The Next Cubs GM
The Next Cubs GM
Who do you think will be the next Cubs GM? Who do you want to be the next GM? I think it will be Rick Hahn.
9 months ago
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Theo Epstien
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on Aug 19, 2011 12:19 PM CDT reply actions
I think it'll be Rick Hahn, too...
He fits the criteria as being one who “gets it” and he grew up a Cubs fan, but he’s also one of the highly regarded GMs in the game and one who is into sabermetrics. Whoever the next GM is, I think that he or she will be 180 degrees the opposite of Jim Hendry.
by jeffmills1972 on Aug 19, 2011 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I think it should be a front office higher-up
in Texas, Boston, Tampa, Atlanta, or Philly.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
Too soon man. Too soon.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 19, 2011 12:26 PM CDT reply actions
It's never too soon to lure Andy McPhail back!
Chiefs Chat: chiefs.sportsblog.com
by Nunyabidness on Aug 19, 2011 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I would agree with that as well
Chiefs Chat: chiefs.sportsblog.com
by Nunyabidness on Aug 19, 2011 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Only if they get Adam Lind in the deal too!
by Jody Jody Davis on Aug 19, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
This may be the last time anyone uses this...
Another BCB meme bites the dust
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko
I am the Frito Bandito
Step Two: Develop an organizational plan
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 19, 2011 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Probably true.
If so, I’m proud to be the last one to use it.
by Jody Jody Davis on Aug 19, 2011 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions
from Alex Antholopolous
to Kalamazoo.
I’d take him also.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
I'd make Friedman highest paid exec in game
Pass on Maddon though. The key difference is that Maddon is still under contract while Friedman is a free agent. Maddon versus another manager that Friedman would bring in wouldn’t be worth the compensation the Cubs would have to give the Rays to get Maddon.
by JSB on Aug 19, 2011 4:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
who names Crane Keeney field manager
and leaves Szczur unprotected in December.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
RICKETTS APPROVES!!!!!!
Chiefs Chat: chiefs.sportsblog.com
by Nunyabidness on Aug 19, 2011 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Seriously why?
I’m not against him but he is hard to judge with the amount of money he has had.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
couple of reasons
1. The Yankee Culture – it is 100% business with them, you dont hear stories like Z and Bradley with them
2. Top 5 farm system even though they consistantly draft in the bottom 5
3. The Yankee Brand was awesome when he took it over but the status it has achieved since then is something that I would like the Cubs to emulate more than the Red Sox
4. He is proven, yet young. I understand he has had the highest payroll in baseball to work with but when you have $50 million tied up in ARod (who is certaintly performing no better than Ramirez this year) and Jeter (who is a shell of his former self) alone that handicapps you pretty well.
5. YES – Ricketts has said this is something that interests him and Cashman is currently the ONLY GM out there who has experience in creating such a network (that has been a HUGE success)
6. Yankees currently lead ALL of MLB with the most walks – they are obviously important to him
7. They are also tied for 2nd for stolen bases
8. Even though he has the highest payroll in all of baseball he has spent that money pretty well. His biggest albatross contracts (Soriano and Burnett) account for 12.5% of the payroll - Hendry’s account for 25.3% (Z (only because of mental issues), Soriano and $7M for SIlva)
Do I think he is the greatest GM ever? Probably not, but I think he is the best fit for the Cubs and where they are right now.
Quick question on number 2.
Do you think that this system is often highly ranked because they are in fact the Yankees and the name value alone gives them a boost?
I think its similar to a Notre Dame recruiting class being highly ranked simply because they’re Notre Dame.
The Yankee name does help their prospects.
However, they have produced a few good ones in the past few years with Cano being on the top of the list but has there ever been more hype over a middle reliever than Joba?
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Was Cashman actually the one involved with bringing in the YES network?
I assumed that was someone from the marketing/business side, not baseball ops side.
My case against Cashman
1. You can make that Z/Bradley comment with about 90% of teams in baseball.
2. Not consistently in the top 5. Last year they were 15th and in 2009 16th.
3. The Yankee Brand was largely created by Jeter, Posada, Williams, and Rivera, none of whom he drafted or acquired. They have struggled to win championships during a minors drought after their big run.
4. The Yankees have consistently proven that bad contracts don’t mean anything. The only handicap is whether he should push out an iconic Yankee. Spend, spend, and spend some more.
5. All of the reports I have read on the YES network have never once cited Cashman as being an influence whatsoever.
6. Seems to be correct, I’m too lazy to look up past years walk totals for the Yankees.
7. SBs are a trivial part of the game and one of the most minute problems with the Cubs.
8. First, percentages don’t mean anything because he has a larger payroll. Put Burnett on the Cubs (with a smaller payroll) and naturally that percentage goes way up.
You list Soriano and Burnett, but fail to mention other bad moves. Like trading Marte for Enrique Wilson, only to have Marte emerge as a premier bullpen arm and Wilson to hit .200 for a few years. To compound that, 8 years later he traded FOR Marte and gave up a big haul to get a past-his-prime Marte who has sucked bad. Trading Ted Lilly for a worthless Weaver. Trading Lowell for garbage. Signing Pavano. Signing Igawa and paying him 46 million to be terrible. Releasing Carlos Pena. Vazquez. Brown. 120 million to GIambi.
Like most GMs, Hendry included, it’s a mixed bag to say the least. But Cashman’s reputation never suffered because the best way to hide a bad contract is to give out bigger contracts to fix the mistakes. He’s done a lot of good things but receives too much praise for using his boss’s wallet generously.
Good rebuttal.
I’m not anti-Cashman but I think a lot of his aura is due to Yankee money. I’m not against him but I find him hard to judge.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
In general...
…I would agree.
The best Yankees success was in the mid to late 90’s when the key players were all home grown and I don’t believe Cashman had anything to do with that.
To me, Cashman is not unlike Torre and I believe the Yankees made Torre and his reputation and Cashman has also capaitalized on it as well.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Anyone will
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
I'll fire him! Does that mean I get the job :)
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
Hahn is the most likely candidate
He fits Ricketts description of someone with more statistical knowledge than Hendry but still grounded in traditional scouting and farm system. Hahn probably also won’t insist on bringing in his own people to replace Fleita and Wilken, whom Ricketts apparently wants to keep.
He also said
he wants to get someone from a successful franchise. The White Sox have their title, but I don’t know that I’d consider them a model franchise. They are kind of a mess right now. I hear a lot about Rick Hahn, and he’s probably great, but our entire franchise needs an overhaul. I’d just assume take someone from a franchise that does things the right way, top to bottom, like Boston, Texas, Minnesota, Tampa etc
I think Ben Cherrinton is the most likely candidate, imo. Ricketts has said he wants to model the Cubs after the Red Sox. What better way to do that than to acquire the number 2 there?
DEJESUS!!!
This
I wouldn’t bet against Cherrinton. Dude has been an integral part of the Sawks rise over the past 10 years and would fit Rickett’s description in about every way possible. I wouldn’t rule out Al Avile either, another great candidate.
Random speculation on my part
But if he gets the job and hires Sandberg, I hope it’s because he feels Ryne is the best candidate for the job, and not because he grew up a Cubs fan.
Step Two: Develop an organizational plan
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 19, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't think it will be Hahn.
Just because I think he wants someone with GM experience.
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Let's hope you're right...
Breaking the pathology of Wrigleyism or Cubness requires a move away from the parochialism of Chicago baseball and its legacy of failure. Any candidate who has spent years immersed in the corrosive envy of the Cubs that exists at the Cell should automatically be disqualified.
While Rick Hahn may be a great GM candidate for any other team in baseball, his first bad deal or other misstep as Cubs GM inevitably would remind us of another Reinsdorf disciple, Larry Himes, and his unfortunate history with the Cubs. Leo Durocher, Dallas Green, and Lou Piniella all achieved success here after arriving untainted by the politics of Chicago baseball, and Tom Ricketts would be well-advised to stick to this formula and look east for a GM.
"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62
"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64
These are valid points.
Hahn’s familiarity with Chicago might be a strike against him.
Look what happened with the last guy they hired who grew up in the Chicago area — Mike Quade.
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True.
Girardi, though, grew up in Peoria, not Chicago.
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He's never been involved in the farm system. Just local hype for this guy.
I want someone who has done something. Terry Ryan, Friedman, Cashman, Jocketty. don’t think a first timer should be given OJT.
No... you're wrong on all counts.
He is getting much more than just local hype. He was named the #1 GM candidate on both Fangraphs and Sports Illustrated as well as many other national media sources.
He is involved in the farm system as an assistant GM and was integral in bringing players like Quentin and Ramirez to the White Sox.
Billy Beane
If the Cubs bring in an inexperienced guy, I would like them to bring in a “Baseball Operations” president as well.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 19, 2011 2:45 PM CDT reply actions
worth considering
it would be interesting to see what Beane could do with a big budget
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 21, 2011 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Mike Quade
and his first move is Hendry as manager
Chronologically inept since 2060
Q: Why did Chuck Norris cross the road?
A: Ditka
Ditka's mustache can block a Chuck Norris round house
Ditka's mustache can kill two stones with one bird
It is better to spend money like there's no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there's no money! - Irish toast.
slcathena is my wonder twin, and our battle cry is "Twinners rooting for the Winners (by which I mean Starwin and Darwin)"
Sosa as roving OF
instructor and baserunning coach.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
and selective ability to speak English expert
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko
Boombox preceptor
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
Home Run Hop consultant
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko
Milton Bradley as team psychologist
"That’s what I love about my skip, man. He’ll tell you that you suck...I know I suck. We know we suck...Yeah, we suck. But we’ll see who sucks at the end."
- Gary Sheffield
by DrGalazkiewicz on Aug 20, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
How long
before someone criticizes Ricketts for firing Hendry without naming someone to replace him and PROVING they will do a better job than Hendry did?
DEJESUS!!!
Thanks for ruining my fanpost!
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko
TR
names a guy who is employed still by another team, without permission.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
Sounds like a great way to start a professional relationship
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko
I don't really understand the appeal of Rick Hahn
I get that he’s widely respected around baseball, but I dont view the White Sox organization as one that the Cubs should strive to emulate.
If the Cubs can’t get an established guy like Friedman or Cashman, I’d much prefer they hire someone from Boston or another top-flight organization (maybe Atlanta, Texas or TB) than hire a guy from an organization that is run not all that differently from a philosophical perspective than the Cubs under Jim Hendry.
by JSB on Aug 19, 2011 4:14 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 2 recs
Hahn is completely different from Hendry...
He is a stats first GM and just because his organization doesn’t take full advantage of what he has to offer doesn’t mean his philosophy as Cubs GM could be drastically different from the White Sox philosophy.
So don't judge Hahn on Kenny Williams?
Still a bit skeptical about hiring a guy from the Sox even if he is a “stats guy.”
by JSB on Aug 19, 2011 10:23 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
agree
Hahn scares the shit out of me because of the mess that is the White Sox MLB team and their abysmal minor league rankings
I agree...
…these asst GM’s are very hard to judge, because you just don’t know how much influence they have in their current roles. Also, Kenny Williams is a gambler, who really doesn’t believe a whole lot in building from within and I wouldn’t want someone coming from that background running the show.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
My old boss had a lot of very terrible habits that I observed and had to work with while I worked under him.
Now as a boss myself, I learned what NOT to do from him and it has made me a better manager.
Just because your boss has a certain “style” that we don’t think will fit well means the assistant that is hyped has that same style.
Hahn is an incredibly incredibly smart business person, with an MBA from Kellogg and a law degree from Harvard plus undergrad at University of Michigan (his one major knock… damn michigan). He’s well spoken and understands contracts very well. He is by all accounts very heavily invested in stats and uses them regularly without relying on them alone.
Hahn may be a great GM...
…but just because he has an MBA from Kellogg, doesn’t mean he is going to be a good GM. The skills you need to excel in this role goes far beyone having “business skills” and involve pure baseball instincts. Those aren’t things you learn at Harvard or anywhere else.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Clearly my post wasn't stating he'll clearly be a good GM because he has an MBA from Northwestern.
If that’s all you took out of it, that’s a shame.
You may have done that
but you never know whether a subordinate is going to model themself after their superior or try to only take their best qualities—you don’t know until they have established themselves in the big chair and demonstrated their leadership abilities and style.
The Cubs are in the enviable position of being able to potentially hire the best, or one of the best, GMs in baseball, such as Friedman. They don’t have to go to the assistant GMs and try to guess who is going to be good as a GM.
DEJESUS!!!
I agree...
…I don’t think the Cubs want to bring someone on who doesn’t have a track record and experience doing the job.
The only way I would hire an asst GM, is if Ricketts changes his mind and hires Gillick or someone like him to be president, so you have the right set of eyes watching and teaching.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Where he went to school is almost irrelevant
He’s being hired to run a 700-million franchise, not be an entry level analyst on Wall Street. There are probably dozens of people with equal educational resumes and who work in baseball who shouldn’t be the next GM. All it shows is that Hahn isn’t a dumb guy.
by JSB on Aug 20, 2011 2:58 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
"All it shows is that Hahn isn’t a dumb guy."
You say that like it’s a given that our next GM won’t be a dumb guy.
Pat Riley is the devil.
Bare minimum of qualifications
I’m not anti-education by any means, but at the MLB GM level of hiring, it’s not particularly probative in my opinion.
by JSB on Aug 21, 2011 12:43 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Meh...
MBA from Kellogg? Law degree from Harvard? Whatever…
Oh wait, he went to Michigan? Hire the man!
Pat Riley is the devil.
Is this a shot at Michigan?
Solid undergrad.
by JSB on Aug 21, 2011 12:44 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Haha no.
I go to Michigan.
Pat Riley is the devil.
by Poloplaya14 on Aug 21, 2011 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Now THAT is a shot at Michigan....
I kid, I kid…
Agree
I’m not against Hahn but I don’t see why his name is so high on the potential GM list.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Because Chicago media knows him
Times like these really shed light on how all the Chicago media are basically hacks. Rozner, Cowley, Rogers, Sullivan, Gordo. They all really suck.
by JSB on Aug 20, 2011 1:23 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
The national people are saying Hahn too.
And their reasoning is sound beyond him being a Chicago guy.
--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Aug 20, 2011 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Except he hasn't been a GM
has built a farm system, and has no long-term winning history. Other than that, he beats Friedman, anyone from the Braves or Sawks, and a Ranger of your choosing.
#ijustdontgetit
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
If there weren't such compelling
existing candidates, I’d buy it. He’ll probably be good. But I’d rather have someone from a proven successful farm system. For Houston or KC, Hahn would be marvy.
I want the stinking gold medal this time.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
People are still guessing on Hahn
We don’t know if KW has misused Hahn, or if Hahn opposed all Kenny’s dumb moves. When there are candidates that are considered to be just as bright as Hahn and either (a) have actual GM experience or (b) have experience in an organization with a philosophy the Cubs hope to emulate, I don’t see a reason to roll the dice on Hahn. He seems to be the least sure thing among the serious (not Bobby Cox, Steve Stone or Ned Colleti) that I’ve heard.
by JSB on Aug 20, 2011 3:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
or Andre Dawson
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
I should clarify that Friedman is my #1 choice by a ton.
Hahn is my #3, but my first choice of those without experience.
Perhaps I'm biased against a guy in the White Sox organization.
But I’d rather have Cherrington, Capoella (sp?) or a Jon Daniels protege.
by JSB on Aug 21, 2011 12:46 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not judging anyone based on the organization they come from, I just want the best guy for the job.
If in 5 years we win the WS with Hahn and the WS fans care to say, “you only won because of a guy from our team.” Well, they can have that all they want, I really could care less.
I don't give a crap that its our rival
I just would prefer a guy that has been in an organization that the Cubs should emulate. The White Sox aren’t that.
by JSB on Aug 21, 2011 7:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
As I've said before... just because the White Sox aren't how we want to be run
Doesn’t mean the assistant isn’t completely different from their GM. Just like someone from the Red Sox, Braves or Texas is not instantly good because they’re from teams that have a good organizational philosophy.
Hahn is, by all accounts, completely different from Kenny Williams.
Never been a GM
No history of postseason success
No minor league system to use as a basis for his actions.
He will be good. He won’t start here, as Ricketts will expect some history to judge on, or he lied in his Presser about what’s important to him.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
Josh Byrnes' name is being tossed around on SD sportstalk
…those old Red Sox connections…
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Aug 19, 2011 4:23 PM CDT reply actions
After the firing and its timing was such a surprise
I wouldn’t put much stock in any rumor
Step Two: Develop an organizational plan
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 20, 2011 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Rumor has it
that Ricketts knows Byrnes. He might be a candidate. He has GM experience. Whether or not that was good experience is another issue.
by Josh Timmers on Aug 21, 2011 2:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Playoff success?
Solid farm system?
I’ll take AF
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
I think he sounds
perfect, on paper. He comes from an organization Ricketts wants to emulate, he started out as a scout but has adopted a lot of the advanced metrics via working with Epstein, and has worked along side some of the best minds in baseball.
I obviously don’t know the man and only know what I’ve read. One of Hendry’s valuable qualities is his interpersonal skills and ability to maintain good working relationships in what can be a stressful environement, and I think that is a very important and not necessarily common quality to possess.
Below is an interview and summary of Cherrington’s qualifications.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/08/gm-candidate-ben-cherington.html
DEJESUS!!!
+1
He’d be my second choice… if SenorGato is not selected. In all seriousness… I like Cherington choice – wonder how difficult it will be to keep some of Hendry’s good ol boys around. Ohhhhh… and can we please get MLB pitching coach, PLEASE!
by socalicubsfan on Aug 19, 2011 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I didn't realize
Friendman was a real possibility. He would be the first choice given his experience and success, Cherrington would be a nice consolation prize.
DEJESUS!!!
Obviously I'm only judging on paper as well.
Cherington started in the John Hart Cleveland days and then moved to Epstein and the Red Sox. Those are two excellent organizations. Of course no one knows how he would do in his own organization but I want to see new blood in Chicago. I don’t want a retread.
I also agree with your point below, Friedman would be great. I’ve been touting Cherington since the old days when Al and many others said you couldn’t call for Hendry’s firing without giving a candidate to replace him.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Cherington is clearly a qualified candidate.
So is Hahn.
Personally, I would like to see someone who has already had success as a GM, like Friedman or Cashman.
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hear hear
that said they have to be available, affordable, and accept an offer, they will be on top of the targeted list if they are available, nothing the Cubs can or can’t do about that. More prudent watching will be the B-plan list of asst GM’s, higher risk/often higher rewards.
Organizations like Phil, BOSOX, TB, LAD, LAA, StL, Atl, even Cleve, Det, SF, AZ, TEX will be places to watch…
A friend once told me: "I don't buy the idea that a team learns anything from a loss, the only thing they learn is how to lose games."---Knight
Friedman is actually the top choice for me now.
He wasn’t necessarily available in the old days when you had to supply a candidate when mentioning Hendry being fired :-)
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
for me...
if you care
1. Cashman
2. Friedman
3. Cherington
4. No one else – with Ricketts $$$ and the Cubs name we should be able to land one of these three.
by hansman1982 on Aug 22, 2011 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Serious question..
Do people add Cherington onto the list just because he’s with the red sox?? What has he done that people are so obsessed with here besides being co-gm for a bit? What puts him above Hahn or other FO execs from the Braves/Rangers, etc?
for me your statement is pretty true
and that he is supposedly Epstein’s right hand man. In the past few days Friedman has greatly moved up that list so that I would be willing to pay triple to get either Cashman or Friedman over Cherington and exponentially more than anyone else.
No doubt
But there is no way in hell Toronto let’s him get away easy.
I submit
John Coppolella of the Braves. A nice Saber mindset that has been working with an organization that was heavily scout based. Seems right to me!
Coppolella's a distinct possibility
barring that, Ben Cherington or Damon Oppenheimer. Would love to steal some Yankee/Red Sock success.
by PrincetonCubs on Aug 19, 2011 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Coppolella has a lot of qualities I'm looking for in a candidate
I put him in the second tier behind Friedman. The fact that he went to ND is a major plus for me too.
by JSB on Aug 20, 2011 7:49 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
jesus
if you can combine those three people into a Cashriedhahn monster then you will be the coolest person ever.
Amen,
hans
A splash of cold water reality
You just don’t go out and pick a senior exec like picking some product off the shelf. Any candidate will have to either be currently available or become available. Furthermore in baseball since it is actually a closed marketplace where franchises are bound by internal MLB rules on hiring currently employed persons from fellow franchises.
Then there is all sorts of particular considerations including the intangible that a prospective GM will be personally acceptable to the Ricketts, possess similar visions, timetables et cetera.
Projecting names is simply a parlour game. What is more real are the desired “requirements” for future candidates and the fact that candidates will come from outside the organization.
The SunTimes had a decent article on a reporter’s projection and the most interesting name was Friedman, though he is the current GM at TB, he too is young but it is unknown his contract status. Cashman has already made public that he is not renewing his contract with the NYY. And I am aware of league rules that by courtesy allow lower grade execs get permission to interview for higher grade positions, i.e., asst GM’s interviewing for GM’s.
Another name to watch is Ng, she is considered one of the brightest stars in the game, comes from a winning organization, that traditionally builds from within and she has sizzle in that she would be a groundbreaker….remember Ricketts family has a sister on the Board, this might have some influence getting public money for the rebuilding of Wrigley——it is all connected.
That all said, the name game is immaterial, the first question will be whether the Ricketts are able to execute on their plan to get the “right GM”, that person will then make their own record here.
A friend once told me: "I don't buy the idea that a team learns anything from a loss, the only thing they learn is how to lose games."---Knight
Andrew Friedman works without a contract in Tampa.
So, essentially, he’d be available almost any time.
I assume that the Cubs would want to sign him to a contract.
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Uhhh yea
it is a well known fact that hiring a female GM increases the willingness of government to give you money. Haven’t you seen the studies?
And yes, this is sarcasm.
In all seriousness, I don’t want Cashman. All he’s proven to me is that he has enough money to cover up the fact that he makes mistakes spending money. He won’t have that same luxury in Chicago.
My dream candidate s Friedman, although suspect the chances of landing him are slim to none. As mentioned here a number of times, he has ties to Houston so if he left Tampa, that would be his likely destination.
Hahn also concerns me a little but I would not object to his hiring. Just seems like the Sox have made a bunch of questionable trades and it’s difficult to determine how much influence he had on them – who knows, he could have been opposed to him and Kenny just didn’t listen because well, let’s just say that Kenny appears to have a strong personality.
Cherington, Ng, the #2 from the Braves and the #2 from the Rangers would all be good hires to me. Especially the Braves and Rangers’ #2s (sorry, too lazy to look up their names). Both organizations have accumulated a wealth of good, young talent.
My dream candidate s Friedman, although suspect the chances of landing him are slim to none. As mentioned here a number of times, he has ties to Houston so if he left Tampa, that would be his likely destination.
Except the Astros sale is now up in the air, which may make hiring a new GM difficult for them.
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Don't get me wrong
I definitely think we should make a push for him. The worst he can do is say no so we don’t have anything to lose. I’d be elated if we landed him.
If Ricketts...
…makes them an offer they can’t refuse, the Cubs should be able to get whoever they target (IMO).
Most guys would covet this job and all Ricketts has to do is give them a long term contract and good dough and they will be here.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
as soon as permitted,
no?
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
If the statements that he works without a contract are correct, make it yesterday!
Heck, let him finish the season in Tampa.
No owner...
…is going to screw with another team’s GM during the season, even if they don’t have a contract.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I suppose Friedman might become available during the season...
… if/when the Rays are eliminated from playoff contention.
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That is probably pretty soon
They remain a decent team this year (I wish the Cubs were as good), but they entered today 8-1/2 behind the Red Sox and 9 behind the Yankees. Tough crowd, that AL East……
friedman, hahn, or cashman.
Probably in that order for me. Bring maddon with you friedman! ;)
I can only imagine the type of success a guy like friedman could have with the financial resources of the cubs. Imagine if the rays, as good as they have been, if they had more money to sign a big FA or 2, and/or retain sone of their big stars instead of them leaving after they are not longer cost controlled…
They both (stats & bikinis) show a lot, but not everything. - Infielder Toby Harrah
Poster formerly known as Wrigster.
by bilbosbuttons on Aug 20, 2011 9:53 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Freidman
would be my first choice. He appears to have a handle on how to make a roster with limited funds. I believe the extra budget in Chicago he could do some creative things.
One stipulation: Sam Fuld must return with him.
as long as AF
‘gets’ the importance of Koyie Hill.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
Would accept any of the 4
Had to Google Preller.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
i would
hope friedman would be interested.as good as the rays are he’s given no money to spend and nobody goes to the games.
I think it depends on the resolution of the Astros sale
If that can’t get finalized by the end of this season, I don’t think that Friedman will leave TB. If the sale to Crane doesn’t go through, and it’s really looking iffy right now as MLB postponed a vote on the issue, Friedman’s father (J. Kent Friedman) is the lead investor of a group that may be next in line.
The Cubs, obviously, have a deadline. If the sale is still in doubt or if the group led by Crane is not approved by the time the Cubs have to make a decision, Andrew Friedman will most likely stay put to see how it’s resolved.
Also, would the Cubs really want a GM who’s father is majority owner of another team and in the division at that?
by jerry morales rules on Aug 22, 2011 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions
To answer your last question, for Friedman? Yes.
To think anyone would be so unprofessional to not do everything in their power to win because a family member is an owner within the division is almost insulting. If it were me in that position, I’d go so far as to say I’d work even harder to put together a better team than my family member.
I think the ownership thing is the difference though
The Harbaugh’s will be coaching a game against each other this year. I can see how that might make the competitive juices flow a bit harder.
However, I think it’s different when one is talking about a family member being a part of the ownership group. I think it could raise a lot of questions and, perhaps, a sense of impropriety. I’m not saying that either would do that, but the optics of it could be an issue.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 22, 2011 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions
you could always say that though
why would it be limited to the NL Central? He could be more willing to give them a deal in a trade or lay off a FA if it was Astros/Rays - if nothing else he would work doubly hard to make sure that there wasnt even a hint of a whiff of a thought of a notion that he wasnt doing everything in his power to best the Astros.
It wouldn't be limited to the NL Central
That just makes it worse, to the point where I think it might be a problem. Again, I only feel it’s an issue because of the ownership situation. The familiarity with each other would be more than I would care for.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 23, 2011 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh, and also
if the sale does go through to Carne, it seems that Crane would be interested in bringing Friedman in as the GM. Either way the sale goes or doesn’t go, it seems very unlikely that Friedman will be the Cubs next GM..
by jerry morales rules on Aug 22, 2011 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions
My hope
is that the sale goes through to Crane shortly and Friedman decides against going to the Astros leaving him as a candidate for the Cubs. I still favor Beane, but Friedman is my Plan B.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 22, 2011 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions
blah on beane
where has he been the last couple of years? He made some disturbing comments recently that appear to me to make it seem that the game is passing him by…basically to the effect that these young kid GM’s nowadays dont know how to horse trade…
beane is overrated
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