Alex Anthopoulos Departing

[saskjayfan]

What? If anything he'll be away from his family much more, lol.

 

or he moves his wife and kids to cali

[saskjayfan]

The AA hate on this board is hilarious.

[Spanky99]

or he moves his wife and kids to cali

 

Even when he does, it's exactly as I stated.

[Spanky99]

The AA hate on this board is hilarious.

 

Every GM takes a few shots in the ribs and for apparent reasons, I'll never hate AA.

[Spanky99]

I believe AA left because, he didn't have the autonomy anymore. Money isn't always the reason guys. An ego, yes.

[flafson]

I'm betting he gets more money there than he did as a GM here.

[Boxcar]

Also I'm surprised that people are surprised Friedman would hire him. For some reason everyone thinks AA is anti-sabr or something. I think AA values both scouting and sabermetrics equally which might still be too much on the scouting side for people here.

 

Some of us have more information on that topic.

[Spanky99]

I'm betting he gets more money there than he did as a GM here.

 

lol... I'll bet you a C-Note right now.

[Boxcar]

I'm betting he gets more money there than he did as a GM here.

 

Best time to spout absolute nonsense is when it's very unlikely anyone will have the information to prove you wrong.

[Spanky99]

Best time to spout absolute nonsense is when it's very unlikely anyone will have the information to prove you wrong.

 

True, he was offered 10 million to stay with the Birds, there's no f***ing way he's making that now.

[glory]

Also I'm surprised that people are surprised Friedman would hire him. For some reason everyone thinks AA is anti-sabr or something. I think AA values both scouting and sabermetrics equally which might still be too much on the scouting side for people here.

 

It took him six years on the job to start making moves even resembling saber-friendly. If he values it, then it was a recent thing. Certainly not something he showed from 2010-2014.

[baseballsss]

lol at this hate for AA. He brought us long awaited playoff baseball. It's his life he can do whatever he wants whether you think it's the wrong decision or not. why not just wish the man the best of luck and move on.

[Spanky99]

lol at this hate for AA. He brought us long awaited playoff baseball. It's his life he can do whatever he wants whether you think it's the wrong decision or not. why not just wish the man the best of luck and move on.

 

Agreed.

[gruber92]

True, he was offered 10 million to stay with the Birds, there's no f***ing way he's making that now.

 

$10mil annually, or for the five year term?

[ElNik2013]

Seems odd that the smartest FO in MLB would hire this moron. Hey, what the hell, I hate him anyway so just call him stupid and gloss over why Friedman would value this fatso.

[Jonn]

This move doesn't make any sense. But good luck I guess.

[Jonn]

Seems odd that the smartest FO in MLB would hire this moron. Hey, what the hell, I hate him anyway so just call him stupid and gloss over why Friedman would value this fatso.

 

Maybe he likes Greek Coffee?

[ElNik2013]

Maybe he likes Greek Coffee?

 

That's a possibility.

[Spanky99]

$10mil annually, or for the five year term?

 

!0 million over 5 years

[fireballW]

Maybe AA took that job because he actually really likes scouting. He's always made it clear that he enjoys doing that and he always tells the story of how he used to sit alone in the Olympic Stadium scouting guys even though he was like the f***ing custodian at the time. He was obviously going to be unhappy here under Shapiro and so he took a job where he'll be happy, and be in California, and on a winning team. And then in a couple years he'll see where he ends up.

 

Also I'm surprised that people are surprised Friedman would hire him. For some reason everyone thinks AA is anti-sabr or something. I think AA values both scouting and sabermetrics equally which might still be too much on the scouting side for people here.

 

This. It is not even a question of maybe. AA had said in interviews (when people on here were going on about him wanting to be the president) that he is not interested very much in that job or those things. He said straight out his favourite job would be in scouting. AA was always fairly honest. He didn't lie he would just be vague if he needed in interviews. So why people on here wouldn't have just believed him is beyond me. The ability for people on here to read people's personalities has always been an issue though. Good luck AA. Thanks for the best team in over 20 years!

[fireballW]

Was going to post this. He's, at best, third in the baseball ops pecking order down there. Leaving a GM spot because his feelings were hurt and then taking a lesser role somewhere else seems like a terrible set of decisions.

 

Completely blows my mind how little ability you have to understand these people aren't robots.

 

He got a job doing the thing he loves best while being in a great organization and an opportunity to learn under people who are considered the best. Plus he's still making plenty of money.

 

As for people talking about his skills not being as useful in this role... whaaaattt? Under his tenure he built the farm system up twice very quickly. His absolute best quality seems to be his diligence. This guy leaves no stone unturned and is relentless. How would these qualities not be very helpful when building a farm system? You guy think that there won't be huge interest in AA after he works under Friedman and having one executive of the year the last year he was a GM? The guy is set.

[reedjohnsonfan]

This. It is not even a question of maybe. AA had said in interviews (when people on here were going on about him wanting to be the president) that he is not interested very much in that job or those things. He said straight out his favourite job would be in scouting. AA was always fairly honest. He didn't lie he would just be vague if he needed in interviews. So why people on here wouldn't have just believed him is beyond me. The ability for people on here to read people's personalities has always been an issue though. Good luck AA. Thanks for the best team in over 20 years!

 

That makes sense. Also AA is going to be working with one of the most highly regarded front offices in baseball. His stock as a potential general manager could easily be rising in this role more than if he were to stay with the Jays. Some people fail to see this and write him off as making a poor choice, which is incorrect.

[dineke]

sucking friedman's cock is the best job ever according to this forum so why are we bashing AA now?

[reedjohnsonfan]

sucking friedman's cock is the best job ever according to this forum so why are we bashing AA now?

 

Exactly it's hilarious how people are saying he's stupid and made a poor career decision after all of the Friedman love.

 

Look at Farhan Zaidi. He obviously had the credentials beforehand, but don't you think working under Billy Beane increased his value as a General Manager? Anthopoulos will probably be the same, he's investing in his own capital by working under Friedman/Zaidi and in a few years will probably be very highly coveted.

[gruber92]

!0 million over 5 years

 

That's what I figured, but wasn't there talk that he was offered 5 / 25? Regardless, he's going from $2mil per to probably $500k. Financially, he's taking an obvious short term hit, but he's most likely setting himself up for a long term reward. TBH, I don't think he cares if he remains in this role for the rest of his career.

[Boxcar]

Exactly it's hilarious how people are saying he's stupid and made a poor career decision after all of the Friedman love.

 

Look at Farhan Zaidi. He obviously had the credentials beforehand, but don't you think working under Billy Beane increased his value as a General Manager? Anthopoulos will probably be the same, he's investing in his own capital by working under Friedman/Zaidi and in a few years will probably be very highly coveted.

 

Yeah, maybe in 5 years he will finally get the chance to be a GM.

[saskjayfan]

Yeah, maybe in 5 years he will finally get the chance to be a GM.

 

I'll take the under on that bet

[TheHurl]

Exactly it's hilarious how people are saying he's stupid and made a poor career decision after all of the Friedman love.

 

Look at Farhan Zaidi. He obviously had the credentials beforehand, but don't you think working under Billy Beane increased his value as a General Manager? Anthopoulos will probably be the same, he's investing in his own capital by working under Friedman/Zaidi and in a few years will probably be very highly coveted.

 

He's also one of 5 former GM's in the org though. Although, I think it's a great move...he'll never get any blame. He's only getting fired if he has a major personality conflict and he sits building up his reputation as a GM that never got fired and brought a team to the playoffs. Of course it's also going to be a job title that doesn't stop him from interviewing for any job.

[Cyborg]

I'll take the under on that bet

 

Whoosh

[Dick_Pole]

He's also one of 5 former GM's in the org though. Although, I think it's a great move...he'll never get any blame. He's only getting fired if he has a major personality conflict and he sits building up his reputation as a GM that never got fired and brought a team to the playoffs. Of course it's also going to be a job title that doesn't stop him from interviewing for any job.

 

How many people go this many steps down the totem pole then recover back to their former position? Regardless of the organization, this steep demotion just looks bad. He'd have been better off taking the year off if he has aspirations of being a GM.

 

If this was a desperation move to score an income, then his offseason behaviour was a huge lapse in judgement. If this was an intentional move to follow his passion or for more work-life balance, then more power to him.

 

The only people who can judge if this was a stupid/desperate decision or not is himself and his family. I guess we might have a hint in hindsight if he returns to looking like the man from 2010, or if he still resembles a Goodyear blimp this time next year.