Jeff Zduriencik is Mariner's new GM

[Coug00]

The M's hired Jack (not Jeff) Zduriencik (can't wait to try to pronounce that name...its hard enough to spell) from the Brewers to be their new GM. Good hire...those boobs in the Front Office finally did something right. Now they finally have a guy who knows how to handle all of the minor league talent Engle fetches them.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...webmari23.html

[pfunk880]

I was selfishing hoping he'd get passed over so that he could keep drafting for Milwaukee.

He deserves the promotion, though, and it's a great hire for you guys.

[rsox]

Good hire but i would have liked to have seen Kim Ng get the chance.

[Coug00]

Quote: Originally Posted by rsox

Good hire but i would have liked to have seen Kim Ng get the chance.

I figured it was either going to be her or LaCava, but Jack Z is a solid choice and fits in with the old school ideology of the ownership group (better than Ng, LaCava, and Dipoto).

Ng is only 39, she's going to get her chance...especially since FO's are getting smarter and smarter each year. Teams are also being protective of their employees and denying a lot of interview requests of Assistant GM's. With a lowered pool of GM prospects, Ng's chances increase.

With the new hiring the M's have a chance to become one of the strongest minor league systems in baseball. Their low minors are already one of the 10 best. Now you bring in someone who has an amazing eye and ability to develop talent...on top of guys like Bob Fontaine and Bob Engle (I've read in more than one place that Engle is the top international scout in baseball). The M's will likely have three 1st round draft picks, including #2 in the draft...that's a great place to start the rebuild. Especially since the Nats are going to bypass Strasburg since they can't afford him...I hope.

[snepp]

The GM choice isn't going to matter if the entire culture (and many of the personnel) of that front office doesn't change. As long as Lincoln and Chuck "self-proclaimed baseball man" Armstrong are sticking their collectives noses where they don't belong there is going to continue to be trouble.

[bad_philanthropy]

While it's a good hire I'm hesitant to feel optimistic with the ownership situation still being what it is. I sat through most of the games unable to keep my eyes off the train wreck and it seems this will be a long rebuilding process.

True about the minor league system, this hiring is going to put it near the top, and it'll happen quickly. But what about the major league roster of this team? Tough decisions ahead, and I wonder if ownership will allow any consideration for moving on without Ichiro. He's clearly on the decline and that is 17 million that could be spent in a lot better ways.

[Coug00]

Quote: Originally Posted by snepp

The GM choice isn't going to matter if the entire culture (and many of the personnel) of that front office doesn't change. As long as Lincoln and Chuck "self-proclaimed baseball man" Armstrong are sticking their collectives noses where they don't belong there is going to continue to be trouble.

That's what makes me nervous. The Front Office gave Bavasi free reign to do whatever he wanted and look where it got the org. Rather than looking at themselves and realizing it was their fault for giving someone like Bavasi full control, they blame Bavasi and now want to have more input on personnel decisions to keep that from happening again. My hope is JZ can get the FO to understand the value of young players and realize they aren't just trade pieces.

Quote: Originally Posted by bad_philanthropy

True about the minor league system, this hiring is going to put it near the top, and it'll happen quickly. But what about the major league roster of this team? Tough decisions ahead, and I wonder if ownership will allow any consideration for moving on without Ichiro. He's clearly on the decline and that is 17 million that could be spent in a lot better ways.

The FO's public gushing of the Rays organization and the hiring of Milwaukee's scouting director show you which direction they're going. Don't expect any FA signings as quick fixes...they want to build this from the ground up. I would be a lot more optimistic if we still had Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, and Tony Butler. However, there are some nice young pieces to build around for the future (Felix, Morrow, Clement) and the low minors are loaded with solid prospects. Unfortunately, high minors are pretty bare, so we're looking at least 3 years unless Z can pull off some major coups trading away the few valuable trade pieces the M's have.

[bomberooski]

Yeah, high minors are NOT looking good at all. In fact they flat out suck. But I'm very very excited about Zduriencik. He works really hard when it comes to scouting and like you mentioned Coog the M's will be getting 3 first round picks. I'm actually pretty excited about the future if he is the scouter he's advertised as!!

Also, I hope that the Nat's do actually pass on Stradsburg.

[Coug00]

Quote: Originally Posted by snepp

The GM choice isn't going to matter if the entire culture (and many of the personnel) of that front office doesn't change. As long as Lincoln and Chuck "self-proclaimed baseball man" Armstrong are sticking their collectives noses where they don't belong there is going to continue to be trouble.

Well, if you can believe Howard Lincoln, he just stated (at the official Press Conference) that Zduriencik has full control of all baseball decisions and he/Chuck are there only for financial support.

I have some doubts, but that's better than what I thought I'd hear.

[bomberooski]

Quote: Originally Posted by Coug00

Well, if you can believe Howard Lincoln, he just stated (at the official Press Conference) that Zduriencik has full control of all baseball decisions and he/Chuck are there only for financial support. I have some doubts, but that's better than what I thought I'd hear.

I think that's good news. And come on if their is one thing that Howard and Chuck like it's less work. And this most definitely makes for less work.