Garagiola Jr. gone

[nathan]

I didn't see a thread with 100 "And don't let the door hit you on the way out" posts, so here's the article:
-------------------------
Garagiola, Port get new jobs

BY KEN DAVIDOFF AND JON HEYMAN
STAFF WRITERS

July 29, 2005


Major League Baseball will hire two people to replace departed vice president Sandy Alderson, two baseball officials said yesterday. And one of them, Joe Garagiola, Jr., will leave a general manager opening in the process.

Garagiola, who has been the Arizona Diamondbacks' GM since 1995 (three years before they began play), and Red Sox vice president Mike Port will join MLB's office in New York. Garagiola will oversee the game's on-field operations, while Port, in a more narrow role, will be responsible for the umpires.

Alderson, formerly baseball's executive vice president of baseball operations, left that role earlier this year to become the San Diego Padres' president. Jimmie Lee Solomon received a promotion from senior VP to executive VP, gaining Alderson's old title, but his role is more legal in nature. Garagiola and Port will fill Alderson's actual responsibilities.

Port was the California Angels' general manager from 1984 until 1991, and served as Boston's interim GM in 2002.

Mets vice president Jim Duquette interviewed for the openings.

 

[Ryanwb]

woo hoo!!!!

 

[Brian]

Thank god. Strange timing with the trade deadline looming though.

 

[Lefty]

I know of one particular female on this board who will be ecstatic.

 

[Dback Jon]

WOO HOO

 

[ASUCHRIS]

ha ha, just kidding... Good Riddance...

 

[Phill11]

WE GET TO KEEP JACKSON AND QUENTIN!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[AZZenny]

Not going to do the Can-Can until it's official, and so far the only place this has been reported is NewsDay, I believe. Not on ESPN, not on MLB, not on radio - no point in getting all excited until there's a stake through its heart.

And coyoteshockeyfan is quite right. Much as I slander and malign for his poor planning and foresight, really bad budgetary sense, absurd fondness for the lame and over-the-hill, overuse of 'hometown discount' to try to balance out bad contracts, his belief that a career year is a trend and 'catching lightning in a bottle' is reproducible, and his general inability to pick healthy, decent mid-rotation pitchers -

...other than that, it is actually possible to do worse. He's not the worst GM, just in the bottom quartile.

 

[green machine]

Everybody rags on him, but in fairness, most of the prospects we gave up were either in trades that really helped this team or they haven't really been that good. Remember people bashing the trade of Jack Cust for Mike Meyers?

Anyways, nobody gives this guy credit for building a team that won a W.S., and was a division winner thrice. It's easy to overlook the FA signings of guys like Finley and Johnson, and very easy to point out to the Stottlemyre and other deals that didn't quite work out.

But when there is a good trade like the Schilling trade (first one), the Gonzo deal, Danny Bautista; or when it's a good FA signing like Clark, Vargas, McCracken in 2002...why does he get no credit?

Granted, I'm not saying Joe G. is Billy Beane or Walt Jockety...I just think he gets somewhat of a bad rap.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Hes gone so I think we can agree he was pretty middle of the road. He hit one he miss one. There was lots of bad moves, but gonzo,bautista, RJ, Schilling make up for them. We won a world series and three divsion titles for gods sakes. But I am excited to get some new blood in here. Rizzo would be great IMO, but i wouldnt mind them going after a mid market GM (say Billy Beane....him and Moorad have a connection ken rosenthal reported) because we will spend a little more. Maybe BB is pie in the sky but there are other guys who could become available (Cashman?)

 

[KingofCards]

I think he did an ok job. With that said, I am glad he is gone. We need a change at the top.

 

[AZZenny]

Industry sources confirmed a Newsday report that said Garagiola will join Major League Baseball to oversee the league's on-field operations. According to the newspaper, Boston's Mike Port will also be joining MLB.

Garagiola, who spent the day at his Bank One Ballpark working the phones as the trade deadline approaches, declined to comment and Diamondbacks general partner Jeff Moorad said the club was waiting to get official word from Major League Baseball.

"At this point, we're not in a position to confirm anything," said Moorad, who was with the club in Chicago. "We've been told by Major League Baseball that a decision is forthcoming most likely in the next week. But at this point, it's business as usual."

Beane bought a part ownership in Oakland, so he's unlikely - very unfortunately. Cashman - no thanks - Why should we find out if he's any good when he doesn't have lots of money to bail him out?
Joe looked OK when he had really deep pockets behind him - it's just as the belt tightened that his serious weaknesses became glaring liabilities. (When they are wheeling Russ Ortiz out to the mound in 2007 or 2008, when we are paying the entire G-Force $10-$11 M apiece to sit on the bench in 2007 - remember who to thank.)

In house, leading contenders are probably Rizzo and Matt Williams.

This'll be interesting.

 

[Ryanwb]

I know of one particular female on this board who will be ecstatic.

I don't think Assface likes the D'backs

 

[Assface]

I don't think Assface likes the D'backs

 

[AZZenny]

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It's for real! Voldemort is gone!

Fingers crossed big time now...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Although I'm not that amped on Matt Williams, Joe Jr. had to go. The summer of 2004 was unforgiveable.