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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Pirates need to talk to LaCava

Perrotto throws someone else’s hat into the ring. Never underestimate the appeal of a local guy in Pittsburgh…

If Nutting really wants to make the Pirates competitive again, though, one man he should consider calling is Toronto Blue Jays player personnel director Tony LaCava. If Nutting doesn’t at least have an informal lunch with LaCava, he is doing the franchise a disservice.

LaCava might not have a highfaluting title like some others in this era when seemingly anyone who works for a major-league club is a vice president, but he is one of the sharpest and most well-respected executives in baseball. In a business in which backbiting is a way of life, no one ever says a bad word about LaCava.

Shapiro swears by LaCava, so does legendary Braves GM John Schuerholz, Ricciardi and Seattle GM Billy Bavasi, who held the same job with the Angels when LaCava scouted for them.

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 28, 2007 at 02:22 PM | 17 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: blue jays, pirates, rumors

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 28, 2007 at 02:40 PM (#2501864)

I hate when local writers propose local guys for the job. How bout getting the most qualified person for the job rather than someone with a local tie? Not that LaCava is unqualified, but his claims to fame seem to be suggesting Grady Sizemore, being #2 in the Blue Jays front office, hardly a wild success story, and being a super nice guy with local ties. I'm sure he'd be a fine candidate, but I guarantee you there are better candidates without local ties.

2. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: August 28, 2007 at 02:52 PM (#2501869)

Frankly, the positives Perrotto gives us seems similar to what might have been written about Dave Littlefield before the Pirates hired him. The Pirates don't need a "well-respected executive;" they certainly don't need a guy Bill Bavasi recommends. That smacks of cronyism hiring, which still persists in major-league front offices. The Pirates need a guy who really knows how to acquire and develop talent, not a guy the rest of the Raccoon Lodge likes.

3. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 28, 2007 at 03:00 PM (#2501875)

Speaking of the Raccoon Lodge, I did think it was a positive that Keith Law touted him so highly. That's enough to cancel out the JP endorsement in my book. Not sure whether a Schuerholz trumps a Bavasi or not...

4. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 28, 2007 at 03:01 PM (#2501879)

Also, I mentioned this in the other thread, but it got lost: Hunsicker may also be a candidate.

Yesterday's announcement in Houston may tilt that one, though.

5. MSI Posted: August 28, 2007 at 03:34 PM (#2501911)

How about Laccava stays and replaces JP.

6. WTM Posted: August 28, 2007 at 04:57 PM (#2501997)

Not sure whether a Schuerholz trumps a Bavasi or not...

That'd take a Branch Rickey endorsement delivered through a burning bush.

7. John (You Can Call Me Grandma) Murphy Posted: August 28, 2007 at 08:33 PM (#2502233)

La Cava did a great job with "My Man Godfrey" and "Stage Door," but "Gabriel Over the White House" is just a little too bizarre for my tastes (though Walter Huston was terrific, as usual).

What he has to do with baseball, I haven't a clue.

8. RichieHebner Posted: August 28, 2007 at 08:43 PM (#2502242)

Can't wait to see what our "Committee of One" comes up with.

9. RichieHebner Posted: August 28, 2007 at 08:49 PM (#2502248)

Meanwhile, I found the following on Lacava:

http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060205195003958

http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20060206180657832

10. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: August 28, 2007 at 08:51 PM (#2502251)

Duquette would probably prefer the Houston job over Pittsburgh, too. That one opening up hurts the search significantly, on the charitable assumption that it is an actual search.

11. WTM Posted: August 28, 2007 at 11:53 PM (#2502456)

Why would anybody prefer Houston? McLane is one of the most meddlesome owners in MLB. I get the sense Nutting isn't looking to be that kind of owner.

12. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: August 29, 2007 at 01:37 AM (#2502856)

McLane's a meddling owner, but there's twice as much money in Houston. I personally would much rather live in Pittsburgh than Houston, but that's another matter.

13. Ross(UPN + WB) Posted: August 29, 2007 at 02:06 AM (#2503023)

Vaux,
Isn't Pittsburgh one of your favorite 25 teams?

14. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: August 29, 2007 at 02:41 AM (#2503164)

I don't think I have that many favorite teams. . .

The teams I care more about than the run-of-the-mill teams: Detroit, Oakland, Boston, Toronto, in roughly that order. I also usually have teams each season that I would prefer to see win, and more significantly (since the former are often the result of the latter), teams that I would prefer not win. That's what may be confusing. This season, for example, I'm rooting for the Mets in the NL, which I suspect I'll do as long as Pedro Martinez and Carlos Delgado play for them.

But I'm under no illusion that anybody gives a damn about any of that.

15. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame) Posted: August 29, 2007 at 03:37 AM (#2503200)

LaCava might not have a highfaluting title like some others in this era . . .

"Highfaluting?" I don't think I've ever seen that word written with a G on the end. Sounds like the proofreaders at the Beaver County Times are real sticklers.

16. Keith Law Posted: August 29, 2007 at 02:30 PM (#2503351)

Among other things, Lacava is a major reason that Adam Lind, Shaun Marcum, and Travis Snider are Blue Jays.

I really don't see this as "let me recommend the local guy." I think Perrotto's point was, "the best guy might be sitting right in your backyard, and here are a slew of recommendations and plaudits to back up the case."

And I have always spelled it/seen it "hifalutin." He's right about everyone being a VP though. I think it's a baseball method of keeping salaries down - we won't pay you much, but here's a fancypants title!

17. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: August 29, 2007 at 03:11 PM (#2503386)

I believe Vaux hates the Dbacks, and whores his allegiance to the remaining 29 teams based on the severity of his menstrual cramps.

I think it's a baseball method of keeping salaries down - we won't pay you much, but here's a fancypants title!

So, you're saying that I'm actually working for a baseball team?

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Pirates need to talk to LaCava

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