Who do you want to be the new Cardinals GM?

by glamboomer on Oct 5, 2007 5:50 PM EDT Comment 29 comments

Found this article today where DeWitt kind-of gives some hints as to what he's looking for:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/5629776255CD3C068625736B001259D0 ?OpenDocument

So, we have "10 or fewer candidates with emphasis on 30-40 somethings with experience in player developement."

The article throws out a few names:
Mozeliak - current interim GM
Antonetti - Cleveland Asst. GM
Woodfork - Arizona Asst. GM
DePodesta - Ex-Dodger / current San Diego front office
White - Dodgers Asst. GM

All of these guys seem like worthy candidates to me, although I find it hard to believe DeWitt would hire one of Jocketty's old boys for the job. What do you all think?

IMPORTANT NOTE: I intentionally left out "new manager" for obvious reasons.

Boomer.

Poll

Who do you like?

Mozeliak?

32 votes

Antonetti?

31 votes

Woodfork?

12 votes

DePodesta?

29 votes

White?

17 votes

Someone else?

14 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 29 comments

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Comments

i'm not sure you can go wrong

with anyone on that list. i'm not sold on mozeliak but i'm not sure i can discredit him either .i'd be happy with any of them, esp. antonetti, depo or woodfork. woodfork was a part of theo epstein's 2004 red sox crew, wasn't he?

Future Redbirds

by erik on Oct 5, 2007 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Woodfork..

Sure was..
Worked in Boston from 2001-2004, if I'm right.
Boomer.

by glamboomer on Oct 5, 2007 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fundamentals

Abreu just overthrew the cutoff man. Result: Sizemore triple.

Any impressions of the TBS broadcasts? I see widespread displeasure with it at Bleed Cubbie Blue.

I think they're doing a fine job at TBS.

by liam on Oct 5, 2007 7:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hah

wrong thread

Future Redbirds

by erik on Oct 5, 2007 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My face is red

by liam on Oct 5, 2007 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

then you are a true cardinal fan

Future Redbirds

by erik on Oct 5, 2007 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be happy w/ anyone

on that list, except for Mozeliak. I'm lukewarm toward him. If his best quality is that he gets along w/ agents, I fail to see how that gives him a significant leg up over anyone else.

I do, however, believe that Dodgers' Asst. GM, Kim Ng belongs on the list as well. If we interview Antonetti, DePodesta, Ng, Woodfork, and White, I'd be happy w/ whoever gets the job.

I do wonder, also, since Walt was one of the lowest paid GMs in baseball, if DeWitt won't lose his top candidate over $. I hope that's not the case but it does scare me a little.

by chuckb on Oct 5, 2007 10:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually want to give Mozeliak

a chance. he seems like a good blend of the old and the new. If things go south in a two or three years, make a change; but I think he's as good a candidate as any.

Well, let's go to the old mill anyway -- get some cider!

by Alxfritz on Oct 6, 2007 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

....yes!

Mozeliak needs to see the transition period thru for certain...and bring back a vet or two even if we dont save that 230,000 grand our 25th player cost us over Ryan/Hoffpauir this past year.

Youth movement or not, I want Carpenter, Speezio JEd and Rolen back in '08...yeah, those old guys that play the game like pros.

by cardschinmusic on Oct 6, 2007 5:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i could live w/ mozeliak

he's a legitimate talent --- other organizations have had their eye on him, and eventually he's going to be a gm somewhere.

but my concern would be this: if mozeliak stays, it increases the chances that la russa would stay as well. he and mozeliak are tight.

until very recently i've seen both sides of the tony stay / go argument, but it's now more clear to me than ever that he's the wrong fit moving forward. la russa is as hostile to the organization's new philosophy as jocketty was; if mozeliak stays, and he convinces la russa to stay, that perpetuates the division within the organization.

mozeliak without la russa, i'd be comfortable with.

by lboros on Oct 6, 2007 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i have a feeling they will play footsie

with a number of big names that are listed here, but in the end it'll be mozeliak and oquendo.

Future Redbirds

by erik on Oct 7, 2007 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Playing the Rookies

I think that several simple moves establish a new climate, with a lot of continuity. Promotion from the ranks is not just for the players.

Mozeliak and Oquendo should get their shot, and some former players might add to the new coaching staff, while some coaches in the farm system also move up in the ranks. Rejuvenation is a good thing for the whole organization, and bringing in that expensive FA can cause unseen damage down the ranks.

The Cards have a solid organization, let it play.

Watching the Playoffs as Reigning Champs is not a bad thing.

by Birds on the Bat on Oct 6, 2007 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

P-D says Tony LaCava is on the club's list

He's the Toronto Blue Jays director of player personnel. Given their record, this doesn't sound like great news, but I don't know anything about their farm system.

by nycardfan on Oct 6, 2007 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the blue jays' recent track record is better

than the cardinals'. they won 4 more games than the cards in 2006, and 5 more in 2007 --- and they did it in a tougher league and a tougher division. if they played in the nl central, they likely would have run away with the title both years. they also outpeformed the cards in 2003 (86 wins) and probably would have won the nl central that year as well. so they've been better than st louis 3 out of the past 5 years. the reason they never make the playoffs is that they have to compete every year against the two highest payrolls in baseball.

their farm system has been one of the best in mlb over the past decade. in the last 4 or 5 years alone it produced two outstanding middle infielders (orlando hudson and aaron hill), a couple of all-star outfielders (alex rios and vernon wells), and three of the top young arms in the american league (mcgowan marcum and listch). that's not counting league-average players / pitchers like dave bush, gustavo chacin, gabe gross, etc etc. go back a few years further and you find all-star players like kelvim escobar, roy halladay, and carlos delgado.

i don't know anything at all about tony la cava, but the blue jay organizational track record is a good one.

by lboros on Oct 6, 2007 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and they've been

developing talent in Latin America as long as, and as well as, anyone except the Dodgers. They've got a tough mountain to climb w/ their payroll and their division, but that's always been a pretty well-run organization.

by chuckb on Oct 6, 2007 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

The Blue Jays would have been a contender in many divisions in baseball over the past several years, but they have the unlucky position to be in the AL East with the Yankees & Red Sox.

It's a shame for their club to have to deal with the 2 major big spenders of baseball every year. It has to be frustrating for their ownership and their fans.

by KYCards on Oct 6, 2007 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaCava.

Here's a couple of links to an interview that a Blue Jays blog did with LaCava last year..

http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060205195003958

http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060206180657832

Apparently, he's been in/around baseball for awhile.
I really like that the Cardinals are thinking of going "young" here & not going after retreads (I understand that DePodesta is a 'retread', but he doesn't really fit the definition...)
I guess you can look at the playoff teams now that are all currently up 2-0 to see how hiring a young person is probably the best way to go..

Byrnes - Arizona (hired at 35)
O'Dowd - Colorado (hired at 40)
Epstein - Boston (hired at 28)
Shapiro - Cleveland (hired at 37)

Boomer.

by glamboomer on Oct 6, 2007 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for finding those links

its nice to get a look at interviews with possible candidates.

by nycardfan on Oct 6, 2007 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if la cava is responsible for those guys

being drafted by the Jays, the Cards would be stupid not to hire him.

i do have one concern with your point lboros. i wonder have they been able to draft & develop good players because they dont make the playoffs and get high draft pics? i know they've had a winning record recently, but they were a pretty terrible team there for a while in the 90's after they won back to back world series. taking into account all the bad decisions teams like the royals & pirates make in their drafts, isn't is pretty easy to build a winning team when you have high draft pics year after year?

hey, didn't they draft & develop Carp too?

I'm going to go try to find a puppy and kick it. - Brad Thompson And That's A Winner!

by gdm426 on Oct 7, 2007 4:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the jays have produced more

major leaguers then any team since 95. lacava's been there since 2003.

In 2003 they picked starting SS Aaron Hill, SP Shaun Marcum, reliever Tom Mastny (who was traded for util if John McDonald). at first glance, the rest of the crop looks rather thin.

In 2004 they picked platoon OF adam lind, 5th starter Jesse Litsch, middle reliever Casey Janssen, backup catcher curtis thigpen.

2005 they took RHP ricky romero, and he stuggled with control in AA. 2nd round they took college OF brian pettway, who looks to have topped out in AA. ryan patterson looks decent, plays 2b.

2006 they took travis snider, their version of colby rasmus. also rhp brandon magee, looks like a future 5th starter..

this year they did much better on paper, drafting SS kevin ahrens, C j.p. arencibia, 2b justin jackson, pitcher, Marc Rzepczynski, 2b John Tolisano, rhp brad mills.

their past history is golden. recent history is not good at all. they've taken mostly college guys with better numbers then higher ceilings, a criticism share with luhnow. only luhnow, to me at least, has done a much better job. kevin goldstein said of the jays going into the season "The Blue Jays system is really a product of their drafts: few impact players, yet plenty of guys with enough talent to produce in the big leagues at some level."

after looking at the recent history, i don't want much of a part of this guy if he's been in charge of their drafts. he's the reason why the blue jays system is worse then the cardinals in recent history. PECOTA had the jays 21st in the majors going into the season, the cardinals 19th.

Future Redbirds

by erik on Oct 7, 2007 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have lived in or around Syracuse, NY

since the early 80's and I have seen some remarkable players play here. Toronto has always put the emphasis on player development as a result I have only seen 8 winning seasons since 1984. The Chiefs do not draw well because of this, BUT!

The 1993 Blue Jays' Pat Borders(WS MVP in '92), Tony Fernadez, Ed Sprague, Pat Hentgen, and Todd Stottlemyer all played in Syracuse. I have also seen Fred Magriff, Kelly Gruber, George Bell, Shawn Green, Cecil Fielder, Jimmy Key and David Wells.

That's not all wait. There is more. Just some names for fun how about Woody Williams, Mark Whitten, Miggy Cairo. I can't forget Shannon Stewart, Derek Bell, Mike Sharperson, and Al Leiter.

Larry thanks for reminding me about all the wonderful baseball I have seen and almost forgot.

by nybirdfan on Oct 7, 2007 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not a big fan of Logan White

There was some definite shadiness going on with the Luke Hochevar negotiations with Logan White a few years back. I know Boras was involved, but he is definitely smart enough not to submarine his relations with a team over a flippin draft pick for no reason...

Cheeseburger in paradise.

by joker24 on Oct 6, 2007 10:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One thing

that sticks out in my mind, is that he wanted to take Bucholtz over Hochevar, who was a more highly touted arm, but was overruled by others in his organization. When evaluating talent, White is certainly one of the best in the game.

I love lamp

by Some witty name on Oct 6, 2007 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MOZELIAK

i think he deserves a shot. i would ask tony who he would want. if tony is serious about coming back letting him at least give a opinion on who they hire would be good. if tony does not comeback i dont want to see oquendo get the job. i would rather see a bob brenley or torre when he gets fired from the yankees.but really no matter who they get . if they do not spend the money and get a couple pitchers and a impact bat winning the division will be tough.

HURRY BACK CARP AND MULDER

by LaRussa4President on Oct 7, 2007 5:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will it matter?

Sadly, I seem to see DeWitt as GM. His actions, not his words are what counts. He wants a "yes" man.
He can talk all he wants about player development and scouting, but when the time came to ante up for Russell, he didn't. Additionally, they passed on Porcello because they knew he would cost more than his "slot." If you don't want to pay the going rate for veterans and you don't want to spend on draft picks, what do you want? You want to get lucky, and that philosophy supercedes the GM position.

by vinniefromjersey on Oct 7, 2007 9:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs