If nothing else, hiring DePo would probably chase Tracy out of town, so that's a plus.

Boy, this is a great piece.

If they do any two of the first four things I will buy a freaking 30-game pass. Right now I only go to games to see the opposing team, a principle I've had for three years so far. That's how badly I wish I could send the Pirates management the message that their behavior should not be rewarded with money by anyone.

The problem is a whole bunch of other baseball teams reward the Pirates with a giant check at the end of their sorry seasons.

I've always felt that, generally speaking, employees only care about 50% as much as their immediate boss does about success. Since Pirate ownership hasn't given two sh\ts about winning for a decade point five, I have to believe that the front office doesn't either. It's a virus that spreads throughout every branch of the organization. If they only implemented #1 (Hire Mark Cuban to be the team's new CEO), it'd get the ball rolling for everything else the rest of the article calls for. If/when the guy at the top of the pyramid decides to demand winning, only then will things begin to lurch forward ... and even then, maybe not. The Pirates have likely developed so much organizational inertia, it'll take something dramatic -- the team being sold or moved -- to shake the foundations loose.

If they only implemented #1 (Hire Mark Cuban to be the team's new CEO),

I could be wrong but I think the article's assumption that MLB does not have a say in who a team's CEO is, just ownership, is not accurate.

DePodesta seems to me to be the type of guy who works far better as a second-in-command rather than the top dog.

We tend (quite naturally) to emphasize the talent evaluation part of a GM's role, and there should be no question that talent evaluation is the most important aspect of the GM's role. But the GM has to manage people; he has to manage the media; he always has to keep the team's public face in mind when he does things; and he has to oversee a whole host of things that have little to do with talent evaluation. And these were all things with which DePodesta had problems in LA, and which IMO are likely to jump up and bite him again in a GM's role.

If I were a GM, I'd be very happy to have DePodesta working in the role he's filling in San Diego - because IMO, that's where he best fits in a major league organization.

As for Cuban - there's no way he comes into MLB as anything other than principal owner.

-- MWE

As for Cuban - there's no way he comes into MLB as anything other than principal owner.

Yup. He's not going to take the job, so even talking about it is ridiculous. Cuban wants everything to stop with him.

I think that DePo's problems with the media are less of a weakness here than they would be in another setting, though. Pittsburgh just doesn't have the kind of relentless, carnivorous press corps that he ran up against in LA. Outside of Mark Madden (and maybe Smizik on occasion), who's going to put the heat on him?

Every GM has a pretty good idea what on-base percentage and good defense are actually worth, or they've smartly hired someone to study those things for them.

Really? Who would that be on the Phillies? I know that Gillick at least knows the definition of OBP, but ....

DePodesta seems to me to be the type of guy who works far better as a second-in-command rather than the top dog.

We can make that determination after two up-and-down seasons in LA?

As for Cuban - there's no way he comes into MLB as anything other than principal owner.

Exactly. People act like owning the Mavs is the only thing the guy does. He has his plate full with HDNet and a film company, among other things. I think he has better things to do than motivate the Pirates staff to work harder towards winning.

Interesting article though.

DePo learned a lot in LA. Mike Emeigh's critiques are valid, but people learn - especially open-minded, intelligent ones.

It would be well worth it to give DePo another crack.

It would be well worth it to give DePo another crack.

I wouldn't take the risk. There's a significantly greater than non-zero possibility that DePodesta's weaknesses would resurface under the pressure of being the day-to-day guy.

-- MWE

That's true, but relative to what exactly? There's a significant chance each GM you might hire flames out on the 'other' stuff, and you have essentially no chance of hiring one in Pittsburgh who has anywhere near as low a chance of blowing the talent-acquisition side of the equation as DePo does.

Reality is, the Pirates job is highly undesireable and most good candidates won't take it. Given that, DePo makes a ton of sense for them, even given his personality issues in the past.

Pittsburgh just doesn't have the kind of relentless, carnivorous press corps that he ran up against in LA.

DePo ran afoul of the LA Times, but even those numbnuts are not relentless or meat shredders. The press in LA is very tame as compared to other larger markets, although it might be a little more shrill than Pittsburgh. Teams and players get a pretty easy ride in LA from the press. Historically, the press has performed acts of fellacio on the Dodgers since they came to town, although that has changed in recent years. The Times now seem to think the Dodgers are fair game, but their writers are too dull to fire any piercing arrows.

DePo ran afoul of the LA Times, but even those numbnuts are not relentless or meat shredders. The press in LA is very tame as compared to other larger markets, although it might be a little more shrill than Pittsburgh. Teams and players get a pretty easy ride in LA from the press.

I don't think whether or not the LA press in general gives players and teams a free ride is relevent. They attacked DePO, personally and relentlessly because he was seen as the apostle of moneyball and hence the enemy a far as Plaschke & Co were concerned. He was attacked for personnel moves, for this for that, if a 15 year employee in the marketing department was canned Plaschke would write a 500 word screed on how heartless "google boy" was.

The relentlessness and the nature of the LA media's attacks on DePO were ugly by NEW YORK standards for crissakes.

Historically, the press has performed acts of fellacio on the Dodgers since they came to town,

That pretty much sums up how they treated Colletti and even Grady Little when they first came on board.

Unless you think the Pittsburg media is going to attack DePo from day one and predict disaster and impending doom as a result of him being a machine and not a man, I wouldn't assume a repeat of the LA/DePo media experience.

On the other hand, people other than the LA media usual suspects have indicated that DePO just did not get along with other Dodger employees. That could be worrisome

"He is more machine now than man. . . twisted and evil."

--Bill Plaschke

DePodesta's two drafts are something of a mixed bag.

2004:

Scott Elbert: stalled with arm trouble this year. As I've said elsewhere, LA's track record with young pitching isn't particularly good.

Blake DeWitt: hit well at Vero Beach in 2006, less well at Jacksonville. Went back to A-ball to start the season (this time in friendlier confines), came back to Jacksonville and has continued to hit for average with occasional power (although not what anyone expected).

Justin Orenduff: derailed by injury in 2006 after just 10 starts, has been handled with kid gloves this year. HR and BB rates are up, K rates down.

Blake Johnson: traded to KC in the Odalis Perez deal a year ago. Had a poor year in 2006, and has seen his peripherals take a hit this year in high-A (when considering the park context). Falling off the radar.

Cory Dunlap: falling prey to "Dunlap's disease" (as in "his body done lapped over his belt"). Prince Fielder girth without the power bat or natural athleticism. Needs to get into better shape, pronto.

Lower rounds:

Drafted some potentially good players who didn't sign (Larish, Price, Savery, Stutes). Justin Ruggiano was traded to Tampa Bay in the Hendrickson/Hall deal, and has a chance to be a decent fourth OF. Corey Wade could contribute out of the pen. Javy Guerra has a live arm, but needs to learn how to throw strikes consistently (6 BB/9 isn't going to cut it). Not much else.

2005:

Luke Hochevar: Didn't sign. We know what happened there.

Ivan DeJesus: He's developing nicely, hitting for average and getting on base at a good clip with more pop than I expected.

Josh Wall: Has kicked it up a bit this year, but still has a long way to go. More than 1 H/IP and 7 K/9 in a pitcher-friendly league isn't exactly star potential.

Sergio Pedroza: Also traded to Tampa Bay, in the Lugo deal, he looks like the best position prospect not named Longoria or Brignac in the Devil Ray organization. He's hit for power at every level, and while the K/BB ratio has deteriorated this year it's still within the acceptable range of performance. Need to get some ABs at AA.

Josh Bell: Doing pretty well at low-A, although I don't like the Ks.

Jonathan Meloan: Gagne or Brazoban? Dominated AA, more than holding his own in Lost Wages.

Lower rounds: Brent Leach is hurt. Shane Justis is developing into a good middle infield prospect. Not much else.

That's not a bad haul, but I don't see a lot of upside there. And probably the one thing the Pirates need most is prospects - especially hitters - with upside.

-- MWE

people other than the LA media usual suspects have indicated that DePO just did not get along with other Dodger employees.

I didn't want to say this, but it squares with what I had heard as well.

-- MWE

All four will continue to get more expensive in the next two years and beyond, which means they'll probably be ex-Pirates soon.

A Pirates fan visits the front office.

Pirates Fan: Hello, I wish to register a complaint.

(Silence.)

Dave Littlefield: We're closin' for lunch.

PF: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about these Pirates I watched not half an hour ago from this very park.

DL: Oh yes...What's,uh...What's wrong with them?

PF: I'll tell you what's wrong with them, my lad. They're dead, that's what's wrong with them!

DL: No, no, they're uh,...they're resting.

PF: Look, matey, I know dead Pirates when I see them, and I'm looking at them right now.

DL: No, no, they're not dead, they're resting! Remarkable team, eh? Beautiful ballpark!

PF: The ballpark don't enter into it. They're stone dead.

DL: No, no, no! They're resting!

PF: All right then, if they're resting, I'll wake them up! (goes into the clubhouse) HELLO, PIRATES! I'VE GOT A LOVELY FRESH SLUMPBUSTER FOR YOU IF YOU WAKE UP! HELLO PIRATES!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call! (He sees Jack Wilson, picks up a baseball, throws it off Wilson's head. Nothing happens.) Now that's what I call a dead Pirate.

DL: No, no.....No, he's stunned!

PF: STUNNED?!?

DL: Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was waking up! Pirates stun easily, major.

PF: Now look, I've definitely had enough of this. These Pirates are definitely deceased, and when I watched them not half an hour ago, you assured me that their total lack of movement was due to it being tired and shagged out following a prolonged road trip.

DL: Well, they're...they're, ah...probably pining for the playoffs.

PF: PININ' for the PLAYOFFS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that? Look, why did they fall flat on their backs the moment they got on base?

DL: The Pirates prefer keeping on their backs! Remarkable team, isn't it? Lovely ballpark!

PF: Look, I took the liberty of examining that team when the game was over, and I discovered the only reason that they had been standing in the field in the first place was that they had been NAILED there.

(pause)

DL: Well, of course they were nailed there! If I hadn't nailed them down, they would have gone into the visitor's dugout, through their clubhouse, muscled their way onto the opponent's team bus, and VOOM!

PF: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this team wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through them! They're bleedin' demised!

DL: No no! They're pining!

PF: They're not pining! They've passed on! These Pirates are no more! They have ceased to be! They've expired and gone to meet their maker! They're stiff! Bereft of life, they rest in peace! If you hadn't nailed them to the field they'd be pushing up the daisies! Their metabolic processes are now history! They've kicked the bucket, they've shuffled off their mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! EACH OF THESE PLAYERS IS AN EX-PIRATE!!

(pause)

DL: Well, I'd better replace them, then. (peeks behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look around the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of Pirates.

PF: I see. I see, I get the picture.

DL: I got a Penguin.

(pause)

PF: Pray, does it play baseball?

DL: Not really.

PF: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?

DL: N-no, I guess not.

The Pirates have likely developed so much organizational inertia, it'll take something dramatic -- the team being sold or moved -- to shake the foundations loose.

Doubtful. The same could have been written about the Tigers a few years ago.

Sergio Pedroza: Also traded to Tampa Bay, in the Lugo deal, he looks like the best position prospect not named Longoria or Brignac in the Devil Ray organization. He's hit for power at every level, and while the K/BB ratio has deteriorated this year it's still within the acceptable range of performance. Need to get some ABs at AA.

I can't agree with that. He certainly needs to get moved up to AA since he's kinda old and therefore should be expected to do well at the current level. He's average at the very best in the outfield and isn't all that toolsy. I can't see how he's close to being better than Desmond Jennings or Fernando Perez (who is also old but came to baseball late and concentrated more on academics in college) at this point. I'd also put Jaso above Pedroza despite the injury concerns.

Doubtful. The same could have been written about the Tigers a few years ago.

Except that the Tigers had an owner who was clearly willing to spend to win. Not only did Illitch allow the signings of Pudge and Ordonez, he's also spent a lot on the Red Wings by NHL standards.

I'm not particularly high on Jaso, largely because I don't think he's a catcher and I don't know that he has enough bat for 1B.

Perez is two different hitters. Right-handed, he drives the ball with authority to all fields. Left-handed, he's more of a slap and dash kind of hitter, who doesn't make contact often enough for my tastes. I think in the long run he'd be more valuable if he gave up switch-hitting.

It's hard not to look at a guy who has 18 HRs in the FSL and who cut his K rate in the bargain and not feel as though there's something there. That said, Vero Beach is one of the better hitting environments in that league, and Pedroza is 23 and isn't any great shakes defensively.

Jennings has taken a big step forward this year, to be sure, but he's hit a bit of a wall after a monster six-week stretch in June and July, and he hasn't played in the last week.

-- MWE