Wilder's job with the White Sox has fluctuated so much over the past few years, it's hard to give him credit for things that went right, or blame him for things that went wrong. Obviously, he's well respected within the baseball community. I remember him being a candidate for the Boston job when Theo was playing with his gorilla costume. He's probably behind Rick Hahn in the Sox own system to replace Kenny Williams after 2012, so he wouldn't be hard to pry away.

Recently he was given more control (along with Doug Laumann) over the Sox draft. But even then, they kept the old minor league scouting director (Shaffer) on board until after the draft.

DeJon Watson

So...Reggie Cleveland All Star or, (potentially) the third in the Bob Watson-Kenny Williams line?

Word going around is that Buck Martinez will probably be considered as a replacement for retiring Royals manager Buddy Bell. Martinez, the former Blue Jays and WBC manager and a longtime Royal, may be interested in a return home, though he's thriving as co-host with Mark Patrick on XM's Baseball This Morning.

There can't really be anything to this. Can there? How is Buck tied to Moore in any way?

So...Reggie Cleveland All Star or, (potentially) the third in the Bob Watson-Kenny Williams line?

Ever notice how black GMs all have last names that begin with W's?

Ever notice how black GMs all have last names that begin with W's?

Hmmm...I think I might need a name change.

CP-- Get in touch with me, I have a Yankee ticket if you're interested

Ever notice how black GMs all have last names that begin with W's?

That explains Dave Wilder's presence.

Ever notice how black GMs all have last names that begin with W's?

So that's why Dave Stewart never got a GM gig.

Zduriencik's name cropped up in the latest SI, too. Please no.

There are about 4 guys in Cleveland's FO that can be GMs right now. Antonetti, Neal Huntington, John Mirabelli, and maybe Ross Atkins.

I'm not saying all retreads are bad (Jim Duquette and Allard Baird are two of the hardest workers in the business, and both deserve another chance), but the Astros just happened to have picked a few doozies.

Allard Baird really deserves another chance? Why? He was truly horrible. He traded for Niefi Perez, not understanding that Neifi's batting numbers in Coors Field were inflated. The list of things Baird did badly as GM was quite long; the list far shorter of what he did well. I'd say Baird earned the right to never be a GM, again.

BTW, I notice that Heyman doesn't list Kim Ng as one of his 25 top GM candidates. Has she fallen out of favor?

1. David Wilder, White Sox executive. Instrumental in the team's overwhelming 2005 World Series championship; before that helped build Braves and Brewers systems. 2. Chris Antonetti, Indians assistant GM. A favorite for Pirates job after helping build a winner in Cleveland. 3. Mike Radcliff, Twins scouting director. Just look at the Twins' drafts over the years. 4. Thad Levine, Rangers assistant GM. "One of the most talented young guys in the game,'' the GM said. 5. Jack Zduriencik, Brewers scouting director. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder among many stellar picks. 6. Rick Hahn, White Sox assistant GM. Another key man in White Sox title who's helped keep salaries reasonable on the South Side. 7. Tony Bernazard, Mets assistant GM. In the middle of a host of positive moves by the Mets. 8. Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees scouting director. The man who picked Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy back-to-back. 9. David Forst, A's assistant GM. Harvard man knows the Moneyball game. 10. Dennis Gilbert, White Sox executive. The ex-superagent certainly knows how to negotiate. 11. Michael Hill, Marlins assistant GM. Another Harvard man who's been in the middle of some Marlins magic (considering that $25 million payroll). 12. Mike Rizzo, Nationals assistant GM. Helped build fruitful Diamondbacks system. 13. Mike Arbuckle, Phillies assistant GM. Hard to believe veteran Philly guy still hasn't gotten a shot. 14. Al Avila, Tigers assistant GM. Righthand man in successful Dave Dombrowski regime. 15-23. Up-and-comers DeJon Watson (Dodgers), Billy Owens (A's), John Ricco (Mets), Peter Woodfork (Diamondbacks), Tony LaCava (Blue Jays), Bart Given (Jays), Jed Hoyer (Red Sox), Ben Cherington (Red Sox) and Scott Reid (Tigers) shouldn't be far behind.

This does strike me as an odd list. As noted in #1, not only is Hahn ahead of Wilder for the White Sox, but Mike Radcliff was just passed over by his own organization for Bill Smith. Doesn't it say something when the people who know these guys best (their clubs) go a different direction? Just a thought.

kim ng looks like a GRRRRL

you can't seriously think anyone will give HER a shot

Neither Ng nor Evans makes the list, but who knows whether Evans is available..
No love for Frank Wren either

There can't really be anything to this. Can there?

Surprising as it is, Mike Patrick and Buck Martinez do seem to be pulling in the numbers for their radio show.

3. Mike Radcliff, Twins scouting director. Just look at the Twins’ drafts over the years.

The Twins draft record over the Ryan era (which Radcliff has been around for) seems pretty poor given the slots they've had.

The twins draft from 2001 looks pretty funny on B-R: Joe Mauer with the first pick, and then...nuthin'.

The Twins entire record is good, but their first rounders have been below expectations. That may be money thing given how well they do in rounds three and down.

The twins draft from 2001 looks pretty funny on B-R: Joe Mauer with the first pick, and then...nuthin'.

Here are my back of the envelope grades for each of the picks in the first round from 2001 plus the sandwich picks:

Twins Joe Mauer A+
Cubs Mark Prior B- **
D'Rays Dewon Brazelton D-
Phillies Gavin Floyd D-
Rangers Mark Teixeira A
Nationals Josh Karp F
Orioles Chris Smith F
Pirates John Van Benschoten F
Royals Colt Griffin F
Astros Chris Burke C
Tigers Kenny Baugh F
Brewers Mike Jones F
Angels Casey Kotchman C
Padres Jake Gautreau F
Blue Jays Gabe Gross C
WhiteSox Kris Honel F
Indians Daniel Denham F
Mets Aaron Heilman B
Orioles Mike Fontenot C
Reds Jeremy Sowers C
Giants Brad Hennessey B
D'backs Jason Bulger F
Yankees John-Ford Griffin F
Braves Macay McBride C+
Athletics Bobby Crosby B
Athletics Jeremy Bonderman B+
Indians Alan Horne F
Cardinals Justin Pope F
Braves Josh Burrus F
Giants Noah Lowry A-
Orioles Bryan Bass F
Tigers Mike Woods F
Angels Jeff Mathis C-
Yankees Bronson Sardhinha F
Indians J.D. Martin F
Mariners Michael Garciaparra F
Athletics John Rheinecker C-
Mets David Wright A++
WhiteSox Wyatt Allen F
Braves Richard Lewis F
Giants Todd Linden D
Yankees Jon Skaggs F
Indians Mike Conroy F
Rockies Jayson Nix F

** Injuries, of course, impact how well a draft turns out and hence a team's draft grades. But with Prior, his performance expectations were unusually high and his signing bonus matching those expectations. As such, his grade is not so brilliant.

Also, note the Mariners' pick of Garciaparra Junior. No one else had graded Nomar's kid brother very well prior to the draft, so it was a surprise the M's took him where they did. They could have had David Wright. But then again, so could just about every team in baseball. The Braves picked third baseman Josh Burrus 9 picks before the Mets took Wright. Burrus was one of those local Georgia picks, and he hasn't worked out.

My standards for the first round would give Heilman and Hennessey both Cs; a first rounder has to make it as a starter to be a good pick.

Vaux, point well taken. I'd edit those grades now, but it would make later readers confused by your post.

Really, I convinced you? Good, I guess. . . (unless that was sarcasm, in which case I am an idiot.)

Kotchman's C is harsh by itself, but especailly in comparison to some of those pitchers that got Cs.

He's 24 with an OPS+ of 120. Not a star, but a nice return on a mid-1st rd pick. That's especially true if you cut him some slack for odd injuries.

He has to be a grade above the Gabe Grosses and Chris Burkes of the world.

Also, a guy like J-F Griffin is a tough F because he was at least regarded well enough to be used in a couple trades.

Not sarcasm. I do agree with you. My grades were done in as much time as it took to type them, mind you.

Yeah, I noticed Kim Ng's absence as well. Unless she's given up baseball, her exclusion over a lot of these knuckleheads is pathetic.

Maybe regarding Ng what he's saying is that she has no realistic chance, i.e., is not a candidate.

Neither Ng nor Evans makes the list, but who knows whether Evans is available..
No love for Frank Wren either

Its a list of guys that have never been a GM before, and I believe Evans has, was Wren a GM once?

I can't explain Ng's absence other than Heyman has been listening to Bill Singer for advice.