ima pseudonym

For those who want to know a little bit more about what Paul DePodesta
is like, here's a talk he gave to an investment conference.

http://www.leggmason.com/billmillerconf/conference/illustrations/depodesta.asp

It gives a lot of general information on the process he prefers for
front office decisions.

sam monk

In article <e6i8201rmqtfhd8gol9700ch69e5551mn1@4ax.com>, Ima Pseudonym says...

I read this prepared to hate it and him; I though it was going to be
a motivational speech sort of thing, which just turns my stomach.

but I came out of it really liking this guy. evans has probably earned
the last year of his contract, but if they just have to sh*t can danny
boy, this guy sounds like he knows what the hell he's talking about.

[I wasn't enamored with him quoting thomas paine, who's last lucid moment
was during the writing of "Common Sense", but I won't hold that against him.]
________________________________________
Dodgers fan stuck in sevarB country

happenstance

There's something a little too pie-eyed about this kid, but I admit his
probabilistic "skills vs. tools" approach to scouting and personnel
decisions makes sense. But using his own sample size process, he's still
an unknown commodity. So far, he's been lucky enough to be a part of two
organizations during protracted winning periods. How would he react at the
first sign of failure?

ima pseudonym

Well, the top choice listed for GM has been Gillick, who has left
every team as soon as the stars he inherits start to get old and less
productive. I figure he'll do better than him.

We can't know how any GM without GM experience will do as the head
person. However, most GMs who are available have their own flaws.
Including Beane, who inherited a team substantially put together by
Sandy Alderson and with a number of very bright assistants, mostly
hired by Alderson. How many of the A's stars were actually developed
under Beane? (hint: none of the hitters. Zito and Mulder were drafted
with top 10 (first round) picks with Beane as GM, which tells us he
doesn't blow the 2nd or 9th picks in the draft - which hopefully the
Dodgers will not have anytime soon)

Any GM would have some risk. Few have the upside of DePodesta.

Now, as I've said before, I'd like Evans to keep his job at least
through the June draft. But it's unlikely, since McCourt has made it
obvious that he wants his own choice there. I would rather McCourt
went all out and got somebody who could be great, rather than a hack.

happenstance

On that last part, we agree. I certainly don't want McCourt to go after a
GM retread like Gillick just for the sake of making a change. I'd like to
see Evans given another year. However, if McCourt is determined to look
elsewhere, and DePodesta absolutely shines in his interview, I'll back the
kid.

mike de leon

If I had my way I'd rather keep Evans. But after reading this I'd be
happy to go with DePodesta. It even seems that Evans and DePodesta might
share the same philosophy just do it in different ways. But I think that
there'd be a lot of complaining from others here. Bringing in a new
process and building the team would still take awhile, which is the
samething that Evans faced, so nothing except the guy calling the shots
would've changed. Except that DePodesta would have less time to wait for
the idiotic contracts to clear. It still doesn't make sense to make the
change.

--
"I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me and fall as well

I will work to elevate you
Just enough to bring you down
Trust me...trust me....trust me"

Sober - Tool

ima pseudonym

Oh, me too. But I doubt that will happen.


Evans is much more of a traditionalist in methods - he just seems to
be very good (or his management team is) at identifying prospects. I
doubt if anybody the Dodgers bring in will be as good at drafting high
ceiling prospects in the late first round and after as Evans has been.
OTOH, I'd expect a DePodesta regime to be better at picking up
bargains on the free market.

Yeah, but there's always complaining. I'm still astounded at the
amount of whining over non-roster invitees, for instance - even after
Wilson Alvarez, Tom Martin, and (before his injury) Troy Brohawn
worked out last year.


Well, DePodesta would have available money to spend right away. And a
minor league system nearly ready to provide a lot of talent. So it
would take less time. Not that the Dodgers are all that far away,
anyway, despite the complaints.

No, but it's a way for the new owner to make an immediate splash - get
a new GM, show he's trying to make a difference, even though the old
GM is only part way through his plan, and has made fantastic progress
on the minor leagues.