Fangraphs Interview With Dick Williams

[OhioRiverBarge]

I might consider this required reading for everyone on ORG.

This is an excellent interview that gets deeper into the philosophy and plans of Dick Williams than anything I’ve read.

He covers everything from the Reds “entering a period of payroll growth,” to what they were looking for when they hired Bell, to analytics, to integrating the philosophies and themes across the whole organization, to even an emphasis on the club hiring women to fill important new roles.

Like I said, it’s one of the more transparent and holistic peeks under the hood of the Reds organization and Dick’s vision than anything I’ve read. Lots of tidbits and lots of bigger, strategic elements in this piece to discuss. I hope you enjoy.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/dick-wil...-reds-rebuild/

[JFLegal]

great read. thanks.

dick williams really seems to 'get it.'

[Tom Servo]

Great to see some stuff I've touched upon before addressed here. That most coaching changes the last few years were internal ones, that the Reds seemed to lack an organizational philosophy you see with Chicago/St. Louis/Pittsburgh, etc. It seems these are all changing for the better.

I wasn't sold on David Bell at the time of the hire, but as Williams points out he was immediately able to land position coaches from the two best NL teams. I think there's something to be said for that and hopefully it translates onto the field.

[JCM11]

The Reds actually have a plan, and seem to be organized from top to bottom. Are we in the Twilight Zone?

[SidneySlicker]

Great to see some stuff I've touched upon before addressed here. That most coaching changes the last few years were internal ones, that the Reds seemed to lack an organizational philosophy you see with Chicago/St. Louis/Pittsburgh, etc. It seems these are all changing for the better.

I wasn't sold on David Bell at the time of the hire, but as Williams points out he was immediately able to land position coaches from the two best NL teams. I think there's something to be said for that and hopefully it translates onto the field.

Totally agree. I was worried about the Dick Williams promotion when it happened for fear that it was just another FO guy who would cater to whatever the ownership wanted. It's looking like I was wrong. Dick seems to get it and Castellini seems to have let him take his job and run with it. The whole time I read that article one word came to my mind, synergy. Synergy- the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Williams' statement that you can have a lot of smart people, but never realize success is true. A lot of smart people running in different directions, with different agendas, undermining one another can derail an organization.

1. The Reds had an idea of what they wanted in a manager aggressive in analytics, willing to be on the forefront in creating and implementing new ideas and just as importantly a strong communicator and collaborator. They seem to have found that in Bell.

2. Hire smart people who are on the forefront of analytics, who are strong teacherrs, and willing to collaborate.

3. Create synergy in the organization. All arms of the organization, working together towards the common goal of winning a world series title.

[Bob Sheed]

When it comes to crow, I'd like nothing more than to eat Dick's all season long and into the postseason.

[RedTeamGo!]

When it comes to crow, I'd like nothing more than to eat Dick's all season long and into the postseason.

Most important apostrophe I’ve seen in awhile.

[Kilgore_Trout]

When it comes to crow, I'd like nothing more than to eat Dick's all season long and into the postseason.

Not sure why, but now I want to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

[Bob Sheed]

Not sure why, but now I want to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

"I only have a few years left in my life. So I'm gonna get real weird with it."