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Big Donkey
01-23-2006, 02:30 PM
Unless it's a cruel joke, I just got a newsbit saying it just happened. No joke. Official announcement set later this afternoon.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 02:31 PM
Holy God!

Big Donkey
01-23-2006, 02:31 PM
Thanks for editing the title.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 02:31 PM
This place is about ready to melt down!!!!!!!

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 02:32 PM
If this is true, I might have to get drunk tonight.

Bill
01-23-2006, 02:32 PM
Could explain why the Reds pulled out of the deal for Mota. (see Crisp thread)

gonelong
01-23-2006, 02:34 PM
Unless it's a cruel joke, I just got a newsbit saying it just happened. No joke. Official announcement set later this afternoon.

This sounds too good to be true.

I have a feeling this is just a rumor. It doesn't seem to mesh with RC statements at his press conference.

If this comes to pass, you'll truely be a Big Donkey around here. Otherwise you'll just be a large jackass. ;)

GL

gonelong
01-23-2006, 02:35 PM
If this is true, I might have to get drunk tonight.

I have been saving a special cigar for the occasion. Not for the firing of O'Brien, that's not my style ... but for the new direction the Reds will be going in ... and ... a bit of hope.

GL

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 02:36 PM
I love you Big Donkey

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 02:36 PM
Buddy of mine called from Philly ...

Said he read somewhere else overnight that O'Brien and Allen are both supposedly set to be fired.

zombie-a-go-go
01-23-2006, 02:37 PM
Unless it's a cruel joke, I just got a newsbit saying it just happened. No joke. Official announcement set later this afternoon.

You are the awesome.

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 02:37 PM
I will personally drive to Cincinnati and give Castinelli a big hug if true.

Please be true! Please be true! Please be true!

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 02:37 PM
I notice Marc Lancaster is floating in this thread.

Can you elaborate??

zombie-a-go-go
01-23-2006, 02:38 PM
I love you Big Donkey

Back off.... he's mine.

RedsManRick
01-23-2006, 02:38 PM
If this is this case, all my ranting and raving yesterday will have been for naught. And I couldn't be happier about it...

RFS62
01-23-2006, 02:38 PM
Sweet Sassy Molassy, don't toy with me like this!!!!!

KittyDuran
01-23-2006, 02:39 PM
WLW is reporting it right now - but it still isn't official...

Matt700wlw
01-23-2006, 02:40 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5271952?print=true

True!!

Ron Madden
01-23-2006, 02:41 PM
Please Let It Be True!!!

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 02:41 PM
Wooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KittyDuran
01-23-2006, 02:41 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5271952?print=true

True!!Matt, where you the one that was giving to info to Willie and Seg???:)

RFS62
01-23-2006, 02:42 PM
:usa: :usa: :usa: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :beerme: :beerme: :beerme: :beerme: :beerme:

Puffy
01-23-2006, 02:42 PM
I've got wood. And that is not a euphemism. I really have wood.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 02:43 PM
What about Allen???

zombie-a-go-go
01-23-2006, 02:43 PM
I need a cigarette now.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 02:44 PM
AP is saying Allen stays, O'Brien gone.

Seg is trying to confirm right now on Willie's show.

Puffy
01-23-2006, 02:45 PM
I need a cigarette now.

This could be a new alternative. I can see it now:

Fire Dan O'Brien: Its like Viagra, only longer.

Matt700wlw
01-23-2006, 02:45 PM
What about Allen???

As long as he sticks to business only, I think I can deal with him staying there...

cumberlandreds
01-23-2006, 02:46 PM
Castellini means business! I just hope he brings in someone better and not a clone of DanO.

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 02:46 PM
I've got wood. And that is not a euphemism. I really have wood.

Same here. I just woke up...but it ain't morning wood. :cool:

Happiest I've been as a Reds fan in a long time.

WooHoo!

Az. Reds Fan
01-23-2006, 02:46 PM
I swear I've never felt goosebumps as I did reading that Fox Sports story.

Today is the day that things begin to change...and it feels so good.

RFS62
01-23-2006, 02:46 PM
As long as he sticks to business only, I think I can deal with him staying there...



Yep, me too. I'll bet he's afraid to even say anything about a baseball move, if he wants to keep his job.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 02:46 PM
Seg called the Reds, they refused to comment at this time.

Big Donkey
01-23-2006, 02:46 PM
Allen could be next but I could see him staying in a strictly marketing/business role as well. He is credited by many for his non-baseball related work.

Ron Madden
01-23-2006, 02:48 PM
Castellini means business! I just hope he brings in someone better and not a clone of DanO.

Hell I'd be happy with Kulman.

Roy Tucker
01-23-2006, 02:48 PM
So who's the new GM?

REDREAD
01-23-2006, 02:48 PM
Allen needs to go to.. Cut out the entire tumor.

Puffy
01-23-2006, 02:50 PM
So who's the new GM?

M2.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 02:50 PM
Woo Hoo!!!

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 02:50 PM
So who's the new GM?

Hopefully DePodesta or Chris Antonetti(Indians asst. GM).

Chip R
01-23-2006, 02:51 PM
And there was much rejoicing!

Benihana
01-23-2006, 02:51 PM
:beerme: Finally, the first great day to be a Reds fan in two years. :beerme:

Let's just hope we bring in someone good. I would be happy with Krivsky. What would your wishlist look like?

TRF
01-23-2006, 02:51 PM
Excuse me if i don't cheer the fact that someone was fired, regardless of whether or not the change needed to be made.

I assume the reds are on the hook for the final year of his salary, and I am sure DanO will find another job in baseball. Dan O'Brien had some skills, just not GM skills. He was a big part of the '05 draft, and that may have been the Reds best draft since Kearns and Dunn were taken 1-2.

However color me unimpressed if Williams gets the job by default.

pedro
01-23-2006, 02:51 PM
"Why yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 02:52 PM
I have been saving a special cigar for the occasion. Not for the firing of O'Brien, that's not my style ... but for the new direction the Reds will be going in ... and ... a bit of hope.

GL

I got drunk on Friday night in celebration of Lindner no longer being around. Two Reds celebrations in four nights isn't a bad start for RCast.

RedsBaron
01-23-2006, 02:53 PM
:jump: :roll: :bowrofl: :dancingco :rockband: :thisyear: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :beerme: :thumbup: :thumbup: :birthday: :birthday: :birthday: :jump: :jump: :dancingco :bowrofl: :rockband: :notworthy :wave: :lol: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :laugh: :beerme: :beerme: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :cool: :cool: :cool: :D :D :) :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :roll: :roll: :bowrofl: :dancingco :rockband: :rockband: :rockband: :thisyear: :thisyear: :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :welcome: :wave: :lol: :clap: :clap: :clap: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :laugh: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :jump: :roll: :roll: :roll: :bowrofl: :bowrofl: :dancingco :dancingco :dancingco :dancingco :rockband: :rockband: :rockband: :rockband: :notworthy :clap: :clap: :clap: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party:

westofyou
01-23-2006, 02:53 PM
However color me unimpressed if Williams gets the job by default.

The 35 year old son of the other new guys?

Based on what?

He'll be in the "office" I suppose, but run the team?

That would be a lark.

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 02:53 PM
:beerme: Finally, the first great day to be a Reds fan in two years. :beerme:

Let's just hope we bring in someone good. I would be happy with Krivsky. What would your wishlist look like?

DePodesta.

letsgojunior
01-23-2006, 02:53 PM
I vote for Puffy as the new GM.

And can I just please add: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RFS62
01-23-2006, 02:53 PM
Excuse me if i don't cheer the fact that someone was fired, regardless of whether or not the change needed to be made.

I assume the reds are on the hook for the final year of his salary, and I am sure DanO will find another job in baseball. Dan O'Brien had some skills, just not GM skills. He was a big part of the '05 draft, and that may have been the Reds best draft since Kearns and Dunn were taken 1-2.

However color me unimpressed if Williams gets the job by default.



It's not personal. Did you cheer when we cut Jimmy Haynes?

It's strictly professional.

It's business.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 02:53 PM
DePodesta.

Werd.

TRF
01-23-2006, 02:55 PM
The 35 year old son of the other new guys?

Based on what?

He'll be in the "office" I suppose, but run the team?

That would be a lark.

just a vibe i got. He's moved into DanO's old office, at least I think I read that. Maybe it ends up being an interim title, but I doubt we see a new GM before the end of ST.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 02:56 PM
Mr. Castellini said Friday that they will not be happy until Reds fans are happy.

Maybe he meant it......

Don't stop here!!

TRF
01-23-2006, 02:57 PM
It's not personal. Did you cheer when we cut Jimmy Haynes?

It's strictly professional.

It's business.

Nope. and you can look that up too.

I hate seeing people cheer when someone loses a job. I'll cheer when a player that deserves to get outrighted does, Like Hancock, because he's at least working. I know, it's a fine line and a weird stance to take, but that's the way I feel.

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 02:57 PM
David Forst wouldn't be a bad guy to look into for new GM, either.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 02:57 PM
I just hope they have something worked out with somebody. This has been in the makings for quite some time, so you have to figure Bob has a plan.

BrooklynRedz
01-23-2006, 02:58 PM
Confirmed.

lollipopcurve
01-23-2006, 02:59 PM
Needs to get someone like Antonetti. And a President with industry experience and respect -- to act as the GM's sounding board -- would be ideal.

RFS62
01-23-2006, 02:59 PM
Confirmed.




:beerme:

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 03:00 PM
Nope. and you can look that up too.

I hate seeing people cheer when someone loses a job. I'll cheer when a player that deserves to get outrighted does, Like Hancock, because he's at least working. I know, it's a fine line and a weird stance to take, but that's the way I feel.
I totally understand what you are saying. Yes, this is a huge move for the Cincinnati Reds but at the same time the O'Brien family is in a bad way right now. Not many people liked what he did for the team, but he is a human being who has feelings just like all of us.

RFS62
01-23-2006, 03:00 PM
The way I figure it, it took Castellini all weekend to read through the threads on the subject here.

Now he's caught up.

cumberlandreds
01-23-2006, 03:00 PM
I just hope they have something worked out with somebody. This has been in the makings for quite some time, so you have to figure Bob has a plan.
As I think about it I'm sure Castellini had someone waiting in the wings to be GM as soon as he took control. The question is, who is it?

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 03:00 PM
Confirmed.

I love you too Brooklyn. You and Donkey are my new best pals in the world.

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 03:01 PM
Confirmed ... Kullman interim GM!

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 03:01 PM
Reds confirmed O'Brien is gone, per Seg.

Kullman is the new interm GM.

westofyou
01-23-2006, 03:01 PM
Dan O'Brien has been fired and Brad Kullman will serve as the interim general manager. The rest of the baseball operations staff, including assistant GM and farm director Tim Naehring, will remain on board.

Marcs Blog

WVRed
01-23-2006, 03:01 PM
Reds confirmed with Kullman as interim.

This is great.

Ga_Red
01-23-2006, 03:02 PM
2/09/07

BrooklynRedz
01-23-2006, 03:02 PM
sorry...already covered above.

Big Donkey
01-23-2006, 03:03 PM
Glad it's confirmed. I was 99.9% on the info, but still had the scare that SOMETHING would go wrong and if it turned out to be faulty info, 73 members currently on this thread and more later would be hunting me down. I'm more than comfortable with Brad Kullman as interim GM.

KittyDuran
01-23-2006, 03:03 PM
5pm news conference [IIRC]. Sorry, but I'm working and listen to WLW with one ear...:)

Doc. Scott
01-23-2006, 03:04 PM
Boy, first I owe everyone some pretzels with the Aurilia thing, now this and my prediction that O'Brien was a sure thing to finish his contract. Maybe I should predict the Reds' pitching will lead the NL this year so I can get one right.

Kullman is a solid guy, but he shouldn't be talking to the fans much- I remember the "Fire Sale" '03 debacle on WLW where he was all spazzed out in an Andy Furman "interview". A trainwreck.

registerthis
01-23-2006, 03:04 PM
Holy Fungo bats, Batman!

This is the best I've felt with my pants on for quite some time! :D

Joseph
01-23-2006, 03:06 PM
Should I keep my promise to buy a season ticket package now that there is a glimmer of hope?

Roy Tucker
01-23-2006, 03:06 PM
So, I wonder if Castellini has had this planned for some time or if it was something he just came to the conclusion to recently?

I'm not sure we'll ever know the answer. It does seem that DanO was on a short leash for some time now.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 03:06 PM
Per rotoworld-


FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Reds have fired general manager Dan O'Brien.
New owner Bob Castellini restructured the front office upon gaining control of the team last week. No word yet what happened between then and now that resulted in O'Brien's dismissal. It might be for the best. O'Brien wasn't as bad as many Reds fans believe, but he certainly wasn't an above average GM during his tenure. The Sean Casey trade -- actually one of his better moves -- had to be the final straw for some, especially since it didn't result in any free agent additions. If Castellini wants to energize the fan base, some sort of change was needed.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 03:07 PM
Any news on how long until a full-time GM will be brought in?

Can we have someone here by Spring Training?

RFS62
01-23-2006, 03:07 PM
So, I wonder if Castellini has had this planned for some time or if it was something he just came to the conclusion to recently?

I'm not sure we'll ever know the answer. It does seem that DanO was on a short leash for some time now.



I'll bet dollars to doughnuts he had it planned. And after one morning in the office hearing DanO's corporate gobbledegook, DanO's lucky he didn't wack him.

Matt700wlw
01-23-2006, 03:08 PM
All I know is, it appears Castellini isn't messing around.

I like this!

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 03:09 PM
Could Bob Castellini be Marvin Lewis part II?

Joseph
01-23-2006, 03:09 PM
RCast must have tripped on that stack of binders on his way in to the office this morning.

registerthis
01-23-2006, 03:09 PM
Any news on how long until a full-time GM will be brought in?

Can we have someone here by Spring Training?

I'd be happy with Kullman staying on as GM for the time being, I've been impressed with his work to date (that I am aware of.)

If it's not going to be Kullman, the list begins and ends with Paul DePodesta.

Aronchis
01-23-2006, 03:11 PM
Cast didn't have a kind word for DanO during the presser unlike Allen and Narron. Kiss of death.

RFS62
01-23-2006, 03:11 PM
DanO sleeps with the fishes.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 03:12 PM
Fay is saying that Allen will likely stay, but just running the business side.

Seg is really pushing a Lou Piniella return.

Puffy
01-23-2006, 03:12 PM
Come on Paul DePodesta, DePodesta....

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 03:13 PM
DePodesta is my top choice, with current A's Assistant GM David Forst my second choice.

Hopefully RCast thinks along the same lines ...

Red Leader
01-23-2006, 03:16 PM
Dan O'Brien has been fired and Brad Kullman will serve as the interim general manager. The rest of the baseball operations staff, including assistant GM and farm director Tim Naehring, will remain on board.

Marcs Blog

I don't think Naehring ought to bring the summer clothes up from the basement just yet.

wheels
01-23-2006, 03:18 PM
Oh my gawd!

I thought this was a joke.

DanO can't hurt them anymore.


Someone pinch me!

Aronchis
01-23-2006, 03:19 PM
what about Renyolds and Taylor?

Puffy
01-23-2006, 03:20 PM
I vote for Puffy as the new GM.

And can I just please add: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

I would accept - just so Mr. Castellini knows. If he is indeed all caught up and reading as we go along.

guttle11
01-23-2006, 03:23 PM
I love Castellini as much as one straight man can love another.

Johnny Footstool
01-23-2006, 03:24 PM
Narron needs to be next.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 03:25 PM
Narron needs to be next.

And all God's people said?

Amen.

Puffy
01-23-2006, 03:25 PM
Narron needs to be next.

*cough* Davey Johnson *cough*

guttle11
01-23-2006, 03:25 PM
DePo clap-clap

DePo clap-clap

deltachi8
01-23-2006, 03:26 PM
I just danced a flippin jig - well i think it was a jig. You get the point.

wheels
01-23-2006, 03:27 PM
what about Renyolds and Taylor?

They're part of DanO's braintrust.

I'm sure they're history as well.

The same goes for Bill Wood.

Or they might stick around and work for Kullman this year until the new guy brings in his regime.

If Kullman shines this season, he'd have to get alot of consideration for the permanent post.

What kind of freedom will an interim GM have in regards to long term deals with the club's three best players?

SunDeck
01-23-2006, 03:28 PM
Fay is saying that Allen will likely stay, but just running the business side.


This is about his speed:

"Cold Beer. Getcher Cold Beer, HERE!"

kyred14
01-23-2006, 03:28 PM
wow... this is good.

wheels
01-23-2006, 03:29 PM
wow... this is good.

This is more than good.

I can't even describe the feelings I'm getting right now.

oneupper
01-23-2006, 03:30 PM
*cough* Davey Johnson *cough*


Don't think Davey's Interested. He's not a spring chicken anymore.
I'd like him also.

My gut feeling is that Narron stays on this year. For one, he's under contract. And two, even Castellini has to know that the REDS are not going to win THIS year. Unlike O'Brien, Narron can't really mess up things much more.

Narron will probably (or should probably) have the mandate to play the kids more (as in 3B - EdE) and set the stage for Piniella's return in 2007.

wheels
01-23-2006, 03:31 PM
It's up on the .com now

Reds to replace O'Brien
Search for new general manager begins immediately



Reds Headlines

• Reds to replace O'Brien
• Reds mailbag: Will Balfour help the team?
• Reds owners determined to field winner
• New Reds owner Castellini's speech
• MLB approves Reds ownership change
• More Reds Headlines

ADVERTISEMENT

print this page | e-mail this page
CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds today announced that general manager Dan O'Brien will be replaced.
Director of baseball operations Brad Kullman will serve as the club's interim general manager until the position is filled permanently.

New chief executive officer Bob Castellini will hold a press conference today at 5:00 p.m. in the field level interview room at Great American Ball Park.

Castellini informed O'Brien during a meeting this morning.

"I want someone in this job who is my choice," said Castellini, who on Thursday became the club's CEO when Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the sale of the Reds. "I told Dan he has worked hard and has worked diligently to rebuild the farm system and scouting department of the Reds and that we appreciate his efforts."

He added, "Dan is the consummate professional and was dedicated to the Reds. We wish him nothing but the best."

The search for a permanent general manager will begin immediately, and the club will adhere to the interview process guidelines established by Major League Baseball.

On October 27, 2003, O'Brien signed a three-year contract through the 2006 season.

In his two seasons as head of the baseball operations department, O'Brien's teams combined to finish 149-175 (.460), including a fourth-place finish in 2004 (76-86, .469) and a fifth-place finish last season (73-89, .451).

Kullman was an assistant general manager in 2002 and 2003 before he was named director of baseball operations prior to the '04 campaign. After Jim Bowden was fired as general manager on July 28, 2003, Kullman and special assistant Leland Maddox filled those duties until O'Brien was hired.

Red Leader
01-23-2006, 03:33 PM
Don't think Davey's Interested. He's not a spring chicken anymore.
I'd like him also.

My gut feeling is that Narron stays on this year. For one, he's under contract. And two, even Castellini has to know that the REDS are not going to win THIS year. Unlike O'Brien, Narron can't really mess up things much more.

Narron will probably (or should probably) have the mandate to play the kids more (as in 3B - EdE) and set the stage for Piniella's return in 2007.

I'm getting the feeling the Castellini isn't screwing around. He's going to start chopping and I don't think he'll stop until he feels confident that the only people the fans can blame losing on are the players, and I think we'll even see some movement made to shore some of the weaknesses up there as well.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 03:33 PM
In the event Redszone goes down.

http://lastperson.suncircle.org/index.php/board,5.0.html

Aronchis
01-23-2006, 03:34 PM
I'm getting the feeling the Castellini isn't screwing around. He's going to start chopping and I don't think he'll stop until he feels confident that the only people the fans can blame losing on are the players, and I think we'll even see some movement made to shore some of the weaknesses up there as well.

and he chose Pinella and Lou turned him down...............this year.

He also praised Narron in the Presser. Pretty good sign unless Lou changes his mind, that Narron will manage this year.

Puffy
01-23-2006, 03:35 PM
I hope he tells Narron to keep Womack and Aurilia on a short leash. Only start them to rest regulars and when injuries occur.

In other words, one start a week for each of them and no more.

luvdozer
01-23-2006, 03:36 PM
DePodesta.

DePodesta sounds good to me; also what about Kim Ng?

MartyFan
01-23-2006, 03:36 PM
Austin Kearns is on WLW...kind of...they are trying to work through Tech Difficulties...

MartyFan
01-23-2006, 03:37 PM
Kearns is trying to be so nice...read between the lines and hear him saying YIPPEEEE that DanO is gone.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 03:38 PM
Kearns is trying to be so nice...read between the lines and hear him saying YIPPEEEE that DanO is gone.

Yeah, doesnt suprise me WLW would bring on the one player who has the biggest axe to grind with DanO probably.

KittyDuran
01-23-2006, 03:38 PM
Kearns is trying to be so nice...read between the lines and hear him saying YIPPEEEE that DanO is gone.:evil:

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 03:39 PM
All ye of little faith. :)

As for those counting on Narron being fired: I wouldn't count on it. I think Castellini is content on keeping him around for at least this year.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 03:40 PM
All ye of little faith. :)

As for those counting on Narron being fired: I wouldn't count on it. I think Castellini is content on keeping him around for at least this year.
I'm ok with Narron being here. Are you hearing anything about Dunn and a LTD? What about any other player movement?

NC Reds
01-23-2006, 03:40 PM
Kullman is a good interim choice. It is a shame this could not have happened before the Womack trade or Aurilia signing (or the Milton signing). I was pleased with the 2005 draft though - props to DanO on that (and not much more).

membengal
01-23-2006, 03:41 PM
Great start. This brightened my day immeasurably. Maybe we will stop signing old second basemen now.

This also cinches it, going to head into the XM fold in the next month. At least I feel a glimmer of hope returning.

NC Reds
01-23-2006, 03:43 PM
I was contemplating skipping MLB extra innings on PPV this year. This does renew some hope (for now).

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 03:43 PM
They're playing the clip from Dan O'Brien thanking everyone under the sun at his introductory news conference on WLW.....

RFS62
01-23-2006, 03:44 PM
They're playing the clip from Dan O'Brien thanking everyone under the sun at his introductory news conference on WLW.....


Wow, that's way below the belt.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 03:45 PM
I'm ok with Narron being here. Are you hearing anything about Dunn and a LTD? What about any other player movement?

I haven't heard anything about Dunn yet. I imagine that will be addressed within the next couple of weeks after this press conference takes place. No other word on player moves, but I expect we could see some things happen after the firing is official. I'm looking into more details.

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 03:52 PM
DePodesta sounds good to me; also what about Kim Ng?

Ng's not a bad choice, either. There was a BP interview with her from a few years ago that I've been trying to bring up, but I'm getting site errors. She's a heckuva lot more qualified than the vast majority of people out there.

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 03:54 PM
Cyclone, I love your avatar. Erin Andrews is so fine!

Chip R
01-23-2006, 03:56 PM
Wow, that's way below the belt.

Nah. It just was a foreboding about how big of a dork he was.

redsfan30
01-23-2006, 03:58 PM
Will the 5:00 news conference be carried live on WLW?

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 04:01 PM
Will the 5:00 news conference be carried live on WLW?

WLW just said it will be on live.

Danny Serafini
01-23-2006, 04:02 PM
Somewhere right now Jason Romano is crying.

jmcclain19
01-23-2006, 04:02 PM
Ken Rosenthal is floating some early replacement ideas


The possible replacements for O'Brien include:
Former Orioles GM Jim Beattie, the favored candidate of Red Sox president Larry Lucchino — a close friend of Castellini's — during the Sox's recent GM search.
Twins assistant GM Wayne Krivsky, who was the runner-up to O'Brien when the Reds last made a change in October 2003.
Braves assistant GM Frank Wren, who was the Orioles' GM in 1999.
Two internal candidates, Reds director of major-league operations Brad Kullman and director of international scouting Johnny Almaraz.

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 04:04 PM
My list of replacements: Antonelli, Forst, DePodesta, and Krivsky.

traderumor
01-23-2006, 04:08 PM
Been a busy day, hadn't got to check in til now. What a wonderful belated B-day present, Mr. Castellini. Thank you, thank you. :beerme:

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 04:10 PM
Cyclone, I love your avatar. Erin Andrews is so fine!

No kidding! :D

I've got a buddy who works for ESPN and knows her pretty well ... he says she's absolutely stunning.

I see it this way ... new ownership and new front office will hopefully soon result in more wins. More wins results in more nationally televised games on ESPN. More nationally televised games on ESPN results in more Erin Andrews at GABP!

Anyway, to get back on topic, I'm still trying to bring up that Ng interview, but I'm still getting site errors. I remember liking certain aspects (her understanding of park effects) and not necessarily liking certain aspects (she doesn't seem to recognize the high risk factor in drafting HS talent over college talent).

Still, DePodesta, Forst and Krivsky top my list of replacements.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 04:10 PM
I know I shouldn't, but I actually feel somewhat sorry for O'Brien. He was so overmatched and yet he didn't realize it. He actually thought he was doing well by the team. I wish him well in the future and I know he has a promising career in politics.

CrackerJack
01-23-2006, 04:14 PM
Just saw this on Lance's blog and the press conference at 5pm - it's really nice to see some major change in the FO there taking place.

Was not expecting this announcement so soon.

lollipopcurve
01-23-2006, 04:16 PM
Not to throw rain on the parade, but I'm a bit concerned about how all this will play out if Piniella's hiring in 2007 is a fait accompli. If Lou is Big Bob's guy, this GM may end up emasculated between the owner and the manager.

Castellini needs to make sure he is empowering people to make the decisions they are qualified to make, and to make sure those decisions are supported according to a clear chain of command.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 04:16 PM
I just noticed that my prediction was right.

http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42156

Now I need to run out and buy some lottery tickets.

LoganBuck
01-23-2006, 04:17 PM
I have soured on Krivsky. I posted a snipit, a while ago that I heard on the radio of a talkshow host out of Lima that claimed to know Krivsky. He sounded like the small market thing was really wearing on him. The thread was titled: Obrien on the Radio in Lima

http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41820

westofyou
01-23-2006, 04:19 PM
Not to throw rain on the parade, but I'm a bit concerned about how all this will play out if Piniella's hiring in 2007 is a fait accompli. If Lou is Big Bob's guy, this GM may end up emasculated between the owner and the manager.

Castellini needs to make sure he is empowering people to make the decisions they are qualified to make, and to make sure those decisions are supported according to a clear chain of command.

In moments like this I suggest we all think WWBPS (What Would Bob Pollard Say)

Crawling people on your knees
Don’t take this so seriously
You just have to hum it all day long

pedro
01-23-2006, 04:22 PM
In moments like this I suggest we all think WWBPS (What Would Bob Pollard Say)

Crawling people on your knees
Don’t take this so seriously
You just have to hum it all day long


To dine, alone
To post on Redszone
Or trigger a synapse
And free us from DanO's traps

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 04:23 PM
Things could change, but I am hearing that Narron will probably be around for the year. Who knows what could change that (such as the team's performance at the beginning of the year), but it looks like that's the way it stands as of now.

luvdozer
01-23-2006, 04:27 PM
Not to throw rain on the parade, but I'm a bit concerned about how all this will play out if Piniella's hiring in 2007 is a fait accompli. If Lou is Big Bob's guy, this GM may end up emasculated between the owner and the manager.

Castellini needs to make sure he is empowering people to make the decisions they are qualified to make, and to make sure those decisions are supported according to a clear chain of command.


But does Sweet Lou want to be de facto GM? I never really heard that from his Seattle or Tampa Bay days

Doc. Scott
01-23-2006, 04:27 PM
To dine, alone
To post on Redszone
Or trigger a synapse
And free us from DanO's traps

HA! Very funny.

westofyou
01-23-2006, 04:28 PM
To dine, alone
To post on Redszone
Or trigger a synapse
And free us from DanO's traps
do you suppose he could change your life?
if he could then i wish he would
do you suppose he could save my life?
if he could then i think he should

traderumor
01-23-2006, 04:34 PM
Hee, Hee, just played a sound byte from Kearns on WLW. He was supportive of the change...ya think :cool:

reds44
01-23-2006, 04:35 PM
Just got home from school and all I can say is YES!!!

red-in-la
01-23-2006, 04:39 PM
I'll bet dollars to doughnuts he had it planned. And after one morning in the office hearing DanO's corporate gobbledegook, DanO's lucky he didn't wack him.

I heard a couple of months ago that DOB was long gone when Castellini took over. Not that this was a particularly tough call.....but my source was right again.

I say this only to reinforce the idea that Castellini probably already has someone at least semi-lined up to replace DOB since he was sure to fire him pretty much the moment he offically got the reins.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 04:43 PM
Am I the only one who thinks the new WLW ad is a cheap shot?

TC81190
01-23-2006, 04:43 PM
Wow, I just heard the DanO promo on WLW. Not good.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 04:45 PM
Wow, I just heard the DanO promo on WLW. Not good.

Guess not...

For those who didnt hear it, they mentioned all the people DanO thanked and asked "Where are they now?":thumbdown

WVRed
01-23-2006, 04:51 PM
Is the press conference going to be on any TV?

CrackerJack
01-23-2006, 04:54 PM
Uh yeah I gotta think the FO moves and Castellini taking over is a morale boost for the players as well as the fans.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 04:54 PM
The guy that just called into WLW said that he thinks this move was wrong and paints Castellini as an "egomaniac." :rolleyes:

You know you're clueless when Furman thinks you are out in la-la land. ;)

traderumor
01-23-2006, 04:55 PM
The banana phone callers have arrived. Caller compared Castellini to Jerry Jones....he's been on the job two days :laugh:

WVRed
01-23-2006, 04:55 PM
The guy that just called into WLW said that he thinks this move was wrong and paints Castellini as an "egomaniac." :rolleyes:

Dan O'Brien, is that you?

As Glenn Beck would say, "Get Off My Phone!!!"

TOBTTReds
01-23-2006, 04:56 PM
Yeah, this caller is pathetic

WVRed
01-23-2006, 04:56 PM
The banana phone callers have arrived. Caller compared Castellini to Jerry Jones....he's been on the job two days :laugh:

I'll take Jerry Jones.:beerme:

TOBTTReds
01-23-2006, 04:56 PM
DanO's Monday To Do List: Pick up boss's dry cleaning, take boss's poodle for grooming, take boss's grandchildren to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch....er, and after lunch, you can just go on home for the day.....and go ahead and take the next year off too.

You got it.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 04:57 PM
LOLOL, now this dufus is saying Marty is behind the O'Brien firing.

Caseyfan21
01-23-2006, 04:57 PM
Too bad he couldn't stick around until this weekend to have to personally take the wrath of Reds fans at the winter caravan stops. I was looking forward to giving him a little piece of my mind. Oh well, no complaining. Big Bob is laying down the law and I trust him with whoever he decides on as the GM.

Although remember when Lindner first came in and we all loved him for bringing in Jr....

Keep it up!

TOBTTReds
01-23-2006, 04:57 PM
Marty Brennamen is behind this....hahahahaha

- according to caller:bang: :roll: :bowrofl: :bowrofl:

traderumor
01-23-2006, 04:57 PM
Marty Brenneman conspiracy :help:

WVRed
01-23-2006, 04:57 PM
He thinks Marty had everything to do with this decision.

*dies laughing*

pedro
01-23-2006, 04:58 PM
Some guy just called into WLW and blamed the O'Brien firing on Marty.

pedro
01-23-2006, 04:58 PM
pdiddle

Heath
01-23-2006, 04:58 PM
I think WLW will do what it takes to keep the Reds on their radio station.

Every move they make will support Castellini. They know the history of what the Cards did with the Radio Network.

Remember Castellini said he listened to Waite Hoyt? He probably did it on WCKY or WSAI.

membengal
01-23-2006, 04:59 PM
The banana phone callers have arrived. Caller compared Castellini to Jerry Jones....he's been on the job two days :laugh:

Not exactly a meeting of baseball MENSA minds there, callers who get through the WLW screening process for a chance be yelled at by Andy Furman...

TOBTTReds
01-23-2006, 04:59 PM
Castellini is definitely in the business of impressing marty! ;)

RFS62
01-23-2006, 04:59 PM
Not exactly a meeting of baseball MENSA minds there, callers who get through the WLW screening process for a chance be yelled at by Andy Furman...



no kidding

:laugh:

TOBTTReds
01-23-2006, 05:00 PM
What a great b-day gift for these guys - tp_on_safari (41), redlegs2370 (36), 2844 (32), crazyredsfan (28), XU07 (21)

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:00 PM
Castellini is definitely in the business of impressing marty! ;)

Let me know if that's a good thing or bad thing.....

traderumor
01-23-2006, 05:01 PM
"Dan is the consummate professional and was dedicated to the Reds. We wish him nothing but the best." What exactly does this mean? That security did not have to escort DanO out after the news?

A bit of irony--DanO said the same thing after Miley got canned.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:01 PM
Search for new GM is going to start immediately per the new conference.

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 05:02 PM
Search for new GM is going to start immediately per the new conference.

Did they say if there is any chance the new GM is announced before the season starts?

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:02 PM
Priorites for new GM per RCast

Work ethic
Proven ability to evaluate talent
Ability to communicate the Reds message to the fans and baseball.
Create a culture of winning

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:03 PM
How old is Bob Howsam?

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:03 PM
RCast says Piniella isn't going to be the GM, he wanted him as a special advisor, and he's sitting out for the year. RCast says Lou will go back to managing when he returns.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 05:04 PM
He says they will interview 6-8 candidates and it will take a few weeks.

He won't tell us the list, but will tell us when they come in that they did.

Kullman told him that he will be a candidate and Bob was pleased to hear that.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:04 PM
RCast would like to have a new GM in place before spring training, expects it to take around 3-4 weeks, they have 6-8 candidates on the list right now.

Sabo Fan
01-23-2006, 05:05 PM
RCast says Piniella isn't going to be the GM, he wanted him as a special advisor, and he's sitting out for the year. RCast says Lou will go back to managing when he returns.

Think Narron is updating his resume as we speak?

OnBaseMachine
01-23-2006, 05:06 PM
RCast would like to have a new GM in place before spring training, expects it to take around 3-4 weeks, they have 6-8 candidates on the list right now.

That's nice to hear.

I'm liking this guy more and more...

Caseyfan21
01-23-2006, 05:06 PM
Said all people who interview will be announced publicly, unless they specifically do not want to be identified.

Sounds good to me, honesty and actually telling fans what's going on.

Damn it, press conference is over on WLW.

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:06 PM
Cast sucks as a public speaker, but I love him anyway, no more DanO.

700 cut the Q&A off for freakin' traffic. :rolleyes:

pedro
01-23-2006, 05:07 PM
Kullman is one of the candidates according to RC.

wheels
01-23-2006, 05:07 PM
He says they knew they were firing him on friday, but that was a day for celebration.

He seems to me to be a pretty straight shooter.

Caseyfan21
01-23-2006, 05:08 PM
Still on 1360, can pick it up on their website.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 05:08 PM
[QUOTE=Reds4Life]Cast sucks as a public speaker, but I love him anyway, no more DanO.QUOTE]

He can keep DanO around as a "Speaking Advisor." It can be an honorary title. ;)

WVRed
01-23-2006, 05:08 PM
Cast sucks as a public speaker, but I love him anyway, no more DanO.

700 cut the Q&A off for freakin' traffic. :rolleyes:

I disagree, not WJC by any stretch, but I think he is honest.

Caseyfan21
01-23-2006, 05:08 PM
Narron will stay:

"Absolutely" was an emphatic replay by BCass.

Also said there would be other changes.

wheels
01-23-2006, 05:08 PM
Jerry Narron and John Allen will "absolutely" keep their jobs.

Red Leader
01-23-2006, 05:09 PM
I'm liking Castellini more and more each day. By the time the season rolls around I should be back on board the Reds wagon and all my bitterness from the past 2 years might be washed away.

wheels
01-23-2006, 05:09 PM
He prefers a GM with previous experience.

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:09 PM
Memo to all potential Reds candidates for GM - Expect this question -

What do you think of Lou Pinella?

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:10 PM
I disagree, not WJC by any stretch, but I think he is honest.

He's a no BS guy that's for sure. If you ask a question you are going to get an answer, probably a blunt one. I like it though.

RCast says he isn't going to meddle in operations. They'll hire a GM and he'll be in charge of evaluation.

You'll love this.

"There is definaetly room for sabrmetrics" - RCast.

Unassisted
01-23-2006, 05:10 PM
"We're gonna hire a general manager and HE will assess HIS personnel." Guess that rules out Kim Ng.

wheels
01-23-2006, 05:10 PM
Definitely room for sabermetrics...Says Castellini.

He says there's a need for it.

I love this man.

Caseyfan21
01-23-2006, 05:10 PM
BCass said he believes in SABRmetrics and they have budgeted for it, but won't let it take over. "There is definately a need for it."

redsfanmia
01-23-2006, 05:11 PM
I know im late but damn im starting to get excited about this new owner. Accountability, I love it.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 05:11 PM
Bob Castellini for President? :)

Reds4Life
01-23-2006, 05:11 PM
If Cast hires Paul DePodesta we need to build a statue of him outside the park.

pedro
01-23-2006, 05:12 PM
I'll make you a deal, like any other candidate
We'll pretend we're walking home 'cause your future's at stake
My set is amazing, it even smells like a street
There's a bar at the end where I can meet you and your
friend
Someone scrawled on the wall "I smell the blood of les tricoteuses"
Who wrote up scandals in other bars

I'm having so much fun with the poisonous people
Spreading rumours and lies and stories they made up
Some make you sing and some make you scream
One makes you wish that you'd never been seen
But there's a shop on the corner that's selling papier
mache
Making bullet-proof faces, Charlie Manson, Cassius Clay

Caseyfan21
01-23-2006, 05:12 PM
I absolutely love his willingness to step up, accept responsibility, and not BS with fans.

He has been completely honest and my faith in the Reds has almost been completely been restored.

Aronchis
01-23-2006, 05:12 PM
A end of a era in Reds baseball it is.

wheels
01-23-2006, 05:13 PM
I can't believe they have an owner that mentioned sabermetrics by name, and embraces it.

Am I in bizarro world?

Puffy
01-23-2006, 05:15 PM
I am back on the Reds bandwagon and excited for spring again. From October (when DanO wasn't fired) til now I have been completely unpumped for the new year.

As George Costanza says, "I'm back, baby!"

membengal
01-23-2006, 05:15 PM
Definitely room for sabermetrics...Says Castellini.

He says there's a need for it.

I love this man.


Is this heaven?

No, it's the 21st century.

I like it.

MWM
01-23-2006, 05:16 PM
I think I'm going to cry. I was still on the fence with Castellini, but was concerned. My opinion has completely changed and I've even become optimistic. That might shock some folks around here, but this is reason for celebration.

wheels
01-23-2006, 05:18 PM
I think I'm going to cry. I was still on the fence with Castellini, but was concerned. My opinion has completely changed and I've even become optimistic. That might shock some folks around here, but this is reason for celebration.

I'm absolutely geeked.

Kearns is happy, MWM's happy, I'm happy.

I love me some Reds.

Falls City Beer
01-23-2006, 05:18 PM
'Bout f'n time, Rip Van Winkle!

traderumor
01-23-2006, 05:18 PM
Matt,

Could you please explain why the Reds flagship station cut off the presser? Is WLW just begging to lose the Reds?

westofyou
01-23-2006, 05:18 PM
FWIW this is all occuring exactly 30 years and 1 day after Howsam was hired.

SteelSD
01-23-2006, 05:19 PM
Just heard Kearn's take on the break during Lance's show.

Loosely (very) translated: "I hate Dan O'Brien with the passion of a million burning suns."

Raisor
01-23-2006, 05:19 PM
Yesterday, my beloved Seattle Seahawks made it to the Superbowl.
Today, Dan O'brien is no longer GM of my beloved Reds.

At this rate, expect me to find a suitcase full of money by the end of the week.

westofyou
01-23-2006, 05:19 PM
Could you please explain why the Reds flagship station cut off the presser?Had to make some more of those "tasteful" commercials.

traderumor
01-23-2006, 05:20 PM
'Bout f'n time, Rip Van Winkle!Hey, that was my sig. I have been awakened from my drunken stupor ;) :beerme:

Reds Fanatic
01-23-2006, 05:20 PM
Matt,

Could you please explain why the Reds flagship station cut off the presser? Is WLW just begging to lose the Reds?
They have now cut out of both press conferences. You would never know this was the Reds flagship station.

membengal
01-23-2006, 05:20 PM
Matt,

Could you please explain why the Reds flagship station cut off the presser? Is WLW just begging to lose the Reds?

That's a spectacular question---I missed the whole sabermetrics talk portion, because I could not get over to 1360 fast enough on the computer. Not very friendly of WLW to out of town computer listening folks, to say the least.

Should have started on 1360 originally, I guess, but, silly me, thought the flagship would carry it in its entirety. My colossal bad.

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:21 PM
Yesterday, my beloved Seattle Seahawks made it to the Superbowl.
Today, Dan O'brien is no longer GM of my beloved Reds.

At this rate, expect me to find a suitcase full of money by the end of the week.

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/dpa0054l.jpg

The above is NOT what happened when Raisor talked to his future father-in-law. :evil:

traderumor
01-23-2006, 05:21 PM
Had to make some more of those "tasteful" commercials.Probably figured most of the listeners needed Furman to translate for them :mooner:

Cooper
01-23-2006, 05:22 PM
let's e-mail wlw and let em know they messed up ....twice....wouldn't surprise me if they miss the next big trade. what's their deal?

traderumor
01-23-2006, 05:24 PM
They have now cut out of both press conferences. You would never know this was the Reds flagship station.Sounds like someone needs to make the new ownership, with rumors of a captive set up ala the Cardinals, aware of this poor programming decision.

IslandRed
01-23-2006, 05:24 PM
This caught my attention in the article linked a few pages ago:


The search for a permanent general manager will begin immediately, and the club will adhere to the interview process guidelines established by Major League Baseball.

I didn't think of it either, but for those of us who wanted the new GM to be on the podium at Castellini's presser last Friday, this is why not. The Reds would face a stiff fine from MLB if the hiring guidelines (read: a documented process that includes minority candidates) are not followed, and obviously, Castellini could only make unofficial contacts until he was approved as the new owner.

Falls City Beer
01-23-2006, 05:25 PM
Yaaargh, Raisor! Have ye some doubloons.

http://www.uncoveror.com/treasure2.jpg

RedsBaron
01-23-2006, 05:26 PM
The Cincinnati Enquirer now has an online poll asking if the Reds made the right decision in firing O'Brien. The last time I checked, the vote was 41-3 in support of the firing, a 93% approval rate. I'm guessing Rich Aurilia has only voted three times so far.

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 05:27 PM
Not only did WLW not play much of the conference, but they haven't even mentioned that he mentioned sabermetrics or anything else. They are being extremely irresponsible about this situation and showing poor journalistic methods.

BTW, it sounds to me that Castellini is looking for someone who is of the same mold as Walt Jocketty. I like that. A lot.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 05:29 PM
The Cincinnati Enquirer now has an online poll asking if the Reds made the right decision in firing O'Brien. The last time I checked, the vote was 41-3 in support of the firing, a 93% approval rate. I'm guessing Rich Aurilia has only voted three times so far.

One was Aurilia, one was Jason Romano, the other was Eric Milton.

Cyclone792
01-23-2006, 05:30 PM
One was Aurilia, one was Jason Romano, the other was Eric Milton.

The 4th vote will be Machado.

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:31 PM
Not only did WLW not play much of the conference, but they haven't even mentioned that he mentioned sabermetrics or anything else. They are being extremely irresponsible about this situation and showing poor journalistic methods.

BTW, it sounds to me that Castellini is looking for someone who is of the same mold as Walt Jocketty. I like that. A lot.

How much can the Reds overpay for Walt Jocketty?

:D

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:32 PM
The 4th vote will be Machado.

The fifth one would DanO himself.

Unless he's not smart enough to do that.

WVRed
01-23-2006, 05:32 PM
Is ESPN giving us the light of day? Not like when Bowden was fired.

RFS62
01-23-2006, 05:33 PM
I'm in my happy place now.

:)

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 05:33 PM
How much can the Reds overpay for Walt Jocketty?

:D

As much as needed. I don't care. I just want someone capable in place.

I'm planning on writing a letter to Mr. Castellini to let him know how much I appreciate what he's already done in THREE days. He's done more in three days than the prior admin. did in more than three YEARS. :thumbup:

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:35 PM
Is ESPN giving us the light of day? Not like when Bowden was fired.

its on page one...of the MLB page...

Plus, ESPN knew they were getting a new analyst :D

I swear that's how Steve Phillips got his job.

Johnny Footstool
01-23-2006, 05:37 PM
Next up for Mr. C -- making a big splash by signing Dunn to a 5-year deal.

ochre
01-23-2006, 05:37 PM
I'm in my happy place now.

:)
So, its like when you got back from the LA/MS? Well, different, but, you know.

RFS62
01-23-2006, 05:38 PM
So, its like when you got back from the LA/MS? Well, different, but, you know.



I believe I shall celebrate in the same fashion.

:pimp:

CincyRedsFan30
01-23-2006, 05:38 PM
If Dan got a job at ESPN, everything he said would mention Richie A:

"Well, I think his veteran presence compares favorably to that of Rich Aurilia. That's a very good thing."

Heath
01-23-2006, 05:48 PM
Next up for Mr. C -- making a big splash by signing Dunn to a 5-year deal.

talk to sava - his ear's close to the ground.... :cool:

MWM
01-23-2006, 05:52 PM
Not only did WLW not play much of the conference, but they haven't even mentioned that he mentioned sabermetrics or anything else. They are being extremely irresponsible about this situation and showing poor journalistic methods.

BTW, it sounds to me that Castellini is looking for someone who is of the same mold as Walt Jocketty. I like that. A lot.

WLW must have a seven second delay and it automatically cuts to commercial immediately once a swear word like sabermetrics is mentioned.

PickOff
01-23-2006, 05:53 PM
I'm happy that DanO is gone, but I'm not any more excited about this years' Reds. Not trying to dampen the party, but we have been so used to bad decision after bad decision, that this one obvious move sends us head over heals. It is a step in the right direction, but I'll rein in my excitement until Pettite, Wood, Zambrano, Prior, Clemons, Carpenter, etc meet Kimo VanCheapShotten in a dark alley... anybody got his number?

Caveat Emperor
01-23-2006, 05:53 PM
Oh man -- I just got back from the gym, and this is literally the coolest news that could've possibly been awaiting me!

I'm using Trusts & Estates class to catch up on this thread right now.

Bobby C...you did good!

Sea Ray
01-23-2006, 05:54 PM
Did Castellini give any clues as to what happened since last week when he said OB will handle the baseball operations? What changed?

Red Leader
01-23-2006, 05:56 PM
Did Castellini give any clues as to what happened since last week when he said OB will handle the baseball operations? What changed?

He said that he knew O'Brien would be fired last week (Friday) when he was announced as the new owner, but that Friday was for celebrating, not for firing. Today was a good day to fire.

Aronchis
01-23-2006, 05:56 PM
That was just PR. He was always going to get rid of DanO.

deltachi8
01-23-2006, 05:59 PM
I'm happy that DanO is gone, but I'm not any more excited about this years' Reds. Not trying to dampen the party, but we have been so used to bad decision after bad decision, that this one obvious move sends us head over heals. It is a step in the right direction, but I'll rein in my excitement until Pettite, Wood, Zambrano, Prior, Clemons, Carpenter, etc meet Kimo VanCheapShotten in a dark alley... anybody got his number?

Detroit Marriott Pontiac at Centerpoint

* 3600 Centerpoint Parkway
* Pontiac, Michigan 48341 USA
* Phone: 1-248-253-9800
* Fax: 1-248-253-9682
* Sales Fax: 1-248-648-6026

AFC Hotel for the superbowl....



:mooner:

Heath
01-23-2006, 06:07 PM
Detroit Marriott Pontiac at Centerpoint

* 3600 Centerpoint Parkway
* Pontiac, Michigan 48341 USA
* Phone: 1-248-253-9800
* Fax: 1-248-253-9682
* Sales Fax: 1-248-648-6026

AFC Hotel for the superbowl....



:mooner:


Wait until they get 2 gazillion inches of snow on Super Bowl Sunday and they get stuck in a bus in traffic.

corkedbat
01-23-2006, 06:15 PM
Big, Huge, GINORMOUS points for RCast! Nice to have someone in charge who not only reads the Redzone , but takes heed and acts. Finally! Some well deserved respect around here for the real Reds braintrust! :evil:

dsmith421
01-23-2006, 06:17 PM
I'd like to thank the following 654 individuals for making this day possible. I will now name them all in a droning, monotone voice...

Reds Fanatic
01-23-2006, 06:22 PM
I heard Kullman on WLW on the way home. Talked about signing Dunn being one of the priorities but then he said but we have to be careful to not tie up too much payroll on one player. I think if Dunn is signed long term they are going to trade Junior soon after.

Reds Nd2
01-23-2006, 06:24 PM
Anyway, to get back on topic, I'm still trying to bring up that Ng interview, but I'm still getting site errors.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2460


Prospectus Q&A
Kim Ng

by Jonah Keri

Kim Ng started her baseball career straight out of the University of Chicago as an intern for the Chicago White Sox. After rising to take over arbitration duties with the Sox, she took a job with the AL league office. Ng then spent four years with the New York Yankees as an assistant GM, where at age 29 she was the youngest in that position in baseball when hired. After completing her second year as vice president and assistant GM for the Los Angeles Dodgers, she's now one of only two women to hold such a position in baseball operations and the highest-ranking Asian-American executive in the majors. She was mentioned as a candidate for several GM jobs this off-season. Ng recently chatted with BP about learning the business, taking lessons from different mentors, and what it takes to succeed in baseball.
Baseball Prospectus: How did you first get your foot in the door with the White Sox?

Kim Ng: I got an internship with the White Sox five, six months out of college, did that for three or four months, and they liked me enough to hire me full time. After the arbitration season ended, they hired me full time to be an entry-level person. I basically did what anyone would do at those levels, enter scouting reports, operate the radar gun, anything that they had.

BP: How did they come to rely on you to handle arbitration cases? Were you trained for that position in college?

Ng: I had some analytic skills, having come from University of Chicago. But I didn't know about arbitration exhibits, negotiating contracts or anything like that. I had to learn, and I became pretty good at it.

BP: Did the White Sox help you get prepared at all, or did they just throw you out there to sink or swim?

Ng: When I started, they gave me a tape that they had done. They said to take a look at it...but yes, in some ways it was sink or swim. It's not real tough to figure out though--if you have a feel for baseball, it's not rocket science. You just need to be analytical enough, driven enough to be good at it.

BP: You handled arbitration for the Yankees as well. How did each team handle cases? Did one club take a hard-line stance and try to take more cases to arbitration, rather than settling?

Ng: The White Sox do arbitration cases in house, while the Yankees had an outside practitioner come in to handle cases. The Yankees had to take a different approach than most teams, since they had such tremendous post-season success. That definitely factors into cases--it's a huge factor. Playing in the post-season in New York is the ultimate stage, and players tend to do well in arbitration if they succeed on that stage.

BP: It's said that the Yankees were so impressed with your winning the Mariano Rivera case that that's what led to your promotion. How do you try to win a case against a player who might be the best late-inning pitcher in playoff history?

Ng: We were very fair with Mariano in terms of the salary we were offering. We paid him the most that any closer with his service time had received. In arbitration, it's really a question of degree. If you pay a player the most, there's not much more room for you to go.

BP: Obviously you've worked a number of cases with top players. What about the bottom-end guys? If you can pay someone like Rivera the most and still win your case, can you do the same by offering a lesser player the least?

Ng: The farther away you are from being the right number, the more chance you have to lose. The same goes for the agent.

BP: How did your work doing arbitration cases and coming up through front offices help you in terms of growing your knowledge base and improving your player evaluation skills?

Ng: When you're in the baseball operations department, you're watching games every single night, and you get a pretty good feel for what players are capable of and what they're not. Sometimes people think stats don't always tell the truth, and that's true. There are some players where stats don't do them justice. You'll see a player who has great instincts, who does the little things that don't show up in box scores like taking the extra base. I think it is important for people doing arbitration to have a feel for what players can do.

BP: What made you decide to take a job in the American League office?

Ng: I felt that I'd be able to interact with other clubs, with GMs and assistant GMs a lot. It was also a way to delve into the rules, to learn how they're enforced. When you're in the league office, you might get calls from four or five teams about one rule. The lessons get hammered in, and you improve your contacts at the same time.

BP: Take us through the interview process. How did each team differ in terms of who you met with, how long your interview lasted and how you presented yourself to win each job?

Ng: As you go higher up, you meet people higher up in the food chain. With the Dodgers, I met with Bob Daly and Bob Graziano. In New York it was Brian Cashman. In the league office, I was interviewing for the director of waivers and records job. They didn't know as much about me as say, the Yankees did, so I met with more people--Gene Budig, Phyllis Merhige. I had dealt with Brian a ton before interviewing for that job; he'd call the league office for certain rulings, so there was a lot of interaction between us. He knew a lot about my skills and personality, so that was pretty short. In Los Angeles, I had worked with Dan Evans before, so it was more about meeting with people higher up, since I was interviewing for a higher position.

BP: Did you ever get a sense in the interview process--any of your interviews--that there was discrimination in play, even if it was subtle?

Ng: I never got that feeling. Dan Evans knew me. The Yankees, they knew me. Major League Baseball has a number of women who have jobs of significance, one being Phyllis Merhige, who interviewed me.

BP: Your name came up in the press linked to several GM openings this off-season. How far did that go?

Ng: I didn't interview for any of those jobs.

BP: Well, your name was noted in particular in connection to the Expos job, when Omar Minaya was considering offer elsewhere. What would you do if you took over the GM job there?

Ng: I don't really want to speculate, so I'll take a pass.

BP: Let's try this another way. Why do you think you'd be a good candidate for a GM job?

Ng: A lot of it depends on who the owners are and what they're looking for. For me to tell you I have a scout's background in player evaluation, that's wrong. I wouldn't try to say that. More and more general managers out there don't have that extensive background, but have been successful in other areas and have proven themselves over time. Two of those are people I've worked for, Brian Cashman and Dan Evans. With Bill Bavasi getting the Mariners job, it's the same thing, and he would also admit that. Sandy Alderson, years ago, was the same way, and he was able to put together a world championship club.

One of my strongest skills is the decent relationships I have with many agents, players, and other club executives. Someone put it in a really good way: As a GM, you're the conductor of the orchestra--that doesn't mean you need to know how to play every single instrument. But being a good leader, having good communication skills, that's going to take you a long way.

BP: How would you go about building your ideal team? What are the basic tenets of your team-building philosophy?

Ng: It's going to differ for every club. You can't go in there and tear a team apart. The Dodgers were built on pitching and defense. The Yankees were pretty well-balanced. There are a lot of different ways to build a club. To come in and say, 'I will do XYZ by doing ABC,' you're probably going to hurt yourself in the end.

I can say that I am a proponent of being strong up the middle offensively. It's something I saw with the Yankees having such great success, something I believe in. How you build a team also depends on the ballpark. In Dodger Stadium it's difficult to hit home runs, so you have to adjust to that. The people in place, ballpark factors, there's a wide variety of factors that differ with each organization. But a lot of the emphasis I would put would be on scouting and player development. Financial flexibility is the way to succeed, and having great scouting and player development is the best way to achieve that flexibility.

BP: The Dodgers have had a history of drafting high school pitchers, even though they carry a much higher risk that any other player's background. In general, do you favor high school or college talent?

Ng: I'd take the best available, signable player.

BP: What type of manager would you want working with you?

Ng: 'What type of team would I have?' would be my first question. Generally, I'd want someone who's a great communicator. Given I'd want to focus on player development, it'd be best if it was someone with a player development background, who can assist in the setup and focus on the farm system. It would be someone skilled at dealing with younger players, who's also a great game manager. That's the ideal.

BP: You mentioned working under Brian Cashman, Dan Evans. What was your biggest lesson learned in each of your major league jobs?

Ng: With Brian one of the things I think he's best at is building consensus and a good relationship with the media. With Dan Evans, I have huge respect for his thoroughness and his patience. He's good at waiting for the right deal, trying to get all his options lined up to make the best decision.

BP: In building consensus the way Brian Cashman's done, he's obviously dealing with many factions, with George Steinbrenner and company in Tampa and the people in New York. How important is it to avoid stepping on toes?

Ng: As a general manager I don't know that you're ever going to be able to not step on toes. Any decision you make is not going to be unanimous. Brian has a great feel for what most everyone wants. Of course, every decision that he makes is not necessarily how he wants it. It's the same with other general managers. You get a gut feel, it doesn't necessarily coincide with your scouts, but at the same time the scouts are there for a reason. You listen to your people most of the time, but you can't be afraid to make your own choices too. There's a lot of give and take, of playing politician.

BP: How has the media's increasing role changed a major league general manager's job, and that of a front office in general?

Ng: It's become such a huge part of being a general manager. The electronic age, the information that is out there has grown exponentially in the last 10 years. The relationship you have with the media is important to any organization, and you can run into problems if you don't maintain a good one. How you handle it depends on the personality of the person. You have to be open and up-front. But if the information you have, if sharing it has a chance of hurting your deal, you'd just as soon it not get out.

BP: Kaz Matsui has become a big topic of conversation lately, and the Dodgers have been mentioned as one team that may be in the running for his services. What's the best way to calculate the value of a foreign free agent?

Ng: That's an awful tough question to answer. With the Japanese market there's also a posting system, so that factors into decision-making--it goes beyond the salaries of the players. That's money out the door, and has to be taken into consideration, whether you're dealing with a free agent or posted player. The hardest thing about evaluating players in foreign markets is the level of competition being different. A lot of it is gut feel. And then of course it comes down to the same issue you get with any free agent: It's not what a player's worth, it's what you're willing to pay him. With someone like Ichiro, Seattle might have had a completely different approach than a middle of the country team--because of the Japanese population, you can make some of it up in other revenue streams, just as you can in L.A. You're talking about attracting tourism, selling different products within the ballpark, marketing opportunities with Japanese firms. All of that has to be taken into account.

BP: The economics of the game have changed a great deal, not just from when you started but even in the last couple years. Do you see the downward price trend on mid-tier talent continuing? Do you think we might see no middle class in baseball in the next few years?

Ng: I have no idea (laughs). I learned a long time ago not to try and predict what will happen. Ten years ago if you would have told me what would happen five years later, I would have told you you're nuts. The same with five years ago to today. With the middle class, either a player will get pushed to the top or pushed to the bottom--it's hard to see it going another way.

BoydsOfSummer
01-23-2006, 06:30 PM
And the natives danced....there was much rejoicing!!

TeamCasey
01-23-2006, 06:38 PM
Redszone can turn on a dime.

You guys are so cute all warm and fuzzy. :)

Ravenlord
01-23-2006, 06:38 PM
this is by far the greatest news i have ever awoken to.:)