This guy is making my life easy and Peter Gammons' life easier. No one has succeeded in consistently making Pissy Pete look so smart as this guy Dan Shanoff. Here's a great one from today's Daily Quicke:
"Johnny Damon: His name is Theo Epstein. Not only is he your GM, Johnny, but he's the best GM in sports. So why don't you leave the personnel decision-making to HIM?"
Now I won't argue with one of the things Shanoff said -- Damon should leave the decision-making to Theo Epstein. I love the idea of making Schilling the closer so long as he's healthy and able to pitch at the major league level again. What I think is absolutely ridiculous is Shanoff's assertion that Theo is the best GM in sports. Really? Since when? Since he won the World Series with the second highest payroll in team sports?
I wonder if Jerry West has any say in this since, after all, the guy built two dynasties in Los Angeles and then took over an expansion team and made them a playoff team within 18 months of setting foot in the door. I'm also curious if John Schuerholtz in Atlanta or Walt Jocketty in St. Louis were asked their opinions on the matter. Last I checked, Atlanta's been winning since Theo was in high school. Walt Jocketty may have built the team that was swept in the World Series last year but he's been building winners for a decade out there in the Gateway City.
So, Shanoff, as you can see, there are other team executives out there that don't live in Massachusetts. It might surprise you to hear this but some of them are actually great at what they do.
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3 comments:
I agree. One championship does not a genius make. How is the Red Sox escape the calls that they buy championships no different than the Yankees.
Last time I checked Theo still hasn't even won a division title. Not to take anything away from a championship but heck whats so different about what Boston did last to what Florida did the year before or Anaheim did the year before that. How does this Dan Jackoff have a job? And why do people read him?
I give props to my favorite redneck Jim Bowden. It says alot for a GM, interim even, to come in and completely turn around a team that was a cellar dweller and turn them into a top contender. Big props to Frank Robinson on that part too. Bringing in Jose Guillen was an extremely smart move. Not to mention what Bowden did for the Reds in the early 90s.
The best GM in sports is someone that isn't even a household name - but he should be. It's the San Antonio Spurs GM RC Buford.
He only has developed his own model of sustaining success by using the European leagues as a way to develop his late-round draft picks (Manu Ginobili - #57 - 1999, Tony Parker- #28 - 2001) and then bring them over when they are ready.
In addition, he spends money on complementary 3-point shooters (Mercer, Barry) because he realizes the importance of proper spacing on the court.
In addition, there's some guy named Scola (#56 in 2002) who's supposedly the best PF in Europe right now, who's coming to the Spurs this fall!
Note: It still helps to already have Tim Duncan of course.
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