Rick Hahn in line for Pirates GM job?

[southsider2k5]

According to the Trib, he has connections to the new management there... It would be a big loss for the Sox.

[Chisoxfn]

I'd still be surprised if he got the job. I don't think he's ready in the player development standpoint for the GM role. I do think he'd be a big loss though as he does an oustanding job in the contract negotiations.

[WCSox]

I read somewhere that he took himself out of consideration.

 

Link

Edited September 12, 2007 by WCSox

[HoosierSox]

Hes waiting to take Kennys job.

[SadChiSoxFanOptimist]

Hes waiting to take Kennys job.

 

 

I hope sooner, rather than later.

[Yossarian]

Hes waiting to take Kennys job.

He's got a long wait.

 

[BearSox]

He's got a long wait.

Or a very short one... if 08 is a repeat of 07, a change would be inevitable.

 

NVM... I forgot about that new 4 year plan through 2012.

Edited September 13, 2007 by BearSox

[southsider2k5]

I read somewhere that he took himself out of consideration.

 

Link

 

Too bad for Hahn, but good for the White Sox.

[Dick Allen]

Too bad for Hahn, but good for the White Sox.

He's a smart guy. He's going to wait for an opportunity that includes a legitimate chance to win. While being a GM is probably his goal, a couple years with his hands tied in Pittsburgh won't help him. He'd probably wind up getting canned and never getting another opportunity.

[fathom]

It would have been ironic if he left, as he's been arguably the most valuable employee in the organization off the field this year, with regards to the contract extensions he's worked out with Buehrle and Dye.

[maggsmaggs]

Hahn could also be waiting for the Cubs job, too. I mean if the Cubs fail to make the playoffs again, Jim Hendry's job might be in jeopardy and Hahn is from Chicago, so he may be waiting for the Cubbie job.

[Gregory Pratt]

He's a smart guy. He's going to wait for an opportunity that includes a legitimate chance to win. While being a GM is probably his goal, a couple years with his hands tied in Pittsburgh won't help him. He'd probably wind up getting canned and never getting another opportunity.

 

Okay, this is the last time I talk about Schuerholz unless the Braves and specifically the Braves offseason is mentioned -- but when Schuerholz was with the Royals and they were a classy, well-respected organization with a recent world title win, he wasn't particularly happy due to a change in ownership so he was chatting with friends about what franchises in baseball had a great deal of potential if only someone came in and fixed them. Atlanta was the main one they mentioned, with Texas the other, and then he spoke to the man doing the hiring who said, "s***, you're interested in leaving for Atlanta? Why? That place blows!" and he said, "I think I can turn it around." He did. Kind of cool. I sort of wish Rick Hahn would leave for Pittsburgh and make that the next powerhouse. The Pirates are a good franchise with a great history and a beautiful ballpark in a lovely city, so I hope they eventually have an owner and management that are capable and willing to win. I've just always thought that the idea of leaving a good situation for a shaky one was one of the more interesting aspects of Schuerholz' move to Atlanta. But yeah, it's nice to have Hahn around. Would suck if he or Terry Ryan wound up on the northside of Chicago, though.

[NorthSideSox72]

Hahn could also be waiting for the Cubs job, too. I mean if the Cubs fail to make the playoffs again, Jim Hendry's job might be in jeopardy and Hahn is from Chicago, so he may be waiting for the Cubbie job.

In fact, he graduated from your high school.

 

[Harry Chappas]

Okay, this is the last time I talk about Schuerholz unless the Braves and specifically the Braves offseason is mentioned -- but when Schuerholz was with the Royals and they were a classy, well-respected organization with a recent world title win, he wasn't particularly happy due to a change in ownership so he was chatting with friends about what franchises in baseball had a great deal of potential if only someone came in and fixed them. Atlanta was the main one they mentioned, with Texas the other, and then he spoke to the man doing the hiring who said, "s***, you're interested in leaving for Atlanta? Why? That place blows!" and he said, "I think I can turn it around." He did. Kind of cool. I sort of wish Rick Hahn would leave for Pittsburgh and make that the next powerhouse. The Pirates are a good franchise with a great history and a beautiful ballpark in a lovely city, so I hope they eventually have an owner and management that are capable and willing to win. I've just always thought that the idea of leaving a good situation for a shaky one was one of the more interesting aspects of Schuerholz' move to Atlanta. But yeah, it's nice to have Hahn around. Would suck if he or Terry Ryan wound up on the northside of Chicago, though.

 

Who did Shurholtz replace in Atlanta? The economics of the game have changed in that there are teams that will never really compete. The poster children for this, Oakland and Minnesota seem to be falling by the wayside. 1989 and 2007 are not comparable when it comes to discussing the abilitiy of a franchise. Deep pockets helped Shurholtz keep the franchise on top as did three pitchers for Beane. Now that these things have passed, their abilities to GM need to be displayed again. I do not believe Saben, Theo and Cashman are good GM's because they can fail on a decision and there are no long term ramifications. The poster boy for this Jim Hendry. I really believe Dave Dombroski (a Chicago White Sox product) is the best GM of the last 20 years.

[Gregory Pratt]

Who did Shurholtz replace in Atlanta? The economics of the game have changed in that there are teams that will never really compete. The poster children for this, Oakland and Minnesota seem to be falling by the wayside. 1989 and 2007 are not comparable when it comes to discussing the abilitiy of a franchise. Deep pockets helped Shurholtz keep the franchise on top as did three pitchers for Beane. Now that these things have passed, their abilities to GM need to be displayed again. I do not believe Saben, Theo and Cashman are good GM's because they can fail on a decision and there are no long term ramifications. The poster boy for this Jim Hendry. I really believe Dave Dombroski (a Chicago White Sox product) is the best GM of the last 20 years.

 

Dombroski is a great GM, no doubt about that. I don't place him over Schuerholz but he is definitely a top tier General Manager. And while it's true that, yes, the Braves had a good payroll in the 90s, it decreased in the 2000s and they kept winning until the last two years. Besides that, they always won with coaching, scouting and developing, so it wasn't like a Yankees situation where every GM has 100million to play with. Good points all around, though. I don't rate Epstein or Cashman as particularly good GMs, either.

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

Sports Illustrated wrote that one assistant GM called this position "poison". Could this be the same one who took himself out of consideration?

[PHAT ALBERT]

Sports Illustrated wrote that one assistant GM called this position "poison". Could this be the same one who took himself out of consideration?

 

I doubt it. His quote praised the opportunity and all reports had him tight with their new president, Connelly.

[Dick Allen]

Okay, this is the last time I talk about Schuerholz unless the Braves and specifically the Braves offseason is mentioned -- but when Schuerholz was with the Royals and they were a classy, well-respected organization with a recent world title win, he wasn't particularly happy due to a change in ownership so he was chatting with friends about what franchises in baseball had a great deal of potential if only someone came in and fixed them. Atlanta was the main one they mentioned, with Texas the other, and then he spoke to the man doing the hiring who said, "s***, you're interested in leaving for Atlanta? Why? That place blows!" and he said, "I think I can turn it around." He did. Kind of cool. I sort of wish Rick Hahn would leave for Pittsburgh and make that the next powerhouse. The Pirates are a good franchise with a great history and a beautiful ballpark in a lovely city, so I hope they eventually have an owner and management that are capable and willing to win. I've just always thought that the idea of leaving a good situation for a shaky one was one of the more interesting aspects of Schuerholz' move to Atlanta. But yeah, it's nice to have Hahn around. Would suck if he or Terry Ryan wound up on the northside of Chicago, though.

There's no question in my mind, JS is the best GM in the game, maybe the best ever. But I don't think he could win for a sustained period in Pittsburgh the way the game is right now. He probably could build the team to go on a little run, but once his young guys start earning money and are eligible to be FA, he's going to lose them, unlike in Atlanta. He's not going to be able to bring in Greg Maddux. The game is a lot different now. In 1990, I believe the year JS left KC, the Royals had the highest payroll in baseball. The game is so different.

[Gregory Pratt]

There's no question in my mind, JS is the best GM in the game, maybe the best ever. But I don't think he could win for a sustained period in Pittsburgh the way the game is right now. He probably could build the team to go on a little run, but once his young guys start earning money and are eligible to be FA, he's going to lose them, unlike in Atlanta. He's not going to be able to bring in Greg Maddux. The game is a lot different now. In 1990, I believe the year JS left KC, the Royals had the highest payroll in baseball. The game is so different.

 

I'm not entirely sure that's true about the Royals and payroll. I know he publicly chastised the Yankees for spending money and got a letter from Steinbrenner about it. But yeah, you really can't sustain a run in Pittsburgh unless something significant changes in Pittsburgh. I do think, though, that once you start winning in Pittsburgh, the people will come, and if you coupled that with the owner opening his wallet a good deal, you could have a great franchise with the right man. That's true just about anywhere but Pittsburgh is definitely a baseball city -- not saying baseball's the predominant sport, not at all as the Steelers are and always will be king, but the people will absolutely turn out for Pirate games if they're not being fed garbage. I hope that day comes. I love Pittsburgh.

Edited September 14, 2007 by Gregory Pratt

[Yossarian]

But yeah, you really can't sustain a run in Pittsburgh unless something significant changes in Pittsburgh. I do think, though, that once you start winning in Pittsburgh, the people will come, and if you coupled that with the owner opening his wallet a good deal, you could have a great franchise with the right man. That's true just about anywhere but Pittsburgh is definitely a baseball city -- not saying baseball's the predominant sport, not at all as the Steelers are and always will be king, but the people will absolutely turn out for Pirate games if they're not being fed garbage. I hope that day comes. I love Pittsburgh.

Then you love incessant cloudiness. You're right about Pittsburgh. A unique city, with a quirky personality and a great sports tradition going way back. There are probably more great athletes in more sports from SW PA than any other part of the country. The names and the numbers are astounding.

[Gregory Pratt]

Then you love incessant cloudiness. You're right about Pittsburgh. A unique city, with a quirky personality and a great sports tradition going way back. There are probably more great athletes in more sports from SW PA than any other part of the country. The names and the numbers are astounding.

 

Yeah. Interesting stuff. Great, great city. And I left my heart in Pittsburgh.

[Harry Chappas]

Then you love incessant cloudiness. You're right about Pittsburgh. A unique city, with a quirky personality and a great sports tradition going way back. There are probably more great athletes in more sports from SW PA than any other part of the country. The names and the numbers are astounding.

 

If prices were right the middle market towns in the midwest would flourish as was the case in the 60'sand 70's. The entertainment dollar is not spread as thin in these towns. South Beach or Joe Robie for a Marlin game? Baseball in the midwest in summer is what the game is all about not Yankee Pride, Red Sox Nation, or Loveable Losers.

 

Off the top of my head from 1975-85 were there any better franchises than the Brewers, Cardinals, Pirates, Tigers, or Royals? Granted the Tigers are having a reinassance but the Cardinal owners seem to have shyied away from spending money and a Brewer or Royal run could kill that franchise. Hell the rollar coster that is the Twin organization could (as soon as next year when Hunter and Nathan are gone if something steller is found with trading Santana) fall back to the days of the late 90's.

 

I hate the economics of baseball with a passion but I love a 1-0 game so I guess I am an exception to the rule. This chick hates the long ball.

[Yossarian]

If prices were right the middle market towns in the midwest would flourish as was the case in the 60'sand 70's. The entertainment dollar is not spread as thin in these towns. South Beach or Joe Robie for a Marlin game? Baseball in the midwest in summer is what the game is all about not Yankee Pride, Red Sox Nation, or Loveable Losers.

 

Off the top of my head from 1975-85 were there any better franchises than the Brewers, Cardinals, Pirates, Tigers, or Royals? Granted the Tigers are having a reinassance but the Cardinal owners seem to have shyied away from spending money and a Brewer or Royal run could kill that franchise. Hell the rollar coster that is the Twin organization could (as soon as next year when Hunter and Nathan are gone if something steller is found with trading Santana) fall back to the days of the late 90's.

 

I hate the economics of baseball with a passion but I love a 1-0 game so I guess I am an exception to the rule. This chick hates the long ball.

Great post.