Is AA a Good GM?

[xposbrad]

AA is a workhorse, lives and breaths baseball 24/7. A workaholic. I like that. But, he's young and cocky of his own intelligence thinking he can be smarter then anyone. He needs to learn more about finesse on how to handle other GMs in a respectful way.

 

Many GMs are simply staying away from him in fear of being ridiculed in a one sided trade. He needs to get back in the game and being able to make reasonable trades with them.

 

I thought we had a chance last year but we were doomed by all the injuries. This coming season may be a nice contending surprise for all of us.... I hope.

 

It depends, if by contending you mean trying to stay out of last place again this year then yes. They will be contending for that.

[Abomination]

AA is a workhorse, lives and breaths baseball 24/7. A workaholic. I like that. But, he's young and cocky of his own intelligence thinking he can be smarter then anyone. He needs to learn more about finesse on how to handle other GMs in a respectful way.

 

Many GMs are simply staying away from him in fear of being ridiculed in a one sided trade. He needs to get back in the game and being able to make reasonable trades with them.

 

I thought we had a chance last year but we were doomed by all the injuries. This coming season may be a nice contending surprise for all of us.... I hope.

 

I don't see the cocky part at all. When he took the job, he surrounded himself with as many baseball people as he could because he knew he didn't have enough experience to have all the answers. By all accounts, he values differing points of view on his staff. He seems to be extremely respectful of the other GM's (probably to a fault). JPR on the other hand, was cocky. Maybe it comes with being a JP

 

He's made some trades on both ends of the spectrum, so he doesn't need to try to even anything up.

[leaffie]

Well like your belief that AA won't admit failure, which is ONLY an opinion. Your explaining anything doesn't make it fact. It is an opinion, just like mine. The OP question asked what our opinion of AA is, that is mine. I can't help it if you don't like it.

 

He took a chance. It is yet to be decided whether it has worked or not. But if it doesn't work, they are no different than they were before the trades. The Jays will be a club with one of the top farm systems, and that will be it.

 

So perhaps since, you don't agree with me, you can save your breath explaining it over and over. I don't agree with you, and we will just have to agree to disagree.

[Abomination]

I guess it all boils down to only 2 GM's that consistently make good deals, where others have some bad and some good.

 

Which leads to the question of whether they consistently make them because they HAVE to operate that way making it hard for them to make a bad one, or if they would continue to do so even with a normal budget. Mozeliak imo has to be considered right alongside them because he IS doing it with a bigger budget, although I think it's fair to point out that if his Hail Mary in the Rasmus trade hadn't (somehow) worked, that one could have been a truly horrendous mistake.

[GeorgiaPeach]

There has been plenty of criticism against AA, especially since last winter. I'm curious to see what everyone thinks of AA overall. This includes what he inherited and what he has done with this franchise. Let's consider everything since he took over.

 

In relation to his peers, I'd say above average.

 

He has deficiencies that've been exposed that cannot be attributed to Beeston's influence.

 

My least favourite is his tunnel vision of when there's a problem with the team, he focuses on that problem. Why not just focus on making the team better as a whole instead of only addressing the actual issues on the team.

[Abomination]

My least favourite is his tunnel vision of when there's a problem with the team, he focuses on that problem. Why not just focus on making the team better as a whole instead of only addressing the actual issues on the team.

 

This is my biggest issue with him as well

[connorp]

Maybe you just caught me hard pressed for names lol.

 

Yeah..I think you were just giving grades for this off-season actually.. Dombrowski has been very good building the Tigers but that doesn't mean he can't make mistakes too like sign Fielder for too long (which he cut his losses on) or make one of the worst trades (Fister) I've seen in years.it's about body of work.

 

Daniels was also a blind man throwing a dart:)

[ElNik2013]

So, considering I'm extremely unsatisfied with the state of the team and its future, I would say he's not a good GM. If Beane/Friedman had a 135m payroll, just imagine the team they would assemble, those guys are good GMs. AA is just a fart in the wind.

 

I'm sure at least 20 other franchises would want a Beane/Friedman/Mozeliak, but if 20 franchises had them, they wouldn't be as good. The thing is, are you confident that Beeston would hire a better GM to succeed AA? I doubt it and doubt even more that a Beane or Friedman could be lured to work for the Blue Jays. I certainly hope I'm wrong.

 

At the end of the day, if they win 85 games and are in the 2nd WC race, AA will stay.

[Angrioter]

MLB World Series Winners

2013 - Boston

2012 - San Francisco

2011 - St. Louis Cardinals

2010 - San Francisco Giants

2009 - New York Yankees

2008 - Philadelphia Phillies

2007 - Boston Red Sox

2006 - St. Louis Cardinals

2005 - Chicago White Sox

2004 - Boston Red Sox

2003 - Florida Marlins

2002 - Anaheim Angels

 

Alex

JPR

 

Ricciardi was GM during the Yankee/Red Sox dynasty even so he achieved some success.

[connorp]

I never really know what to make of Dombrowksi. I really don't think he's all that intelligent, but the man has balls of steel. When you trade for a 25-year old Miguel Cabrera and make the WS twice in 8 years you earn yourself a lot of slack.

 

It would've been 3 most likely if Miguel didn't get hurt..and he assembled a MLB leading type rotation without spending crazy in FA (anibal was very reasonable) or trading away his farm

[connorp]

That rotation was all him too: drafted Verlander, acquired Scherzer and Fister via trade in great deals, signed Sanchez, drafted Smyly and Porcello.

 

Yeah, the Fister thing was an inexplisable thing..but if you have a very good wife who's given you a great marriage for a decade..if she does anything short of stuffing herself with another salami..you have to forgive it and move on

[LunchBox]

I'd like to apologize in advance for what I'm about to do lol. I've made an effort to stay of the AA dispute. The reason being that the discussion is largely bickering, using cherry picked instances to support a particular viewpoint. I finally caved and took the time to compose a comprehensive account of baseball operations since October 2009. I believe once you look at the entirety of AA's body of work, it's plainly obvious that he is neither piss-poor or brilliant as people like to suggest. He is, in all likelihood, above average. At times his ability to build a roster appears suspect; however, he has legitimate skill in identifying and acquiring players with exceptional talent and signing players to contracts of immense value. The judgement involved in the MIA/NYM trades was questionable and in hindsight the actions premature, yet such aggression takes a lot of balls. As a young man, that aggression appears to have backfired, but I believe it is a quality that will serve him well with increasing experience and improved judgement.

 

Again, I apologize for the length of what you're about to see, I hate long posts as much as anyone; however, I ask that you take the time to read it in it's entirety before responding. A few disclaimers:

 

-The timeline begins about two months before AA takes over as GM. I don't give him full credit for these transactions. Presumably, both he and JP were aware of the transition at this point and decisions were a collaborative process.

 

-The colour coding is as follows:

Red-very poor

Yellow- poor

Black- neutral/TBD

Green- good

Blue- very good

 

-I was tempted to leave drafts and international signings black as it's very unclear what kind of results they will yield. Ultimately I decided to assign value to them as the acquisition of elite amateur talent is of the utmost importance for a club that doesn't venture into the FA market and some of these prospects have already been used to net established players.

 

July 31, 2009: Scott Rolen and cash traded to CIN for Encarnacion, Roenicke, Stewart.

August 10, 2009: Alex Rios claimed by CWS.

October 3, 2009- Appointed GM

December 16, 2009: Roy Halladay traded to PHI for Travis D'arnaud, Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor. Taylor traded to OAK for Brett Wallace.

December 23, 2009: Brandon League, Johermyn Chavez traded to SEA for Brandon Morrow.

March 4, 2010: Casey Fien claimed from BOS.

March 18, 2010; Casey Fien released.

April 3, 2010: Adam Lind signs 4 year/$18 million extension ($2 million buyout included) + 3 options valued at $7, 7.5, 8 million respectively.

April 13, 2010: Signed Adeiny Hechavarria 4 year/ $10 million.

DRAFT, June 2010: McGuire, Sanchez, Synergaard, Wojciechowski, Murphy, Sweeney, Nicolino, Knecht, Thon, Nolin, Pompey.

July 13, 2010: Signed Adonys Cardona.

July 14, 2010: Alex Gonzalez, Tim Collins, Tyler Pastornicky traded to ATL for Yunel Escobar, Jo-Jo Reyes.

July 29, 2010: Traded Brett Wallace to HOU for Anthony Gose.

August 14, 2010: Ricky Romero signs 5 year/ 30.1 million extension + 13.1 million option.

October 25, 2010: Hired John Farrell as manager.

November 4, 2010: Acquired Olivio for COL, declined option for 2011, gained Type B pick.

November 17, 2010: Acquired Rajai Davis from OAK for Lord Farquhar and Magnuson.

December 3, 2010: Acquired Carlos Villannueva from MIL.

December 6, 2010: Shaun Marcum traded to MIL for Brett Lawrie.

January, 2011: Cordero, Dotel, Rauch signed as FAs.

January 21, 2011: Vernon Wells traded to LAA for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera.

Januray 25, 2011: Mike Napoli to TEX for Frank Fransisico.

February 17, 2011: Jose Bautista agrees to 5 year/ $64 million extension.

April 18, 2011: Lord Farquhar makes glorious return from OAK for David Purcey.

DRAFT, June 2011: Beede, Aderson, Musgrove, Smith Jr, Cormer, Norris, Gabryszwski, Stilson, Robson, DeSclafani, Lopes, Pillar.

July 12, 2011: Traded Juan Rivera to LAD for PTBNL.

July 27, 2011: Zach Stewart, Jason Frasor to CWS for Edwin Jackson, Mark Teahen. Jackson, Dotel, Patterson, Rzepczynski traded to STL for Rasmus, Tallet (and his 'stache), Walters, Miller.

August 10, 2011: Signed Dawel Lugo.

August 23, 2011: Hill, Macdonald traded to ARI for Johnson.

August 30, 2011: Signed Osuna, Tirado.

December 6, 2011: Nestor Molina traded to CWS for Sergio Santos.

January 1, 2012: Jason Frasor acquired from CWS.

January 9, 2012: Signed FA Darren Oliver.

January 24, 2012: Signed FA Omar Vizquel.

February 1, 2012: Signed FA Fransisco Cordero.

February 13, 2012: Casey Janssen signs 2 year/$5.9 million extension + $4 million option.

DRAFT, June 2012: Davis, Stroman, Smoral, Nay, DeJong, Alford.

July 3, 2012: Signed Richard Urena.

July 12, 2012: Encarnacion signs a 3 year/$27 million extension + $10 million option.

July 20, 2012: Traded Cordero, Fransisco, Perez, Musgrove, Rollins, Cormer, Wojciechowski to HOU for Happ, Carpenter, Lyon.

July 31, 2012: Thames traded to SEA for Delabar.

July 31, 2012: Snider traded to PIT for Brad Lincoln.

October 21, 2012: Traded John Farrell and Carpenter to BOS for Mike Aviles.

November 3, 2012: Mike Aviles, Yan Gomes traded to CLE for Esmil Rogers.

November 8, 2012: Signed FA Macier Izturis.

November 8, 2022: Acquired Jeremy Jeffress from KC.

November 19, 2012: Alvarez, Escobar, Mathis, Marisnick, Nicolino, DeSclafani, Hechavarria traded to MIA for Reyes, Johnson, Buehrle, Buck, Bonifacio.

November 19, 2012: Signed FA Melky Cabrera 2 year/$16 million.

November 20, 2012: Hirred John Gibbons.

December 17, 2012: D'arnuad, Syndergaard, Buck, Beccera traded to NYM for Dickey, Thole, Nickeas. Signed Dickey 3 years/$29 million + $12 million option.

December 2, 2013: Navarro signs 2 year/$8 million.

December 3, 2013: Lincoln traded to PHI for Erik Kratz and Rob Rasmussen.

[Abomination]

Romero was a good extension at the time too. It's unfortunate it didn't work out.

[LunchBox]

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/327-Official-Fire-AA-Thread?highlight=Fire

 

Lunchbox, please read first post

 

Good god, what a waste of my day

 

This is why threads need to be merged

[connorp]

I thought a good portion of the highlighted items showed a clear bias. Author seems pro-AA

[connorp]

How is Halladay "good" for instance..

 

Was good to trade literally best SP in mlb and have s*** to show for it 4 years later except "helping" land a broken down SP?

[LunchBox]

It's considerably better than a draft pick. I'm not prepared to rule out contributions from Gose and Drabek. Even if you only consider helping turn one year of cost-effective Halladay into four years of cost-effective Dickey, that's still not a poor trade IMO.

[connorp]

WAR now > WAR later. When you move a guy like that you get near ready blue chip prospects coming back. Not lottery tickets like TDA who was toss in. AA took Drabek and Wallace (via MT) and they both flopped badly and he did what he could to salvage it but it's been 4 years

[connorp]

Romero was a good extension at the time too. It's unfortunate it didn't work out.

 

I don't agree. Money is important thing..but a team should be held accountable, good or bad, for who they extend. Take Lind or example.. Team friendly deal but there should have been some red flags with his work ethic and holes in his swing (pitch recognition) a "good move" wouldve been saying not sure if this is out guy and move hi at peak value. He proceeded to put up 1 WAR or less combined over next 3 years think and was someone team hoped up year in and year out during that time. Was always fail. Was fail in 2013 until Jays were out of it essentially

[Abomination]

I don't agree. Money is important thing..but a team should be held accountable, good or bad, for who they extend. Take Lind or example.. Team friendly deal but there should have been some red flags with his work ethic and holes in his swing (pitch recognition) a "good move" wouldve been saying not sure if this is out guy and move hi at peak value. He proceeded to put up 1 WAR or less combined over next 3 years think and was someone team hoped up year in and year out during that time. Was always fail. Was fail in 2013 until Jays were out of it essentially

 

What were Romero's warning flags at the time?

[connorp]

Romero was a good extension at the time too. It's unfortunate it didn't work out.

 

What were Romero's warning flags at the time?

 

I don't get paid hundreds of thousands or millions like coaches and managers do to evaluate that. They should be accountable..but not saying anyone can be perfect.

[connorp]

He was a pitcher. He also had a 1.75 major league K/BB rate and horrible minor league numbers.

 

And there's that I guess..lol..thanks

[connorp]

I mean AA does have some good extensions like Joey and Edwin. I didn't didn't even opinion good or bad when those were announced. So he gets credit on those but shouldn't in case of Lind or Romero because "it seem fair at the time"

[connorp]

I just realized how bad I am typing on phone compared to comp

[Abomination]

He was a pitcher. He also had a ~1.75 major league K/BB rate and horrible minor league numbers.

 

Being a pitcher shouldn't be a warning flag for a team friendly deal. He signed it at the end of 2010, so it was probably closer to 2 K/BB, but that might be the only somewhat worrying sign. Romero was simply a situation that didn't work out (it happens), but imo it really WAS a good deal at the time.

[connorp]

His best is still Escobar. I have no idea how the f*** that even happens. Does Yunel represent himself?

 

Yeah..tough giving him full credit on that just because he was prepared to dump that valuable asset for peanuts just because he wanted good PR for being PC. Big fag move. He totally overreacted and tossed Esco under bus damaging his value

[LunchBox]

His best is still Escobar. I have no idea how the f*** that even happens. Does Yunel represent himself?

 

The inclusion of Escobar in the MIA trade is possibly the most egregious error on the list. At the very least one of Yunel/Hech should have been retained for depth purposes. The same can be said for trading both TDA/Mathis. The 2013 season would have been considerably more "watchable" with depth at C and the middle IF.

[connorp]

Hopefully Jays learned that too

[LunchBox]

The Lind extension, even in the worst case scenario is not that damaging because of the opt-out. There was also considerable upside to it, thus the green coding.

 

The Romero extension had very little, if any, upside and the potential to be quite damaging, it was a legitimate blunder hence the yellow code.

 

All things considered he's done very well with extensions, the value of Bautista, Encarnacion, Escober, Dickey dwarfs the risks of Lind and Romero.

[Abomination]

Yeah..tough giving him full credit on that just because he was prepared to dump that valuable asset for peanuts just because he wanted good PR for being PC. Big fag move. He totally overreacted and tossed Esco under bus damaging his value

 

I'm 99% sure that was ordered by Rogers. I don't blame AA for dumping Escobar at all unless we were to find out it was his idea to do so (which I highly doubt)