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More GM News

Posted by Brian Michael, Sat, October 15, 2005 08:38 AM

Did anyone catch Ruben Amaro, Jr. on Comcast the other night?  I was listening to 610 and they read a transcript; it was essentially pitch by Ruben to take over as the new GM.  Now, I know we’ve been talking about Ruben and his candidacy a lot here, and its not because he is a serious contender, but it’s funny because he thinks he is.  His case started with him introducing himself saying, “I’m Ruben Amaro, Jr.”  then went on to announce, “I know David Montgomery and he knows me and I know that he knows I’m qualified.”  That’s something of a paraphrase, but you should be able to immediately glean why Rubs would make for a bad GM.  The Phils will have to go outside the organization for this one, that’s pretty much a given; maybe there’s a place for Ruben in Baltimore.  When the decision will be made however is another story.

The Phillies organizational meetings are expected to be held in the coming days.  Annual planning meetings without an integral member of the front office?  That could be impractical to say the least.  But despite Monty’s claim that he’s only involved in about 15% of the day-to-day operations, he will have to take the reigns here and the spotlight.  This is a bad idea.  There is nothing more I hate in the professional world than someone assigned to a job they are not qualified for.  That’s why I didn’t like Ed Wade, Paul Abbott or several of my past bosses.  Thus, like I’ve said before, the Phils need to choose a GM first, before anything else happens.  Not only will they get the pick of the off season litter (Hunsicker is already interviewing with Tampa Bay and Jim Duquette is in Baltimore), but their business will run as it’s intended.

So, how will they choose the new GM?  That’s another question wrapped in mystery and then again in bacon.  I would love for Monty to make prospective GMs to submit a plan for the 2006 season as well as a long term strategic plan.  Over here in England, they’re big on soccer management video games - they’re like a combination of fantasy football and ‘dynasty’ mode on Madden games.  A baseball variant of this game, or at least a paper version, would make for an interesting GM assessment and show some real progressive thinking by the Phils.

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