Dayn Perry's Top 10 GM's

[DBAHO]

I figure this would cause some "interesting" discussion;

 

Most often, it seems, fans and media following baseball focus on what the managers are doing. Other than the players, they are, of course, the most visible members of an organization.

However, when it comes to determining a team's success or failure, the manager has far less to do with it than the general manager does. It's the GM who's responsible for assembling the roster and making all personnel decisions. Ultimately, that's more important than filling out the lineup card and running the bullpen. On that point, we're here to rank the GMs who are doing the best jobs of all. The criteria will be, first and foremost, success on the field, but we'll also be mindful of organizational resources, payroll constraints and the like.

 

Freshly absent from this list will be former top-shelf GMs like John Schuerholz (promoted upstairs), Terry Ryan (retired), Larry Beinfest (promoted upstairs), and Walt Jocketty (forced out for reasons sufficient only unto Cardinals ownership). Still, there's plenty of GM talent still in baseball, and these guys are the best of the best:

 

 

1. Theo Epstein, Red Sox

It's easy to forget that Epstein was the subject of many a lame punchline when he became, at the time, the youngest GM in baseball history. However, two World Series trophies later no one's cracking jokes. Epstein has lots of resources, but money doesn't always equal success in baseball. He does a great job of building consensus within a many-tentacled front office, but what's perhaps most impressive about his reign is that the Red Sox rebuilt the young talent base while at the same time racking up the championships.

 

 

2. Dave Dombrowski, Tigers

Dombrowski, thanks to canny personnel moves and an ability to persuade ownership to invest in the product, has won a pennant in Detroit and completely revived the long-suffering organization. Before that, he won a World Series in Florida, and when then- owner Wayne Huizenga ordered him to strip the roster for parts, his decisions laid the foundation for the team that won the 2003 championship. Back in the present, Dombrowski's active winter has positioned Detroit as one of the power teams in baseball this season, so he's still at the top of his game.

 

 

3. Billy Beane, A's

No one has done more with less than Beane. Despite having basement-level payrolls in Oakland, Beane and the A's have made the postseason five times in the last eight years. A longstanding criticism was that he had the good fortune of having the "Big Three" of Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder in the organization for so many years (never mind that Zito and Mulder were drafted on Beane's watch), but in 2006 he addressed those critiques by winning the AL West with only Zito in the rotation. The A's almost certainly won't contend in 2008, but thanks to Beane's winter sell-off they now have one of the best farm systems in baseball. They'll be back soon enough.

 

 

4. Kevin Towers, Padres

No GM has been with one team longer than Towers, who's been on the job with the Padres since 1996. Over that span, he's made four trips to the playoffs (vs. one playoff trip in all the years before Towers) despite having very little commitment from ownership. At this writing, the Pads under Towers have put together four straight winning seasons, and they're poised for serious contention once again in 2008.

 

 

5. Brian Cashman, Yankees

Obviously, no one has coffers as deep as Cashman and the Yankees. However, there's still no arguing with his success on the job. Cashman's won three World Series, and the Yankees have made the postseason every year of his tenure. Now he's persuaded the Yankees to hold on to their bounty of young talent and continue winning by building from within. It's tough surviving in the Bronx, but Cashman's been on the job for a decade.

 

 

6. Mark Shapiro, Indians

When Shapiro took over the Tribe in 2001, they were coming off an impressive run of success under John Hart, but they were also an organization crying out for the rebuilding process. Shapiro made the unpopular decision to rebuild, and he stuck to it with impressive resolve. You saw the results last season, as the Indians came within one game of winning the pennant. They'll be in the thick of things again in 2008.

 

 

 

7. Omar Minaya, Mets

In the three years prior to Minaya's arrival in Queens, the Mets endured a losing season each time out; in Minaya's three years on the job, the Mets have one division crown and three winning seasons to their credit. And in his relatively brief tenure, Minaya has proved to be a master of the trade. Thus far, he's pulled off plainly one-sided deals for Johan Santana, Oliver Perez and John Maine. Despite the late-season collapse in 2007, Minaya's Mets enter the upcoming season as the team to beat in the National League.

 

 

8. Doug Melvin, Brewers

Rangers owner Tom Hicks is a man of many mistakes, but one of his biggest was letting Melvin go. Melvin presided over the only three postseason berths in Rangers franchise history, and now he's built the Brewers into contenders. With youngsters like Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo on the roster, it's likely their 25-year playoff drought is going to end soon enough.

 

 

9. Ken Williams, White Sox

Until last season, the White Sox had never suffered a losing season on Williams' watch, and of course he's got that 2005 World Series trophy to his credit. What's also impressive is that the Sox under Williams have drawn at least 2.3 million in home attendance in each of the last three seasons, something that's happened only once before in franchise history. Williams was forced to learn on the job to an extent, but he's evolved into a fearless GM who always strives for contention.

 

 

10. Josh Byrnes, Diamondbacks

When Byrnes was named Snakes GM in October of 2005, he inherited a system that had plenty of young talent. Still, Byrnes has contributed to the cause by trading for Orlando Hudson and Chris Young, coming to terms with 2005 draftee Justin Upton and signing Eric Byrnes as a free agent. This winter's trade for Dan Haren signals that Byrnes is serious about bringing a second championship to Arizona.

 

For me I would have Josh Byrnes in the top 5, I'd maybe put Pat Gillick in the top 10, and I think Andrew Friedman is doing a solid job in Tampa Bay so far.

[santo=dorf]

Here's SI's Jon Heyman's top 10 list

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...tGMs/index.html

1. Theo

2. Beane

3. Double D from D town

4. Mark Shapiro

5. The Cashman

6. Gillick

7. Josh Byrnes

8. Omar Minaya

9. Dan O'Dowd

10. Kenny Williams

10. Kevin Towers

 

I'd rate Towers a lot higher.

 

[witesoxfan]

Here's SI's Jon Heyman's top 10 list

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...tGMs/index.html

1. Theo

2. Beane

3. Double D from D town

4. Mark Shapiro

5. The Cashman

6. Gillick

7. Josh Byrnes

8. Omar Minaya

9. Dan O'Dowd

10. Kenny Williams

10. Kevin Towers

 

I'd rate Towers a lot higher.

 

Why in the blue hell is O'Dowd in there? For 2 winning seasons in 8 years?

[Dick Allen]

Here's Hawk Harrelson's top ten

1. KW

2. KW

3. KW

4. KW

5. KW

6. KW

7. KW

8. KW

9. KW

10. KW

 

[thedoctor]

just another example of how dayn perry hates the whi...oh, wait.

[ptatc]

just another example of how dayn perry hates the whi...oh, wait.

 

He does seem to dislike alot of what KW does to put him in the top 10. I guess you can hate the moves but can't argue with the results. Only one losing season and a World Series Championship.

 

[SoxFan562004]

Here's Hawk Harrelson's top ten

1. KW

2. KW

3. KW

4. KW

5. KW

6. KW

7. KW

8. KW

9. KW

10. KW

32. Billy Beane (on Hawk's list, not mine)

Edited February 22, 2008 by SoxFan562004

[RME JICO]

Why in the blue hell is O'Dowd in there? For 2 winning seasons in 8 years?

Probably because of their recent success.

 

It is a waste to put Epstein and Cashman on there, probably Minaya too. Who can't put winning teams together with those payrolls?

[daa84]

Probably because of their recent success.

 

It is a waste to put Epstein and Cashman on there, probably Minaya too. Who can't put winning teams together with those payrolls?

paul depodesta?

[shipps]

I have a problem with putting GM's that are given a boatload of money on this list.Its like judging an antique hot rod show with cars that have been refurbished,Iam going to respect the farmer that has his one car in the competition and has payed every attention to detail himself with little funds to work with.Other than the millionaire business exec that pays a team of people to pimp his rides and enter 5 cars.Richie Rich will take 1st and 2nd in the compitetion and the farmer will take 3rd and it would be the right judgment but I would respect the farmer more while still judging his car third.Alright Iam done rambling.

[Gregory Pratt]

Dayn Perry's an idiot until he wrote this article.

[WCSox]

LOL at Omar Minaya. What has he done, besides work for an ownership group that allows him to spend as much as he wants?

 

[Steve9347]

I really can't agree with Omar Minaya on this list. He has a HUGE payroll and couldn't even win the WC in the NL, and has had a huge payroll since he took over.

 

Seriously, he could have gotten much more for Lastings Milledge had he dealt him at the correct time.

[eickevinmorris]

paul depodesta?

DePo built what Ned Colletti is trying to destroy.

 

[witesoxfan]

Probably because of their recent success.

 

One fluke season gets a GM in the top 10? I love what they did, but that was fluky as hell.

 

DePo built what Ned Colletti is trying to destroy.

 

Dan Evans built some of that up too.

[daa84]

DePo built what Ned Colletti is trying to destroy.

won't dispute that, but depo also spent alot of money on the big league team and also lost alot of games....he did build a farm system though, but he had the 3rd highest payroll in the game back then and lost an awful lot of games with it

[CWSGuy406]

It is a waste to put Epstein and Cashman on there, probably Minaya too. Who can't put winning teams together with those payrolls?

 

That's BS. Epstein and Cashman have certainly made their fair share of poor moves, but their good moves far outweigh their bad moves. Furthermore, both teams (appear to) have become excellent at drafting and development -- arguably two of the top five teams in all of baseball at drafting + development (IMHO).

 

Taking this even further, how many times did the Sox finish behind Minny despite having a much bigger payroll? Oakland over everyone in the AL West? The Cubs (usually) behind at least St Louis and Houston? Of course having more money is an advantage, but being intelligent is a much bigger part of the equation.

 

And w/r/t DePodesta, the two main cogs in their rotation last season -- Penny and Lowe -- were DePo moves. Lowe has given LA 630+ innings of an ERA+ of (~) 120 and Penny has given them about 600 innings of a 120 ERA+. Jeff Kent has been similarly awesome. Letting Adrian Beltre go was a brilliant move, and the "opt-out" on JD Drew's deal turned out even better. Wikipedia also lists guys like Matt Kemp, Russell Martin and James Loney in association with DePo -- I'm not sure if he drafted them (too lazy to check).

 

So basically... DePo was f***ed and -- while he may not be a perfect GM in every aspect -- he deserves another shot somewhere else.

[beautox]

Logan White built what Ned Colletti is trying to destroy.

 

Fixed

[haroldbainesknees]

7. Omar Minaya, Mets

In the three years prior to Minaya's arrival in Queens, the Mets endured a losing season each time out; in Minaya's three years on the job, the Mets have one division crown and three winning seasons to their credit. And in his relatively brief tenure, Minaya has proved to be a master of the trade. Thus far, he's pulled off plainly one-sided deals for Johan Santana, Oliver Perez and John Maine. Despite the late-season collapse in 2007, Minaya's Mets enter the upcoming season as the team to beat in the National League.

 

This really irritates me. While I don't think KW is the best GM in the game, as a fan he makes moves that I feel at least give my team a chance to compete in a brutally tough division and in a brutally tough league. IMO there is no way Minaya is a better GM than KW. True he has made some good moves as Perry mentioned-namely Oliver Perez for Xavier Nady. However he only acquired Santana only after the Yankees and Red Sox passed.

 

However would the Mets have really needed to trade for Santana if MINAYA DIDN"T TRADE SCOTT KAZMIR FOR VICTOR ZAMBRANO?

 

Kazmir 2007 line 3.48 ERA 1.38 WHIP - 239KS - 424K in salary

Santana 2007 line 3.33 ERA 1.07WHIP 235KS 13 Million in salary.

 

At this point Santana basically has better control, but Kazmir is far cheaper at this point and he was already in the Mets system when Minaya became GM.

 

Ask the National fans if they would live to have GRADY SIZEMORE as their starting CF AND a 30/30 BRANDON PHILLIPS at 2B. If you recall those two players were part of the bounty for the 3 month Bartolo Colon rental in 2002-basically torpedoing the chances of the Nationals being competitive on their move to DC.

Cliff Lee a regular MLB type back of the rotation LH was also included in the deal.

 

As far as being the odds on favorite in the NL. That's kind of like being the odds on favorite to winning a bikini contest at fat camp.

 

While I think Epstein is a excellent GM. I am not sold that his "consensus building" would work in Pittsburgh, or Kansas City.

[Kalapse]

Omar Minaya did not trade away Scott Kazmir, that was Jim Duquette.

 

As for Brandon Phillips, he was given away for nothing by the Indians at the beginning of the '06 season, if everyone knew he was about to become a 30/30 player Jim Bowden could have easily re-acquired him before he was shipped off to the Reds. Phillips was a highly talented player who carried the stigma of being incapable of translating his excellent minor league performance to the major league game. His talent has now brought him one above average season at the major league level. Every GM has traded away a player like Brandon Phillips at some point in their career. Making a last ditch effort to save a dying franchise requires some aggressive moves, somehow I doubt Minaya regrets the moves he made during the first year of his general managing career.

[haroldbainesknees]

My mistake to other readers Kazmir was traded by Jim Duquette. I should have done more research before that post.

 

However I still do not feel that 3 winning seasons and 1 playoff appearance in a weak National League, and with what I feel is a mixed trading record qualifies Minaya as the #7 GM in the game. Especially considering the resources the Minaya has at his disposal.

 

While this article by Dayn Perry in itself is an arbitrary assessment of GM's, I will credit Epstein and Cashman for at least translating their advantages in payroll, monster media markets, other revenue sources etc., into consistent playoff appearances and multiple world championships for both. At this point I cannot do the same for Minaya, and looking at other posters many feel likewise on Minaya.

[Reddy]

My mistake to other readers Kazmir was traded by Jim Duquette. I should have done more research before that post.

 

However I still do not feel that 3 winning seasons and 1 playoff appearance in a weak National League, and with what I feel is a mixed trading record qualifies Minaya as the #7 GM in the game. Especially considering the resources the Minaya has at his disposal.

 

While this article by Dayn Perry in itself is an arbitrary assessment of GM's, I will credit Epstein and Cashman for at least translating their advantages in payroll, monster media markets, other revenue sources etc., into consistent playoff appearances and multiple world championships for both. At this point I cannot do the same for Minaya, and looking at other posters many feel likewise on Minaya.

 

but he's also been able to acquire backups and bench players that panned out amazingly. Endy Chavez? Victor Diaz? Ramon Castro? them and others were another huge reason for the mets' success.

[haroldbainesknees]

but he's also been able to acquire backups and bench players that panned out amazingly. Endy Chavez? Victor Diaz? Ramon Castro? them and others were another huge reason for the mets' success.

 

My arguement isn't that every move or addition Minaya has made has been a disaster. My arguement is that Minaya is not the seventh best GM in baseball. Every other GM above him with the exception of Shapiro has multiple playoff appearances to their credit.

 

Minaya has 1 in 6 seasons as a GM.

[daa84]

My arguement isn't that every move or addition Minaya has made has been a disaster. My arguement is that Minaya is not the seventh best GM in baseball. Every other GM above him with the exception of Shapiro has multiple playoff appearances to their credit.

 

Minaya has 1 in 6 seasons as a GM.

so does KW