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#Post#: 31576--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: Cactus
Date: September 5, 2011, 1:51 pm
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Ken Rosenthal doesn't like the Fleita contract extension
--- Quote ---
> Oneri Fleita, the Cubs’ vice-president of player personnel, is
very good at his job, but I don’t care if he’s the second coming
of Branch Rickey. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts should not have
awarded Fleita a four-year extension before naming a new general
manager.
>
> Never mind that Fleita reportedly had interest from the
Tigers; Ricketts is now on a slippery slope. Cubs scouting
director Tim Wilken logically is next in line for an extension;
some rival executives consider him more invaluable to the team
than Fleita. The new GM might be left to hire a few special
assistants, and nothing more.
>
> It’s the wrong way to operate, and it shows that Ricketts may
be dangerously naive. Just as managers must be allowed to pick
their coaches, GMs must be given authority over baseball
operations — and that includes the selections of their farm and
scouting directors.
>
> Whether or not Ricketts’ move scares off GM candidates remains
to be seen; the Cubs’ job is highly coveted, and a new GM might
have kept Fleita, Wilken and other quality employees, anyway.
>
> The question is one of control. Ricketts, highly regarded by
Cubs executives, could develop into a fine owner. But he already
has diminished the power of his next GM.
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 31580--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: Clarkaddison
Date: September 5, 2011, 1:58 pm
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Rosenthal doesn't like anything Cubs.
#Post#: 31581--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: Ron
Date: September 5, 2011, 1:59 pm
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That puts him on equal footing with several of our regulars
here. ;)
#Post#: 31589--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: Jes Beard
Date: September 5, 2011, 2:27 pm
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--- Quote from: craig link ---
>
> Not surprisingly, Fleita basically attributes it to the
limited "resources".
>
--- End Quote ---
While nice facilities in the minors or in the Dominican Republic
are just that, nice, I really can't see how having better
facilities was going to have made chicken salad out of chicken
sh*t the last several years.
Not having the budget to go broad and deep in the draft
certainly can make a difference in procurement, but in
development the added resources would seem to be much less of a
factor, unless better coaches and instructional staff were
hired.
Is there any reason whatsoever to believe the Cubs have made any
meaningful change change in personnel by way of bringing in
better people in the minors? (I know that the often shuffle
bodies, but did they bring in more or better bodies? Did they
perhaps upgrade their communication system between the minors
and Flieta so that the minor league managers now have phones and
used to use carrier pigeons?).
--- Quote from: Cactus link ---
>
> Ken Rosenthal doesn't like the Fleita contract extension
>
> Oneri Fleita, the Cubs’ vice-president of player personnel, is
very good at his job, but I don’t care if he’s the second coming
of Branch Rickey. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts should not have
awarded Fleita a four-year extension before naming a new general
manager.
>
> Never mind that Fleita reportedly had interest from the
Tigers; Ricketts is now on a slippery slope. Cubs scouting
director Tim Wilken logically is next in line for an extension;
some rival executives consider him more invaluable to the team
than Fleita. The new GM might be left to hire a few special
assistants, and nothing more.
>
> It’s the wrong way to operate, and it shows that Ricketts may
be dangerously naive. Just as managers must be allowed to pick
their coaches, GMs must be given authority over baseball
operations — and that includes the selections of their farm and
scouting directors.
>
--- End Quote ---
Naivity should not be a concern with Rickett's and should not be
the real concern here.
The concern should be that Ricketts will continue wanting to
personally exercise direct control of the franchise, perhaps
even wanting Flieta and Wilken to feel personally beholden to
him and not to a GM who would hire or extend them, in order to
encourage them to report to him instead of the GM, or at least
in having them report to him, as well.
It's all Ricketts' money, and he certainly has the freedom to do
this.... but the best GM candidates are likely to be somewhat
reluctant to sign onto the position if they are concerned with
just how complete their authority will be, and how much things
will been to be regularly run by Tom Ricketts before anything is
done.
#Post#: 31596--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: brjones
Date: September 5, 2011, 3:11 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
This is from the ESPN/Bruce Levine article Cactus posted several
posts back:
--- Quote ---
>
> Like Fleita, Wilken will have a number of teams interested in
his services. If the Cubs decide to make a further commitment to
Wilken, the next general manager will have two vital positions
in place when he takes over. There will, however, be some
flexibility for Ricketts and his next general manager to make
changes to those spots in the near future. Fleita’s deal (and a
possible one for Wilkens) will be structured creatively with
buyouts and options to benefit both the team and the executives.
>
--- End Quote ---
That's a pretty significant point that I haven't seen discussed
very much. If there are buyouts that will allow the new GM to
get out of the deal and Ricketts has no problem with paying the
buyout, then there may be some overreaction to the extension.
#Post#: 31605--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: Jes Beard
Date: September 5, 2011, 5:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
then there may be some overreaction to the extension.
Actually quite a bit.
There is some value in stability, even in an organization
needing major changes. If the new GM comes into absolute chaos
because everyone was ordered to walk the plank with Hendry, that
could create a major problem itself.
If he instead knows that key people are under contract and will
be around if he likes them and works well with them, AND he can
still order them to walk the plank when or if he likes, it
shouldn't serve to discourage any of the better GM options.
#Post#: 31615--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: craig
Date: September 5, 2011, 6:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: brjones link ---
>
> This is from the ESPN/Bruce Levine article Cactus posted
several posts back:
>
> That's a pretty significant point that I haven't seen
discussed very much. If there are buyouts that will allow the
new GM to get out of the deal and Ricketts has no problem with
paying the buyout, then there may be some overreaction to the
extension.
>
--- End Quote ---
Yes. I think that sounds like the best of both worlds.
Continuity if you want it, and the chance to get out if you
want.
Two execs who have some pretty good reputations if you want
them, and the chance to get out if you want.
Sounds really ideal to me.
Fleita, like Hendry, seems like a very gracious, easy-to-work
with guy. So I don't think his personality is going to make it
a problem to work with him.
Both Fleita and Wilkens seem like pretty widely respected guys.
I think a lot of prospective GM's might be thrilled to have the
chance to walk into the position and keep either or both of them
in place, and hit the ground running. That's a win, and if the
GM has somebody even better who's going to be ready right away
and hit the ground running even faster, all the better. Or
replace one of them in a year or two, that's great too.
Sounds really good.
#Post#: 31616--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: Cactus
Date: September 5, 2011, 6:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I suspect Ricketts may have already made his selection and has
to wait until the season is over to announce it.
#Post#: 31617--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: JeffH
Date: September 5, 2011, 6:51 pm
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Ed Lynch, with Jim Frey as assistant GM.
#Post#: 31619--------------------------------------------------
Re: Next GM for the Cubs
DIR By: CurtOne
Date: September 5, 2011, 7:08 pm
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Another board is reporting that Billy Beane is a done deal.
Just reporting.
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