Edd Roush (07-25-2019)
It is on the whole probable that we continually dream, but that consciousness makes such a noise that we do not hear it. Carl Jung.
HammerTime (07-25-2019),Old school 1983 (07-24-2019)
Hoping to change my username to 75769024
He's certainly in the running, no doubt about that one.
But it's easier for GMs/Presidents of Baseball Operations to look better when the team spends a ton of money on analytics and player development strategies. The LAD are one of the most progressive teams in terms of the strategies and methods they employ in developing players. Both Downs and Gray had strong tools, and now they are in an organization that is one of the very best in getting players to get the most out of those tools and helping players make adjustments to get even better.
"Do we need to have 280 brands of breakfast cereal? No, probably not. But we have them for a reason - because some people like them. It's the same with baseball statistics." ~ Bill James
Friedman made his mark being successful in the Rays organization, and they don’t spend money on ANYTHING.
The Dodgers actually spend significantly less money since he came on board, making him all the more credible and impressive. Unlike Theo, who is probably his biggest competition for best in the game, he’s proven he can do it in both big AND small markets.
Go BLUE!!!
Yes, I'm aware of Friedman's background. I'm not arguing that Friedman isn't great. If he was THE BEST, though, then TBR would have fallen off a cliff when he left, no? Instead, their farm system just keeps improving. So my initial response was simply that he's one of the best, but not anointing him as top dog.
The Dodgers have gradually spent less on player payroll and are very conscious of the luxury tax, but in terms of spending money on their minor league player development approaches and other items like bio-mechanics, technological advances, analytics, etc., they spend a ton of money there much like the Yankees and Astros. I wasn't referencing money spend on payroll - but the resources that a team like the LAD have to research/explore/take advantage of every possible development strategy.
"Do we need to have 280 brands of breakfast cereal? No, probably not. But we have them for a reason - because some people like them. It's the same with baseball statistics." ~ Bill James
Who cares they're gone it's time to get over it. What's Sonny Gray's stat line look like compared to what we gave up for him? People only focus on the bad deals the Reds have made. You can't win them all. The Gray, Castillo, and Suarez trades were some of the biggest highway robbery deals made in recent years.
HammerTime (07-25-2019),RiverRat13 (07-25-2019),SoTxRedsFan (07-25-2019)
Edd Roush (07-25-2019),Old school 1983 (07-25-2019)
Reds down to 20th ranked system by BA.
Disaster.
What would you say.....ya do here?
Poorly run franchise? Yes, absolutely. Worst run?
I think the Mets might have something to say about that. For a large market team like the Mets to only have 2 winning seasons in the past 11, with the kind of money they should be able to spend, and in the shadow of the Yankees, I think that's worse at this point in time, to be honest. The Orioles and Marlins, up until their recent ownership or front office changes, would likely have been in the picture as well.
However, after that, you'd be hard-pressed to argue any other clubs are worse than the Reds. And that's a pretty sobering thought.
"Do we need to have 280 brands of breakfast cereal? No, probably not. But we have them for a reason - because some people like them. It's the same with baseball statistics." ~ Bill James
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