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The Toronto Blue Jays have just recently completed signings of Billy Koch and Scott Schoenweis for 900k and 5.25 million respectively. J.P. Ricciardi, one of the heralded new wave of statistical GM's is beginning to look like a guy that got promoted a little too quickly. You have to remember that the Jays originally wanted Paul DePodesta, but had to settle for Ricciardi as Depo was waiting for a better job to come open. Exchange rates.. they are a bitch.
Between these signings and the insulting 2 yr 12 million dollar offer they gave Carlos Delgado I'm really beginning to lean towards writing off Ricciardi as a GM. When you consider that Hinske is beginning to look like Terrance Long Redux it sure appears as if J.P. may have dumped the scouting side of his player development staff a little too quickly.
On a related but unrelated note. I heard a clip of Allard Baird of WHB 810 talking about acquiring a corner OF and the overall state of the organization. I know Baird has taken his shots over the years but honestly, everytime I here him speak he says the right things and comes off as a fairly intelligent guy. He got this organization to acknowledge that there was more to hitting than wailing at fastballs. His interest is in Austin Kearns, as it should be and he is pressing hard for a corner OF. I think the best snapshot of Allard as a GM came in response to a question on Darrell May.
He was asked if May's comments during the season last year about the team not backing him up and supporting him in his effort to not lose 20 games affected his status on the team. I know there are at least 10-15 chemistry prone 'old school' GM's that would have said that they can't have that kind of attitude on the team and it certainly would have contributed to that decision. Baird said as soon as you let what the players say dictate more than what they do on the field you begin to make bad decisions. That is the correct answer. Its not rocket science, but its absolutely the correct thing to say and practice.
The other thing I like about Baird is that he is honest about the mistakes he has made. In discussing the draft he acknowledged the failure of the 2001 draft. He claims responsibilities for the failures of the team and passes the buck to no one.
I really hope this team turns it around soon because I'd hate to see what would happen if Baird leaves. He has assembled a nice team in the front office including Deric Ladnier, Muzzy Jackson, and Danny Rowland. The fruits of the 2002-2004 drafts will make this team competitive eventually, of that I have no doubt. I just hope that Allard is around to see it.
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