I'm a bit disappointed I'm not mentioned after leading my DMB team to a rousing 4-14 start.

Interesting that most of them are not coming from the teams with good runs of success.

I wonder how much Mike Arbuckle has hurt his chances of becoming a GM by joining the Royals organization.

I presume Jack Z's henchmen were ineligible, otherwise the list would have been enitrely Seattlefied.

Four posts in and no gnashing of teeth that Ng isn't #1? Yall are slipping.

Four posts in and no gnashing of teeth that Ng isn't #1? Yall are slipping.

I have no idea how I'm supposed to know how good any of these people are at their jobs. It just seems like make believe. Hell, Thad Levine sounds like a made up name.

I wonder how much Mike Arbuckle has hurt his chances of becoming a GM by joining the Royals organization.

I'll go with "not at all," since he's probably first in line for Dayton Moore's job when the Royals finally can him (or, more likely, "promote" him to club president or some such post, given what he is still owed). It can't happen soon enough.

Hell, Thad Levine sounds like a made up name.

Made up by Thad Levine's parents...

I will admit that I was a little surprised Ng was not listed in the top 5 after it seemed like she consistently was mentioned as a candidate for open jobs over the past few years.

It seems like Ng has been appearing on these lists for about a decade. It also seems like it's only a matter of time before LaCava bails on Toronto.

Kim Ng is the new Dave Stewart - always interviewed because she's a minority,never offered the job, gradually acquiring an unfair stench of failure due to all her failed interviews.

Kim Ng is the new Dave Stewart - always interviewed because she's a minority,never offered the job, gradually acquiring an unfair stench of failure due to all her failed interviews.

Was Dave Stewart truly a worthwhile candidate, though?

(I ask this not to cast aspersions on Dave Stewart, but because I really have no idea)

Kim Ng is the new Dave Stewart - always interviewed because she's a minority,never offered the job, gradually acquiring an unfair stench of failure due to all her failed interviews.

How many GM interviews did Stewart go on? I remember the one in Toronto, where his apparent selling method was "I'm Dave Stewart," but I didn't think he ever interviewed again. For whatever reason, I remember him then moving to the pitching coach role, and then throwing another fit when he didn't immediately get a manager position, and then quitting and switching to being an agent.

I don't think he's a good comparison to Ng, since it seems like he kept getting pissed off and walking away every time things didn't immediately go his way.

Of course, this could just be my memory screwing with me, or being biased by the Joey Hamilton move.

Was Dave Stewart truly a worthwhile candidate, though?

I have no idea.

I remember him ######## about losing the Toronto job to Ricciardi (I think) - it seemed like he was angered that they expected him to study the organization and present a coherent plan. He felt like he was owed the job because he had paid his dues. So maybe he wasn't a good candidate.

Regardless, it seemed like he was the token minority candidate for a long time and he got dragged to a lot of interviews that he wasn't really in the running for, which is unfortunate.

#12 - I guess we have the same memory. It must have happened!

PS - It's possible that I'm wrong about him going on lots of interviews, or that I'm confusing him with someone else.

Was Dave Stewart truly a worthwhile candidate, though?

Not based on his Toronto work. His big move was encouraging the organization to trade for Joey Hamilton, who promptly forgot how to pitch, and then got hurt. As far as I can remember, there wasn't any other move during his time as Assistant GM that was attributed primarily to him, in either a positive or negative way.

I have no idea how I'm supposed to know how good any of these people are at their jobs.

Me neither, but there's always lots of people in here complaining that Ng hasn't gotten a GM job yet. I guess they all work with her and know how qualified she is.

Kim Ng is the new Dave Stewart - always interviewed because she's a minority,never offered the job, gradually acquiring an unfair stench of failure due to all her failed interviews.

Dave Stewart's stench of failure was acquired quite legitimately.

Dave Stewart's stench of failure was acquired quite legitimately.

He's doing pretty well as an agent now, which is a tough racket. My guess is his biggest failure was a lack of patience and a sense of entitlement. He's a sharp guy otherwise.

Me neither, but there's always lots of people in here complaining that Ng hasn't gotten a GM job yet. I guess they all work with her and know how qualified she is.

Haven't seen that. I think plenty of people are sick of watching her getting interviewed with no real chance of getting the job. She's the Sherman Lewis of MLB.

10. Damon Oppenheimer, Scouting Director, Yankees

Despite being befouled with a Yankee heritage, I am going to be rooting for this awesome name.
Guys and Dolls meets the Father of the Atomic Bomb.
You have to love that.

I'm a bit disappointed I'm not mentioned after leading my DMB team to a rousing 4-14 start.

You're a fine GM candidate. I can see you in a Buick LeSabre.

Let Kim Ng slip out of the top 10: then the Wilpons can give her "slot" money...

20 - Too bad the Yankees are in the Bronx and not Manhattan.

Similar Baseball America list from 1993: Top 10 General Manager Prospects (Dec. 9, 2003)

1. Dayton Moore, director of player personnel, Braves
2. Dan Jennings, director of player personnel, Marlins
3. Mike Arbuckle, assistant GM, scouting and player development, Phillies
4. Paul DePodesta, assistant GM, Athletics
5. Tim Purpura, assistant GM/farm director, Astros
6. Ned Colletti, assistant GM, Giants
7. Gordon Blakeley, senior VP, baseball operations Yankees
8. Grady Fuson, assistant GM/scouting director, Rangers
9. Tim Wilken, special assistant to the GM, Tampa Bay
10. Josh Byrnes, assistant GM, Red Sox

The Next Wave

We've also gathered a list of bright young executives who haven't received as much national attention yet, but are developing impressive resumes and gaining respect in the industry. This list, arranged alphabetically, provides a sneak peek at some names who you might see on our list in three years.

• Chris Antonetti, Indians assistant GM
• Jon Daniels, Rangers baseball operations director
• Mike Hill, Marlins assistant GM
• Muzzy Jackson, Royals assistant GM
• Thad Levine, Rockies director of baseball administration
• Kim Ng, Dodgers assistant GM
• A.J. Preller, Dodgers baseball operations
• John Ricco, major league baseball labor relations manager
• Brian Small, Major League Baseball manager of waivers/major league records

After leaving the Yankees GM spot, Bob Watson spent quite a few years as the token minority candidate interviewed for every vacant GM spot.

After leaving the Yankees GM spot, Bob Watson spent quite a few years as the token minority candidate interviewed for every vacant GM spot.

I thought Watson went to the Commissioner's office after leaving the Yankees. He was interviewing for GM jobs?

Rick Hahn leaving the White Sox would scare the #### out of me. I remember when he interviewed with the Red Sox when Theo went AWOL, I thought there was a good chance he'd leave then. His name also came up during the Mariner's search in 2008.

He's largely a "silent partner" working with KW but he's mentioned WAR in an interview with the NYTs and he's usually described as a pretty brilliant finance guy that handles most of the financial side of the GM role for the White Sox.

I think KW is the talented and eccentric and slightly unhinged mad scientist and Hahn is the sober straight man but coldly brilliant in his own right. If Hahn left I don't think KW would be nearly as effective going forward.

That said, KW's contract is up in a couple years and he's said he doesn't want to GM forever, Hahn's first GM job could very well with the Sox.

[26] He was a candidate for the Nats' job when they moved to DC.

10. Damon Oppenheimer, Scouting Director, Yankees



Despite being befouled with a Yankee heritage, I am going to be rooting for this awesome name.
Guys and Dolls meets the Father of the Atomic Bomb.
You have to love that.

I was going to say. Of all those names, Shooty picks on Thad Levine when 3 doors down is this lovely gem?

Now, Muzzy Jackson? That sounds made up.

Let Kim Ng slip out of the top 10: then the Wilpons can give her "slot" money...

There has got to be a better way to phrase this...

I thought Watson went to the Commissioner's office after leaving the Yankees. He was interviewing for GM jobs?

Being in the commissioner's office doesn't preclude interviewing for GM positions.

He was a candidate for the Nats' job when they moved to DC.

Watson was also interviewed for the Mariners at least twice - during both interview processes that led to the hirings of Gillick and Bavasi. I recall that during one of those processes there was a list of GM positions for which he was being considered.

Also, I think that prior to or during the Gillick hiring process, Watson expressed frustration that he felt he had become the token minority candidate that received a perfunctory interview for every vacancy that occurred. When Gillick was hired he stated that if a team had the opportunity to hire Gillick they should, and he didn't mind losing out to Gillick.

1. Rick Hahn, Assistant GM, White Sox:
2. Jerry Dipoto, Vice President, Player Personnel, Diamondbacks:
3. Dan Jennings, Assistant GM/Vice President, Player Personnel, Marlins:
4. David Forst, Assistant GM, Athletics:
5. Tony Lacava, Vice President, Baseball Operations/Assistant GM, Blue Jays:
6. Bill Geivett, Assistant GM, Rockies:
7. Thad Levine, Assistant GM, Rangers:

I went to college (at UCSB) with Billy Geivett. We weren't close friends, but I knew him and thought he was an excellent guy. He's sharp, yet not arrogant at all.

He played third base and was a high average, low power hitter and above average with the glove. He had a very strong throwing arm.

He didn't succeed as a minor leaguer in the Angels system, but he has been in the front office of a few teams -- including a long time with the Dodgers before joining the Rockies. He also worked as a scout for the Yankees some other clubs. For Colorado, he has played a big role in developing a lot of the talent now on their major league roster. I hope he gets an opportunity to be a GM.

"Kim Ng is the new Dave Stewart - always interviewed because she's a minority,never offered the job ..."

Billy would also be a "minority" candidate. I cannot honestly imagine that having Native American heritage will help or hinder him in getting a job, if he is a quality candidate.