Comments on: Moneyball: The Next Generation http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/ We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future - FDR Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:55:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: DM http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-170 DM Thu, 27 Oct 2005 06:40:00 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-170 <p>Very interesting thoughts here, and you're probably onto something. In fact, the "blueprint" approach makes more sense with GMs than managers, because the GM doesn't have to be good at managing player personalities -- a manager can always offer real value there. Youre post has started me thinking "What value can a GM really add?"</p> Very interesting thoughts here, and you’re probably onto something. In fact, the “blueprint” approach makes more sense with GMs than managers, because the GM doesn’t have to be good at managing player personalities — a manager can always offer real value there. Youre post has started me thinking “What value can a GM really add?”

]]> By: Brian http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-171 Brian Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:38:00 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-171 <p>DM - I believe there are plenty of GMs that provide value. I don't want to sell the role short. Many GMs are the ones with the blueprint.</p> <p>A huge role the GM has is the interpersonal skills inside the GM fraternity. An effective and capable GM will be able to pick up the telephone and get a fellow GM on the line. And moreover, have that GM take them seriously.</p> DM - I believe there are plenty of GMs that provide value. I don’t want to sell the role short. Many GMs are the ones with the blueprint.

A huge role the GM has is the interpersonal skills inside the GM fraternity. An effective and capable GM will be able to pick up the telephone and get a fellow GM on the line. And moreover, have that GM take them seriously.

]]> By: Nate http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-172 Nate Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:23:00 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-172 <p>It seems to me that there's an accountability problem with this approach. Presumably the Red Sox know who's contributing to the team's success and who is more of a figurehead, but that's hard to evaluate from the outside looking in. If the Sox don't value Theo Epstein enough to retain him, does that make him less valuable as a more traditional GM?</p> It seems to me that there’s an accountability problem with this approach. Presumably the Red Sox know who’s contributing to the team’s success and who is more of a figurehead, but that’s hard to evaluate from the outside looking in. If the Sox don’t value Theo Epstein enough to retain him, does that make him less valuable as a more traditional GM?

]]> By: Brian http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-173 Brian Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:42:00 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-173 <p>Accountability problems? I would imagine that there is a grapevine within MLB where who is capable and who isn't. I know there often time appears to be a system of retreads but I would see that as more a function of people (GMs or managers) developing contacts that will look out for them.</p> <p>If you were to institute a Council of Elders, the individual in the GM role would clearly know what he/she was getting themselves into (a la Macha in Oakland as a manager).</p> <p>The more I think about it, an additional hurdle would be respect for that GM within the GM fraternity. Would Epstein have any cache if it was known that he was simply the mouthpiece for <I>the men behind the curtain</I>?</p> <p>This is entirely conjecture on my part. Just trying to see what could potentially be around the next corner as the next hip thing</p> Accountability problems? I would imagine that there is a grapevine within MLB where who is capable and who isn’t. I know there often time appears to be a system of retreads but I would see that as more a function of people (GMs or managers) developing contacts that will look out for them.

If you were to institute a Council of Elders, the individual in the GM role would clearly know what he/she was getting themselves into (a la Macha in Oakland as a manager).

The more I think about it, an additional hurdle would be respect for that GM within the GM fraternity. Would Epstein have any cache if it was known that he was simply the mouthpiece for the men behind the curtain?

This is entirely conjecture on my part. Just trying to see what could potentially be around the next corner as the next hip thing

]]> By: DM http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-174 DM Sat, 29 Oct 2005 00:04:00 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2005/10/26/moneyball-the-next-generation-2/#comment-174 <p>Brian,</p> <p>Absolutely right, and I thought of that after my post. There is also skills as a negotiator in a close-knit community which are critical. However, you could see that many owners might (out of hubris alone) think they could succeed in that role, too.</p> <p>Note that Billy Beane obtained an ownership stake in the A's this year. Is that a market signal about the truth of your analysis, in that he predicts that a "salary" route for GMs will be a diminishing market?</p> Brian,

Absolutely right, and I thought of that after my post. There is also skills as a negotiator in a close-knit community which are critical. However, you could see that many owners might (out of hubris alone) think they could succeed in that role, too.

Note that Billy Beane obtained an ownership stake in the A’s this year. Is that a market signal about the truth of your analysis, in that he predicts that a “salary” route for GMs will be a diminishing market?

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