Winning
is an easy concept to grasp, but in the MLB it can be a hard concept to put
into practice. For example, the Baltimore Orioles clinched their first winning
season in 14 years and with some luck the Pittsburg Pirates will have their
first winning season in 19 years. Many reasons exist why some teams succeed and
fail, from injuries, to payroll,
to ballpark
factors. When it comes to the Orioles, the 800-pound gorilla that best explains
their futility is owner Peter Angelos. As an Orioles fan for most of my life I
have seen the demise of the Orioles from postseason contenders in the 1990’s to
AL East doormats in the 2000’s. It grew so bleak that I took to telling anyone
who would listen that the Orioles were an owner away from competing again. I
may have been too hasty, what we really needed was an owner who would let his hired
staff do what they do best, compile a roster and modify as needed to build both
a contender and a farm system capable of supporting it. The Boston Red Sox
offer a counter example that may help explain why they sit in last place in the
AL East.
Owners
can make life a challenge or a joy for any organization based on their whims or
level of interest. George Steinbrenner was famous for throwing money at every
player he wanted to see in pinstripes with results that often paid off, or
could at least be covered with more money. Not all teams have the luxury of paying
even more money for mistakes, but owners are always involved when big contracts
are contemplated.
Before the Rays
truly started churning out quality pitchers like a Pez dispenser or the Moneyball
mentality took root in Oakland, a small market owner in Baltimore tried his own
solution without success. Following the disappointing 1998 season, the Orioles
owner demanded an impact bat and gave free agent Albert Belle a then record
deal (5 years and $65 million). Belle played well his first season, but spent
considerable time on the disabled list his second year and a degenerative hip
issue forced him to retire before the third year of his contract. Undaunted,
Angelos continued to spend on big name free agent players, preferring to spend
millions on one player than fill the increasing holes in the team as a whole.
Among the big name players brought in where Rafael Palmerio, who would end up
serving a 10 day suspension for PED use; Javy Lopez as a past his prime catcher;
and Sammy Sosa who left his power in Chicago. This trend continued into last
season with Vladimir
Guerrero who continued to hit for average, but his 13 home runs were his
lowest total since his rookie season.
Compounding
the Orioles problems was Angelos’ quick trigger finger when it comes to his
front office and managerial personnel. Dan Duquette is the 8th
general manger hired by Peter Angelos since he acquired the team in 1993 and Buck
Showalter the 9th manager. Both are respected baseball men with
proven track records for quickly turning teams into contenders. High volume turnover
affects the farm system as GMs will turn over talent that does not fit their
desired direction for the team. One result has been an abysmal track record
with starting pitching development even with several top draft picks. Angelos
has played a hand in these problems as he historically has insisted on
retaining a measure of control in the day to day baseball operations. In fact,
Tony LaCava declined the GM job prior to Duquette last fall due to concerns
over his real amount of control.
However, since Showalter has arrived in late July 2010 we have heard
much less from Angelos and even adding Vlad was done late in the offseason on a
minimal contract. This base has allowed Duquette to orchestrate moves without
Angelos over his shoulder and several savvy moves paying dividends. The result
is about to pay off in a winning season and the increasing possibility of a
playoff appearance.
Ownership
manipulation can pay off or it can cripple a GM and their ability to put a
winning team together. This season the active manipulation by owners has
backfired in nearly every situation. Detroit paid a king’s ransom for a Prince,
yet currently sits two games back in the AL Central. Jeff Loria bilked
Miami out of a new stadium and then dumped salary as soon as things turned
South. Larry Lucchino has torpedoed the Red Sox since insisting on the
offseason hiring of Bobby Valentine. Detroit’s situation has been explained as
an aging owner who really wants to see a winner before he dies, fair enough, it
is his money and I wish him the best. Loria has been milking the Marlins for
every dollar since he purchased the team and his actions, unfortunately, do not
come as a complete shock. Lucchino, however, begs a closer examination.
The
Red Sox were undoubtedly one of the top teams of the early 2000’s and competent
personnel decisions played a strong part in the John Henry ownership era. They
took over a team compiled, coincidently, by Dan Duquette (1994-2002). After
missing the playoffs their first year with GM Mike Port they brought in Theo
Epstein. Two world series victories and a string of playoff appearances
resulted in a model franchise that appeared to have the talent and the payroll
both in the front office and on the field to compete for years to come. One of
their staples, especially early on, was an ability to let again veterans go
rather than overpay for diminishing skills. With the continuity in the front office,
several core pieces developed through the farm system, including Dustin
Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Clay Buchholz. Epstein appeared to have the
confidence of the ownership in his personnel decisions including signing John
Lackey, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to large, some might
say absurd, contracts.
Yet in late
2011 as Epstein left for the Cubs and Ben Cherington, his former right hand
man, was promoted to GM owner John Henry came out and said, “Larry Lucchino
runs the Red Sox.” Cherington was immediately undermined on his managerial
choice with Lucchino and eventually the rest of the ownership group insisting
on Bobby Valentine. However, they gave Valentine only a two-year deal, hardly a
vote of confidence, and he was forced to accept a coaching staff largely in
place rather than supply his own. Neither of these actions indicated a plan
that sound baseball minds would support, but rather an overbearing owner who
got his way and then insisted others make it work. The result has been a dismal
season marred with in fighting and roster turnover and a third consecutive dark
October.
Unlike
Baltimore, the Red Sox are not a small market team and with the payroll they
dumped on the Dodgers they should be able to rebound fairly quickly. Ownership
involvement is not in and of itself a bad thing, but sometimes it is best to
rely on the people you hire to do their job. As a long-suffering Orioles fan,
it is refreshing to see Angelos exercising restraint and enjoying the fruits of
his labors.
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