Comments on: BP: Q and A with Jeff Luhnow http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/ Baseball's Future in the Gateway City Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:29:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Bob http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-15001 Bob Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:37:54 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-15001 A few bad contracts (e.g. Spiezio, Carpenter, probably Edmonds--although, look at what fellow CF'ers Torii Hunter & Aaron Rowand just got in the open market) were sorta bound to happen immediately after winning a World Series. Call them "gratitude contracts," I guess. Walt Jocketty, on the other hand, was never one of the 4 or 5 highest-paid GMs, despite the Birds having a terrific run for several years. So the charge of ownership ingratitude seems pretty valid to me. As far as Luhnow's interview, I was hoping for a question or two about the aggressive expansion of the Cardinal international operation. Moreover, I'd like to know if the Cards would consider adding an additional club at the Low-A level (Sally League, anyone?). As the more talented DSL & VSL guys advance over the next couple of years, it looks like there could be a logjam of 19/20 yr. old players--a great problem to have, but a problem nonetheless. A few bad contracts (e.g. Spiezio, Carpenter, probably Edmonds–although, look at what fellow CF’ers Torii Hunter & Aaron Rowand just got in the open market) were sorta bound to happen immediately after winning a World Series. Call them “gratitude contracts,” I guess.

Walt Jocketty, on the other hand, was never one of the 4 or 5 highest-paid GMs, despite the Birds having a terrific run for several years. So the charge of ownership ingratitude seems pretty valid to me.

As far as Luhnow’s interview, I was hoping for a question or two about the aggressive expansion of the Cardinal international operation. Moreover, I’d like to know if the Cards would consider adding an additional club at the Low-A level (Sally League, anyone?). As the more talented DSL & VSL guys advance over the next couple of years, it looks like there could be a logjam of 19/20 yr. old players–a great problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.

]]> By: Lou Schuler http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-15000 Lou Schuler Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:43:35 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-15000 Erik, interesting point about his defensiveness -- Walt is a very popular guy around baseball. In Baseball America, one of their columnists regularly takes shots at the Cardinals for their ingratitude toward the former GM. Personally, though, I'm wondering more and more what was going on in Jocketty's mind when he resigned Spiezio after 2006, knowing about his personal demons. Or why he signed Edmonds to a two-year extension, instead of just the one year. Or what was wrong with Kennedy that left him a shell of his former self when the Cards signed him. Were the Cards under Jocketty not doing due diligence on these guys? Were all these simultaneous collapses of veteran ballplayers completely random, or would a harder-working, more diligent front office have seen them coming? The Cards tied up a lot of money on bad contracts, and I don't see how any sober fans could look at those events and think there was any option other than firing the GM. Erik, interesting point about his defensiveness — Walt is a very popular guy around baseball. In Baseball America, one of their columnists regularly takes shots at the Cardinals for their ingratitude toward the former GM.

Personally, though, I’m wondering more and more what was going on in Jocketty’s mind when he resigned Spiezio after 2006, knowing about his personal demons. Or why he signed Edmonds to a two-year extension, instead of just the one year. Or what was wrong with Kennedy that left him a shell of his former self when the Cards signed him.

Were the Cards under Jocketty not doing due diligence on these guys? Were all these simultaneous collapses of veteran ballplayers completely random, or would a harder-working, more diligent front office have seen them coming?

The Cards tied up a lot of money on bad contracts, and I don’t see how any sober fans could look at those events and think there was any option other than firing the GM.

]]> By: fewgoodcards http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-14992 fewgoodcards Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:53:14 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-14992 reality. just look how many potential relievers we have, there is no way you could fit all the guys that could pitch in the major leagues on the same roster. reality. just look how many potential relievers we have, there is no way you could fit all the guys that could pitch in the major leagues on the same roster.

]]> By: cariocacardinal http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-14991 cariocacardinal Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:21:20 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-14991 "there are more big league players in our system than there ever could be spots for them in St. Louis." Reality or hype? “there are more big league players in our system than there ever could be spots for them in St. Louis.”

Reality or hype?

]]> By: erik http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-14989 erik Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:19:15 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-14989 Lou-I found his answer regarding eliminating tension between scouting and development interesting. i shared your disappointment with some of his responses, and i felt he was pretty guarded and even a little snappish when he was asked about shedding labels. I guess I just find Luhnow a fascinating guy. Think about the pressure he faced coming into the situation, and now some think he's the reason Jocketty was fired. To put up with what he's done, and to get the farm system turned into a better direction, and a much different direction makes him just an interesting dude all around. Lou-I found his answer regarding eliminating tension between scouting and development interesting. i shared your disappointment with some of his responses, and i felt he was pretty guarded and even a little snappish when he was asked about shedding labels. I guess I just find Luhnow a fascinating guy. Think about the pressure he faced coming into the situation, and now some think he’s the reason Jocketty was fired. To put up with what he’s done, and to get the farm system turned into a better direction, and a much different direction makes him just an interesting dude all around.

]]> By: Adam http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-14986 Adam Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:35:28 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-14986 I feel the same Lou. Of course, when you ask the Cardinals VP of scouting and player development how you think HE does scouting and developing players, I think he will give a fairly optimistic assessment(after all, he drafted the players he's talking about). What I do find noteworthy is the fact that Luhnow is willing to give interviews. I feel that between the interviews he has given andalong with other interviews with front office employees (eg. Sig Mejdal), it gives the fans the feeling that the team has nothing to hide. If he weren't speaking about our system, then I feel its time to be worried. I feel the same Lou. Of course, when you ask the Cardinals VP of scouting and player development how you think HE does scouting and developing players, I think he will give a fairly optimistic assessment(after all, he drafted the players he’s talking about).

What I do find noteworthy is the fact that Luhnow is willing to give interviews. I feel that between the interviews he has given andalong with other interviews with front office employees (eg. Sig Mejdal), it gives the fans the feeling that the team has nothing to hide. If he weren’t speaking about our system, then I feel its time to be worried.

]]> By: Lou Schuler http://futureredbirds.com/2008/03/09/bp-q-and-a-with-jeff-luhnow/#comment-14985 Lou Schuler Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:17:08 +0000 http://futureredbirds.wordpress.com/?p=988#comment-14985 Erik, which answer of Luhnow's did you find interesting? Speaking as a journalist, I found nothing there that any one of us couldn't have gleaned from information that's already available. It seemed like Luhnow went into the thing determined not to offer readers any insights into the way he thinks and the way he operates. I'm not saying that was a bad decision on his part -- after Moneyball, I don't blame any executive for being reluctant to let an outsider read the blueprints -- but it was, I thought, remarkably uninformative. Erik, which answer of Luhnow’s did you find interesting?

Speaking as a journalist, I found nothing there that any one of us couldn’t have gleaned from information that’s already available.

It seemed like Luhnow went into the thing determined not to offer readers any insights into the way he thinks and the way he operates.

I’m not saying that was a bad decision on his part — after Moneyball, I don’t blame any executive for being reluctant to let an outsider read the blueprints — but it was, I thought, remarkably uninformative.

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