
Washington, 59-101
Philly having clinched is scheduled to rest Hamels against Perez… please, pitch Hamels. Give him a couple of innings. Keep him loose.
Seattle, desperate for the loss, puts Dickey out. But Oakland attempts to block with Outman!
What’s the worst lineup the M’s could plausibly run out there without getting a nasty call from Selig? I’m thinking:
DH-L Valbuena
C-R Johnson
1B-L LaHair
2B-L Hulett
SS-R Betancourt
3B-R Cairo
LF-L Ibanez
CF-L Reed
RF-L Ichiro!
I’m playing for the platoon disadvantage there.