Bill Conlin defends Ruben Amaro Jr. as new Phillies GM. Yes, really. He says:
What part of his background fails to impress you? Too close to the organization? Too educated for a baseball man? Not enough hands-on experience? What?
No, what I’m hearing in the early outrage over word that fellow assistant GM Mike Arbuckle has resigned, is that if Dave Montgomery sneezes, Ruben will be there with a tissue to say “gesundheit” in three languages.
I’m not critical of Amaro, like most people may be. Really, we haven’t seen Amaro’s real work yet, as it’s been mixed with the work of Pat Gillick, Ed Wade and Mike Arbuckle. Amaro’s been a “yes man”? Of course he has. He was trying to become general manager when the others fell off. He’s a smart guy.
The jury will be out on Amaro until the pudding is well formed. Just as the jury was out on Gillick until, oh, Wednesday.
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