"For all his tattooings he was on the whole a clean, comely looking cannibal."
50PoundHead (10-12-2017), JohnAdcox (10-12-2017)
I would agree if this were a one time thing, but for the past several seasons about half of the teams that make the playoffs are in the bottom half in terms of payroll. Its not the absolute necessity that it used to be. It helps, sure. When you have money to go along with good analytics and a good system you can produce organizations that currently look like the Dodgers and Yankees. But when you have money and you run your organization poorly and acquire these huge contracts for sub-optimal players, you get yourself in a situation like the Tigers are in.
No, I want the Braves to attempt the respect our employees and retain front office talent model. Also, Moore made two World Series (winning one) with the Royals. THE ROYALS! He might not be your preferred style but he's certainly proven himself to be a credible GM.
Under different circumstances I might want a different guy. After two straight GMs that antagonized employees and right after the last GM getting forced out for unsavory dealings, I think we need a guy like Moore to come in and rebuild the front office.
You get plenty of bottom half teams making the playoffs but they tend to only make it for a year or two and then fall back to earth. Cash poor teams have very short windows. If you're the Dodgers, Cubs, or Red Sox, the money tends to let you get to the playoffs over and over.
Two things for certain: the Shelby Miller was his crowning achievement. He may have been slightly arrogant from the success of that transaction and wanted to replicate it. Whether true or not, it helped drive up asking prices. So, yeah, that might tackle with some of the peers.
The other was that there was a direct quote regarding HO trade efforts before he was actually dealt. It was verbatim, "I can't believe that he even asked."
Yes, it's possible that he may have rubbed some other GM's the wrong way.
Which is the same as it's been for awhile. Mid and small market teams have to run their teams well and have windows in which they compete. Large market teams have money to cover mistakes and don't have to be run particually well to make the playoffs. Large market teams that are run well will be continuous contenders.
For the Braves to contend they have to be run well. And part of that means joining the analytics revolution so we don't get any more Matt Kemps.
And this also ignores the obvious that anything can happen in a one off season.
BeanieAntics (10-11-2017)
Great points, and in fact FanGraphs (an analytics site) had an article about this yesterday. The widening gap between the teams with money and those without, as evidenced by the playoffs. It also noted how the high payroll teams are actually now hiring smart people, so they're not making the same mistakes as in years past.
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/post...ves-have-nots/
The Pirates have come the closest to running a team the way I would. I think a team like that or one with a slightly higher payroll like the Braves is capable of having a fairly long competitive window between rebuilds. Doesn't guarantee making it to the World Series, but my theory is you want to maximize the number of times you make the playoffs. Once you get in anything can happen.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."
50PoundHead (10-12-2017), JohnAdcox (10-12-2017)
Challenge for the Astros will be expanding payroll as guys like Correa become more expensive. Of course, they brought in McCann and Verlander (McCann with some money coming along and I don't know what the Tigers sent along with Verlander) so they must have some spare coin. Astros had a good run of drafts and they haven't squandered boatloads of talent to acquire guys, so they may be able to maintain this.
"I am a victim, I will tell you. I am a victim."
"I am your retribution."