Thursday, November 03, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves, Lunchtime Edition
Management By Baseball On DePodesta, Parts 2 & 3
Missed this one when it came out a couple days ago, but here it is in all its glory: Jeff Angus at Management By Baseball has the second installment of his series on the dynamics of the Dodgers front office that led to DePodesta's firing. Excerpt:[The] McCourts "know" that to build a successful franchise, whether it's an office park or a baseball club, you need the right image and the outcomes don't matter as much. This knowledge and the successful application of it has brought them success in their primary endeavor greater than almost any of us will ever achieve in our own. They apply what made them successful in their previous endeavor in this one. Their decision to fire DePodesta (and let Tracy go) both seem reasonable if measured in the context of their prior endeavorHere's part 3 of the series, too. Reviewing Rich's 32 questions, Angus answers them broadly with this:...
Most of us sabermetrics types were very pleased when DePodesta got his chance to be a G.M. It appeared pre-mature from a career evolution perspective, but he was/is undoubtedly a genius and particularly around his understanding of managing and driving change as a competitive advantage.
I'm pretty sure that wasn't why he was hired. He was hired because Moneyball got into owners' hands and passed around. The message was succulent to owners: winning incrementally more without spending more (More With The Same). DePodesta was the co-hero of the book in many ways, and Beane was already busy. DePodesta was like an undervalued commercial property, and one that looked like could make you money.
Except for questions 1 and 22, I think the answers are all the same: Because the McCourts are getting OJT (on the job training) themselves, and are not particularly healthy upper management for a baseball franchise at this stage of their development.
Tired Of Hearing About Paul DePodesta? Tough!
'Cause you're gonna get an earful about it from Joe Sheehan:...it's clear that Frank McCourt has been a failure as the Dodgers' owner. He's been completely unable to set a tone for the franchise, one of commitment to a plan. He was so eager to make his mark that he fired the key architect of the '04 team, Dan Evans, for absolutely no reason other than the guys before him had hired him. Then, after stumbling into a great decision by hiring DePodesta, who lowered the payroll and helped guide a largely Evans roster into the playoffs, he overreacted to a bad year by dumping his GM.The one thing that I haven't seen much discussed around places other than the comments threads at Dodger Thoughts is the possibility that McCourt simply wanted to head off another "chemistry" disaster. When it became plain that Angels castoff and current Dodgers farm director Terry Collins might actually, possibly have a real shot at winning the 2006 managerial job, Lasorda broke out the cutlery in a closed-door meeting with the McCourts. Collins, whose managerial record can charitably be described as spotty, didn't meet Frank's sniff test. With DePodesta likely defending the choice as his perogative as GM, it escalated into a "my way or the highway" situation shortly after the season ended, which would explain DePodesta's sudden and lengthy disappearance to Italy, sister's wedding or no; knowing which way the McCourts were about to break, knowing his tenure was about to end, he decided on a pleasant vacation rather than spending his last couple weeks engaged in verbal fisticuffs.What's worse is that the factors contributing to the decision appear to have nothing to do with baseball. McCourt, who has been a pinata for the vicious, vacuous, vindictive Los Angeles media from the day he arrived, has let that media influence his evaluation of DePodesta, who by any rational standard doesn't deserve dismissal. His moves have been a mixed bag to date, but remember that he had one offseason in which to work, and that his decisions in that offseason are reviled by people who care more about drawing attention to themselves than baseball.
Sheehan thinks the Dodgers will win the NL West, but he presumes too much. The team doesn't even have a GM, f'r chrissakes, and who knows who will be traded before April.
Oh, And About That Manager Position...
The Dodgers are keeping Jerry Royster on tenterhooks. As we have observed, the absence of a GM and Tommy Lasorda's mancrush on Bobby Valentine will at least delay the selection of the actual manager for some time. But, as Mike Scioscia said once he retired as manager of the Dodgers then-AAA Albuquerque Dukes,"Hey, things change," Scioscia said. "True Dodger fans should see the club through these rough times. A new tradition will begin."
Jered Weaver To Join U.S. Olympic Team
Angels prospect Jered Weaver will join the U.S. Olympic team. He will take part in qualifiers this month for the 2008 Olympics, for a team that will be led by former Dodger manager Davey Johnson.
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