Hendry Fired (p. 2)

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Good article by Fangraphs on potential replacements for Hendry. The list includes Kim Ng, Rick Hahn, Texas' Thad Levine, and Atlanta's John Coppolella - who seems to match everything Ricketts is looking for in a new GM.

 

3. John Coppolella, director of baseball administration for the Atlanta Braves

This might be a surprising ranking for Coppolella, whose name hasn’t made the top of many high-profile GM-prospect rankings. But hidden within Ricketts’ checklist is a challenge to the field: By listing both player development and analytics, the team has signaled that he wants a GM who has a foot in both worlds. Count Coppolella among those matches. He developed the statistical systems for the Braves, known as an organization that trusts its scouts. He was the assistant director of pro scouting for the Yankees before he joined the Braves. Throughout his career, he’s demonstrated the ability to match scouting knowledge with the best available numbers and come to strong conclusions. The Braves have a record of success that helps him make his case, too, and Atlanta’s ability to plug homegrown players into important roles speaks loudest for Coppolella’s candidacy. The Notre Dame grad is good with the media and is in his early 30s — making him among the younger candidates on the list — which are both good qualities for a rebuilding team.

 

Yes.

[Guest]

Good article by Fangraphs on potential replacements for Hendry. The list includes Kim Ng, Rick Hahn, Texas' Thad Levine, and Atlanta's John Coppolella - who seems to match everything Ricketts is looking for in a new GM.

 

3. John Coppolella, director of baseball administration for the Atlanta Braves

This might be a surprising ranking for Coppolella, whose name hasn’t made the top of many high-profile GM-prospect rankings. But hidden within Ricketts’ checklist is a challenge to the field: By listing both player development and analytics, the team has signaled that he wants a GM who has a foot in both worlds. Count Coppolella among those matches. He developed the statistical systems for the Braves, known as an organization that trusts its scouts. He was the assistant director of pro scouting for the Yankees before he joined the Braves. Throughout his career, he’s demonstrated the ability to match scouting knowledge with the best available numbers and come to strong conclusions. The Braves have a record of success that helps him make his case, too, and Atlanta’s ability to plug homegrown players into important roles speaks loudest for Coppolella’s candidacy. The Notre Dame grad is good with the media and is in his early 30s — making him among the younger candidates on the list — which are both good qualities for a rebuilding team.

 

Yes.

I'm worried that his stat analysis development may be at the Wasserstrom level, though.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Good article by Fangraphs on potential replacements for Hendry. The list includes Kim Ng, Rick Hahn, Texas' Thad Levine, and Atlanta's John Coppolella - who seems to match everything Ricketts is looking for in a new GM.

 

3. John Coppolella, director of baseball administration for the Atlanta Braves

This might be a surprising ranking for Coppolella, whose name hasn’t made the top of many high-profile GM-prospect rankings. But hidden within Ricketts’ checklist is a challenge to the field: By listing both player development and analytics, the team has signaled that he wants a GM who has a foot in both worlds. Count Coppolella among those matches. He developed the statistical systems for the Braves, known as an organization that trusts its scouts. He was the assistant director of pro scouting for the Yankees before he joined the Braves. Throughout his career, he’s demonstrated the ability to match scouting knowledge with the best available numbers and come to strong conclusions. The Braves have a record of success that helps him make his case, too, and Atlanta’s ability to plug homegrown players into important roles speaks loudest for Coppolella’s candidacy. The Notre Dame grad is good with the media and is in his early 30s — making him among the younger candidates on the list — which are both good qualities for a rebuilding team.

 

Yes.

I'm worried that his stat analysis development may be at the Wasserstrom level, though.

 

He's more interesting than anything. I saw Yankees scouting and Braves stats...Yankees were big on stats before pretty much everyone else so...still not enough to jump near the top to me, but interesting.

[Guest]

Good article by Fangraphs on potential replacements for Hendry. The list includes Kim Ng, Rick Hahn, Texas' Thad Levine, and Atlanta's John Coppolella - who seems to match everything Ricketts is looking for in a new GM.

 

3. John Coppolella, director of baseball administration for the Atlanta Braves

This might be a surprising ranking for Coppolella, whose name hasn’t made the top of many high-profile GM-prospect rankings. But hidden within Ricketts’ checklist is a challenge to the field: By listing both player development and analytics, the team has signaled that he wants a GM who has a foot in both worlds. Count Coppolella among those matches. He developed the statistical systems for the Braves, known as an organization that trusts its scouts. He was the assistant director of pro scouting for the Yankees before he joined the Braves. Throughout his career, he’s demonstrated the ability to match scouting knowledge with the best available numbers and come to strong conclusions. The Braves have a record of success that helps him make his case, too, and Atlanta’s ability to plug homegrown players into important roles speaks loudest for Coppolella’s candidacy. The Notre Dame grad is good with the media and is in his early 30s — making him among the younger candidates on the list — which are both good qualities for a rebuilding team.

 

Yes.

I'm worried that his stat analysis development may be at the Wasserstrom level, though.

 

He's more interesting than anything. I saw Yankees scouting and Braves stats...Yankees were big on stats before pretty much everyone else so...still not enough to jump near the top to me, but interesting.

I'd be happier if it were Yankees stats and Braves scouting.

[17 Seconds]

The bad news for the new guy...and I doubt this is really news for many ppl here on the board, but...

 

The Cubs are already paying $65 million next season just for Soriano, Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Marlon Byrd and Carlos Marmol.

 

Why are you including Byrd, Dempster, and Marmol (maybe) in this list? those aren't bad contracts.

[17 Seconds]

Hollandsworth is about 20 feet from third base right now. Ramirez should go hurt him.

 

It slipped.

 

typical errormiss

[17 Seconds]

sabr-themed tournament to find next gm and manager.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I'd be happier if it were Yankees stats and Braves scouting.

 

I think any Yankee FO employee has a good background in numbers. Cashman came up through their scouting/player development side, and Damon Oppenheimer (their current director of scouting or farm director, one of the two) is a very legit GM for any team looking. Neither is a candidate I'd worry about not knowing the numbers of the game. Also, he goes from the Yankees scouting department to the guy who helped shape the Braves' current look on stats. My jump to conclusions mat tells me that his time with the Yankees involved numbers.

[Atta Boy]

So stoked to see this finally go down. Next GM has a great starting point.

[Shilzzz]

best nsbb thread since nomar trade.

omc whoosh was just the nut all over kyle's face on top of the cake

[dfnowak]

For those of you who don't think Crane Kenney isn't an influence:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0820-kenney-cubs-hendry-chicag20110820,0,896539.story

 

"Kenney resented Hendry's popularity with his players and the media"

 

If he's just dealing with the business aspect of the Cubs, why the hell does he care about Hendry's popularity with the players and media?

 

"While Kenney will be somewhat involved in the decision to hire the next general manager"

 

Why the hell would Kenney be involved at all if he just deals with the business aspect???

 

While Ricketts stated that Kenney runs the business operations and is not responsible for any baseball decisions, I'm still concerned. I don't want this guy impacting (aka scaring away) any potential GM hire. Removing the title of Team President from Kenney would be a nice start.

[Guest]

Paul Sullivan editorializing about Crane Kenney's feelings is of less than zero interest to me. Kenney being classified as "somewhat" involved in the search for a GM isn't super surprising as he's a high level Cubs executive. If you think he's casting a deciding vote, interviewing candidates, or exerting any sort of sway other than being someone to act as a double check(an "anything about this guy seem off to you" guy), then I don't know what to tell you. From your link, from Ricketts' mouth:

 

"The way it works around here, and maybe it wasn't the way it worked a couple of years ago, is Crane is the team president and he's responsible for the business operations," Ricketts said. "The GM reports to me and is responsible for the baseball operations.

 

"On the business side, we've also made a handful of changes over the past year and a half, and they've been very, very positive. Crane is doing a good job in the role he has today, which is running the business of the team.

 

"And in terms of accountability, he has accountability. He knows that if something happens on the business side that doesn't go right … he knows he's wearing it. And I think he's up for that challenge."

[dfnowak]

Paul Sullivan editorializing about Crane Kenney's feelings is of less than zero interest to me. Kenney being classified as "somewhat" involved in the search for a GM isn't super surprising as he's a high level Cubs executive. If you think he's casting a deciding vote, interviewing candidates, or exerting any sort of sway other than being someone to act as a double check(an "anything about this guy seem off to you" guy), then I don't know what to tell you. From your link, from Ricketts' mouth:

 

"The way it works around here, and maybe it wasn't the way it worked a couple of years ago, is Crane is the team president and he's responsible for the business operations," Ricketts said. "The GM reports to me and is responsible for the baseball operations.

 

"On the business side, we've also made a handful of changes over the past year and a half, and they've been very, very positive. Crane is doing a good job in the role he has today, which is running the business of the team.

 

"And in terms of accountability, he has accountability. He knows that if something happens on the business side that doesn't go right … he knows he's wearing it. And I think he's up for that challenge."

 

I just wish Ricketts would either get rid of him or give him a new title and keep him away from the baseball operations entirely. Do you honestly think that any prospective GM would look at working along side Kenney as a positive?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

For those of you who don't think Crane Kenney isn't an influence:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0820-kenney-cubs-hendry-chicag20110820,0,896539.story

 

"Kenney resented Hendry's popularity with his players and the media"

 

If he's just dealing with the business aspect of the Cubs, why the hell does he care about Hendry's popularity with the players and media?

 

"While Kenney will be somewhat involved in the decision to hire the next general manager"

 

Why the hell would Kenney be involved at all if he just deals with the business aspect???

 

While Ricketts stated that Kenney runs the business operations and is not responsible for any baseball decisions, I'm still concerned. I don't want this guy impacting (aka scaring away) any potential GM hire. Removing the title of Team President from Kenney would be a nice start.

 

You notice how Cashman, Theo, Gillick/Amaro Jr., the Blue Jays' new guy, Friedman, Beane, and so on and so forth become names? A GM is and probably should play into marketing a little. At the least it's a very easy position to draw eyes to, and a good one has a chance to be a sports god. The Cubs have the chance to be huge.

[wvcbxl]

This thread already is an NSBB classic.

[Backtobanks]

Hendry believed in being honest, hard working, and friendly in a business that no longer uses those traits to define success. It was time for him to be replaced, but it's still a little sad to see it happen to a classy guy.

[Banedon]

The bad news for the new guy...and I doubt this is really news for many ppl here on the board, but...

 

The Cubs are already paying $65 million next season just for Soriano, Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Marlon Byrd and Carlos Marmol.

 

Why are you including Byrd, Dempster, and Marmol (maybe) in this list? those aren't bad contracts.

 

I stole that blurb from another site, but I wasn't saying they were bad. Just that they were high dollars to a single player.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hendry believed in being honest, hard working, and friendly in a business that no longer uses those traits to define success. It was time for him to be replaced, but it's still a little sad to see it happen to a classy guy.

 

It's not like he's been living in a shoe box. Nor is it as if you can't be those things and good at your job.

[Backtobanks]

Hendry believed in being honest, hard working, and friendly in a business that no longer uses those traits to define success. It was time for him to be replaced, but it's still a little sad to see it happen to a classy guy.

 

It's not like he's been living in a shoe box. Nor is it as if you can't be those things and good at your job.

 

I suppose that's true, but you don't see very much of that in the cold, impersonal, bottom-line oriented, and competitive business world of today. I'm not saying everything was better back in the old days, but some things certainly were.

[Mark Priors Calves]

The amount of support that Rick Hahn is receiving from the Chicago media makes me very skeptical that he's the right person for the job.

[RynoRules]

Ricketts seems like the kind of guy I would want to work for. You are the expert, here are the resources you need, go do your thing, and you will rise/fall on your merits. If you are a young and smart baseball guy looking for your first GM role, you really couldn't ask for a better situation.

[Backtobanks]

The amount of support that Rick Hahn is receiving from the Chicago media makes me very skeptical that he's the right person for the job.

 

Rick Hahn would be a great choice, but I'm not sure it would be a great PR move to take a guy from the White Sox to turn around the Cubs. I think Ricketts will have a long list of excellent choices, so a connection to the crosstown rivals might hurt Hahn's chances.

[Outshined_One]

The amount of support that Rick Hahn is receiving from the Chicago media makes me very skeptical that he's the right person for the job.

 

Rick Hahn would be a great choice, but I'm not sure it would be a great PR move to take a guy from the White Sox to turn around the Cubs. I think Ricketts will have a long list of excellent choices, so a connection to the crosstown rivals might hurt Hahn's chances.

 

Ricketts would be a complete and total moron if he decided not to hire Hahn on the basis that Hahn works for the White Sox.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The amount of support that Rick Hahn is receiving from the Chicago media makes me very skeptical that he's the right person for the job.

 

Rick Hahn would be a great choice, but I'm not sure it would be a great PR move to take a guy from the White Sox to turn around the Cubs. I think Ricketts will have a long list of excellent choices, so a connection to the crosstown rivals might hurt Hahn's chances.

 

Ricketts would be a complete and total moron if he decided not to hire Hahn on the basis that Hahn works for the White Sox.

 

But what if hes a spy and decides to destroy the Cubs from within? The who has the last laugh?

[Magnetic Curses]