Mozeliak vs. Antonetti??

by 82Special on Mar 20, 2008 10:21 AM EDT

I know that this is not a fair basis for comparison, but...

There was plenty of talk during the GM search about whether or not Mozeliak was a secondary option and whether or not Antonetti from the Cleveland organization would have been a better GM in St. Louis.

One interesting thing to consider, and I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, is the Brian Barton situation.

Antonetti's organization made him expendable. Mozeliak's organization is going to have him on the opening day roster.

Many factors could be involved:

maybe Cleveland's outfield prospects really are that much better than ours, and they don't have room for Barton in their system

maybe Barton really is one of the worst prospects overall that Cleveland has, and they couldn't protect from the Rule 5 Draft

maybe Antonetti wanted to keep Barton but was overruled by his boss

or, maybe Mozeliak got the best of Antonetti on this one

What do you guys think? Are you happy with Barton's acquisition? (dumb question) Are you pleased with Mozeliak's job performance to date?

Poll

On a scale of 1 to 10, how pleased are you with Mozeliak's job performance to date? (10 represents extreme pleasure with Mo)

1

0 votes

2

1 votes

3

4 votes

4

3 votes

5

12 votes

6

13 votes

7

61 votes

8

77 votes

9

20 votes

10

1 votes

192 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 15 comments

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Comments

I said 7

Because by and large I've been pretty pleased with his work thus far, with the major exceptions of Cesar Izturis and Aaron Miles. I really like his recent Wainwright extension, the Edmonds and Rolen trades (now that I've had time to get over the fact they aren't here anymore), the Barton pick-up, and the Lohse signing. Now, if he or TLR would just DFA Izturis, I might creep that number up around 9.

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country

by Mr Redbird on Mar 20, 2008 12:10 PM EDT 0 recs

I was a solid 5...

until the signing of Lohse for bargain basement price and the Wainwright deal, those pushed me to a 7.

I think the Rolen deal was a push of sorts, and the Barton pick up was simply best player available -- I think there were too many teams that passed on him and are going to regret it, similar to the Chris Carpenter Rule 5 pickup from some years back.

"I just wish that the late Harry Caray were still around so I could hear him mispronounce 'Kosuke Fukudome' every fukun' night" -- Dennis Miller

by fourstick on Mar 20, 2008 1:15 PM EDT 0 recs

and yet the Lohse signing only occured

because Pineiro got hurt. I'm not sure why that should be a plus when Mozeliak was basically forced into that move by injuries to another player he signed. They previously had said that they weren't interested in Lohse despite the fact that he was going to sign at a discount.

by azruavatar on Mar 20, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

really?

i don't recall every reading that the Cards front office ever said that they had ruled out Lohse. i always remembering them saying that they would be happy to add pitching depth if the price was right.

not saying you're wrong. but i read the Cards news every day, and i just don't recall them saying that they had no interest in Lohse at any point.

by kindred on Mar 21, 2008 3:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

Are you sure it was even Antonetti's

decision to make? He's not the Indian's GM, after all.

by MdRedbirdFreak on Mar 20, 2008 1:17 PM EDT 0 recs

My thoughts exactly

This makes it sound like baseball front offices are just a bunch of guys playing fantasy baseball against each other. Antonetti doesn't run the Indians and, let's be honest, Mo doesn't entirely run the Cardinals.

by mojowo11 on Mar 20, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Did you read my original post?

My first sentence said that this wasn't a fair way to compare the two guys. Part of the reason it's not a fair comparison is because, as you and mojowo11 mention, it's not like these two guys run the rosters by themselves. So, I agree with you.

I just thought it was an interesting connection between 1 guy who almost became the Cards' GM, and the guy who did.

by 82Special on Mar 20, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

I went with an 8. The only signing I really have a problem with is Izturis. The Loshe signing may have been egged on by injuries; but it's still the signing of the year. He got the team much younger. The Vets he did sign were only for 1 year deals. So it block anyone for extended periods of times.

Hopefully I can move that up to a 9 when he is able to flip loshe or clemmet .

by Evilfrog on Mar 20, 2008 7:25 PM EDT 0 recs

I said 7...

He hasn't been on the job that long, so we have a limited body of work to judge...most of the moves have made sense from a developmental and/or financial viewpoint...I said a couple of weeks ago, I give him major points for appearing on the P-D Chat...I don't remember WJ doing anything like that in his tenure, so the fact that Mozeliak apparently thinks enough of the fan base to take a number of questions speaks well of him, IMO.

Honestly, I was hoping for a fresh perspective from the outside, but he got the job and I am willing to give him a chance ... I think he has done much better than average at this point.

by tbell61 on Mar 20, 2008 9:30 PM EDT 0 recs

Knee

I think Barton's surgery was a factor in why Cleveland didn't protect him. Is it possible they thought no one would pick him? Or, they didn't think he would recover enough by opening day to make anyone's 25 man roster, and they'd get him back.

I gave Mo and 8. I think there were some mistakes, but over all I am pleased. I might be grading on a curve, and cutting him some slake being new and all.

by nybirdfan on Mar 20, 2008 10:56 PM EDT 0 recs

I went 7

The good at this point seems to be out weighing the bad.

The Good:

Molina & Wainwright extensions
Drafting Brian Barton in the Rule 5
Kyle Lohse signing
Glaus/Rolen trade
Edmonds trade-(maybe should've gotten more?)
Speizio's release
Signing Ron Villone
Signing Jason LaRue
Releasing So Taguchi

The Bad:

Signing Cesar Izturis
Signing Juan Gonzalez
Didn't obtain a top of the rotation pitcher
Paid Speizio's salary

The In Between:

Matt Clement signing
Joel Pinero extension
Aaron Miles contract

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Mar 21, 2008 3:38 AM EDT 0 recs

Seems Miles had more to do with keeping TLR smiling

than Mo wanting to hand it out.

Rasmus or bust.

by Zoop on Mar 22, 2008 1:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

8

Great memory jog, Burns Ghost, thanks. It's way too early to write Mo's legacy, but what do you worry about in a new, young GM. That he'll be too cautious with the keys to the new car. Or that he'll act precipitously in order to make an impact. Or just plain lack of creativity. I don't think you can say any of those came true for Mo.

The Rolen and Taguchi decisions can't be described as those of a wallflower. Time will tell whether either were prescient, but so far I'm pleased with both (sorry, So, love your heart, but we've got real prospects to vet). The Lohse signing showed patience that might border on genius. And I think you have to give him creativity marks for Wainwright. We didn't break the bank but locked up a potential 1 or 2 guy beyond arbitration and 2 years of FA while not breaking the bank.

I was on the Antonetti bandwagon. But for now I'm happy DeWitt made the choice he did.

by Secret Weapon on Mar 21, 2008 8:43 AM EDT 0 recs

9

Not because of the moves he's made (which look good to marvelous aside from Iz2), but the moves he did not make under pressure.

Rasmus or bust.

by Zoop on Mar 22, 2008 1:28 AM EDT 0 recs

Mo Numerology

Gave him a 7. Way too soon to predict outcome of Mo moves; yet Cards reduced gerantology factor, created some salary cap room and did not bankrupt the farm for quesionable and mediocre talent. Cubs and Stros should take note.

by akaitori on Mar 22, 2008 5:55 AM EDT 0 recs