Matt Williams new D-Back GM

by Enoch on Jul 30, 2005 8:34 PM EDT Comment 19 comments

I just read over at Baseball Prospectus that Matt Williams is going to be named GM replacing Joe Garagiola Jr. I'm not sure what to make of Williams as a possible replacement. He isn't a guy who I remember seeing on the lists of people most likely to become GMs in the near future. I hope he doesn't decide to bring in a bunch of again vets and block the young guys coming up.

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What the hell?

by Otacon on Jul 30, 2005 9:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's a legit rumour...

Will's Mill - Deadline Weekend

In many ways it makes sense, but only really as a figurehead. I hope...

by Jim McLennan on Jul 31, 2005 4:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I went over the BP to check it out after posting that. It's OK I suppose, hopefully I'm underestamating him and turns out to be a genius.:)

by Otacon on Jul 31, 2005 5:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Any chance

That this will be an interim nod, and they will wait till the off-season to do a full search in a pool with more candidates available?

by andrewinnewyork on Aug 2, 2005 12:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he took the job when it was offered

It wasn't so much the idea of quitting in the middle of the season, but MLB offered the job now.

by andrewinnewyork on Aug 3, 2005 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Williams not currently interested

Names abound for D-Backs' next GM

"I am not a candidate to take over for Joe at this time," Williams said. However, I note the usage of the words, "at this time". To me, this points to an interim appointment, and does not rule out Williams getting the job permanently in the off-season.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 3, 2005 5:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gebhard is #1 candidate to fill interim GM vacancy

So the East Valley Tribune reports. Gebhars says he "would have interest in being the general manager, whether it is on a short-term basis or in a longer one."

by Jim McLennan on Aug 4, 2005 3:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Looks like Gebhard it is.

At least until the end of the season, according to the press release here. Press conference is under way.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 4, 2005 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another

person of interest would be Brian Cashman assuming he leaves the Yankees and doesn't resign with them.

by Otacon on Aug 5, 2005 1:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cashman

Working for The Boss means that there will always be rumors you will be fired, and with Joe Torre having iconic status here it has been whispered all year that if the Yankees aren't in the postseason Cashman is gone.

Trouble is, do we really want him? He has worked in a system where the prevailing philosophy is "trade your talent for experienced veterans, and pay whatever is necessary." That works okay if you're the Yankees with an unlimited payroll (though it doesn't work perfectly, as their starting rotation proves day in and out, with no one from Columbus to call up) but it remains to be seen whether Cashman could function in a non-New York paradigm.

by andrewinnewyork on Aug 5, 2005 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Top Ten future GMs

Here is an article that Will Carroll posted back in May about up and coming GMs.

http://thejuice.baseballtoaster.com/archives/179056.html#fold

None of the folks listed are in the D-backs organization. Most of the people listed as likely successors seem to be internal folks. I think the scouting director Miller might be a good choice. He seems to have done will in stocking up the AZ system with good young talent.

by Enoch on Aug 5, 2005 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rizzo gets a nod?

USA Today reports, "Diamondbacks scouting director Mike Rizzo was declined permission to join the Blue Jays, raising speculation he has the inside track at becoming the full-time general manager. Bob Gebhard, who was given the interim general manager job, will remain in the front office."

by Jim McLennan on Aug 10, 2005 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike Rizzo, GM or Generally Maniacle

Jim,

Mike Rizzo is an idiot of a Scouting Director. The DBloaks have no scouting expertise. The team is getting schooled by the opponents scouts.

I wonder what the scouting books of the Marlins said about Terrirble once on the basepaths? The Marlins had to have known that Terrirble has an Ostrich brain box and was easy pickens.

Terrirble's fielding reminds me of how the opponents played Gonzo and his noodle arm of last year. If there is any hint of a bobble during Terrirble's scouping, take the extra base and maybe more!

The bullpen pitching scouts have been horrendous. There seems to be no plan on how to pitch the opponents. Even the starters don't have any plan.

The batting scouts are even worse. There is no book on how to wait for pitchers to fatigue. Everyone just swings away and pops up to infielders. How many times have we taken our ownselves out of an offensive inning?

Rizzo and his gang of morons should be let go and bring back the amazing Ron Hassey?

Jimmie, thanks for the VINE!

livestrong & wear yellow; the truth is out there; it may not be true, but accurate, Dan Rather; bababooey to you all!

by icecoldmo on Aug 12, 2005 1:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"scouting"

Icecold:

I'm as much a gung-ho pessimist as the next guy, but I think I have to call you out here.

You seem to be confusing the two meanings of "scouting" in baseball. Mike Rizzo's reputation is built on his ability to scout players (from HS and the minor leagues) for the team to acquire, not for evaluating the play of other teams in order to hit them better or pitch to them. He is well touted for having properly evaluated the players now in the Dbacks minor league system (some of them now on the big club), so the team won't have to rely on major free-agent acquisitions and big time trades to compete.

You seem also to have it overly in for Terrero. In Wednesday's game, he threw a bullet from center to get Alex Gonzalez in the second. The guy is 25, and he certainly needs some experience in the field (as does Jackson), but the hidden-ball trick is a) as much the 3B coach's responsibility to prevent as the runner (Tosca admitted he wasn't paying attention, which should get you much more upset than Terrero's action) b) one of those weird anomalies in baseball (not nearly as upsetting as watching Jackson throw the ball over Halsey's head after the pickoff attempt) and c)something Mike Lowell is particularly good at (he was the last player to pull it off).

We all have our peeves, of course (mine is Mark Grace, who I wish would swear more often, but more importantly appears to have falsely claimed that he executed the hidden-ball trick as a player). But what I like about this site is the sophisticated analysis and the absence of pure ranting that you often get on say, sports call-in shows.

by andrewinnewyork on Aug 12, 2005 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Scouting vs. scouting

I do think our advance team scouts leave a lot to be desired. I wince when I see us face a pitcher with a record of 0-0, because it almost invariably means we won't have a clue. We need to improve this facet of our scouting, without a doubt.

However, Rizzo has shown that he does have a good eye for talent. I mean, just look at our first-round draft picks (we didn't have one in 1998+2000):

1996: Nick Bierbrodt
1997: Jack Cust
1999: Corey Myers
Then in September 1999, we named Rizzo scouting director:
2001: Jason Bulger
2002: Sergio Santos
2003: Carlos Quentin + Conor Jackson
2004: Stephen Drew
2005: Justin Upton

The quality is obvious - admittedly, in part because we stopped handing over our picks for free-agent signings. But we've also done well further down the list: Brandon Webb in the 8th round of 2000, for example, or Chad Tracy in the 7th round of 2001. No, I think I'm pretty happy with the job Rizzo has done to find these players and bring them along.

by Jim McLennan on Aug 12, 2005 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually,

I think we have to give Joe Jr. more credit than Rizzo for Justin Upton. I mean, he was the consensus #1 pick by every analyst, so it didn't take a genius to pick him. Securing the #1 pick by trading Counsell, Spivey, Overbay, Moeller, Capuano, &c for Sexson &c, now that took some doing.

by andrewinnewyork on Aug 12, 2005 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think finishing 51-111

...was truly a collective effort, for which no one person deserves to be singled out. :-) Besides, we got Counsell back now anyway...

by Jim McLennan on Aug 12, 2005 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Search for new GM is on horizon

The Banana reports, "Some potential candidates who may be available as the Diamondbacks narrow their search for a permanent general manager:

Brian Cashman, Yankees general manager. Cashman, who has won three World Series titles, could be the biggest name on the market this fall and he could be looking to show he can win outside the Bronx. He could end up staying put in New York or landing near the Beltway, where he has ties and where there are rumors that Baltimore and Washington could be making changes.
Pat Gillick, Mariners special consultant. D-Backs' General Partner Jeff Moorad has respect for Gillick, who had stops in Toronto, Baltimore and Seattle, and would likely feel confident with such an experienced baseball man at his side. Gillick and Moorad are strong-willed, and some who know both have trouble seeing it as a fit. Gillick, who turns 68 on Sunday, may not want the daily stress that comes with being a GM.
Jim Duquette, Mets senior vice president. He's well-schooled and highly regarded, and those close to Moorad say he would be a logical fit. Still in his 30s, Duquette, a former Mets GM, could be a long-term option. Had been declining opportunities because of family issues, but he seems more open to depart. But he could be a candidate elsewhere in baseball, and may prefer to stay on the East Coast.
Mike Rizzo, Diamondbacks scouting director. Rizzo is the chief architect of the farm system, one of the organization's strengths, and appears fully capable of taking the next step. He has support throughout baseball. Rizzo has never been a GM, and has limited experience negotiating contracts. Moorad may believe Rizzo is too valuable in his current role and could look outside the organization.
Rick Hahn, White Sox assistant general manager. Hahn spent 261/27 [sic] years as an associate in Moorad's agency and has a reputation for being a straight shooter who is easy to work with. Hahn has a limited baseball background, as Chicago is the only team for which he's worked. May not want to leave an organization on the rise with which he can continue to gain experience.
David Wilder, White Sox director of player development. According to an industry source, the Diamondbacks have been keeping tabs on Wilder, who has a strong scouting background and has experience as an assistant GM. If Moorad indeed wants to make a splash with a big name, he would not likely consider Wilder a top candidate.
Bob Miller, Diamondbacks assistant general manager. Miller, in his dual role as farm director, knows the minor league system up and down and is a good numbers guy who has experience with contracts and arbitration cases. Experience factor. There may be too many other qualified candidates but Miller is on a steady career track and could get there some day.
Jon Daniels, Rangers assistant general manager. One of the new brand of young executives making the rise in baseball, he has strong people skills and candor and has made inroads throughout the industry. Age could work against him as Daniels is only 28 and lacks extensive experience. But the success of other young GMs has opened many doors.