Chat with D-backs' GM Byrnes

Short notice, I know, but Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes will participate in a live Web chat Thursday at 2 p.m. Arizona time. Fans are invited to chat with the GM about his goals for the club heading into next week's Winter Meetings. Also expect at least one questioner asking why we don't re-sign Randy Johnson, or something similarly eye-rolling.

[Updated] Actually, it was surprisingly restrained, with a good number of decent questions, though nothing too surprising. Here's the chat transcript.

about 2 years ago Jim McLennan 11 comments 0 recs |

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It's not really a chat

‘cuz it’s not realtime. A more accurate description is “you submit a question and it will get answered if we feel like answering it.”

I want to ask Josh why his brother Eric is still on the team, but I don’t want to be rude.

by venomfan on Dec 3, 2009 4:09 PM EST reply actions

Oh yes

he answered one of my questions.

by venomfan on Dec 3, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions

Mine too!

Looks like Heilman is bound for the pen.

by Counsellmember on Dec 3, 2009 4:39 PM EST reply actions

ROFL!!

baxterbeer: How does “disgruntled fan backlash” affect your trading/signing decisions? For example, Upton has a high trade value and has indicated he will become a free agent (and we have outfield depth), but he’s a key component of the current team AND a fan favorite.

Byrnes: We obviously value and cherish the fan support we receive. At the same time, we have to make decisions independent of their immediate popularity. Many of the best decisions I have participated in over 17 years in baseball were incredibly unpopular at the time

Eric Byrnes baby, Eric Byrnes.

(yeah, I do remember a one Mr Jeff Moorad who was involved, but I still find the question and answer funny to a point)

"If there's nothing wrong with me, maybe there's something wrong with the universe!"

by unnamedDBacksfan on Dec 4, 2009 10:57 AM EST reply actions

I fixed it for him

Many of the ~~best~~ worst decisions I have participated in over 17 years in baseball were incredibly unpopular at the time

Oh, and read the comments on the transcript at mlb.com and see if some of them don’t make you ashamed to be a D-backs fan, they’re that far distanced from reality.

"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil

by Jim McLennan on Dec 4, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

Admittedly

Some of them are mine. I’m “Stritt.” It’s a futile debate, as I’m not going to convince anybody of anything, but I guess I kind of get a sadistic enjoyment from it…

Most Depressing Math Question Ever courtesy of Probability class: "Clark and Anthony are two old friends. Let A be the event that Clark will attend Anthony's funeral. Let B be the event that Anthony will attend Clark's funeral. Are A and B independent? Why or why not?"

by Dan Strittmatter on Dec 4, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, if the comments only make me ashamed to be a D-backs fan, that’s an improvement. Sometimes they make you ashamed to be a human being.

"Spam headline: 'YOU ARE CHOSEN!' Oh, Morpheus, you're getting pretty lazy."
"Or they are informing you you are Jewish in a very lame conversion campaign."
"In either case, sending me spam is not the way to invite me to Zion."

by kishi on Dec 4, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

Kinda like the AZCentral comments

I normally avoid them like the plague, but sometimes I’ll read an article and glance at the first couple of comments.

Followed closely by a facepalm :(

by paqs on Dec 4, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

I'm still hopeful

we’re not that far away, but am somewhat less confident after reading Josh’s response re “contending”.

There has never been more parity in the game. This franchise has seven winning seasons, four divisional titles, and a World Championship. The close of the 2008 season and the entire 2009 season were extremely disappointing to us (and the fans). We did spend more days in first place in 2007 and 2008 than any other team in the NL. I do not think we are that far away. We need to make the right roster additions, stay healthy and play fundamentally sound baseball. We need to re-establish our confidence and energy on the field. I have a lot of faith in our ability to contend, and we are all working hard to have a much-improved 2010 season.

Glib facts selected to blur recent org failings, followed by a catch-all of bromides reminiscent of a shallow self-help tape. CONFIDENCE! ENERGY! and FAITH!…OH MY!!!! (repeat). I’d expect this double talk from Derrrick Hall, but coming from a results-oriented GM, there’s an air of fluff and desperation here that doesnt inspire much confidence.

This franchise has seven winning seasons, four divisional titles, and a World Championship

Implication #1: We are a successful org that knows what it’s doing
Implication #2: You really shouldnt complain. Your expectations are too high.

We did spend more days in first place in 2007 and 2008 than any other team in the NL

Implication #1: We used to be very good. Under my watch. With this core. Therefore, we should be very good again soon.

Except they were never that good under Josh for any meaningful length of time. His Dbacks were even outscored during this supposedly halcyon period (2007-08). That’s not to say we cant be good next year. I’m just troubled by this notion JB’s been advancing for a year now, about how he primarily needs to “recapture” 2007-08 intangibles or health, instead of assertively acquiring and developing higher levels of underlying production in order to contend.

If the FO is the focus of anything, something is seriously wrong with the picture ! - unnamedDBacksfan 2/20/09

by Diamondhacks on Dec 4, 2009 6:18 PM EST reply actions