Wednesday, November 02, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
Padres Offer Makes Hoffman Huffy
Gaslamp Ball cites a San Diego Union-Tribune article claiming the Padres' $10M/2 year offer got closer Trevor Hoffman so mad he cleared out his locker. (He had been seeking $25-27M/3 years.) The Gaslamp Ball faithful want to see Trevor Time continue, but you really have to wonder whether a 40-year-old closer is going to get the job done in the third year of that contract. Heck, I've seen Hoffman pitch this year -- you have to wonder whether he can get it done next year.The Hot Potato In Chavez Ravine
Now that Gillick's gone, who's left? asks Steve Henson of the Times. Not Theo Epstein:But three sources close to Epstein, 31, said he probably wouldn't be interested in the chaotic Dodger situation. He left the Red Sox because of friction with President Larry Lucchino and is DePodesta's close friend.It won't be former Houston GM Gerry Hunsicker, who will announce he's taken the helm in Tampa Bay. Who's left? Well, John Hart, former GM of the Indians and Rangers, and current Nationals GM and yeller-at-of-players Jim Bowden, and of the latter, see this. There also is the possibility of former player agent and special advisor to the White Sox Dennis Gilbert, who interviewed previously for the GM job. Orel Hershisher, who has limited front office experience, is also a name, but one the Dodgers' Rasputin, Tommy Lasorda, has dismissed for lack of qualifications."I would be shocked if he touched the Dodger job," said a front-office executive who knows Epstein well. "He's not going to go into a situation that one of the 10 people he trusts most in the world says is completely dysfunctional."
Last of all is Kim Ng, who is getting close to being the last woman standing. It's been speculated that Ng could end up in that chair because Jamie McCourt wants a woman in the role. The Dodgers could certainly do far worse, but it's also well to remember that other teams are thinking about who they could pick up as their GM, and Kim Ng's name has come up in Boston. Would Frank risk annoying his hometown love to keep one of the few members of his front office he has yet to fire?
Moreover, the article makes clear that Jeff Kent, who had his own questions about the front office, redoubles them with this late firing:
"By no means was Jeff Kent gunning for Paul DePodesta to get fired," Klein said. "It was clear there was a certain dysfunction within the organization, that they were not singing from the same page in the hymnal.Most -- all? -- of McCourt's decisions seem to be coming out the other end..."Jeff asked for the meeting, bought an airline ticket and flew out. And he did it without any fanfare. He was trying to help in any way."
...
"Maybe the decisions were courageous," he said. "We'll have to judge what comes out the other end. Courageous or compulsive? Time will tell.
Joe Maddon A Finalist In Tampa Bay
Joe Maddon is a finalist for the managerial spot in Tampa Bay, the Times reported. Making the same mistake as the Dodgers, they're proceeding with their managerial search before having a GM in place. It's a situation I wouldn't touch with a ten foot bat, but hey.Colborn, Lett Follow Tracy To Pittsburgh
Pitching coach Jim Colborn and bench coach Jim Lett have followed Jim Tracy to Pittsburgh, as expected. Everything should be just the same as it was in LA:... I think we have to establish a different culture in the clubhouse and from that we'll translate the idea of players understanding that there is a game within the game that we play each day. It involves little nuances like hitting a cutoff man, getting a bunt down, advancing a runner. When you look at the number of one-run games the Pirates were involved in, you need to learn how to win those. All those things above that we talked about are difference-makers in those kinds of games.Pirates fans are used to losing, so this won't come as much of a shock.
Hmm ... Wills did play for Pittsburgh briefly ...
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